NFL Nuggets

Fresh off the heels of another embarrassing national TV loss against the Carolina Panthers, the Minnesota Vikings decided to make a bad situation, much worse with some pointless sideline drama. Head Coach Brad Childress actually tried to take Brett Favre out of the game, not for his ineffectiveness, but for fear of Favre getting injured. Favre took exception to this, "talked it out" on the sideline, and remained in the game.

There's two sides to this obviously, but why would Childress start worrying about Favre's safety NOW? Favre is 40 years old, admitted that he played injured last year and didn't tell anybody, and is known as being one of the great "competitors" in the history of the game. Childress and the Vikings were willing ignore the dangers and risks behind these facts this past summer, so why fret about it at this point in the season? The Vikings are fighting for home field advantage, and had a huge opportunity to close the gap between them and the Saints. They blew that opportunity Sunday, and now have to deal with questions like "Who is really running the team, Brett, or Brad?" and "Are you really more concerned with Brett's health than home field advantage?" Not the best way to handle things when you just got a 4 year contract extension Brad Childress. Fortunately for you, the Bears are next up on the menu.


It would be remiss to not address recent changes in Whitey Guccione's very own Cleveland Browns. Brady Quinn is now done for the season and now Derek Anderson will have to, once again, show that he can't play in the NFL all the way to the finish line. Hope is looming on the horizon for Whitey, as Mike Holmgren has agreed to become Team President.

Congrats to him, Whitey, and the rest of Browns Nation. Holmgren has more than his work cut out for him. The big debate will be what his first move is coaching wise. Eric Mangini (shocker) says he isn't worried in the least, and is showing in his own words a "flippant" attitude towards his future. In this blog's view, Mangini might be hanging out with Charlie Weis very soon...


$100 million dollars doesn't equal happiness? Albert Haynesworth made a point to say exactly that today as he lambasted his head coach Jim Zorn after one of the most humiliating loss in Washington Redskins history. What is interesting is the words Haynesworth used in describing the problem, "We need somebody to lead us in the right direction."

Ummmm Albert, you're supposed to be one of the "leaders" buddy. Role players, and foot soldiers don't get $100 million dollar deals, leaders do. Leaders, let their practice habits and play, set the example. Leaders don't throw their head coaches under the bus, no matter how justified it may be. Leaders don't sit around and bitch about how bad things are when they produce a walloping 4 sacks for the season. You think the Redskins are missing a leader? The best place to start looking for one is staring at you right in the mirror.

One more thing about the Redskins. Yeah Jim Zorn is not a good coach. Sure he was way under-qualified when he got the job from Dan Synder last season. Of course he was effectively fired the day Sherm Lewis showed up at Ashburn, VA in the middle of this season, and everyone is entitled to rip on the Redskins if they choose to do so. The one guy who should NEVER get to rip on the Redskins, or anyone else's team, is Matt Freakin MILLEN!! I'm so glad Mike Freeman of cbssportsline.com caught this too. How many coaches did you fire because you kept drafting wide receivers again Millen? Next time you feel like laughing at someone, remember that you are the worst GM in the History of the National Football League and you're lucky to have a broadcasting job again.