Peyton Manning had surgery this week to alleviate a pinched nerve in his neck that had been bothering him on and off for the last four seasons. This procedure is likely to take care of the problem, and Manning is expected not to miss any offseason workouts and will be fine come the regular season. The question arises that with his neck feeling better, will it make him a more effective passer next season?…
While Manning will never admit if the injury hampered him in anyway, you still have to wonder. Knowing you have the injury, playing throught it has to have some effect on your passing ability. Manning has been a clutch regular season passer but has struggled in the playoffs including a costly interception in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl that sealed the fate for the Colts against the Saints. He played the whole Super Bowl tenatively and really took no downfield risks. He needed to let it all hang out and did not.
Manning is a gamer ala Brett Favre and has started 210 consecutive games second only to Favre. He will play through any injuries and maybe a healthy neck will make his play even better next season. Manning has a lot to play for next season. He will be out to avenge the Super Bowl loss to the Saints and his contract expires after the 2010 season. Manning will have no problem getting a contract extension from the Colts, but will have a lot more to bargain with if he shows he is totally healthy. He can now concentrate being a pain in the neck for his opponents next season instead of his own pain in the neck. I think Manning will be even better next season and will be out in earnest to get his second Super Bowl ring.
Brett Favre has thanked the fans of the Minnesota Vikings and has said that he has no regrets on playing for them last season. He has also indicated that he could not have enjoyed the season anymore than he did. He has the support of many of his fellow players and fans. But as usual, Brett Favre is not letting the cat out of the bag when it comes to playing for the Vikings for one more season. Why is he going down this road again?…
Brett Favre is not talking yet on coming back next year.
I think that if Favre truly believes in what he says, he should make his decision sooner than later. He has made a habit of being in limbo on this decision before and that is not fair to the fans or his teamates. He had one of his best sesons statistically and was as close as you could get in bringing the Vikings to the Super Bowl. I would think that he would want to redeem himself after the mistakes he made in the NFC championship game against the Saints including another costly interception in overtime that sealed the Vikings fate. Maybe it was the last choke we will see by Favre and maybe he doubts himself when it counts most.
Favre did sign a two year contract so that is another reason to make a decision fast. Live up to your word and your contract and make a decision. Don’t make people wait and create the drama the you clearly crave. While I personally think Favre should hang it up, I want him to step in the pocket and make a decision timely. Quit with the indecisiveness.
I admit, I was one of those Vikings fans that dreaded the idea of the hated ex Green Bay QB wearing the Purple and Gold.
I made puking sounds when I saw the Photoshop pictures of Favre in a Vikings uniform.
I made gagging sounds when I heard that yes he COULD become a Viking.
I gave the evil eye to whomever said that yes, he would be coming to Minnesota to play.
I stared unbelieving at the TV as the SUV moved along 494 toward Winter Park, which oddly reminded me of the OJ chase.
No, not Brett Favre who had been a thorn in our side for 16 years. Who I called many names, including Diva, spoiled, Hick, among many others. I remember laughing at him as he cried through his retirement speech. Cheering when he broke the record for most INTs, booing him as he acted like a big baby and hid from cameras when the Pack was losing big to the Vikings years ago, his trainers hiding him with towels. How pathetic is that?
It wasn’t because I didn’t think Favre was talented, oh no! It was because Favre was still considered a PACKER even if he hadn’t been on the team for over a year. After all, for 16 years he led the Packers to numerous championships, including two super bowls. He out played our team, out smarted our defense and basically was the icon for the Green Bay Packers. I have nothing against the Packers. I admire their history and feel they are the one true football team still around, it’s the annoying, arrogant, cheese and beer addled fans I can’t stand. I do work on the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin and unfortunately work with a bunch of cheese heads. For those years that Favre was leading the Pack they had boosting rights. Except for a couple of those years I could not say too much, but then again, they were winning championships and our coach took a knee. What can be said to that?
When Favre left GB and wanted to come back, we Viking fans just sat there and watched the tennis match between the future hall of famer and the somewhat confused (at least it seemed to me) Green Bay Packers duke it out. It was not pretty, nor was it clean. It was a messy, silly and somewhat very drawn out match and we LOVED it!! Meanwhile we were slowly and quietly building not only a good team, but a great team. Signing free agents like the Williams boys and Jared Allen. Making smart and superior draft picks like Adrian Peterson. The only missing link seemed to be… a QB. What we had was not going to cut it.
When Favre didn’t back down, and it was obvious that the Pack didn’t want him, nor did they want US to have him (rumor had it he wanted to come here BADLY) they traded him to the Jets in a very smart deal with a “poison pill” attached. I say smart, because at the time it was, but it almost bit them in the butt when Favre played very well, until hurt late in the season. The Jets dropped him and once again, Favre not so tearfully retired from football.
Not so fast!
Enter the Vikings, notably Brad Childress with his ALMOST perfect team. Brett Favre was now available, with no contract, no poison pill…the only problem was he was going to be 40 years old, hurt and yes, retired (but does that even count when talking about Brett Favre??) And, yes, sadly when you look at the whole NFL the best QB available. Now to convince the “old gunslinger” he still had another year or maybe two in him.
Once again, we had the tennis match, only we were on the other side of the net, but we did not have much to lose in this match. If he didn’t want to UN-retire, then we go on with what we have (yikes!) or, if he did we deal with his obvious flaws and hopefully fill that gaping hole at QB, but with risks….lots of risks!!
There were signs this deal was done months before. Brett had his shoulder operated on. He worked out at home with high school kids he coached. He looked dang good throwing that ball too. Then of course the rumored phone calls, and then the famous pick up from the airport and the SUV drive. You’d think the president was in town the way it was played out here.
Brett signed and was on the practice field that afternoon. Seeing him in the red #4 jersey and Viking helmet seemed surreal to me. I thought this cannot be happening.
Brett missed camp, but after all his years did he really need it? He also was familiar with the offense and just had to build some chemistry with the receivers. Two of them very young, Sydney Rice and rookie Percy Harvin. Sounded easy huh?
And it was!
Again, I still had to rub my eyes when he stepped out onto the field but after awhile it seemed natural. He jelled, he threw, he took apart defenses like they were playing high school teams and not professional football teams. He built that chemistry with Harvin, Barrian and especially Sydney Rice. There were rumors of locker room problems, but after the rest of the team squashed that, nick naming him the “silver fox” putting a rocking chair by his locker on his 40th birthday and of course the butt slapping.
Brett made them believe in themselves
Brett kept them in the game, even when down.
Brett made them a better team.
Brett made it fun to watch football again.
Now of course I am a Brett fan. He’s not that spoiled diva I read about. He’s a good old boy that loves football, and yes has a big ego but he should and needs one for the work he’s doing. He does sometimes let that ego get in the way but that’s part of the price we pay to have him.
The first time they played the Packers, Brett played flawlessly, and the Packers didn’t have a chance. His predecessor, a decent QB himself Aaron Rogers looked like a deer in the headlights. It was beautiful!!
The 2nd Packer meeting in Green Bay only reinstates how I feel about cheese heads. When Randy Moss left the Vikings years before it was not for all good reasons. Randy obviously wanted to go somewhere else, and the Vikings were OK with letting him go feeling his best years were behind him. Randy had had his problems and only hung on because of his amazing talent. Most Vikings fans miss him, even with his off field problems and sometimes on field problems, Randy was a blast to watch in his hay day. When Randy returned to Minnesota he was greeted with applause. One notable picture I saw was of the famous Viking fan, Syd who dresses up like a Viking at games, was offered a seat in the end zone of a Patriots game. Randy caught a TD and went over and shook hands with Syd. It’s a touching picture and tells you how much Randy respects the Viking fans and how much we respect him… not so with the cheese heads and the QB who put their little hole in the wall town on the map. Who brought back a team that sucked for a decade and made them respectable. Who won a super bowl for them and was their hero for 16 years… noooooo, these morons booed him and booed him relentlessly the whole game. The most disgusting thing I saw was a “funeral” with a dressed up dummy of GB QB Favre in a coffin. The obscene shirts and the burning of jerseys…. SHAME on you Packer fans!! THIS is why you are so hated. I hope because of all of this that Brett goes into the Hall of Fame as a Viking and not a Packer just to stick it to them…one more time.
The Dallas playoff game had to be one of the best games. The defense won it, but Brett took apart their defense as if he were drawing up the plays on them. The famous Pants on the Ground chant showed how much these guys enjoyed playing together.
The NFC championship game was sad, since the Vikings out played the Saints in every way but turnovers. This game Brett played his heart out. He played with close to a broken ankle brought on by cheap shots from the Saints who hit him when he was unprotected. I believe they should start ejecting players since fining them seems to do no good. And I heard that the fans were yelling at him as he lay in pain getting it taped. Yelling that they hoped he’d never walk again… sickening, sad and totally classless fans. Shame on you too!! Even at his most “divaish” I never wished him any ill will.
Watching his press conference after the game you just could not see him wanting to come back. He looked tired and all of his 40 years. Yet when you saw Percy and Sydney talk about him, how much they admired him and how much they learned from him, begging him in their way to come back you wonder. And it is Brett Favre. He’s a “never say never” kind of guy. We won’t know until training camp is almost over if he’ll back or not.
I do hope so. What Viking fan would not want to relive that magic again? It was, for the first time in a very long time, fun to watch a Viking game. But for his sake… I’m on the fence. I feel for his family who had to watch him get pummeled in that playoff game. It was brutal, but my new pal Brett is tough.
Gregg Williams will have to have his defense come up big on Super Bowl Sunday.
I think the Saints chances of winning the Super Bowl primarily rest on the shoulders of their defense. While Drew Brees and company will be a factor, the defense must come up with both stops and turnovers to get the victory over the favored Colts and Peyton Manning…
The Saints defense has been opportunistic all year long with the turnover. They have had a knack for coming up with the big play when needed and it resulted on them winning a whole bunch of games. I would consider the a bend but don’t break type of defense.You do not have to look too far to see what I mean. They took full advantage of the miscues by Bret Favre and the Vikings in the NFC Championship game. They converted five turnovers into a trip to the Super Bowl.They are going to need this kind of fortune to take out the Indianapolis Colts tomorrow night. The defense must come up big.
The Saints will use a gambling type of defense to try to confuse Manning and make him make bad hurried decisions. They will try to come at him at all angles and keep him guessing on where people are going to come from on the field. Manning will need to figure out and make adjustments on the run. If the Saints do not guess right, Manning will make them pay. This defense must pull this off or else there will be no celebration in the “Big Easy.” It will be a gamble, The Saints will hope to win the gamble.
The offense on the other hand will need to use ball control to move the chains and keep Manning and company off the field. Drew Brees will have to stay away form his own mistakes and keep his offense on the field. The Colts are banged up on defense and their premiere pass rusher Dwight Freeney is probable so the Saints can take advantage of this with proper management on offense. This will help them to victory but will need more from the defense to pull off the upset. Brees will have his shot to outshine the Hall Of Famer Manning.
A lot of people think the Saints are a “team of Destiny.” While they well could be, their destiny relies in the play or lack of play of their defense.
It is time to talk about what will it take for the Indianapolis Colts to win the Super Bowl. A closer look reveals that it will start and end with their superstar quarterback Peyton Manning…
Manning's Mangement will be the key for the Colts to win the Super Bowl.
It will all come down to proper management by the field general, and he knows what it takes to win the Super Bowl. The Saints will take gambles on defense and when those gambles fail, the cerebral Manning will make them pay dearly. Turnovers are the bread and butter for the Saints defense, and Manning will advert them with his reads and audibles when he comes to the line of scrimmage.
The Colts will try to establish the run with runningbacks Joseph Addai and Donald Brown. If they can run the ball, their passing game will be that more effective. The Colts have not been that effective rushing, so it will remain to be seen how long they will stick to this game plan if not effective.The Colts and Manning are good enough to overcome this because of the diversity they have on the receiving core. Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon and Dallas Clark can all beat you down field. These number of options will keep the Saints defense guessing on defense on which player will be the focus on any giving play. This is where Manning will eat you up alive.That is too many options for the Saint’s defense to cover all over the field.
As far as the Colts on defense themselves, they are banged up . Their primary pass rusher on defense Dwight Freeney has a hurt ankle. This could hinder the ,defense but they have enough speed and depth to overcome it. This is why it tis more vital for Manning to keep the chains moving on offense and keep Drew Brees and the Saints offense off the field. Proper management will be vital.
As long as Manning takes advantage of these opportunities, the Colts will be in great shape for the victory. In my opinion, he will have a ample amount of chances to exploit the Saint’s defense. The Saints came up big against the Vikings and Brett Favre in the NFC Championship game which is why they won the game.Relying on turnovers is a tough and hard way to win a football game. Peyton Manning is a different animal and will not make the same mistakes as the 40 year Favre did. Manning will use the football filed like he is playing chess, and it will be check mate for he Saints defense. I am not going to say that it will easy, but Manning will be up to the task. It could be a very long day for the Saint’s defense because of Manning Management.
Adding to the misery of the Minnesota Vikings fans after their devastating loss in the NFC Championship is whether their starting quarterback Brett Favre will be back next season. The question arises on whether he should return or retire.
Favre Ponders Retirement Again
Favre is coming off of one of his best statistical seasons of his career. He passed for 4202 yards with 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He also completed a impressive 68.4 of s passes. He led the Vikings to a 12-4 record , good enough to win the NFC North division.
Minnesota then defeated Dallas 34-3 in the division round of the playoffs in which Favre threw a career best four touchdown passes. He had the Vikings on the brink of the Super Bowl in New Orleans, when he made another poor decision that sealed their fate.
Most of the Minnesota players want him back next year. That is definitely in his favor for a return.
The poor decision in question is his third down pass that was intercepted when he had the Vikings in field gaol range at the end of regulation in the NFC Championship game. Instead of running, passing to a receiver in front of him, he threw cross field and got picked off.
This is what you get from a gunslinger like Favre.
He tries to force things when they are not there. While sometimes they pay off, this time it blew up in his face when it counted the most. Favre did the same thing a couple of years ago in Green Bay against the New York Giants. He again tried to force a pass, when there were other open receivers ,and it ended up with another interception. The Packers lost, and the Giants became Super Bowl Champions.
This seems to becoming a habit for #4.
I think that the rigors of the NFL season leaves Favre with nothing left at the end of the season both physically and mentally. This takes a toll on Favre and must effect his play deep in the playoffs. I would suggest that he hand the reigns to a younger quarterback. Favre does not have what it takes to to lead his team to the ultimate goal of a Super Bowl title. He should hang up the #4.
The Minnesota Vikings suffered a devastating loss yesterday at the hands of the New Orleans Saints 31-28 in overtime in the NFC Championship. It would be easy to blame some very shaky officiating in overtime, but a closer look tells the story of a team that has nobody to blame but themselves…
The Vikings outplayed the Saints everywhere but on the scoreboard. They moved the ball up and down on the field outgaining the Saints 475-257. The Vikes defense played more than well enough to get this team to the Superbowl. It was the miscues by the offense lead by Brett Favre that sealed their fate.
The Saints had more that a couple of “Home Town” calls in overtime. In particular was running back Pierre Thomas fourth and inches dive that appeared to be a certain first down. The officials went to replay. The replay showed that Thomas did not have control of the ball where the ball was spotted. It should have been spotted behind the first down marker giving the ball to the Vikings. Another big blown call was a catch by wideout Robert Meachem jut before the game winning field goal. Meachem’s catch was ruled a completion on the filed. The officials again reviewed the play that showed Meachem had trapped the ball. The Saints benefited again and Garret Hartley kicked a 40 yarder than sent them to the Super Bowl.The Vikings have reason to feel they were ripped off. If you going to rely on the instant replay, get the calls right. Everybody saw what I saw and it cost a team the right to play in the SuperBowl . WOW!
But as I said, this is only part of the story. If the Vikings protected the ball, it would of never have gotten to the point of overtime. Minnesota had five turnovers in all. Three fumbles and two interceptions. Percy Harvin fumbled deep in his own territory that lead to a Saints touchdown. Bernard Barrian also fumbled when the Vikes were on the move. But the biggest culprit was quarterback Brett Favre. Favre lost a fumble and had two picked off. The first two were drive killers and the last one sealed preventing them for ending the game at the end of regulation.
On third down and in field goal range, Favre made a decision that was reminiscent of a couple of years ago.Favre had room to run and a receiver right in front of him on the sideline that would of picked up very valuable yardage towards a game winning kick. But instead of seeing right in front of him, the gunslinger threw cross field that ended in a devastating interception. Green Bay fans will remember him doing that against the Giants a couple of years. Favre also had more viable options then but choked then as he did now. He will receive no sympathy form them. Favre ended up 28-46 for 310 yards, a touch and two picks. But it was his last pass, like Green Bay, that will be remembered by Viking fans. The Hall of Famer will have a long off season to think about a very poor decision.
The Vikings have lost five straight NFC Championship games. I have a little sympathy for them. I am a Eagles fan. They have lost four out of five. My advice for the fans of Minnesota is; Some things are not meant to be!
The Big Easy will host the NFC Championship game today in a game that should produce offensive fireworks all night long. Both teams are lead by their quarterbacks that can make big plays with the wealth of offensive arsenal at their disposal.
Drew Brees Will Have The Big Easy Rockin'
The Vikings are coming of a 34-3 domination of the Dallas Cowboys last week. Brett Favre was more than stellar throwing for four playoff touchdowns, a career best. Favre tossed three of those scores to emerging wide receiver Sidney Rice.
Rice caught six passes for 141 yards to go along with the three scores. Along with Rice, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe also caught a touchdown pass. Shiancoe caught eleven touchdowns in the regular season. Favre threw for 33 touchdowns this year.
You can see that Favre has a couple of imposing threats in the receiving core. Adding to the offensive threat is Adrian Peterson. Peterson rushed for eighteen touchdowns and is a homerun threat every time he touches the ball. As you can see, the Vikings have more than enough offensive weapons to light up the scoreboard.
With all this said, it might come down to the Vikings defense to get stops. Minnesota is lead by sack leader Jared Allen who had 14 1/2 this season. Minnesota pressured Tony Romo all day long and will need that same pressure on Drew Brees or else he will pick them apart all night long.
The Saints are coming off their own impressive 31 point victory last week. They totally dominated the defending NFC Champions Arizona Cardinals 45-14.
Drew Brees threw for three touchdowns and 247 yards. Brees threw for 34 touchdowns this year and like Favre has a number of weapons at his disposal. Brees hooked up with Robert Meachem and Marques Colston for nine touchdowns each. The Saints have a couple of running backs to add to these receivers.
Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush are versatile and have the speed to hit the endzone form anywhere on the field. Bush is healthy now ,and he showed it last week. Bush had a 46 yard touchdown run and a 83 yard punt return for another score. A healthy Bush will mean more trouble for the Minnesota defense.
Speaking of defense, New Orleans only ranked 25th in the league this year. They will need to step up like last week, when they held the vaunted Arizona Cardinals to only 14 points. They must use that momentum.
This game will come down to you wants it more. Favre will use his experience an leadership to have the Vikes ready. The defense can use the great play of last week as momentum against the Saints great offense. The Saints started out 13-0 and had the city of New Orleans in a state of jubilation all year long.
Brees was tremendous all year long and with a healthy Reggie Bush will be hard to stop for even one possession. I think with the home field rocking, and the fact thst the Saints have never made the Super Bowl, it will be their day.
Brett Favre showed yesterday that he still has some air in his forty year old tires. He outplayed fellow counterpart Tony Romo in the Vikings total domination over the Cowboys 34-3. What a story book finish it would be if Favre could win next week in the Big Easy and bring the Vikes to the Super Bowl. Don’t bet against him…
Favre showed poise and confidence all day long. He stepped up form any Dallas pressure, made adjustments,and most importantly made no mistakes. Favre was 15-24 for 234 yards and had four touchdowns. He found his favorite target and emerging star Sidney Rice with three of these scores.. This combination has been in synce all year long. This makes the Vikings a dangerous team offensively. Tony Romo came into the game with confidence and a swagger, Favre left with it. Favre played with a youthful exuberance that became infectious to both his teammates and the Vikings crowd.He became the first forty year old to win a playoff game.This was also the first time in his illustrious career that he passed for four touchdowns in a playoff game.
Bret Favre was all smiles after his play yesterday against the Cowboys.
He has had one of the best years of his career and this game followed that to a tee.
Favre will bring his act to New Orleans next week. He will have another chance to out play another young quarterback Drew Brees. He can use the motivation as the elder to his advantage.The Saints also won in domination fashion over the defending NFC champions Arizona Cardinals. This time Favre will be in enemy territory, and this will be a bigger task because of that. It will be very interesting to see how well he handles and plays in hostile grounds. Doe Favre have one more trick to pull out of his hat?Next week in New Orleans will answer that more than intriguing question.
The playoff matchup between the Cowboys and the Vikings will come down to what quarterback plays better and wants it more. Will it be the young and upcoming Tony Romo or the grizzled veteran Brett Favre who grabs the spoils of victory? That intriguing question will be answered on a Sunday afternoon in Minnesota.
Tony Romo is playing with confidence and a swagger.
Dallas could not be on a better high than they are now. They have won four in a row including last weeks domination of the Philadelphia Eagles 34-14. Romo has played brilliantly during the streak and seems hungry and composed to take the Boys to the promise land.
He has used the plethora of offensive weapons to move the chains that has ended up in touchdowns. Dallas fans have been waiting for Romo to come up big, and he may just deliver this time.
Dallas uses a three attack backfield that is both talented and versatile. Marion Barber can get the tough yards while Felix Jones and Tashard Choice have speed to burn. Dallas also has a trio of receivers that include deep threat Miles Austin. Austin has come into his own this year and is flanked by fellow speedster Patrick Crayton. Tight End Jason Witten is a possession receiver that can also move the chains.
As you can see, Dallas has a number of options on offense.
To add to this recent offensive success, Dallas defense is also on a roll only giving up 31 points during this streak. Dallas is a confident team that is on a roll.
Minnesota has had a good season also that gave them a first round bye ,and the second seed in the NFC. Brett Favre was brillant most of the season and is motivated by the chance that this might be his last real shot at a Super Bowl title. He still has what it takes to get the job done and will have the Vikings ready.
Minnesota has a great running back in Adrian Peterson. Peterson will have to have a big rushing day in order for the Vikings to get the victory. This will make the passing game more effective and set it up for their emerging playmaker Sydney Rice to come up with the big pass play. The Vikings will need to move the chains and keep Romo and the Boys offense off the field.
When I analyze this game, I see the young gun out slinging the veteran. Romo has that certain confidence and swagger right now. He is also motivated by his recent disappointments in recent years. Dallas is playing well on all cylinders and just will be too much for the Vikings to handle. Favre will play his heart out, but it will not be enough. This could be his last playoff game ever, I think it will be.Dallas moves on to the NFC Championship.
