Brad Childress Fired, A new Favre Watch Begins

Earlier this afternoon, Brad Childress was mercifully fired by the Minnesota Vikings after a 3-7 record into this season. Not really a surprise after a team many expected to be neck and neck for the NFC North crown with the Green Bay Packers has a solid 1 game lead over the Detroit Lions in the race for the NFC North basement. (Luckily, the Carolina Panthers have the NFL basement locked up)

Instead, the circus has been in town for the past two years in the Twin Cities. Starting with Childress’  courtship of Brett Favre after the Jets offered a cordial “no thanks” to Favre and his ego, to this offseason’s continuance to stroke Favre’s ego, the Randy Moss situation and mismanagement of the team eventually lead to his demise.

As many other sports journalists are writing, with Childress’ head delivered, so too should Brett Favre’s be, right there on a silver platter. Some argue that his legend is dead. Is he playing for stats? Records? Money? Veteran leadership opportunities? Brett is a hall of fame quarterback in the green and yellow. The past three years have been a farce. Favre benefited last year from the opponent’s fear of their rushing game, not to mention one of the best defenses in the league. Both have been ordinary this season, and that’s being generous.

So Favre was left to be quarterback. It’s what everyone wanted, right? the problem is that he has nothing left to prove. Nothing but unsubstantiated hoopla. A consecutive starts streak, yard, touchdowns sacks… you name it… all in the name of Brett Favre.

My favorite was how he wanted to bring a Superbowl to Minnesota. Riiiight. It takes a team to get there, and right now, Brett Favre is the team. And all that is is a name, a name of old that can only play like he is old. 2011 starts today for Minnesota, it should be Tavaris Jackson time- at least for the rest of the season. Whether he is or isn’t the guy is topic enough for another entry, and one that I won’t do being as that I don’t care about the Vikings or Favre.

Lastly, I think one very important fact is getting lost amid all of this chaos and instability at the head coaching position around the league.

The packers have now delivered the knockout punch to TWO coaches! The Cowboys promptly fired Wade Phillips after the Pack stomped all over Dallas, and now Childress. And believe it or not, they have the chance to deliver 2 more by the end of the season! Week 13 brings the 49ers to Lambeau where Mike Singletary has been on the hot seat after a horrendous start. The last week of the season has Lovie Smith and the Bears coming to town. It seems that it is Playoffs of bust for Chicago this year. We’ll have to stay tuned to see if the Packers can take out any more head coaches!

Bay Watch II

And we have a winner. B-R-E-T-T is going to the Jets Jets Jets. The New York Jets and the Pack have come to an agreement which will send Brett Favre to the Jets and NOT to the Bucs. Fox Sports broke the story, and senior writer Jay Glazer already has a nice little article which you can read here, which explains the situation. Both teams come out winners, as the Jets upgrade at the quarterback position (especially in durability) and the Packers unload Favre to the AFC. A deal to the Bucs would have resulted in one guaranteed meeting, since the Bucs and Packers play this season, and perhaps a post season showdown as well.

I feel that the Bucs come out on top as well. Jeff Garcia is enough of a locker room presence, and a proven leader. Oh yeah… he’s not too bad at playing football either. His frustration with the situation has been publicized, but he’s been as classy as you can be. We, of course, here at the heap., love it when a trash is met with class. Today at camp, after the afternoon session, as reported by Bucs blogger Roy Cummings as Garcia was walking to the locker room, a reporter yelled out that Garcia was walking the Green Mile, to which he resonded, “Yeah, Dead Man Walking. We can only hope that despite the clear interest in Favre, the Buccaneer quarterbacks can put it behind them and continue to gel and develop. As for the Jets… adios Chad Pennington.

I’ve been getting some comments about the heavily sports themed posts. Not to worry, we’ll begin much different content tomorrow!

Bay Watch I

Rumors are running a muck. But of course, they have been ever since Brett Favre decided to unretire AGAIN. In case you aren’t aware, that Wrangler – wearing Southern gentleman, Brett Favre, the perennial “Buc Killer,” MIGHT be on his way to Tampa Bay. Not to mention arguably the best quarterback to play the game. A living (and actively playing) legend, thanks to Commissioner Goodell’s decision to reinstate Number 4.

For the past two days, there have been reports that Favre allegedly passed on the opportunity to be traded to the Buccaneers. He, instead chose to try to return to the “Pack” and was supposedly going to be given a “fair” chance at winning his job back. Not so fast. After a 6 hour marathon-like meeting with higher Green Bay officials, including Head Coach Mike McCarthy, it was concluded that Favre “was not in the right mindset.” This, of course, could mean a plethora of things. Perhaps it was expected that he should have a “backup” frame of mind. Maybe Favre walked in thinking he was God’s gift to football, which he might as well be (Until Peyton Manning reaches the end of his career, maybe). In either case, Favre will not return to the Packers this year, nor will he be released, to insure that he won’t be playing for any NFC North foes.

Can you imagine that? Nice Photoshop job by the way.

Speaking of other strange Brett Favre pictures, here’s one of him trying to do his best David Blaine impression.

Do you have a Brett Favre fetish? Check out this site- Funny Brett Favre Pictures. Brett Favre as an astronaut is my personal favorite.

Here at the heap., we actually don’t know how we feel about the Brett Favre situation. A potential legend playing for the hometown team? I like it. I mean, at least we wouldn’t have to watch another excruciating Lambeau come back by the Pack. I can’t even count the times the Bucs would have a lead only to see Favre lead the Packers back… especially when the Bucs played in Green Bay in the glory days of the classic NFC Central match ups. The quarterback situation in Buccaneer camp is already pretty complicated and quite jammed up. Garcia is hurt, thus we have Luke McCown starting this weekend against the Dolphins in preseason game 1. Of course, we have the indefatigable Brian Grease, who is back for another stint. And don’t forget the Chris Simms saga. He is working hard in camp despite the “irreparable” relationship between him and head coach John Gruden. There is also the Bucs’ most recent draftee, Josh Johnson, a rookie from the University of San Diego. Despite Gruden’s hesitance to “marry” his quarterbacks (thanks Jeff Garcia), this would provide the Bucs a great opportunity to essentially “rent” a proven quarterback, one that is hungry to reach and win one last, final, championship. I mean, isn’t that what the Buccaneers’ organization did when they hired Gruden? Apparently, it was a rent to own bargain… the jury’s still out on the Gruden era.

We’ll keep you updated here on the heap. posting any further developments.