From Ed Werder of ESPN.com:
MINNEAPOLIS -- The tension between Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre and coach Brad Childress is the result of disagreement over how much influence each should expect to have in running the offense during games, according to multiple team sources.
Childress has a reputation for limiting the number of audibles he allows his quarterbacks to call at the line of scrimmage. Favre apparently believes his knowledge of the offensive system and 19 years of NFL experience qualify him to make changes based on his extensive film study of opponents.
Although the two have discussed their recent disagreement -- which became public when Favre resisted Childress' attempts to pull him from Sunday night's loss in Carolina -- it is unclear whether they have resolved the fundamental issue: Is Childress and his coaching staff going to control the game from the sideline, or will Favre be permitted the autonomy he feels is necessary to control it at the line of scrimmage?
To limit any decent QB by a sideline coach is wrong. Decisions need to be made on the field based on the reality of the situation, not on the sidelines based on trends.
Minnesota,
It's almost the end of the NFL season. Can't wait to see you guys soon! Don't forget, we will be there until the start of next years season too!
Warmest regards,
The Favre circus
BF: You invited me to the ball, you mean you're going to tell me what color of dress I have to wear. Geesuzz, Celine Dion would never put up with this crap!!!
According to the article, Childress loses it when Brett changes a play, even if it works, ignores Brett in game planning and doesn't get his input as to which plays he is more comfortable with in certain situations. Why would you bring in a guy like Favre, who claims to know the offense better than the coaches and who does have 19 years of mostly Pro Bowl level experience, then ignore him and treat him like Tavaris Jackson? The only explanation is that the coach is a weak leader and control freak. Extending this moron was a big mistake, one the Vikes should remedy in the offseason.
So if Childress had Peyton Manning as his QB, he'd tie his hands? That's just wrong.
meateater - this is exactly why myself and some other Packers fans had no issue with Brett going to Minnesota. Childress is basically an idiot who surrounded himself with cronies - how many Vikings fans realize that Childress was Bevell's position coach when he was a college QB and that Bevell even changed schools, abandoning a scholarship, specifically to stay with Childress. Favre had three MVPs and two SB appearances running the WCO before Bevell or Childress ever even saw the playbook - they were tied up with the UW Badgers, handing the ball off to Brent Moss, Terrell Fletcher and later, Ron Dayne and telling themselves what great offensive minds they were.
I wonder how much of the decline in the Vike's running game is due to Favre's presence. Yes he may audible into some good passes, but if he is consistently switching run calls to passes is it any wonder that over time the OL loses some run-block aggressiveness and AP gets out of sync? Favre could very well be winning the battles but losing the war as the Vikings' once-feared running game atrophies just when they need it most, in the playoffs.
It reminds me of Favre and the 2003 Packers. Ahman Green ran for 1800+ yards that season at 5+ yards per carry, and was running roughshod over the eventual NFC champ Eagles in the first half of the infamous "4th and 26" game. As the game went on, however, the Packers focused more and more on Favre -- Green never even got a carry in OT -- and the Eagles won.
Having Favre at QB can be a two-edged sword. He can look so brilliant at times that running the ball becomes an afterthought. When the running game becomes an afterthought, Favre starts thinking he has to carry the team. When Favre thinks he has to carry the team, he starts forcing things. Everyone knows what happens next.
How long will the Redskins sit...
Running back coming off broken...
WR is vastly underpaid and has...
Taking a look at which position...
Steelers QB said he has heard...
Dec 23, 2009
11:04 AM
I'm betting that all the "audibles" the Brett wants to call are going from running plays to passing plays. I doubt very seriously that he is changing passing plays to running plays....