It’s Time For The Vikings To Move On

Brad Childress poked, prodded, and did everything he could to lure one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history to come and save the Minnesota Vikings season. Childress and the Vikings brass risked a whole lot with the pursuit, basically telling the Vikings current QBs — Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels — that the team felt it didn’t have enough at the position.

On Tuesday, things changed dramatically for the Vikings, as Brett Favre informed that the team that he would not be coming out of retirement to play in Minnesota. Siting health, both mental and physical, as the reason for his decision, it left many around the league stunned. Favre had surgery on his torn biceps months ago, which at the time seemed to be a clear indication that he was intending to come back. Why else would he want to have surgery? So that he could operate his tractor easier? Favre was also seen working out with local high school players in Hattiesburg. Again, did anyone believe he was throwing the football around for fun, or to test his arm? Even though he did all of this, he never officially told the Vikings he was going to come back. In fact, he reportedly told the Vikings a week ago he was not going to make a return, which subsequently resulted in a number of Vikings veterans placing phone calls to Favre, trying to convince him to return.

The Vikings put all the pressure in the world on Favre to make a return. The pursuit of Favre quickly began to feel like a something that was going to make or break the 2009 season for the Vikings, especially with the way players were talking about not just wanting Favre, but needing him.

Jackson and Rosenfels are question marks at the position. The team was good last season with Jackson at the helm, but he was arguably the sole reason that the Vikings were not able to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles at home in the NFC Wild Card Game. Jackson doesn’t have the arm strength of most No.1 QBs in the NFL, and he isn’t exceptionally accurate. Rosenfels, meanwhile, was traded to Minnesota prior to the draft and had been a career backup in Houston. It’s easy to see why the prospects of going into the season with the Rosenfels and Jackson didn’t look appealing to anyone in the Minnesota front office. With either of the two, the team would be good. But with Favre, they had the potential to be great. He was, in the eyes of Childress, the missing piece to possibly the championship puzzle.

But Favre said no. After all the workouts and throwing sessions and all of the discussions with Childress and Vikings players, Favre decided to remain retired. Whether it truly was his health, or all of the pressure he was sure to face in Minnesota — that doesn’t matter anymore.  What does matter is the Vikings trying to win football games, and in order for that to happen like the fans, coaches and owner Zygi Wilf want it to happen, the Vikings must move on from Favre.

Remember, the Vikings are not a team that is simply trying to make the playoffs in 2009. They did that last season, and it ended with a disappointing loss to the Eagles. Moreover, they’re not looking for a division title — they also accomplished that feat last season. What they are looking for is a deep playoff run, culminating in a trip to Miami for the Super Bowl. Though Childress and the Vikings felt they needed Favre to have an opportunity to reach all of their goals, everything is still within their grasp.

Training camp will be very important for the Vikings and Childress, who must mend relationships with Jackson and Rosenfels. Both were under the assumption during minicamps and OTAs that they would be competing for the starting job come August — and they will be. But the pursuit of Favre likely ruffled a few feathers, especially Jackson, who likely feels that the team has little confidence in him. Rosenfels was signed for three years and $9 million, meaning he was brought in because the Vikings believed he had the chance to win the job. Both certainly have the right to be a little perturbed, but they don’t have the right to be downright furious. All Childress was doing was trying to improve the football team, and it’s hard to fault him for that. They have to put all of that behind them now, because the Vikings need one to step up and lead them to the promise land.

Looking at the Vikings roster, they have a great opportunity to make a run this season. For starters, the NFC is as wide open as ever. No team is the consensus favorite, and opinions vary greatly on which team has the best chance to be playing in Miami in February. Secondly, and most importantly, the Vikings have the best running back in the league, bar none, in Adrian Peterson. With him in the backfield, it’s hard to discount the Vikings chances. On offense, the Vikings added a playmaker in wide receiver Percy Harvin through the draft. Harvin skills are wide-ranging, and he should be counted on to be a heavy contributor as the season wears on. Also, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe is a rising star at the position, and his role in the offense should expand, no matter who is lining up under center.

Defensively, the Vikings have one of the best units in the league, led by defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams. Defensive end Jared Allen is excellent at getting to the passer, and the team’s secondary is solid. Though they lost longtime safety Darren Sharper, they recently locked up cornerback Antoine Winfield for five more seasons. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier is quickly making a name for himself, and he really has a chance to show what he can do this season.

The Vikings swung and missed on Favre, yes, but someone is still going to have to play quarterback. The position is going to have to improve for the team to succeed, there’s no doubt about that. Whoever wins the job will need to play exceptionally well to quiet the doubters, and there will be many of them.

With or without Brett Favre, the Vikings season is going to commence on September 13. It’s time for everyone in the organization to move on from No.4, and start the trek toward championship No. 1.

Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil Or Could That Best Describe The AL East ?

Well it goes without saying that with the trade deadline beckoning. The movers and the shakers will be looking to make the deals that they think’ll put them over the top. They’ll either become contenders or pretenders. So far we’ve seen in the AL East only rumblings as to there being some sort of move that might be imminent.

Joba Chamberlain of the New York Yankees pitching in a game against the Tampa Bays at Tropicana Field , St Petersburg, Florida. The Yankees would go on to defeat the Rays 6-2 and win their three game series 2-1. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mike Carlson ....................

However, it’s not said to be from one the big two teams within the division. Neither the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees are said to be players as of yet. But that’s not to say that things aren’t about to change between now and the 4 pm deadline tomorrow afternoon. Whereas , it’s now being rumored that the Sox may well show some interest in the Toronto Blue Jays’ Roy Halladay . It’s far from definite that Red Sox GM Theo Esptein is prepared to go that route. The price that Jays’ GM J P Ricciardi is asking is said to be aksing is a very steep one. And if anything , many purists in and outside of the game believe that he’s overstepping his reach in that endeavor.

Rays' shortstop Jason Bartlett throws to first after making the play against the Yankees' Robinson Cano. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mike Carlson .......................

But as we know someone , somewhere along the line may well be bold and brave enough to meet the Blue Jays’ asking price , for one of the most desired pitchers that’s said to be on the market. The Philadelphia Phillies made sure of that when they were rebuffed by the Jays. They went out instead and obtained Ciff Lee from the Cleveland Indians , without having to really give up all that much. And it’d appear that the Indians may well be in the midst of cleaning house as it’s been said that they’re also prepared to listen to offers for their All Star catcher , Victor Martinez .

Mark Teixeira watches his home run in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mike Carlson ........

At this time of the year one would expect that they New York Yankees would be major players as it comes down to the trade deadline. But such has been the play and form of the team. That having gone 8-2 in their last 10 games and then seeing their most heated rival the Red Sox seemingly in something of a splutter. It has to be said that they may well be feeling very good about the way things are now turning out. The Yankees’ hitters are hitting with effortless ease and perhaps most surprisingly their pitching is finally beginning to look more ominous. The same however, can’t be said of the Boston Red Sox. They’ve struggled to find some semblance of offense and their closer , Jonathan Papelbon all of a sudden seems to be unable to close out games even when nothing more than three outs is required.

Rays' pitcher Matt Garza reacts after giving up a run last night in the team's 6-2 loss to the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mike Carlson .................

And while the two predominantly most talked about teams within the division seemingly go on their merry way. Left , looking up at both within the divsion , are last year’s pennant and division winner , the Tampa Bay Rays (55-47). They’re 7 1/2 games out of first place , the spot now held by the New York Yankees (62-39) . And they are a mere 4 games behind the Boston Red Sox (58-42). Herein lies the dilemma for the Rays at present. It has been their inconsistency to win not only games with resonance but also their lack of taking series as and when it matters most. It now makes their task of even gaining a wild-card berth all the more formidable. Not only has the Rays’ pitching of late, been inconsistent . But so too has been the unearthly silence of their bats.

Yahkees' second baseman Robinson Cano tags the Rays' Jason Bartlett as he tries to steal a base in the third inning of the game. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mike Carlson ............................

The Tampa Bay Rays now face a four game series against the Kansas City Royals . Before they take on the Boston Red Sox in a 2 game series , that’ll have a great deal of meaning for both teams in more ways than one. A loss of the series and it could well spell an end for the Rays’ aspirations in obtaining a wild-card berth. A win and it gives them the added confidence of trying to pursue that goal with even more zeal.

Evan Longoria of the Rays is congratulated by teammate Ben Zobrist after his home run against the New York Yankees in the fifth inning of the game. The Rays would go on to lose 6-2 and fall futher behind both the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the AL East division. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mike Carlson ..................

Coming off a series’ loss to the New York Yankees merely added to the woes of the team. And there’s now even more growing uncertainty as to the ownership’s overall ambitions as to the remainder of the season for the Tampa Bay Rays. There’s already speculation that the team may well be prepared to make one or two trades that’ll ease their salary burden. Atop of of the list of the players said to be rumored to be departing is their pitcher Scott Kazmir . In spite of this all, for the moment all we can do is wait to see what will transpire over the ensuing 24 hours to the trade deadline. If nothing else , any decisions that are forthcoming will be made in conjunction with the team’s management structure and that of its executives in the form of Joe Maddon , the team’s GM Andrew Friedman and principal owner Stuart Sternberg . Cost cutting once was the norm for the team. But if they’re to go down this road once again, whatever goodwill that they built up within the community , by way of the support shown. It may well count for nothing at the end of the day. There’s only so much that the fanbase can withstand. And at the same time there’s only so much that ownership may well be prepared to do , in order to facilitate the perceived semblance of success.

Such have been the vagaries of the game. That even in these uncertain economic times . Within the game of baseball it is still about the haves and have nots. It’s not necessarily about competition on the field of play. But how much one can afford to spend in order to attain a championship and then to be viewed as a champion.