Fish Fear Me

See Ya

Yesterday's atrocious outing against Green Bay left little doubt that this was coming:

Vikings owner Zygi Wilf made the move Monday morning that many at Mall of America Field called for during the fourth quarter on Sunday afternoon. He fired coach Brad Childress.

To some extent getting fired is just part of the coaching job. When you win you're a hero and when you lose you're a dog. Just the way it is. One might think that a 12-4 season earns one a bit more goodwill to see a tough season through, but that was part of Childress' problem. After that 12-4 season the owner did everything possible to keep that team intact and for the most part he did. Expectations were high and so the 3-7 record is all the more disappointing. I don't think I've ever seen a head coach go from hero to zero so fast.

Where did it go wrong? I think the first area where Childress lost control was on the wide receiver corps. Letting Sidney Rice screw around about getting his hip surgery turned out to be a disaster as there was nobody available to fill that role by the time it was apparent that Rice was going to miss the first half of the season. I think that was a contributing factor to Favre getting off to a rough start, but Favre needs to shoulder his share of blame for his play also.

With the offense going three and out way too often, the defense has been unable to rise to the occasion. Childress is not solely responsible for the lack of pass rush or the poor play of the cornerbacks, but he is ultimately the one accountable. 

I hope though, that we don't hear too many anonymous cheap shots at Childress from the team. The press is going to be hunting for those and the players should have the grace to recognize that their poor play contributed as much as any coaching mistakes. It's done, just regroup and move on like professionals are supposed to do.

I never cared much for Childress as a head coach, though he earned some respect from me for the 12-4 record last year. I'm not sorry to see him go, but I have no ill will for him either. And I guess he will still get $6 million over the next two years so, you know, I think he'll be okay. Good luck, Brad.

When Only A Head Smack Will Do

Even hard left dictator clowns agree:

You have to play the full game on offense, Brad and Brett. Taking the first three quarters off is simply not going to get it done. You got that, ladies? Call us when you decide to man up and play like you're more than some overgrown Pop Warner team.

Sporting News

Ouch: It was a tough loss for the Twins last night and familiarity with the script didn't ease the pain any. Once again the Twins took the lead and and once again they couldn't hold it. Francisco Liriano was tooling along pretty well until the sixth inning and then he just lost it. On offense, the Twins had their chances but couldn't put the game out of reach. I'm not going to say it's over, but the Twins must now win at least one in New York, even if they manage to get the W tonight. I've seen nothing that says this team has the chops to do that. 

Instant Buzz: I don't think the return of Randy Moss quite eclipsed the Twins in the news, but it was a near thing. A true deep threat who can go after the ball is just what the Vikings needed to open up the short game and relieve some of the pressure on Adrian Peterson. If the offense can get in synch now, when Sydney Rice comes back it could be one heck of a beast.

.500. After opening with two losses, I've managed to claw my FFL team back to 2-2. I'm not entirely happy with my team, but a few moves have improved it and I think I'll hold tight for now. In the meantime it would be awfully nice if Chris Johnson could put together a string of good weeks instead of this one good/one bad stuff.

Pish-Posh

All I'm going to say is that I'll believe it...

Brett Favre's spectacular stint with the Minnesota Vikings might be over.

Favre has informed the Vikings he will not return to Minnesota for a second season, according to multiple reports.

Favre has sent text messages to teammates saying, "This is it," league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

...when I see Tarvaris Jackson run out on the field to take the first snap in, how long, Rob?

37 days.

Right.

From what I've seen so far, including the 5:00 news this afternoon, this is an entirely media driven frenzy. Brett Favre hasn't said anything on the record and it's pretty much a telltale that any sportswriter who has already counted this as Favre's third retirement announcement is an ass whose opinions can be safely ignored down the road.

Talk to me in about two weeks.

Not So Sudden Death

I'm fairly agnostic on this change to the NFL postseason rules:

The NFL owners voted to change an element in the overtime rule, giving the team that loses the coin toss at the start of overtime to get a possession if the coin-toss winning team scores a field goal with the first possession.

The proposal passed 28-4. As it is written, the rules change applies just for the postseason, but the owners also decided to discuss adopting the changes for the regular season at their next meeting, in May in Dallas.

Had the change taken place last year, the Vikings would have had a chance to counter the winning New Orleans field goal in the NFC Championship game earlier this year, but I have no sour grapes about that and it appears that the Vikings don't either, since they were one of four teams to vote against it. That was the rule and it could have worked for or against either team. I would have been content to leave the old rule in place, but I'm okay with trying the new one out. My only quibble is that the regular season and postseason rule should be the same and at this point the new one only applies to postseason.

The new rule:

• Both teams must have the opportunity to possess the ball once during the extra period, unless the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on its initial possession, in which case it is the winner.

• If the team that possesses the ball first scores a field goal on its initial possession, the other team shall have the opportunity to possess the ball. If [that team] scores a touchdown on its possession, it is the winner. If the score is tied after [both teams have a] possession, the team next scoring by any method shall be the winner.

• If the score is tied at the end of a 15-minute overtime period, or if [the overtime period's] initial possession has not ended, another overtime period will begin, and play will continue until a score is made, regardless of how many 15-minute periods are necessary.

Monday Notes

Only his hairdresser knows for sure: I was happy to hear that Pakistan had captured Adam Gadahn, but I've learned to take any news from that murky part of the world with a grain of salt. Too many supposedly dead or captured Taliban have later shown up very much alive and free. Bill Roggio is the go to guy on this sort of stuff as he is very careful to confirm any news with his own sources before buying into the latest claims.

Who knew?:

A bill sponsored by Democratic Sen. Tarryl Clark of St. Cloud could prohibit spending public dollars at in-state hotels or meeting facilities that provide their customers with pornographic materials that link sex with violence. Nonviolent adult movies would be OK.

I haven't stayed in hotels much lately and I'm not up on porn industry trends, but is this really an issue? What other types of movies should the state pressure hotels not to show? How about prohibiting state money from going to hotels that show movies that glorify motorcycle-riding, murderous, communist scumbags? I'm not defending violent porn, I'm not even sure exactly what they are talking about, but what business does the state have trying to censor through other means what is apparently legal behavior by adults?

Line of the Day. NFL free agency is making my head spin, so this one hit home:

These free agent rules are harder to figure out than a Lady Gaga song.

Always look on the dark side of life. Peter Beinart thinks that US troops will need to stay to keep Iraq from falling into civil war. Just look at all of the fundamental issues that have not been addressed! Well, there's truth there, and the formation of the next government will likely be fraught with drama and frustration. However, beware those who say that because of that messy process it means Iraq is falling apart. There is and has been a huge center mass of Iraqis that goes across sectarian and ethnic lines and that does not want to see that happen, and they will rise up against those who go down that path. As the rending of garments and gnashing of teeth commences in the media, have faith in those Iraqis and be patient. I think we're staying, but not because we are needed to deal with any internal threats.

Interesting. The link is to a blog/vlog of two USAF journalists who are traveling across Afghanistan and visiting every Regional Command in 30 days. They are almost done, but you can go back to the first entries and follow along. I'm doing that now. It's a perspective from two US military guys who support the mission, but it looks pretty straightforward to me and not just propaganda. It seems like a genuine effort to help people understand what is going on there and just how complex Afghanistan really is. 

Congrats To The Saints

Congrats to the Saints on winning the NFC Championship. In many respects the Vikings outplayed them last night, but give the Saints credit for forcing the turnovers and mistakes that cost the Vikes the game. It was a disappointing loss, but no more than any of the other ones over the years. It is, after all, just a game.

The Saints go on to face the Colts in a couple of weeks and I'll be cheering for the Saints. At one point late in the game last night I came to the conclusion that neither the Saints nor the Vikings could beat Indianapolis. In the more sober light of day though, I'm not so sure. Plenty of time to mull that one over.

Football Thoughts

It was a very satisfying win over the Cowboys yesterday. They came to town with all of the momentum and the praise of the pundits and got knocked on their butts. It would have been a good win over any team, but coming against the Cowboys, the only NFL team that I hate with a passion that I'll take to the grave, makes it especially delicious. They were a good team this year and I can respect their ability to play, it's just that they can take their "America's Team" and their prick of an owner and pound them straight up you know where.

Poor baby: Cowboys linebacker Keith Brooking took exception to the Vikes adding a TD late in the game. If it had been up to me I would have kicked a field goal, but...meh. If you want to keep the other team from scoring, Brooking, try playing some football you big baby. That said, I don't think coach Brad Childress was channeling his inner Belichick, I think he was just confused. Childress showed the same baffling play management at the end of the first half too. He deserves great credit for the success of the Vikes this year, but he has a history of brain-farting like that at key moments in games. If he does that against the Saints this coming Sunday, Sean Payton is going to clean his clock with it.

Hey Gerald? That big "K" imprinted on your forehead? That stands for Karma.

I hope Ray Edwards got a game ball for his performance yesterday. One big thing to watch today is the verdict on his injured knee. How that plays out will have a big impact on the Viking game plan for Sunday.

No matter what happens now, I think it's indisputable that the Bret Favre signing was a great move. I was very doubtful at the time, but I have to give Brad Childress credit for going after him and for being right on both Favre's ability on the field and the positive leadership role that he has played this year.

If both teams show up on Sunday at the Superdome, and I think they will, it should be one heck of a game. It's fitting that the two best NFC teams of the regular season are going to meet, and it's no false modesty for fans of both teams to have respect for the other guys this week. The Saints are the favorite in my book, but the Vikes have a good chance. I have the nagging suspicion though, that this game was decided when the Vikes flopped against the Bears last month and failed to grab the opportunity for home field advantage. The Saints have it, and that just may be the difference. 

I went 3-1 on my playoff predictions again this weekend. Despite my dislike for Jets coach Rex Ryan, I was delighted to see the Jets prove me wrong and knock off San Diego. I'm still in the lead for this playoff FFL round and that crippled a few of my opponents who went heavy with Chargers on their team. Not me.

Update-Good news on Ray Edwards:

Edwards sustained a mildly sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee, according to a source with knowledge of the diagnosis. Edwards could miss some practice time, but he will be OK come game time Sunday, the source said.

17 Weeks Already?

It was a fun Vikes game to watch yesterday as Favre and company destroyed the Giants before halftime arrived. A meaningless TD for the Giants near the end prevented the shutout, but in every other way it was a complete smackdown. The recipe for the Vikings to succeed in the playoffs is exactly what they did in the first half yesterday: Drive the ball(and score of course), give the defense decent rest between series(no three and punts) and an early lead, and admittedly by a bit of luck don't turn over the ball. When the offense comes out and plays in the first half, that team is dangerous to any other team in the NFL right now.

Can they pick up where they left off in a couple of weeks? Who knows? The rest at this point in the season will do them some good and should leave them physically better off than any of the possible opponents. Their next game will be at home, and I've come to the conclusion that AP is a far better running back on carpet than on real turf, though I should probably try to research that a little. But can they put together two solid first halves in a row? They haven't done that in a while and it's no sure thing. We'll see, but it overall was a great season and earning the #2 seed in the playoffs is an accomplishment in itself. One thing for sure, they better take it one game at a time.

On the FFL front I ended up in fourth and the awful performance of the Vikes offense against Carolina and the first half against the Bears had much to do with that. Oh well. I won my division and got a dollop of gravy last weekend when I managed my division's All-Star team to victory. It's just $10 for each owner in the division, but it keeps the last weekend interesting. The score was 53-30 btw.

And so ends another FFL regular season. Where did the time go?

The Ugly, The Ugly, And The Ugly

The Vikings loss last night to Carolina was ugly. It was made all the uglier because the poor performance on offense probably cost me a trip to the FFL Super Bowl. And the ugly truth is that the Vikings have been outcoached and outplayed in two of their last three games, both times by teams they should have been able to beat.

Can I say ugly a few more times? I believe I can.

The Strib is running an instant poll today that asks, "Did the loss to Carolina shake your confidence?" Roughly 68% of the 6800 respondents have clicked on "Yes, the Vikings aren't as good as I thought" as I write this. That's how bad last night's game was and how deeply it has shaken the Vikings faithful to the core.

So what's happened to the team that has been mentioned in the same breath as the Saints? While player performance is clearly down, I think the real problem is that the rest of the NFL has figured out Minnesota's offense. They have figured out how to limit the threat from Adrian Peterson and still put pressure on Brett Favre and in both the Arizona and Carolina losses the Vikings have been unable to adjust. I don't know if that's Favre or the coaching decisions, but I suspect the latter.

The Vikings went a pathetic 1-10 on 3rd down conversions last night and managed only 10 first downs total. The end result of that was a Vikings defense that got worn down and a lopsided 37:58 time of possession for Carolina. Childress and the Vikings have the talent to go far this year, but only if they can counter-adjust to what defenses are doing to them right now.

My FFL team was part of the collateral damage to last night's fiasco. After spotting my opponent 15 points from Peyton Manning on Thursday(thanks for nothing Jacksonville), I battled back over the weekend until I only needed 9 points from Favre and Longwell last night, plus whatever Sidney Rice managed to get for my opponent. Easily a doable thing, I thought, based on what has happened most of this year. I got 1 point, so I guess not. So it goes in the world of FFL and it's not that big of a deal. It's just the ugly gravy on top of what the Vikes dished up for their fans last night.