Vikings Executive: U.S. City Besides Los Angeles Contacts Franchise About Possible Relocation

By: Tyler Ward

Vikings spokesman Lester Bagley has said that a U.S. city has contacted the franchise about a possible relocation. Surprisingly, it's not Los Angeles, which comes as a shocker as they have continually pushed hard for an NFL team since losing a team twice, the Raiders (currently Oakland) and the Rams (currently St. Louis).

The Vikings are currently pressing the state of Minnesota to allow them to build a new stadium, replacing the Metrodome.

Bagley, also the team's president, announced the news on Tuesday during a meeting at the State capitol. Two issues at hand include funding possibilites for a new stadium and whether or not to publicly help fund a new place the Vikings would call home.

After the meeting, Bagley declined to tell reporters who the other city was and what their intentions were. Apparently, this city has been in contact with Minnesota over the past year.

Bagley said of the meeting, "We would let that city speak for themselves. I don't think it's our place to say who it is."

Currently at the Metrodome, the Vikings' lease runs up at the end of the season and they have yet to come to an agreement on a new lease. This allows the Vikings to possibly relocate, as they do not have to wait for the lease on the stadium to end.

It has been rumored the past year or so that the Vikings will leave Minnesota after the lease is up for Los Angeles, the largest city in America without an NFL franchise.

According to Minneapolis city leaders, it would be $215 million cheaper to fix the Metrodome instead of building a $1.1 billion new stadium in the suburbs of Minneapolis.

Clearly, it seems as though the Vikings want to move but there is no certainty that they intend to do so.

It looks like we will find out in the coming months as to what happens with the state of the Vikings franchise.

Los Angeles has long been speculated to acquire an NFL team from another city and it is astounding that another city is currently bidding for the Vikings.

Since we do not know who the city is, we can only speculate.

From my standpoint, I think it's got to be one of these cities: Portland, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Memphis (in my wildest dreams), or Orlando.

And of course, it could also possibly be a city that already has an NFL team such as Miami, Indianapolis, Denver, or Pittsburgh.

Vikings Plan To Release QB Donovan McNabb Today

By: Tyler Ward

Sources have told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Minnesota Vikings plan to release veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb today. McNabb, who signed with the Vikings prior to this season, has been a disappointment in Minnesota and was benched in favor of rookie Christian Ponder after he led the Vikings to a 1-5 start.

The Vikings were coming off a 39-10 loss to the Bears and the following week, head coach Leslie Frazier decided to bench the veteran in favor of Ponder, the 12th overall pick in this year's draft.

McNabb still believes he has a lot of football left and wants to come back. He decided to ask the Vikings for his release after he realized that he would not be starting for the Vikings for the remainder of the season.

He will reach waivers on Friday and there could be a few potential suitors. The team with the highest priority will be able to claim him.

A few weeks ago, the Broncos released quarterback Kyle Orton in favor of former Florida star Tim Tebow. The Chiefs, Bears, and Cowboys were the only teams to put in a claim for Orton and he was eventually grabbed up by the Chiefs, who were looking for a quarterback after Matt Cassel was placed on injured reserve.

So with the Bears and Cowboys not getting their man, it is suspected that one or both teams will put in a claim for McNabb. The Bears recently lost starting quarterback Jay Cutler for the season, but it is unclear as to why the Cowboys would want him since McNabb was once a bitter rival and they already have a starting quarterback in Tony Romo.

The Houston Texans could also put in a claim for McNabb after losing starter Matt Schaub and back-up Matt Leinart for the season. Rookie T.J. Yates, who played collegiately at North Carolina, is currently the starter and the team also signed veteran Jake Delhomme a few days ago to be the team's back-up.

Another team to look at is the 0-11 Indianapolis Colts. With Peyton Manning yet to play, the Colts have had a problem at the quarterback position all year. They signed veteran Kerry Collins at the beginning of the season, but he turned out to be a horrible option.

They decided to bench Collins, who is now on injured reserve, in favor of former Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter. Painter has put the Colts in close situations, but he was never able to get them on top and win games. It has been reported that they will bench Painter in favor of Dan Orlovsky, who was on the 0-16 Lions squad, this week against the 8-3 New England Patriots.

However, I doubt the Colts will put in a claim for McNabb as it seems like they're purposely losing games and not going after any mediocre free agents that could benefit them in some way. They seem to want a big lead in the "Suck for Luck" campaign and McNabb could ruin that if he plays like he did when he was a Philadelphia Eagle.

We will see in the next couple of days as to what happens with the quarterback, who was the second overall pick in 1999 and was once beloved by Eagles fans.

Minnesota Vikings: 2010-11 Season Ultimate Highlight

By: Stephen Patterson

Last season, the Vikings fell terribly short of everyone's expectations due to a variety of reasons.

Thanks largely in part to Brett Favre and Brad Childress, Minnesota fell far short of their Super Bowl goals and didn't even make it to the postseason.

As a matter of fact, neither Favre nor Childress even made it through the entire season, as Favre had his record streak of consecutive starts ended due to injuries and Childress was fired by the team after their horrendously bad start.

With Chilly and Favre out of the picture for the Vikings, can they turn things around this season and make it back to the postseason?

Tell us how you think Minnesota will fair in the post-Favre era after you watch some of the brighter moments from an otherwise depressing season for the Vikes.

Minnesota Vikings: Adrian Peterson 2010 Season Highlights

By: Stephen Patterson

Will Adrian Peterson have a better this season without Brett Favre and Brad Childress around to slaughter the team's offense?

Let us know what you think, as well as how many yards you think AP will finish with next season, below the video after you watch.

Brett Favre: What Should I Do? (Video - Explicit Content)

By: Tyler Ward & Stephen Patterson

WARNING: This video contains explicit content.

This was one of the funniest videos Stephen and I have ever seen. It was simply awesome.

We'll let you decide for yourselves.

...And for kicks and giggles, here's another funny Brett Favre video:

Green Bay Packers Down Minnesota Vikings 28-24; Favre Struggles..Again

By: Tyler Ward

It was an epic return for Brett Favre in Green Bay, but it wasn't the type of game Favre and the Vikings fans had hoped for. To be completely honest, the only reason the Vikings (2-4) lost the game is because of Favre. The legendary quarterback threw three interceptions in the game, all in the second half and within 7 passes. Not a good game for the player that many consider the best of all-time. Personally, I think Favre has lost his luster. He should not have come back to Minnesota because frankly, he's getting old and has had too many injuries over the past few seasons. He is clearly on the decline. 

Favre, statistically, had the best season of his 20-year career last year. Now, he's on track to have one of the worst seasons of his historic career. Through six games, Favre has not had a 300-yard passing game. He has thrown more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (7). Four of the six games have seen him yield a quarterback rating under 72. Minnesota is 0-3 on the road thus far. He has also led the Vikings, who played in the NFC Championship game last season, to a lousy 2-4 record and the team is currently third in the NFC North. This team is absolutely struggling. It's a mixture of problems - injuries, lackluster defense, poor play by Favre, and the loss of Sidney Rice. It's clearly going to take a lot for the Vikings to win the division and it only gets worse next weekend when they take on the Patriots in New England. Not looking too good. I'm not liking their odds.

I'll be the first to tell you that I had all the respect in the world for him when he retired the first time. Now, he's doing the same idiotic, media-loved act every single year. Simply, it gets annoying. With this still going on, I have little to no respect for Favre. If he wasn't such a great quarterback over his career, I would probably lose all respect. I'm tired of turning on ESPN during the summer and seeing whether he'll return or not. It's just amazing that a player can't make up his mind. It is clear that I will never know what it's like to retire from the NFL, but it seems that Favre is haunted by something. He seems to be scared of retirement and just doesn't want to deal with a lifelong retirement from the game he loves right now. That's understandable, but usually, a quarterback does not last 20 years. At some point, he will get too old and there will be an increase of injuries. When it comes to be like that, just retire. It's better for the team, fans, and spectators. No one wants to see a player like Favre struggle and that's what he's doing this season. If he wasn't Brett Favre, he'd be benched by head coach Brad Childress with the snap of a finger. But, he is, and I really don't see Favre being benched in favor of incumbent Taravaris Jackson, who has showed that he is not a prototypical starting NFL quarterback.

But, anyway, back to the game. The Vikings marched into Lambeau Field in hopes of finally getting to the .500 mark. They failed to do that as Favre threw three interceptions, which one of them was returned by linebacker Desmond Bishop for a touchdown. That was the key turnover and it pretty much ruined the game for the Vikings. When a starting quarterback plays like that, they're not going to win unless the opposing quarterback plays worse. Aaron Rodgers didn't play worse. He outdueled Favre, although he threw two interceptions. Rodgers did pass for two touchdowns and 295 yards. The Packers were just the better team and they showed it.

However, Favre tried to make another amazing comeback, but it just didn't work out in the end. With 48 seconds left in the game, Favre threw a touchdown to Percy Harvin to give the Vikings the lead. But, it just wasn't meant to be. The ruling on the field was incomplete and later in the drive, the Vikings had to resort to a 4th-and-15 on the 20-yard line. It was their last hope. There was no magic left in Favre, as he threw the pass out of bounds and the ball was turned over on downs. The Packers would win the game by that same score, 28-24. 

The Packers and Vikings traded blows in the first quarter, with the Packers getting on the board first with a 1-yard run by Brandon Jackson. The Vikings would answer on their drive, with wide receiver Percy Harvin running in for a 17-yard touchdown. The game was tied at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Green Bay would quickly come back down field and score on a Andrew Quarless 9-yard touchdown from Aaron Rodgers. The drive only lasted 1 minute and 18 seconds. However, this game appeared back-and-forth and on the next drive for the Vikings, running back Adrian Peterson would get his only touchdown of the game to tie the game up again at 14-14. Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell would kick a 28-yard field goal with 3:58 left to give the Vikings their first lead of the game, 17-14. The game would be at that same score at halftime. 

And then, Favre starting playing like Ryan Leaf. The second half was one to forget for the Vikings, especially Favre. Starting the third quarter, Green Bay received the ball and after a quick three-and-out, they punted it away. Favre would complete two passes on the drive to Percy Harvin, but on his third attempt, Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk picked it off for Favre's first interception of the game. In return, Green Bay would receive great field position at Minnesota's 41-yard line. On the fifth play of the drive, Rodgers was able to hit Greg Jennings for a 14-yard touchdown to put the Packers up 21-17. The Packers would not relinquish the lead. 

After the Packers' third touchdown of the game, they kicked off to Minnesota and it turned out to be the shortest drive of the game. Starting at their own 21-yard line, Adrian Peterson was able to break off a 4-yard line. However, Favre would then throw his second consecutive interception - this one to Desmond Bishop, who returned it 32 yards for a touchdown. It was just what the doctor ordered for Packers fans. After being "shunned" by Brett Favre, the Packers were completely dominating the quarterback, who had spent 16 years with the Packers faithful. As boos reigned throughout the stadium for Favre, Packers fans realized that the Vikings would more than likely walk out of Green Bay with their fourth loss of the year. However, the 41-year old quarterback shouldn't be counted out just yet.

Packers kicker Mason Crosby was only able to kick the ball off for 30 yards, giving the Vikings great field position. After a few short plays, Favre was able to launch a 37-yard pass to Harvin to put the Vikings at Green Bay's 12-yard line. Minnesota would gain 8 yards on the next two plays, thus leading to Favre's 4-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss. The Vikings were now only down 28-24 with a quarter left to play.

Both defenses seemed to stiffen up in the fourth quarter, as both teams could not score on each other. On a 4th-and-1, the Packers were not able to convert on a John Kuhn run and the Vikings would receive the ball at their own 34-yard line. Four plays later, on the Packers' 35-yard line, Favre threw his third interception in seven passes - this time, by Nick Collins at Green Bay's 20-yard line. The game was consequently over at the point. The Packers would not move down the field and were forced to punt and punter Tim Masthay landed a punt on the Vikings' 17-yard line. Minnesota had a long way to go if they wanted to steal a victory.

With time ticking away, Favre was able to look like the vintage version and he led the team down field, even though it took much time off the clock. They were able to get down to the Packers' 20-yard line, but a facemask penalty by Phil Loadholt knocked the Vikings all the way back to the 35-yard line. On 1st-and-30, Favre was able to launch a 35-yard pass to Harvin and it was ruled complete. However, since it was less then two minutes in the game, the play was challenged by the reply assistant in the booth. The play would subsequently be overturned and the Vikings were still down. After a 15-yard pass to Adrian Peterson, the Vikings were able to get in the redzone again at the 20-yard line. On 3rd-and-15, Favre threw an incomplete pass to Moss, perhaps setting up the last play for the Vikings. On 4th-and-15, Favre threw another incomplete pass to Moss, ending the game. Aaron Rodgers would proceed to kneel on the next play and the Packers escaped with a 28-24 victory.

The Packers (4-3) are currently second in the division behind the Chicago Bears - the Bears are also 4-3, but lead the division due to their victory over Green Bay earlier this season. The Vikings (2-4) sank even further in the division and are only one game ahead of the Detroit Lions for the bottom spot. 

Minnesota will travel to New England next weekend and it is now a must-win for the struggling Vikings. Green Bay will also travel to the east, where they will take on the Jets. The Packers aren't at the "must-win" point, but they need to win and hope for a Bears loss to take control of the NFC North.

NOTE: At the postgame press conference, it was clearly noticeable that Favre had a strong limp. He was having to hold on to objects and was putting zero pressure on his left foot. To me, he just seemed mentally-crippled. I firmly believe that if there was a game that Favre would miss, it would be their upcoming game against the Patriots. Of course, it is unclear if he will play or not, but we can always expect Favre to somehow play in the game. But, if he does play, I know the Patriots are going to be after his left foot and if he gets hurt again, it could possibly be the end of Favre's historic career. We'll see...

NFL Week 7: Top 5 Most Intriguing Match-Ups

By: Stephen Patterson

With several teams entering Week 7 in "All-Out Panic" mode, this could be a make-or-break week for some of the struggling teams in the NFL.

Can the Dallas Cowboys begin the daunting task of turning their season around on Monday Night Football against the New York Giants? Will the struggling San Diego Chargers be able to put a stop to their annual slow start and turn things around at home against the New England Patriots?

Perhaps the biggest question of all surrounding this weekends' match-ups is whether or not Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings can put back-to-back wins together for the first time this season against Favres' former team, the Green Bay Packers. Will Favre be able to lead the Vikings back up in the standings? Or will Green Bay finally get a win against the former face of their franchise?

#5: Washington Redskins @ Chicago Bears

The Story: Both teams are coming off losses and will look to regroup when they match-up at Soldier Field on Sunday. The Chicago Bears currently control their own destiny in the NFC North, as they would continue their hold on the division lead with a victory. The Washington Redskins are a game behind the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants in the NFC East, but a victory would keep them close to the top. Look for this to be a hard fought, low-scoring game with several big plays being the difference in this one.

Key to Victory: Defense. The Redskins head into Chicago allowing an NFL-worst 432.5 total yards per game, a number they hope will drop with a strong performance against a struggling Bears' offense. Chicago, on the other hand, is expecting to turn around their offensive misfortunes. However, if their offensive line can't offer any better protection than they have previously this season, it could be a very rough day for Jay Cutler. If the Bears are going to win this game, they need a solid performance by Matt Forte, who has struggled on the ground this season averaging only 92.3 yards per game rushing.

Prediction: Washington Redskins 17, Chicago Bears 14


#4: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Miami Dolphins

The Story: The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense will be hungry to show the league they can still knock opponents silly without getting flagged for "devastating hits", and unfortunately for the Miami Dolphins, they will be on the receiving end of those hits. Ben Roethlisberger is making his second start of the season after sitting out the first four games due to suspension, and he will look to make another strong impression. The Dolphins are coming off a hard fought overtime win at Lambeau against the Green Bay Packers and they will look to build upon that win.

Key to Victory: Brandon Marshall/Mike Wallace. Both teams have solid defenses, but they are also both better at stopping the run. Both teams will be looking for huge games from their star receivers, and the player that has the biggest game might just be the difference in this one. Look for one or both of these guys making huge plays late in the fourth quarter with the game still on the line. Marshall has had a relatively slow start to the season in Miami, having caught only one touchdown pass so far this year. Look for him to break out of that slump with a big game against the Steelers' secondary.

Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 17, Miami Dolphins 21


#3: New England Patriots @ San Diego Chargers

The Story: This is almost a must-win situation for the San Diego Chargers, as they are once again off to a painfully slow start to the season. Luckily for them, they are playing at home, where they are 2-0 this season. The bad news? They've lost all four games they've played on the road this season and they can't afford to drop a game of this magnitude at home. The New England Patriots will look to continue developing their offensive and adapting to no longer having Randy Moss. Deion Branch had a nice game last week against the Ravens, and the Patriots will need another big game from him to win this game.

Key to Victory: Special teams. The Chargers have been absolutely abysmal on special teams so far this season, and they can't afford to have those kind of lapses in this game. The Patriots destroyed the Miami Dolphins earlier this season because of special teams' gaffes, and if the Chargers want to avoid the same fate, they will need an all-around effort from everyone involved on special teams. If the Chargers can manage the ball and avoid mistakes, they will be in this game until the final whistle. Sadly, I'm not convinced that can happen for this team.

Prediction: New England Patriots 31, San Diego Chargers 21


#2: New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys

The Story: If there is a team facing a must-win situation in Week 7, it has to be the Dallas Cowboys. After starting the season as one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl, the Cowboys came out and fell flat on their faces to start the season. Unluckily for them, they are still tumbling and have to find a way to avoid a 1-5 start if they want any chance of even reaching the postseason. The New York Giants started off the season slowly, but they have looked increasingly better over their past three games. If they can knock off the Cowboys in this one, it will make their own run for the postseason a lot easier.

Key to Victory: Pride. The Cowboys must come out and play smart, competitive football for sixty minutes in order to have a chance in this one. If they continue to show poor judgment by celebrating prematurely and getting called for stupid penalties, this game could get out of hand very quickly for Dallas. I think they need to come out early and dominate both sides of the ball if they really want to win this game. If New York strikes first, and the Cowboys get off to a slow start, I think the Giants will be able to control the game and hold off a desperate, late flurry by Dallas.

Prediction: New York Giants 20, Dallas Cowboys 21


#1: Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers

The Story: What's not to like about this game? Brett Favre will be going all-out against his former team in an effort to show them they made the wrong choice by letting him go. Aaron Rodgers will look to get his first regular-season victory against his former mentor. There are so many storylines surrounding this match-up that you could literally write a book and still probably miss a few of the smaller stories. Considering this a divisional rivalry and both teams are trying to make up ground in the race to catch the first-place Chicago Bears, I'd expect this game to be one of the most entertaining of the weekend.

Key to Victory: Brett Favre. One way or another, the aging Vikings' quarterback will be directly linked to the outcome of this game. Last season, Favre had two memorable victories against his former team, as the Vikings went 2-0 against the Packers. But, Favre was also playing at a much higher level last season as well. If Favre plans to improve his record to 3-0 against his former team, he better be willing to hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson often and not try to press his luck against a formidable defense by forcing bad passes. Unluckily for the Vikings, Favre usually doesn't pass up opportunities to throw into coverage and turn the ball over.

Prediction: Minnesota Vikings 17, Green Bay Packers 27

Randy Moss Headed Back To Vikings

By: Stephen Patterson

The New England Patriots have traded wide receiver Randy Moss and a 2012 7th-round draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a third round draft pick in the 2011 Draft. Moss started off the season saying this would be his last season as a Patriot due to the fact the team wasn't offering him an extension, but many didn't expect his exit to be this soon. The trade comes after Moss' worst game with New England, having zero catches against the Miami Dolphins during Monday night's victory.

Moss will return to the team where he started his NFL career and played from 1998-2004. The Vikings have been in desperate need of help at wide receiver after Sidney Rice injured his hip in the preseason and with Percy Harvin's constant migraine issues. Brett Favre has struggled thus far this season, partially because of his age and the fact that he missed yet another training camp, but also because of a lack of healthy receiving threats. The team also tried and came up short in efforts to make a deal for Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson.

With the acquisition of Moss, the Vikings are instantly back in the conversation for Super Bowl contention, and when all of their receivers become healthy, will be one of the most loaded teams in the league at the position. The New England Patriots, on the other hand, will have to try to replace a future Hall of Fame player with young players such as Brandon Tate and Aaron Hernandez. The move will also make it much more difficult for Wes Welker to enjoy the same success he has seen over the past several seasons.

Personally, as a Miami fan, I'm thrilled with the move because that's one less player they can use to beat my team when the two meet again at the end of the regular season. Sadly, they didn't even need him Monday night after the Patriots blew the game open on several key special teams plays, so I'm not sure it's really going to make that much of a difference. While the move clearly hurts the Patriots in the short term, it did add another draft pick to the stock pile they are collecting for next season. They now own eight picks in the first four rounds of the 2011 Draft.

The situation between Moss and the Patriots has been strained since the star receiver made comments after a season opening beatdown against Cincinnati, in which Moss stated that "from a business standpoint", this would be his last season with the team. Moss also not-so-lightly hinted at the fact that the Patriots are a historically cheap franchise that generally doesn't hand out pricey extensions. 

There was also a reported heated exchange between Moss and the Patriots' QB coach during half-time of the Miami game, which undoubtedly helped speed up the process of Moss' departure. In fairness to Moss, he was only targeted once in the first half of the game, and zero times after the reported outburst.

Moss left the Vikings amid some controversy after the 2004 season, including his infamous "mooning" directed towards Packers fans after a postseason touchdown in Green Bay. Viking's head coach Brad Childress and Favre are both excited about the potential that Moss brings to the team and are happy to have him aboard. Favre has wanted to play with Moss since 2007, when the Oakland Raiders decided to cut ties with Moss after two relatively unproductive seasons. 

While many have questioned whether Moss' skills are diminishing with his age, he still obviously has enough left in the tank to finish out this season strong, and likely several more productive years. With his contract running up at the end of the season, it is unknown at this time if the Vikings will try to extend his deal or wait until after the season to make a decision. As long as Moss stays happy and focused, and Favre can remain healthy, the Vikings are definitely poised to make the NFC North race a very tight one.

NFC North Preview

By: Tyler Ward and Stephen Patterson

1. Green Bay Packers (Head Coach: Mike McCarthy)

Key Arrivals: OG Bryan Bulaga (draft), DT Mike Neal (draft), S Morgan Burnett (draft)

Key Departures: LB Aaron Kampman, RB Ahman Green

SP: The Packers kept most of their team intact, with Aaron Kampman being the only major departure. While he will definitely be missed on the defensive side of the ball, Green Bay's offense should be able to cover for the loss. Aaron Rodgers is one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league, and could be an MVP candidate this season. With receivers such as Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, and Jermichael Finley, the Packers have one of the best offenses in the NFC. The only real question is the offensive line, but the team hopes Bryan Bulaga will be able to help keep Rodgers safe, who was the league leader in getting sacked, a category you don't want to lead. Charles Woodson, A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett, and Clay Matthews will lead the way for the defense, which could potentially be one of the Top 10 in the NFL this season. While the Vikings got another year out of Favre, I don't think Minnesota will be able to outlast Green Bay down the stretch this season. Barring any major injuries to Aaron Rodgers or one of the Packer's other key players, expect Green Bay to have a solid season that could potentially end with an extended postseason run.

- SP's Prediction: 11-5

TW: Despite no veteran signings, Green Bay went out and selected well at this year's draft. With their offensive line getting slightly older, the Packers used their first selection on Iowa tackle, Bryan Bulaga. He will not start the season as the starter and will back up Daryn Colledge at left guard. But, Bulaga is expected to be a great offensive lineman - however, he will end up being the backup as of now. Green Bay has a high-powered offense, especially with Greg Jennings currently in the prime of his career. Donald Driver, although he is also getting older, is still a top 20 receiver in the NFL and gives leadership to the young Packers team. Jermichael Finley is expected to get more playing time and start at tight end. Finley has great athleticism and gives Aaron Rodgers another target on the field. Rodgers could be an MVP candidate this season, as he has been a good successor to current Vikings QB Brett Favre. Personally, I think there's a very good chance (as long as the Packers win games) that Rodgers could be the best player in the NFL this season - Brees, Chris Johnson, Peyton Manning, and Adrian Peterson are also in the running. Green Bay also has one of the best defenses in the league and their second-round selection, Mike Neal, will probably be the backup to second-year pro B.J. Raji. Ryan Pickett is a prototypical defensive tackle, but Green Bay has him listed as a defensive end on the depth chart. The Packers are running a 3-4 defense and have one of the best linebacking corps in the league with Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Clay Matthews, and Brandon Chillar as the starters. Their cornerbacks could be the weak link in the Packers' defense, as there is not much depth at that position. They are very young, but could be good in a few years. Charles Woodson, last year's Defensive Player of the Year, is one of the best all-around players in the league, so with him on the roster, it adds so much to the Packers' defense. I think the Packers can be a Super Bowl contender this season, but will have to go through New Orleans and Minnesota if they want to get there. I really like what the Packers have on boths sides of the ball - they may not advance all the way to the Super Bowl this season, but will definitely make it to the playoffs and win the NFC North. Watch out for Greg Jennings this season - I think he will make his way into the Top 5, as far as wide receivers go. I also suspect that Aaron Rodgers will be this year's league leader in passing yards. It seems like since Brett Favre left the Packers, the team has just gotten better and better as the years progress. They will be contenders in the NFC for years to come if they keep at the pace they're at now.

- TW's Prediction: 12-4
 

2. Minnesota Vikings (Head Coach: Brad Childress)

Key Arrivals: CB Lito Sheppard, RB Ryan Moats, RB Toby Gerhart (draft), DE Everson Griffen (draft)

Key Departures: RB Chester Taylor

SP: Well, Minnesota got their wish. After yet another season of waffling on whether or not he should retire, Brett Favre decided he would come back for yet another season. The Vikings saw their season come to a disappointing end last year when the team fell to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game. Favre took a massive beating during the game, and had to come off the field at one point when he feared he had broken his ankle after a hard hit by Bobby McCray. The Vikings are banking a lot of faith, not to mention money, on the fact that Favre could reproduce last season's miracle year. Regardless of how well Favre may do with the Vikings this season, his numbers will not be on par with or better than his stats last year. Favre has constantly seemed to whore for media attention over the past few seasons, and especially the offseasons, and this year has been nothing different. While the team seemed to be able to handle all of the attention and publicity surrounding them last season, I'm not so certain the ship will sail so smoothly this season. I'm expecting a few things that could happen to this team: Favre will suffer an injury bad enough for him to miss 1-2 games and end his streak. His interceptions this season will be much closer to 20 than 5 this season. Childress will be gone after this experiment if the Vikings fall short of the Super Bowl, regardless of regular season success. Those are just a few of the very real, and very scary possibilities that could happen this season with this team. It has been reported tonight that Sidney Rice could miss up to half the season with a hip injury. Percy Harvin apparently doesn't understand the concept of a visor on his helmet if looking into a clouded sky makes him collapse or gives him migraines. Adrian Peterson will need to learn to hold the ball during key games and situations after a horrid season for the back in the category. This entire offense is surrounded by question marks, and quite frankly, I'm expecting some very mixed answers to some of those questions. The defense could take them very far, and if both sides of the field can catch fire during the same game, not very many teams even have a chance to stay in the game with them. Health is my major concern for this team, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and I think injuries will eventually cost this team late in the season.

- SP's Prediction: 12-4

TW: Minnesota definitely had one of the most quiet offseasons in the league. The "make-or-break" option of the team is Brett Favre, who announced last week that he will return to the NFL for a 20th season. Without Favre, the Vikings have absolutely nothing that can be considered top-half-of-the-league material at quarterback (Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels). So, with Favre coming back, the Vikings are automatically a contender in the NFC. They will also not have to heavily depend on running back Adrian Peterson, a Pro Bowl-caliber player. Peterson, fresh off another stellar season, is looking to have another one this year and should do so. To help with Peterson's workload, Minnesota drafted Toby Gerhart, who almost won the Heisman Trophy last season while playing at Stanford. He could very well never be a starting running back in the NFL, but should be a decent backup (the Vikings also added Ryan Moats to compete against Gerhart). The Vikings are also set at wide receiver with Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and 2009 Pro Bowler Sidney Rice. Harvin, last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year, is a deep threat for the Vikings, along with Berrian who also adds athleticism to the corps. Rice is looking to improve his numbers and become one of the elite receivers in the NFC - and he should do so...with Favre as his quarterback, not Rosenfels or Jackson. The Vikings are also notably known to have one of the best offensive lines in the league with Steve Hutchinson and Bryant McKinnie holding it down. Phil Loadholt and John Sullivan have shown promise for the Vikings and they should be marquee names in a few seasons. Not only is their offense stacked, but their defense is, too. Jared Allen, a sack machine, is in the prime of his career and will likely get selected to the Pro Bowl. They also have big bodies in the middle with Pat and Kevin Williams, which immediately helps their 4-3 defense. Linebackers E.J. Henderson and Chad Greenway have shown consistency for the Vikings and they are hoping to rely on them this season, as they do not have much depth at that position. They also added Lito Sheppard to the team during the offseason, which already consists of Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin. The Vikings will certainly be a force this season, as they were so close to representing the NFC in the Super Bowl last season. Favre will not have a season like he did last year, but he should be one of the top-tier QB's in the league. I just think that the Packers are stronger and will end up barely beating out Minnesota for the NFC North crown.

- TW's Prediction: 11-5
 

3. Chicago Bears (Head Coach: Lovie Smith)

Key Arrivals: DE Julius Peppers, RB Chester Taylor, CB Tim Jennings, S Chris Harris, RB Harvey Unga (draft), S Major Wright (draft), QB Dan LeFevour (draft)

Key Departures: DE Adewale Ogunleye, DE Alex Brown, RB Kevin Jones, FB Jason McKie, CB Nathan Vasher, LB Pisa Tinoisamoa

SP: While Chicago definitely upgraded this offseason with the additions of Julius Peppers and Chester Taylor, I don't think they are going to even threaten to win their division. This whole team revolves around Jay Cutler, and if he doesn't learn how to keep the turnovers over down, this team will suffer another disappointing season. The Bears were the "lucky" team to land Cutler after he had multiple disagreements Broncos' head coach Josh McDaniel. He has a decent group of receivers, but none of them are really superstar players. Matt Forte also needs a strong year for Chicago to be successful, but I think Taylor could take a lot of his carries if he is impressive. The Bears have always been known for their defense, but with a Pro Bowl caliber QB in Jay Cutler, they have high expectations for both sides of the ball. Peppers and Brian Urlacher will be the defensive leaders and could have spectacular seasons. While the Bears have many of the tools to get the job done, I'm just still not convinced they can beat Green Bay or Minnesota, both of which are considered favorites to make the postseason. While Cutler has several quality receivers around him, I still think they need one more All-Pro caliber player at WR or TE for him to be successful.

- SP's Prediction: 7-9

TW: The Bears did mildly decent this offseason, but they are still not a playoff team. Jay Cutler, who threw 26 interceptions last season, has to do a lot better this season and should with Mike Martz being named the offensive coordinator. Cutler has shown great power, but his accuracy could be a problem. However, if he limited his mistakes, Cutler could be one of the best quarterbacks in the league. It just depends on him if he wants to stay turnover-free and learn the offense that surrounds him. Running back Matt Forte will get the bulk of the carries, but the Bears added Chester Taylor to help carry the load. Forte should be a 1,000 yard back. Chicago is also looking for wide receiver Devin Aromashodu to have a big year, along with Devin Hester and Johnny Knox. Although they aren't name-brand receivers, Cutler should have a solid year if everything goes right. Tight End Greg Olsen should also have a stellar season because he will be one of Cutler's main and most steady targets. The Bears also need solid performances out of tackle Chris Williams, who was a first round pick in 2008 - it could possibly be a make-or-break season for Williams, a teammate of Cutler at Vanderbilt. Perhaps the biggest signing of the offseason, the Bears signed defensive end Julius Peppers to help a defensive line that played inconsistently throughout the season. Mark Anderson will take Adewale Ogunleye's place on the line, as Ogunleye was released earlier this offseason. Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs are back and one, if not both, should have a great season if they stay injury-free. Their secondary could be in trouble, as there is not much depth - Charles Tillman and Zack Bowman will have to be heavily relied on if the Bears want to resurrect a defense that was top of the line a few seasons ago. I just don't see the Bears staying injury-free and I expect at least one key loss happening. I can also see their receiving game hurting the offense, which could possibly hurt Cutler's performances. They have a lot they need to work on if they want to return to their Super Bowl form.

- TW's Prediction: 7-9
 

4. Detroit Lions (Head Coach: Jim Schwartz)

Key Arrivals: DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, DT Corey Williams, CB Chris Houston, QB Shaun Hill, TE Tony Scheffler, WR Nate Burleson, CB Dre Bly, S C.C. Brown, DT Ndamukong Suh (draft), RB Jahvid Best (draft)

Key Departures: QB Daunte Culpepper, LB Ernie Sims, LB Larry Foote, CB Anthony Henry

SP: Detroit is definitely on the right track to making the playoffs in a few seasons. Eventually Brett Favre will have to retire, meaning their will be a shift of power in the division, although it may only be small changes. The Lions have been a laughing-stock for as long as I can remember being a fan of the NFL. They had to suffer through the Matt Millen era. Millen was the brainchild behind Detroit's moves for eight seasons in the last decade, and he single-handedly help destroy any ounce of respect any fan ever had for the Lions. The differences since Millen left the team are astonishing. The team is now led by Matthew Stafford, who is entering his second season in the NFL. He has veterans such as Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson as primary targets, along with tight end Brandon Pettigrew. The team also took Jahvid Best in the draft, who I think will be one of the most productive rookies this season. If he isn't the starter in week 1, expect him to be the starter by the end of the first month of the season. Their defense has also seen major upgrades, especially on the line with the additions of Vanden Bosch and Suh. If they can add a few more decent pieces over the next offseason or two, the Lions will definitely be a major threat in the division in the very near future. For now, I can't see any way this team is breaking .500 this season, and they will fall just short of that mark.

- SP's Prediction: 7-9

TW: Although they did a lot in the offseason, I still don't think that the Lions are anywhere close to be considered a playoff contender. Stafford could be a star in the league someday, but as of right now, he is still a work in progress. With a rocket arm, the former Georgia Bulldogs star can thought to be inaccurate and has shown that at times. But, with a receiver like Calvin Johnson, he could do nothing, but get better as time progresses. Detroit also added Nate Burleson through free agency, who has shown great athleticism and versatility throughout his career. Tight End Brandon Pettigrew, along with newly-acquired Tony Scheffler, could form a good combination at that position and round out the receiving core at the same time. With their second round selection in this year's draft, Detroit selected Jahvid Best, their "running back of the future". He should have a solid rookie season and will get better as the seasons go. Like most teams, it comes down to the offensive line for their weakness. Former first-round pick Gosder Cherilus, like Stafford, is a work in progress, also, but has taken baby steps to stardom since being drafted. Tackle Jeff Backus is getting older and it is unknown how much he has left in the tank. Other than those two players, they have an "iffy" offensive line. I do like what they have done defensively, especially with the decision to draft the talented defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh. With Corey Williams and Kyle Vanden Bosch also on the line, they could have a very formidable defensive line. They also have Cliff Avril, who played very well last season after bullying through to the starting role. With so many new additions, it's going to be hard, chemistry-wise, to succeed and for that, I see them being one of the lower teams in the NFC.

- TW's Prediction: 5-11

Saturday's NFL Preseason Scores (8/14/10)

By: Tyler Ward

There were seven games on Saturday, so we felt that we needed to give ya'll a recap on the scores and top performers.

- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7, Miami Dolphins 10

Top Performers:

- Josh Freeman (TB): 4-4, 53 yards, 1 TD

- Tyler Thigpen (MIA) - 10-19, 145 yards, 0 TD

- Kareem Huggins (TB) - 8 carries, 55 yards

- Chris Brooks (TB) - 3 receptions, 50 yards

- Detroit Lions 7, Pittsburgh Steelers 23

Top Performers:

- Dennis Dixon (PIT) - 6-7, 128 yards, 1 TD, 31 rushing yards

- Isaac Redmon (PIT) - 15 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD

- Antonio Brown (PIT) - 3 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD

- Shaun Hill (DET) - 8-10, 77 yards, 0 TD

Rodgers

- Cleveland Browns 27, Green Bay Packers 24

Top Performers:

- Aaron Rodgers (GB) - 12-13, 159 yards, 1 TD

- Seneca Wallace (CLE) - 4-8, 72 yards, 2 TD's

- Greg Jennings (GB) - 3 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD

- Brandon Underwood (GB) - 6 tackles, 1 INT

- Kregg Lumpkin (GB) - 11 carries, 42 yards

- Minnesota Vikings 28, St. Louis Rams 7

Top Performers:

- Sage Rosenfels (MIN) - 23-34, 310 yards, 3 TD's

- Garrett Mills (MIN) - 4 receptions, 106 yards, 1 TD

- Marko Mitchell (MIN) - 1 reception, 71 yards, 1 TD

- E.J. Henderson (MIN) - 6 tackles, 1 sack

- Houston Texans 16, Arizona Cardinals 19

Top Performers:

- Matt Schaub (HOU) - 5-6, 78 yards, 1 TD

- John Skelton (ARI) - 5-6, 84 yards, 1 TD

- Andre Johnson (HOU) - 3 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TD

- Daryl Washington (ARI) - 13 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

- Dan Orlovsky (HOU) - 12-21, 159 yards, 0 TD

Whitehurst

- Tennessee Titans 18, Seattle Seahawks 20

Top Performers:

- Charlie Whitehurst (SEA) - 14-22, 214 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

- Mike Williams (SEA) - 1 reception, 51 yards, 1 TD

- Javon Ringer (TEN) - 7 carries, 60 yards

- Josh Wilson (SEA) - 3 tackles, 1 INT

- Quinton Ganther (SEA) - 11 carries, 36 yards

- Chicago Bears 10, San Diego Chargers 25

Top Performers:

- Caleb Hanie (CHI) - 10-17, 148 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

- Ryan Mathews (SD) - 9 carries, 50 yards

- Devin Aromashodu (CHI) - 4 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD

- Philip Rivers (SD) - 4-6, 62 yards, 1 TD

Favre's Viking Highlights

By: Stephen Patterson

If Brett Favre does indeed decide to retire and not play a 20th season, he will have done more for the game of football than any player in recent memory. While I've never been a huge fan of Favre, and like most of the world, have grown tired of the annual retirement talk, I do have respect for any man that can go out and do some of the things he is capable of. If this it for Favre's career, he will leave the game with almost every NFL quarterback record in hand. I'll eventually add another video with complete career highlights when it's official he is done, but here are some of the biggest moments of perhaps Favre's finest season last year with the Vikings:

Brett Favre Retiring This Time?

By: Stephen Patterson

There have been reports throughout the day that Brett Favre has sent text messages to teammates saying "This is it", and that he is planning to finally call it a career after 19 seasons in the NFL. While there have been several reporters claiming the news is legit and Favre is done, I'm going to wait until the season opens up and the Minnesota Vikings meet the New Orleans Saints. As a matter of fact, I won't believe it until the season ends. Neither Favre nor the Vikings have confirmed the reports.

Even if I had heard the words come straight from his mouth, I still wouldn't believe him after the past three summers of retirement talk. Favre has talked about retirement since we was still a Green Bay Packer. He has since played with the New York Jets and the Vikings, only spending one season with each franchise. He even went on record in an interview in February 2009 saying he was done and would never play another game. Looks like he was a little off with that statement.

Favre is recovering from offseason ankle surgery and has said that it would be the determining factor in his return for a second season with the Vikings. There have been reports over the past several weeks that Favre would almost certainly return, including the Viking's owner, who thought his star quarterback would return for another season. 

If he chooses to walk away from the game at this stage, he will own almost every single record for quarterbacks in NFL history. He has records for the most career touchdowns, completions, passing yards, interceptions, and consecutive games started. While he has never openly said it, I think one of the main reasons Favre fights with the retirement issue each offseason and always comes back is because he wants to put a lock on his records. If he walks away now, with his records standing where they are at, there is a very decent chance Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts will break a lot of those records before he retires.

While the Vikings would obviously prefer having Favre as their quarterback heading into the season, they are prepared to move on with Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels. If Favre does indeed retire, some Vikings fans will be unhappy with his timing. If he had made the decision earlier in the offseason, the team could've found a replacement in the draft or potentially made a move to acquire Donovan McNabb, Jason Campbell, Michael Vick, or Ben Roethlisberger (when the team was still shopping him). 

Vikings head coach Brad Childress doesn't believe the reports, and has said he would rather "hear it from the horse's mouth." After all of the flip-flopping Favre has done over the past few offseasons, I don't understand how anyone could take his word for it after his previous decisions. Coming off the best season of his career, I would be heavily surprised if Favre doesn't join the Vikings at some point during this season, even if he says the words out of his own mouth that he is calling it quits.

Brad Childress Visits Favre In Mississippi

By: Tyler Ward

Brad Childress visited Mississippi on Monday to talk to Brett Favre about his possible return with the Minnesota Vikings. Childress was hoping this meeting would hopefully speed up Favre's decision process. 

WDAM-TV reported that Childress and Favre were at the University of Southern Mississippi, attending a seven-on-seven passing camp for high school players.

According to WDAM-TV, Childress arrived on Sunday and said that he didn't know how long he would be in Mississippi. When asked about the meeting, he told reporters, "You can fill in the blanks."

Favre was at the ESPY Awards last week and said that his possible return to the NFL depends on the condition of his surgically repaired ankle. He noted that he is still not completely healthy, but for the last few years, he really hasn't been considered 100%. In May, Favre underwent arthoscopic ankle surgery, performed by Dr. James Andrews. Dr. Andrews cleaned up scar tissue and other parts of the joint region to allow Favre to move better. At the time, a source told ESPN that Favre would neet at least four to six weeks of rehabilitation.

Last year, Favre was analyzing his physical attributes to see if he could possibly play football again after receiving shoulder surgery. He also mentioned that his ankle was in poor shape and recommended that doctors take a look at it.

At this point in time, Favre said, "I've had surgery [on my] left ankle twice and need it again. I can barely move the ankle up and down. Walking on it feels like I have glass in my shoes and running is way harder than it needs to be.''

It is still uncertain if Favre will come back or not, as he has done this for the past few seasons. In his career with the Packers, Jets, and Vikings, he has ended every tenure with his last throw being an interception.

In last year's NFC Championship Game versus the New Orleans Saints, Favre explained his thought process during his last throw to wide receiver Sidney Rice, which turned out to be an interception. “As a player you’ve got to pull the trigger,” Favre said. “You can’t say, ‘Well, is he going to do what I think he’s going to do?’ He wasn’t wrong, and in some ways, I wasn’t either.”

In his first year with the Vikings last year, Favre had one of his best statistical seasons ever, throwing for 33 touchdowns compared to only seven interceptions. Even at the tender age of 40, he was competing like a 25 year old. No one can tell what he will do this season, if he decides to return.

When asked about his Vikings debut season, Favre said, “I’ve had games when I almost threw seven picks. It was unreal. Before last year, I’d reached a point where I was sitting in meetings with guys 15 years younger than me thinking, ‘What the hell am I doing here?’ Football became work. But last year it went back to being a game.”

Favre, 40, will be competing in his 20th season if Minnesota lures him back. He is number one in almost every statistical NFL passing category for his career, edging out greats such as Dan Marino and Joe Montana. 

If Favre doesn't come back, the Vikings would be very thin at quarterback, with Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels facing each other for the starting job. Favre would definitely be the starter if he returns.

The Vikings start training camp on July 30th, which is only ten days away.

Here We Go Again..

By: Tyler Ward


Trust me, I'm tired of Favre Watch, too, but I have to talk about it..


Brett Favre. Should he come back? Will he come back? Does he have enough in the tank to come back? Brett Favre has been "retiring" year after year, but somehow, he still comes back.


I can't rag on him too much, as he is possibly the greatest Quarterback to ever step foot on a football field. But, why put teams through this? If he doesn't come back this year, the Vikings will have to start underachieving Tarvaris Jackon or Sage Rosenfels. The QB position is by far the most important position on the field and with Jackson or Rosenfels at the helm, the Vikings could be in for a long season. Waiting on Favre to come back, the Vikings failed to draft a solid QB in the draft or pick up a quality one via free agency. The Vikings deserve to be treated better than this. Favre should come back just for that simple reason alone.


Favre started off playing collegiate football at Southern Mississippi University, the only college that offered him a scholarship. Southern Miss wanted Favre to play Cornerback, but instead, he played Quarterback (great decision). Favre led numerous upsets in his Golden Eagles days against perennial powerhouses, Florida State and Alabama. In the 1991 draft, Favre was taken 33rd overall by Jerry Glanville and the Atlanta Falcons. Glanville disapproved of drafting Favre and once said that it would "take a plane crash for him to put Favre into the game". Favre quickly fell out of Glanville's favor and was soon dealt to the Green Bay Packers, after going 0-4 with o touchdowns and 2 interceptions in his rookie season. He was expected to be the backup to Don Majkowski, Green Bay's starter at the time. In the second game of his sophomore season, the Packers played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and were trailing the Bucs 17-0 at halftime. Mike Holmgren benched Majkowski in favor for Favre and the Packers would up still losing the game, 31-3. The next game, Majkowski tore a knee ligament and was forced to miss four weeks. Favre was yet again thrown into the mix and led a comeback win against the Cincinnati Bengals.


The next week, Favre was effectively named the starter against the Steelers and the rest is history. He finished the 1992 season with a Pro Bowl berth and leading the Packers to a 9-7 record, barely missing the playoffs. In 1993, Favre led the Packers to their first playoff berth since 1982. Favre was expected to become a free agent, but Ron Wolf, the GM at the time, signed Favre to a 5 year, $19 million contract. In 1995, Favre won his first of three MVP awards and led the Packers to an 11-5 record, their best record in almost thirty years. However, for the third straight year, they were beaten by the Cowboys in the playoffs. The following year, 1996, Favre and the Packers advanced to the Super Bowl, and defeated the New England Patriots 35-21 (Desmond Howard was SB MVP). The next year, Favre took the Packers to the Super Bowl again, only to be defeated by John Elway and the Broncos, 31-24. Favre has not returned to the biggest stage since then, but has provided some of the most amazing skills any person has ever seen from a Quarterback.


On March 1, 2001, Favre signed a "lifetime" contract extension with the Packers, which technically was only a 10 year contract worth somewhere around $100 million. The Packers were mediocre in the early 2000's and they couldn't regain the form they had in the mid 1990's. On December 22, 2003, one day after Favre lost his father to a heart attack, the emotional Favre led the Packers to a 41-7 victory over the Oakland Raiders. Favre threw for an amazing 399 yards and 4 TD's in the game, even getting applause from the Raider faithful. After the game, Favre commented, "I knew that my dad would have wanted me to play. I love him so much and I love this game. It's meant a great deal to me, to my dad, to my family, and I didn't expect this kind of performance. But I know he was watching tonight."


The 2007 season was a milestone season for Favre. On September 16, 2007, Green Bay defeated the New York Giants, 10-6, to earn Favre's 149th win in his storied career, surpassing John Elway. On September 30th, Favre threw his 421st touchdown to Greg Jennings, passing Dan Marino as the NFL's all-time leading touchdown passer. On November 4th, Favre became only the third player ever to defeat all other 31 teams in the NFL (along with Peyton Manning & Tom Brady). Later that season, against the Lions, Favre threw three touchdowns for the 63rd time, surpassing Marino yet again.


However, the Packers would lose in the playoffs to the eventual champion, New York Giants. Favre threw for 236 yards and 2 touchdowns, but threw an interception in OT to set up the Giants to win the game. His Green Bay days were pretty much over and it ended on an interception. On March 4, 2008, Favre announced that he would retire from the NFL. He wanted to come back, but felt that if the Packers didn't win the Super Bowl, it would be a worthless season. On July 11, he sent a letter to the Packers front office, wanting his unconditional release, so he would be able to sign with another team. Ted Thompson announced that he would not grant Favre his wish and would move into the Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay. He also publically announced three days later that his retirement was too soon and he didn't feel comfortable walking away from the game he loved and dominated.


After months of the "Favre Watch", the Packers finally dealt Favre to the New York Jets for a conditional 4th round pick. His New York tenure started off well with an 8-3 start and defeating the previously undefeated Tennessee Titans. However, the Jets lost 4 of their last 5 games and finished the season with a 9-7 record. He finished the season with 22 touchdowns and 22 interceptions, while complaining of shoulder pains. In the last game of the year against the Dolphins, Favre ended a potential game-tying drive with his third interception of the game. The Jets would miss the playoffs and his Jets career ended with an interception. New York Jets GM, Mike Tannenbaum, said after the season was over that the Jets wanted to take another direction and Favre's stint was over. On February 11, 2009, Favre told the Jets that he was officially retiring from the NFL.


Even though he was retired, Favre expressed interest in playing for Green Bay's long time rival, the Minnesota Vikings. On July 28, 2009, Favre announced to the Vikings that he would remain retired. But, on August 18, it was reported that Favre would un-retire and sign with the Vikings.


On October 5, Favre would play against the team he spent the majority of his career with, the Packers. In a thriller, the Vikings won the game 30-23, and Favre would become the first player ever in NFL history to defeat all 32 teams. On November 1, Favre returned to Green Bay for the first time. Amidst cheers and boos, Favre led the Vikings to victory once again with a 38-26 victory. The game drew 29.8 million viewers, which was even more than the Phillies and Yankees Game 4 matchup in the World Series. The Vikings started 10-1, but lost 3 of their last 4 games and finished the season 13-3. The Vikings went into the playoffs on a bad streak, but they defeated the Cowboys, 34-3, in Favre's first playoff win against Dallas. They advanced to the NFC Championship game, where they would lose to the eventual champion, New Orleans Saints. With time running down, Favre's last pass was an interception and the Vikings would have to go home in disappointment. Perhaps my favorite statistic ever, all of Favre's final throws for all 4 teams ended in interceptions. Definitely not a great way to go out for perhaps, the greatest QB ever.


Favre has yet to decide if he will come back. It's still up in the air whether he still has the ability to play the game. There is no doubt in my mind that he could lead the Vikings to more wins than Jackson and Rosenfels, but he still has to come back to even attempt it. The Vikings have one of the best overall teams in football with Favre coming back and they could probably go back to the NFC Championship game, and maybe win it. He should come back just to try for one last ring before he retires. I mean, he's such a great player, so why not?


Does he have enough in the tank? I say no, but with the heart he has, it can overcome anything. Favre has battled injuries throughout his entire career and he has still conquered some of the toughest feats. There is no doubt in my mind that he can still compete.


Will he come back? I think he will. Despite surgeries and injuries, Favre still has the heart to play football. With such a great team surrouding him, they can make it deep into the playoffs. Favre has even gone on to say that he wouldn't mind beating the Saints. With that statement, it seems to me that he wants to come back and if he has the ability to return, he will. Even Green Bay fans want to see him return. Statistically, he is the best Quarterback ever, so everyone would want to see him play. I believe that if he didn't have such a good team, he wouldn't come back. But, with the team he has, there is a very distinct possibility that he will return to the spotlight.


Like mentioned above, the Favre Watch gets me extremely annoyed, but it provides news in the NFL offseason. But, I'm excited to know Favre's decision because one way or another, it will change something in the NFL. It doesn't matter where he goes, just as long as he's in the NFL. It may be too good of a career to end just yet.


NOTE: If Brett Favre wanted to play the 2010 season, he would have to go through minor ankle surgery. He chose to do so and Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery earlier this month. Favre also injured his shoulder in 2008 with the Jets (Week 11), but New York failed to report it to the NFL ($125,000).