Favre: “I’m in it for the right reasons”

In classic Brett Favre-fashion, a press conference originally scheduled for 6:00pm EST didn’t begin until nearly a quarter-till seven. The delay for the start is not known, but it did enhance the anticipation for Favre to discuss the reasoning behind his decision to sign with the Minnesota Vikings.

Between helicopters flying over the Vikings practice facility this morning and traffic being stalled as fans flooded the area, it was certainly a wild day in St. Paul for everyone involved. Favre, who had just finished his first practice, seemed genuinely excited to be a member of the Vikings. “I’m in it for the right reasons,” he said.

Favre admitted that it was a long process to get to this point, and much of it was due to his surgically repaired biceps tendon. The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews — one of the most respected  surgeons in the country — sometime between May and June. From there, Favre went through a rehabilitation period in order to see if his arm was healed enough to play football. “For me, I had to be reassured from Dr. Andrews and the doctors here as well that this [the injury] wouldn’t be an issue,” Favre said.

There has certainly been concern about Favre’s arm and whether it will be able to withstand a 16-game NFL season. Favre, for his part, sounded adamant that his arm would be fine. “My arm has felt pretty good – good enough for me to feel confident in making the throws I need to make.”

Last season, Favre and the New York Jets started the season with a record of 8-3 and appeared to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders, especially after two stirring road victories over the New England Patriots and Tennesee Titans. The wheels came after late in the season, as Favre struggled to make the necessary throws and ultimately cost the Jets a playoff spot. Favre admitted that he can no longer make the throws that made him so great earlier in his career. “I don’t think I’m capable of doing some of the plays I used to make. I understand my limitations and how it pertains to what we’re trying to do,” he said.

The Jets had an extremely talented roster, but it wasn’t as good as what the Vikings have put together for 2009. Minnesota was arguably the best team in the NFC North before Favre’s arrival, but expectations have now been raised enormously. Favre himself has high expectations for the upcoming season. “My expectations are high. This team is a good football team. I didn’t come here to lose. I think we can be as good as we want to be.”

Speaking of the NFC North, Favre will now get to play two games against his former team, the Green Bay Packers. Many have speculated that Favre is simply coming out of retirement to defeat the Packers, but he denies anything to that effect. “This is not about revenge, believe me. They’ve moved on, I’ve moved on.”

“If you’re coming back for those two games, it’ll be a long year,” Favre said. “If it was about revenge, I would have signed on the dotted line the first day.”

Favre is right in that he can’t spend the whole season thinking about the Packers. While that seemed to play somewhat of a role in his return to the NFL, it wouldn’t be fair to the Vikings for Favre to think about nothing but playing Green Bay when their are 14 other games on the schedule.

With expectations so high for the team, preparation will be key in the coming weeks. Favre will have a lot of work to get done before the start of the regular season, but working to his advantage is the fact that Minnesota runs a similar offense to what he ran in Green Bay. “The system is what I’m used to — calling the plays was easy.”

Seeing Favre run onto the field at Lambeau Field in a Vikings uniform will be strange, to say the least. “16 years playing in Green Bay were great years and that was home to me,” said Favre.

The legacy of Favre as a Packer may be tainted because of his decision to play for the hated Vikings, and it may not be. Only time will tell, but no matter what happens this upcoming season, Favre’s No.4 jersey will be retired by the Packers at some point. Favre believes his legacy will be defined be what he thinks of it, not what others think. ”First of all, when people start talking about my legacy, it’s mine, he said. “It’s what I think of it. I know the way I played the game. I know the way I handled myself as a teammate and leader, in the public.

That is the future. The present is what Favre and the Vikings are solely focused on. Favre will need as many reps as possible with the first-team before the regular season. The Vikings still have three preseason games remaining, and that is where the process of developing chemistry will take place. Though Favre hasn’t had much time to get a feel for how his teammates play football, he may start on Friday night against the Kansas City Chiefs. “Obviously I’m behind the 8- ball a little bit,” Favre said. “I don’t think it’s smart to go out and play a whole half. As much as I’ve played my career, there’s a difference year to year.”

While he may or not play on Friday night, he can already start to help the Vikings in different ways. Favre said he spoke with the team’s other quarterbacks — Sage Rosenfels, Tarvaris Jackson and John David Booty — and said he would offer his help if any of the three had questions. Favre’s veteran presence can certainly help the development of the Jackson and Booty, who are still in the elementary stages of their careers.

His leadership is another aspect where he can help the Vikings. “I felt like all along I could offer some experience and leadership,” he said.

Leadership is something that a quarterback should always have, but first Favre must gain the trust of his teammates.. “Even though I’ve played a long time, you still have to earn the respect of this team,” Favre said.

Favre makes his regular season debut on September 13, when the Vikings travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns.

Brett Favre Is Back…. Are You At All Suprised?

It’s official. Brett Favre is now a member of the Minnesota Vikings.

Rumors ran wild this morning of Favre and his wife boarding a private plane that was heading for St. Paul, and the situation escalated from there. Vikings head coach Brad Childress confirmed earlier today that the Vikings will sign Favre, and No.4 arrived in St. Paularound 1:00pm EST.

The contract is reportedly a 2-year deal worth $10-12 million for the first season. The second year of the deal is likely there for salary cap reasons rather than it being a commitment from Favre that he will also play in 2010. Prior to the signing of Favre, Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson were engaged in a competition to see who would earn the right to become the Vikings starting quarterback. R0senfels looked to have the best shot at becoming a starter, especially after completing 10-of-13 passes for 93 yards in the team’s first preseason game, against the Indianapolis Colts. With Favre’s arrival, Rosenfels likely will become the No.2 quarterback, withJackson as the No.3.

The Vikings had been courting Favre for weeks, only to find out that he was going to stay retired. But now that he has decided to return, it’s entirely possible that the Vikings had a deal “under the table” with Favre so that he could become a member of the team after training camp. After all, Favre has never displayed a love for camp. Now that the Vikings have broken camp and the preseason is underway, Favre is now a member of the team.

According to ESPN’s Cris Carter, Favre will start for the Vikings on Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs. The game will be played inMinnesota, where the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome is sure to be filled with loads of anticipation. The Vikings have one of the best rosters in all of football, but the quarterback was always a question mark. That question has now been answered, as Favre is expected to produce big time for the Vikings. Minnesota runs the West Coast offense, a system Favre thrived in while playing with the Green Bay Packers.

Much of the reason Favre is returning to the NFL likely has to do with getting revenge on the Packers, who didn’t want Favre to return to the team in the summer of 2008 after Favre had first retired. He ultimately was traded to the New York Jets, where the team failed to make the playoffs. Reports emerged after Favre retired again that he never established a chemistry with teammates and separated himself from the group. There likely won’t be any problems in Minnesota, however, because the Vikings players apparently had been begging Favre to come and play for the team.

Since the learning curve for Favre in Minnesota doesn’t appear to be great, the biggest obstacle will be quickly establishing chemistry with teammates. That effort is already underway, as Favre has stepped onto the practice field with the Vikings.

While questions still remain about Favre’s health, it is hard to imagine he would return unless he was fully healthy. ESPN’s Ed Werder reported earlier today that Favre has a torn rotator cuff and the Vikings are aware of the injury, but it appears to be only a minor injury.

Should Favre stay healthy, one reason the signing could pay dividends is the fact that he won’t have to carry the load for the Vikings offense. Running back Adrian Peterson is arguably the best in the league at his position, and the bulk  of the offense will center around him. Favre will also have a talented group of skills players to work with besides Peterson, including receivers Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin, as well as tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.

Minnesota was already a favorite to win the NFC North, and those odds have increased with the addition of Favre. Conveniently for Favre, the Vikings toughest divisional opponent will be the Packers. Both of those games will be appointment viewing, especially when Favre and the Vikings travel to Lambeau Field in Week 8, a game that will take place November 1. The kind of reception Favre receives will be fascinating to watch. When Favre was traded to Jets last summer, some Packers fans bought Favre’s Jets jersey to show their love. But the fact that he is now a member of one of the Packers’ rivals undoubtedly changes everything. Scouring Packers blogs on the internet, there is a portion of fans who will always love No.4 because of how much he meant to Green Bay. There are also those who believe he has now tarnished his legacy as a Packer.

The Vikings first game against the Packers come at Week 5, a Monday Night Football game on October 5. Tickets for that game will be at a premium. On StubHub.com, the cheapest ticket available is currently $179, which is well above face value.

A press conference announcing the move is scheduled for 6:00pm EST. I’ll be posting some comments from Favre afterwards.

Seats Will Be Even Hotter For Coaches In 2009

Every season there are a number of NFL head coaches who are placed on the proverbial ‘hot seat’ by media and fans. It means that if the coach does not produce a successful season, he will inevitably be fired. The definition of a successful season is based solely in the eyes of the general manager and owner. Sometimes the coach can’t control the outcome of a season due to injuries and the like, but owners rarely let coaches make those kind of excuses after a poor season. Depending on how much patience an owner has, a coach can last a few years while the team transitions, or he can be out in flash after just one bad season.

The 2009 season will unfold with a different dynamic to the coaching hot seats in 2009. Sitting out the season and available for hire next year will be three Super Bowl winning head coaches in Mike Shanahan (two), Bill Cowher and Mike Holgrem (one each). Jon Gruden and Brian Billick also have Super Bowls under the belts, but it is questionable whether they want to return to coaching in 2010.

There are a number of different ways this will affect coaches who have little wiggle room heading into the upcoming season. The media will continually document that three better coaching options are waiting if the current coach’s team begins to struggle. Questions will be asked to the coach and his players about the situation almost daily, possibly creating a distraction. And if the distraction ends up trickling down to the players, the team could get gradually get worse. Remember, there is a reason the particular coach is on the heat seat.  Being able to avoid distractions and teach his team to compartmentalize likely isn’t a strong suit.

Just how bad the situation the coach is in will without question be the leading factor in determining whether he should be given another year to coach the team. The players on the roster, how long it’s been since reaching the playoffs and the overall attitude and culture on the team all are aspects that must be considered.

In Dallas, for example, coach Wade Phillips likely will be on a short leash. Over the past three seasons, the Cowboys have arguably had the most talent roster each of those years. What has it equated to? Two postseason appearances, 0 wins. Last season’s result probably won’t exit owner Jerry Jones’ brain for quite a while, as the team failed to make the playoffs thanks to a two-game losing streak to end the season. Team chemistry played a big role in the team’s struggles, which is why Jones released wide receiver Terrell Owens, cornerback Pacman Jones and defensive tackle Tank Johnson — all troublemakers that reflected on the Cowboys locker room chemistry. Owens may have been the biggest of them all, and getting rid of him signals that this is now quarterback Tony Romo’s team. At least one playoff victory is a must for Phillips if he wants to keep his job.

Another hot-spot will be on coach Dick Jauron of the Buffalo Bills, the team with which Owens landed. Signing Owens, who has wrecked three teams in his career, is a last-ditch attempt by Jauron at trying to make the playoffs and save his job. It’s a risky move, but it is a necessary move as the Bills could have used another playmaker on offense last season. How the signing affects QB Trent Edwards remains to be seen, but Owens has never had a good relationship with a QB before. Jauron knows that the Bills must improve on their 2008 record of 7-9, and with all of the hype surrounding the team anything but a trip to the postseason could get Jauron canned. The team got off to a great start in 2009, going 4-0, before Edwards suffered a concussion against the Cardinals. Jauron will not only to need to repeat the start of the season, but will need to build on it.

A somewhat similar situation is developing in Houston. Coach Gary Kubiak has not yet made the playoffs in his tenure, and expectations are going to be high this season. The team has had the talent over the last few seasons, but have failed to capitalize on it. QB Matt Schaub is talented, but he has not yet played a full 16-game season in his time with the Texans. Injuries have slowed him down in both of his seasons, and he will need to stay healthy should the Texans have a chance to reach the postseason. Armed with what has the potential to be one of the best offenses in the league, the Texans will be expected to do big things this upcoming season. Andre Johnson is possibly the best WR in the league, and RB Steve Slaton is a playmaker. On top of that, the defense should be solid with defensive end Mario Williams continuing to improve. While a playoff berth may not be the end-all-be-all for Kubiak, but he will need to improve.

Those are just three examples of coaches that will be on the hot seat. How the owners go about making decisions after the season should coaches struggle will be intriguing thing to watch. Jones has never shown the willingness to wait long for a coach to develop his team. He is one of the most impatient owners in the league, and the fact that he has given Phillips this much lee-way is remarkable in and of itself. One reason may be because Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett, the head coach in-waiting, may not be ready for the responsibility that entails being the head coach of the Cowboys. Bills owner Ralph Wilson is getting up in age, and he wants to see his team reach the postseason. If Jauron and the Bills struggle, he may be quick to to make a change. It will be interesting to see what route the Bills go if that does happen, because Wilson is far from the richest owner in the league, and it is going to take a good amount of money to hire a high-profile coach. Bob McNair, owner of the Texans, could choose to go in a number of different directions. If he doesn’t see improve, Kubiak could be as good as gone. But if McNair doesn’t want to hire a first-year head coach and also doesn’t want to pay big money for a coach, Kubiak could remain in Houston.

Will the state of the economy play a role in just how many big-name coaches get hired next season? In this terrible economy — even the NFL is apparently affected — it may be hard for owners to plunk down $10 million a year for a head coach, which is what it may take. Holmgren, Cowher and Shanahan are not going to come back for free. All are excellent coaches and will demand a high salary. Another issue will be control of personnel decisions, which may back some owners (Jones and Washington Redskins owner Daniel Synder come to mind) off.

The presence alone of Holmgren, Cowher and Shanahan is sure to put an extra dose of pressure coaches who are on the hot seat heading into 2009. It’s yet another intriguing aspect to think about heading into the season.

Training Camp Power Rankings

Training camps have begun for all 32 teams in the NFL. The preseason will be here in a flash, and the regular season will shortly follow. It’s a great time for football fans, there’s no doubt about it. As training camps are now in full swing, this is a great time to take a look at where teams stand in the power rankings. Injuries will certainly impact the standings on almost a daily basis, and new rankings will be posted periodically during training camp and the preseason. I hope to make this a regular feature during the regular season.

1. New England Patriots — The return of quarterback Tom Brady and various offensive additions (wide receiver Joey Galloway, running back Fred Taylor) make the Patriots the odds-on Super Bowl favorites.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers — The defending champs lost Nate Washington, their No.3 receiver, but that’s about it. Look for the running game to re-emerge this season. The Steelers should see improved offensive line play in 2009.

3. Tennessee Titans — QB Kerry Collins was a surprise last season, and he will need to do more of the same this season. The running game is where the Titans will excel, which is a great formula for winning football games.

4. Philadelphia Eagles — Eagles management finally gave QB Donovan McNabb the offensive playmakers he needs to win it all. There will be no excuses in Philly this season.

5. New York Giants — A young receiver corps is going to have to develop quickly, but the Giants will have the ability to rely on their running game and defense to win football games. Not a bad combination.

6. Indianapolis Colts — The model for consistency in the NFL is QB Peyton Manning and the Colts. Always at the top of the standings, expect nothing different this year. Anthony Gonzalez will need to step up as the No.2 WR.

7. Baltimore Ravens — Don’t underestimate the loss of defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. He also took with him to New York linebacker Bart Scott and safety Jim Leonhard. How new DC  Greg Mattison adapts will be key.

8. Atlanta Falcons — There will be no sophomore slump for QB Matt Ryan. The addition of tight end Tony Gonzalez makes the Falcons even better. For the Falcons to improve upon last season, the defense has to be better.

9. San Diego Chargers — The window for winning with the team as currently constructed is closing. With RB LaDainian Tomlinson approaching 30, this may be the last chance the Chargers have to win it all with this group.

10. Minnesota Vikings — Brett Favre won’t be playing QB, but that doesn’t mean the Vikings hopes are dashed. With the best RB in the game in Adrian Peterson, a return trip to the playoffs is almost inevitable.

11. Arizona Cardinals — The history of Super Bowls runners-up hasn’t been pretty over the past decade. The Cardinals will have a good chance to reverse that trend playing in a weak NFC West.

12. Dallas Cowboys — Addition by subtraction is the phrase being thrown out around Valley Ranch. Getting rid of WR Terrell Owens is the best thing the Cowboys could have done to improve the team. This is now QB Tony Romo’s team.

13. Miami Dolphins — After shocking everyone by going 11-5 last season, it will be difficult to improve in 2009. Teams began figuring out the wildcat late in the year, so improvements to the formation must be made.

14. Chicago Bears — With the easiest schedule in the league and the addition of QB Jay Cutler, expect big things from the Bears. A questionable receiver corps keeps them out of the playoff picture, for now.

15. Carolina Panthers — One of the league’s best teams last season, the Panthers now stand to take a dip down in the standings. The big question: can Jake Delhomme recover from his 6-turnover performance in the NFC Division round?

16. Green Bay Packers — As long as they can avoid the injuries that plagued them last season, a playoff run is possible. RB Ryan Grant needs to return to his 2007 form. How they transition to the 3-4 defense will be something to watch.

17. New Orleans Saints — The Saints have one of the best offenses in the league, but they will need the help of the defense in order to compete in the tough NFC South. Expect QB Drew Brees to have another monster season.

18. Houston Texans — With playmakers across the board, the Texans figure to compete in the always-competitive AFC South. QB Matt Schaub, who hasn’t played a full season with in Houston, must stay healthy for this team to have a chance.

19. New York Jets — New head coach Rex Ryan will give this team loads of toughness on both sides of the football. Rookie QB Mark Sanchez likely will start right away, and he will be counted on to limit his mistakes and make a few big plays.

20. Washington Redskins — Coach Jim Zorn is on the hot seat. The addition of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth will improve the ‘Skins front seven, but the play of QB Jason Campbell will determine wins and losses.

21. Buffalo Bills — Good luck to you, Trent Edwards. The signing of WR Terrell Owens could easily stall Edwards development as a QB. The over/under on a T.O. blowup is Week 8. Coach Dick Jauron’s seat is getting very warm.

22. Cincinatti Bengals — Losing WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh won’t hurt the team as much as people think. Laveraneus Coles was signed in the offseason, and Chris Henry is reportedly ready to have a big year.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars — Injuries to the offensive line had a dramatic impact on the Jags last season, which is why they drafted Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton in the first round of the draft.

24. San Francisco 49ers — The Mike Singletary era has begun in San Fran. Signing rookie WR Michael Crabtree is going to be tricky, and there’s also a QB battle to worry about. Welcome to coaching, Samurai Mike.

25. Seattle Seahawks — QB Matt Hasselbeck’s health will be a key to the season, as will the improvement’s of the defense. Adding Houshmandzadeh will help the receiver corps, but that group must also stay healthy, which didn’t happen last year.

26. Tamba Bay Buccaneers — New head coach Raheem Morris has a lot of work cut out for him. The team cut a host of veterans in the offseason, and a rebuilding process is under way. Picking a starting QB will be Morris most important task yet.

27. Denver Broncos — Trading away disgruntled QB Jay Cutler was far from smart. Now the Broncos must go into the season with Kyle Orton as the starter, and WR Brandon Marshall requesting a trade. Even in the AFC West, the Broncos stand to struggle.

28. Oakland Raiders — QB JaMarcus Russell needs to have a big season to shed the “bust” label. QB Jeff Garcia is ready to take his job if things don’t go well. Second-year RB Darren McFadden needs to have a big year after suffering a rash of injuries in 2008.

29. Kansas City Chiefs — When you go 2-14, it’s hard to get much worse. New head coach Todd Haley must have that attitude as the Chiefs embark on a rebuilding process. Adding QB Matt Cassel is a great way to start the process.

30. St. Louis Rams — Like the Chiefs, the Rams are coming off a 2-14 season. The Rams have had just 5 wins over the past two seasons, so new head coach Steve Spagnuolo has a lot of work to do. Spagnuolo will bring the team a better plan defensively.

31. Cleveland Browns — New head coach Eric Mangini has a tough decision to make at QB. Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn have both been unimpressive, reportedly. Without good QB play, the Browns could struggle mightily in 2009.

32. Detroit Lions — For the Lions, the only way to go is up. They were the first team in league history to 0-16 last season. Rookie QB Matthew Stafford will likely be counted on to play and play well. RB Kevin Smith should be a bright spot.

Same Old, Same Old In The NFC East

Less than a week from today, the NFL season will begin with the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. The game will take place between the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans. The Hall of Fame Game is a guarantee every year that fans look forward to. It signals the start of the new season. But few things in the NFL are guaranteed. With all of the contact and risk of injury on every play, there simply isn’t enough consistency for things to stay the same year-after-year. One of the things that is consistent is the NFC East, consistently the best and toughest division in football. Last season was a little different, as the NFC South gave the East a run for its money. Based solely on wins and losses, the South was the best division in football last season. Based on all factors, including talent and teams overall, arguments could have been made for every division. But the South’s dominance last season would appear to be an anomaly. In 2009, the East will once again reclaim its place as the best and toughest division in the NFL.

There are a number of factors that go into determining just how good a division is, and wins and losses isn’t necessarily the biggest. Talent, skill, competition and the rivalries are all important determining factors. Every game within the division must be tough. To truly gage just how good a division is from a pure football standpoint, look at the team that is expected to finish last. And in the case of the East in ’09, most experts and fans (including myself) have pegged the Washington Redskins to finish in fourth place.

The Redskins won’t be as bad as most people think. Last season, they came out on fire behind the energy of first-year head coach Jim Zorn. They got off to a 4-1 start, thanks to a solid offensive numbers from running back Clinton Portis and quarterback Jason Campbell. Portis wound up carrying the team on his back for the first half of the season, and the workload he received early on probably contributed to the team’s down-slide in the second half of the year. Cambell, who had gotten off to such a good start, fizzled in the last half of the season as the Redskins lost 4 of their final 5 games. Their record was 8-8, good enough for last in the division. To finish with a .500 winning percentage and come in last says a lot about the East, as only the South had a similar result. In Zorn’s second season at the helm, improvements naturally should me made. Plus, owner Daniel Synder did what he does best by making the biggest splash of the offseason. The ‘Skins signed arguably the best defensive tackle in football, Albert Haynesworth. They also added defensive end Brian Orakpo through the draft. Both additions should improve their front seven. Though the ‘Skins likely will come in last place, they should be better than their record shows, which will ultimately reflect on the division.

From a talent standpoint, tally up another victory for the East. Offensively, New York Giants QB Eli Manning (pictured, right), Dallas Cowboys’ QB Tony Romo and Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb comprise the best group of QBs in one division. While the East doesn’t have the best group of defensive players in one division, it does have two players, LB DeMarcus Ware and cornerback Asante Samuel, that are arguably the best at their respective divisions. This category is the trickiest to judge, because loads of talent is sprinkled throughout the league. Finding the most talented players stacked in division is nearly impossible, but a compelling case can be made for the East. But this is the category in which all of the divisions are stacked up closely.

The competition aspect is where the race for best division is really won. If a team goes undefeated in their division, it doesn’t bode well for the strength of the division. In 2008, for example, two teams went undefeated in their respective divisions: the Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North) and Arizona Cardinals (NFC West). Obviously both were excellent teams as the played in the Super Bowl, but their divisions were far from great. And at the bottom of the spectrum, having a team go 0-6 in the division isn’t a good harbinger of strength. Three teams — the St. Louis Rams (NFC West), Detroit Lions (NFC North) and Buffalo Bills (AFC East) — didn’t win a single game in their divisions last season. As usual, the NFC East was the most competitive division in football last season, along with the South. The team with the best record in the division, the Giants, went 4-2. The team with the worst record, the Eagles, went 2-4. Only the South had the same win-loss numbers. But the South figures to take a slide this season, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won’t be nearly as good as they were last season. The Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints stand to be improved, but Carolina may come back down to earth  after going 12-4 last season. Every team in the East, meanwhile, has improved. As a result, games in the division figure to be even better and more competitive in ’09.

In the NFC East, rivalry is a word that gets thrown around a lot, and deservedly so. Cowboys/Giants always seems to produce two of the best games of the year. Eagles/Cowboys tends to be just as good and it is one of the best rivalries in the game. Redskins/Giants and Redskins/Eagles don’t necessarily have the storied history of the other games, but both are always fun to watch. Then there is the crown jeweled rivalry of the division, Redskins/Cowboys. These two games are two of the most intense and hard fought games in football. This game means so much that when the Redskins defeated the Cowboys in the final Redskins/Cowboys game at Texas Stadium, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones looked like he was going to fire every member of his coaching staff on the spot. While there are great rivalries throughout football, the East has produced the best rivalry games on a consistent basis.

The ’09 season once again figures to be an excellent one for the NFC East. No matter how much people seem to dislike the teams in the division, everyone will be watching. And how can they not? Quite simply, it’s the best division in football.

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.

Finally, The Favre Saga Is Over (Maybe)

After months of reporters camping out in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, waiting for the latest news on a retired NFL quarterback looking to possibly return to the league — for the third time — the Brett Favre saga has ended, for now.

Earlier Tuesday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress had said that Favre would not be making a comeback. Favre later confirmed the news to ESPN.

Favre had set a self-imposed deadline for a decision on whether to return for July 30, which is when the Vikings open up training camp. If Favre were to be an affective QB for the Vikings, he would need to be in camp, interacting with his new teammates and building chemistry with his wide receivers. Though reports recently emerged that the Vikings had no deadline set for Favre, the fact that Favre followed through and came up with a decision before the start of camp was a nice gesture.

The pressure was mounting on Favre to come to a conclusion, as football fans had become sick of the story. Favre has been contemplating retirement for the last seven years now, and the back-and-forth that he has played with the media has worn on the emotions of not just fans directly effected by his decisions, but with fans everyone. When Favre conducted a teary-eyed press conference a few months after the Green Bay Packers heartbreaking loss to the New York Giants in the 2008 NFC Championship, the world assumed he was done for good. Just a few weeks later, however, Favre indicated that he was getting the itch to return to the game. When he decided that he wanted to return to Green Bay, the Packers had already moved on, giving the starting QB job to Aaron Rodgers. Drama ensued, with Favre reportedly wanting to play for the Vikings. The Packers would not let that happen since it was a division rival, and promptly traded him to the Jets.

The bright lights of New York never appeared to become comfortable for Favre, but he played well enough to get the Jets off to an 8-3 start. The Jets tailed off at the end of the season, however, with Favre being the key reason for the dropoff. Favre retired after the season, and once again it looked like his career was over.

Then, Favre was released from the Jets, giving him the ability to sign with any team in the league, should he so choose. The Vikings quickly became the first and only option, and months of posturing between the two sides followed. But the back-and-forth has now ended. Favre is finally done tormenting with the Vikings. His comments to ESPN show that this well-likely could be the end of a fascinating career.

“It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” Favre said. “I didn’t feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable. I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings — but, most importantly, the fans.”

Even with those comments, this is Brett Favre we are talking about. He could once again get the itch to play in the NFL, and the back-and-forth could be back on. He told NFL Network’s Steve Mariucci that he will still throw and work out. This story may be over, and it may not be over. With Brett Favre, it’s hard to truly know.

Later, we’ll be diving further into Favre’s career and his place in NFL history, as well as where the Vikings go from here.

Training Camps Are Here, And So Are The Storylines

The long NFL offseason is finally over. All of the minicamps, OTAs and voluntary practice sessions are over. It’s finally time for teams to step out onto the field and begin preparing for the 2009 season. The Cleveland Browns rookies became the first to begin camp when they got went onto the field this morning, which means the push towards the regular season has officially started. The grind of training camp will hit teams shortly, as two-a-day sessions are just around the corner. The sweltering summer heat will undoubtedly test the mental fortitude of all players, and that’s what training camp is all about. It’s where championship teams are built. New offensive and defensive schemes were implemented in after the draft. New plays and concepts were drawn up and practiced during OTAs and minicamps. Training camp is a time to build team chemistry and camaraderie. There’s a reason coaches love training camp — it’s where the strength of the team is crafted.

This is always a great time in the NFL, because each team’s city is optimistic that this is their year. Every time is undefeated right now, meaning everyone can dream of making a trip to Miami, the site of Super Bowl XLIV in February 2010. Each and every team that struggled last season can think of being this year’s Miami Dolphins or Arizona Cardinals.

With the start of training camps comes the endless storylines that NFL fans around the country will be debating day-after-day. The list of intriguing camp battles, coaching changes and players returning from injury will make every training camp exciting to follow. These are just some of the intriguing storylines as we head into camps:

>> The quarterback battles: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn will battle all of training camp to determine who will be the starting quarterback battle when the team opens up the season on September 13 against the Minnesota Vikings. This won’t be an easy competition by any stretch, as new head coach Eric Mangini is expected to work Anderson and Quinn vigorously. Who wins this competition is anyone’s guess. Anderson has the bigger arm by far and therefore is a better threat to bring the team’s vertical passing game back to its 2007 form, when Anderson routinely hooked up with wide receiver Braylon Edwards to make the Browns one of the best offenses in the league. Quinn, meanwhile, is more accurate and a much better game manager. This battle is likely to extend well into camp, as Mangini has indicated that he won’t make a decision until the third preseason game.

San Francisco is another team with a QB competition about to start. Alex Smith(pictured, left), the No.1 pick of the 2005 draft, has recovered from injury and will look to win back the starting job. He will have to beat out Shaun Hill, who has performed surprisingly well over the last few seasons for the 49ers. Smith took a dramatically reduced salary to stay with the 49ers, because this is without question his best start to win a starting job. The coaching regime that drafted him is gone, but that doesn’t mean the team does not want to see him succeed. Those in the organization who were apart of the drafting process who love to see Smith do well. Ultimately it will come down to who gives the 49ers the best chance to win football games. Smith has had trouble staying healthy over his career, while Hill has seemed to have always played well when the team has called his number. Head coach Mike Singletary will have a tough decision to make this summer.

Another fierce competition will be taking place in Tampa Bay, where three QBs are likely to be involved in the competition for the Buccaneers. Luke McCown, Byron Leftwich, and first-round draft pick Josh Freeman are the participants, but not one of them particularly stood out in the spring. There will undoubtedly be pressure on the organization to start Freeman, especially considering the team traded up two spots in the draft to select him. But Freeman is viewed by many as a project who will need 2-3 years to develop, meaning it is unlikely he will earn the starting job at the start of the season. Then, the battle is down to Leftwich and McCown. McCown has indicated that he think this is “his job to lose,” and he’s probably right. Leftwich, the No.7 overall pick by the Jaguars in 2003, hasn’t yet made his mark on the league. He has always had a slow delivery, which is a no-no in the NFL. Still, he’s a solid QB, as is McCown. The way this battle is shaping up, the player who immediately steps up will earn the starting job.

>> Coaching Changes: Like every offseason, 2009 featured a number of coaching changes throughout the league. Each new coach brings energy, enthusiasm and a different perspective to his new team. The coach with the toughest job this upcoming season will be Jim Schwartz (pictured, right) trying to rebuild the Detroit Lions, who last year became the first team to go 0-16 in a single season.  Steve Spagnuolo won’t have an easy job, either, as he will try to rebuild a Rams franchise that has won just 5 games over the last two seasons. Eric Mangini takes over in Cleveland, and questions about how effective his demanding coaching style is persist throughout the league. Rex Ryan, the fiery defensive coordinator from Baltimore, inherits a New York Jets team that was just one game away from reaching the playoffs last season. Josh McDanies tenure as coach of Denver Broncos hasn’t gotten off to a great start, as he traded away franchise QB Jay Cutler, making his job in 2009 much more difficult. Todd Haley steps in as new coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, and he had the good fortune of acquiring QB Matt Cassel from New England; unfortunately, most of the rest of the team is mediocre at best. Tom Cable stepped in as interim coach for the Oakland Raiders last season, and did a good enough job to shed off the interim tag, but QB questions, a mediocre receiver corp and a shaky defense won’t make his job easy. Rahim Moore takes over in Tampay Bay, and he did not get on the fans’ good side by dumping veterans such as Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn. Mike Singletary steps in for the 49ers, and it will be interesting to see how much his hard-nosed style will improve the team. Finally, Jim Mora is the new coach in Seattle, where the window to win with veteran QB Matt Hasselbeck is closing.

All are good coaches who could make a big impact on the league in 2009. Ryan may have the best chance of them all to make the playoffs, as he has a veteran group, with the exception of rookie QB Mark Sanchez, who is likely to start. Also, don’t count out Mora, who was with the team last year as the secondary coach. He knows the team well and is playing in a wide-open NFC West.

Two injured players make their return: Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and Shawne Merriman of the San Diego Chargers will be back on the field in 2009.

Brady tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the first quarter of the first game of the 2008 regular season game against the Chiefs. He has had a lot of time to recover, and all indications are that he will be ready to go at the beginning of the regular season. The Patriots traded away backup QB Matt Cassel, which should be a clear indication that they feel Brady is fully healthy and will have no trouble recovering. There has to be some level of consternation among the Patriots fans, though, as most QBs who tear their ACLs take two years to recover. Donovan McNabb and Carson Palmer ar good examples of what to expect in the first season back from a knee injury. Both didn’t play up their ability, as they were still in the recovering process. Working to Brady’s advantage, however, is the fact that the injury has had so much time to heal.  When he steps onto the field on September 14, the injury will have occured over a year ago. How he moves in training camp will be a good sign of how he is feeling.

Merriman, meanwhile, tore multiple ligaments in knee during last year’s training camp. He was able to play in the season opener against the Panthers but was forced to sit out the rest of the season, as it was clear that he simply wasn’t himself. Merriman is one of the best linebackers in the league and his absence was certainly felt by the Chargers. The defense’s production declined without Merriman, proving just how valuable he is to the team. The is a crucial year for Merriman, as his contract expires after this season. Absent a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, he will only be a restricted free agent next offseason. According to league rules, only players with at least six years of service can become unrestricted free agents when there is no salary cap due to the lack of a CBA. Therefore, Merriman will need to performn extremely well and prove to the Chargers that he deserves a new contract. If he doesn’t, the Chargers will have the ability to offer him a low-ball contract offer because of the fact that he will be restricted.

Rookie holdouts: Teams will have rookies report to training camp over the next week, but how many of the actually show up is in question. Only two first-rounders — Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez — are under contract with their respective teams. Teams are going to work hard over the next few days to try and get their first-round picks under contract, but it’s not going to be easy. Negotiations usually depend on other signings. For example, Cincinatti OT Andre Smith was the sixth overall pick in the draft. His agent, Alvin Keels, will look at the contract given to last year’s sixth pick, Jets LB Vernon Gholston, as well as the contract of Sanchez — taken directly ahead of Smith — and Oakland WR Darrius Heyward-Bey — taken directly behind him. There are multiple problems with that strategy, however. First off, Sanchez’s $50.5 million deal with $28 million guaranteed has to be looked at differently considering QBs always make the most money. Second, Heyward-Bey has not yet been signed by the Raiders, so Keels does not have the ability to ask for something in between the 5 and 7 draft slots.

More disconcerting is the lack of second-round selections that have signed. As of this post, only seven second-rounders have signed contracts. A flurry of deals should be signed sometime soon, but teams are going to have to work extra hard to make sure that these rookies get to camp in a timely fashion. It is imperative that the rookies get to camp on time, because they all have a lot to learn. Showing up late can hamper a rookie’s progress — just ask Raiders QB JaMarcus Russel, who held in ’07 and played in only four games that season.