Well, I reckon I’ll put up this little picture that I posted on my site, just cuz a sports blog NEEDS a post of some sort, right?

Its been a long time coming for some of the most loyal fans in sports history.

Congrats to the NFC Champion New Orleans Saints. Superbowl Bound, who would have thought it!!!

Now before I get into this post let me make something perfectly clear, I am a Cowboys fan.  I have done my fair share of Brett Favre bashing over the last few years.  I have written a series of posts (6 episodes to be exact) entitled *Should I Stay Or Should I Go* when Brett Favre and the Packers were going through their lovers spat. I wrote a post shortly after he was traded to the Jets. I wrote a post when Favre signed with the Minnesota Vikings. There have been numerous cartoons posted by people having fun at Favres expense. There was even a *Brett Favre Drinking Game* posted when Minnesota and Greenbay played on Monday Night Football earlier this season. Needless to say I have not been his biggest fan over the past few years. I respect what he has been able to accomplish during his career, but his antics over the last few years have really gotten to me as a fan of the game.  Having said all that, now I’m going to tell Viking fans why they SHOULD hope Brett Favre comes back for another season.

There was a poll question put up by one of the local newspapers in Minnesota that asked the question *Do you want Brett Favre to return to the Vikings next season*.  71% of the fans want Favre back next season. 29% do not want him to return next year.  For the Viking fans 0ut there that want Favre to return, the rest of this article is not directed at you. You understand that without Brett Favre your Vikings would not have been playing in the NFC Championship game last night. You realize that without Brett Favre you would not have won the NFC North, and may have not even made the playoffs.  You understand that you have 2 backup quarterbacks (at best)  that could have been named your starting quarterback had Favre decided to stay retired.  Your are the same fans that hung your head in your hands last night when you saw Favre come limping off the field, because you were in fear that the hopes and dreams of making it to the Superbowl could rest in Tavaris Jackson’s hands.  You guys and girls understand it.

To the Viking fans that do not want Favre to return next year I only have one question for you. Why? Do you understand that you were NOT a Superbowl contending team when you had Tavaris Jackson as your starting quarterback? Do you feel you would be better off at the quarterback position with Sage Rosenfels under center?  Are you making an emotional decision based on Favre’s costly interception in last nights game?  You must be, because that is the only reason I could possibly see for you not to want Favre to return.  Now I’m not going to say that his interception didn’t rip your hearts out. Trust me when I say, Packer fans know your pain.  If we have our honest caps on then I can honestly tell you that Brett Favre is not the reason the Vikings lost last night. His interception didn’t help things, but it certainly wasn’t the reason for the loss in the Superdome last night.

If your going to place the blame on Favre’s shoulders, then I’m sure it was his fault for the 12 men in the huddle penalty as well right? If you remember correctly they were in *reasonable field goal* range prior to that penalty. Favre was trying to make a play (as he has done his entire career) and things didn’t work out the way he thought they would.  No one got upset when Favre threw a 50 yard hail mary into the back of the endzone (with 3 defenders) in the area at the end of the 49′ers game. Oh thats right, no one said anything because the Vikings won the game. That was just *Favre Being Favre*.  That was some of the old mans magic right? Viking fans you are going to have to learn the same thing the Packer fans had to. You take Brett Favre for better or worse.  Having Favre as your quarterback is like that relationship that makes you laugh, cry, and want to pull your hair out.  Yes he could have continued running when he rolled out to pick up a few yards.  He isn’t the most mobile quarterback in the league, especially after the beating he took last night.  Bringing Longwell out for a 50+ yard attempt wasn’t a sure thing, so please don’t think it was a guaranteed win. When kicking a 50+ yard field goal (even indoors) its not always automatic. 50+ yards isn’t a chip shot.

I am almost certain that it wasn’t Brett Favre coughing up the football 3 times (one in the redzone), that would have been Adrian Peterson.  Do you want him gone too? Peterson leads the league in fumbles since entering the league in 2007.  Of course you don’t want him gone, because he is an explosive playmaker. You will make every excuse under the sun to justify why you want him on your roster, but you don’t want Favre back? I just don’t understand why there are fans out there that don’t understand that the offense is so much better with Favre running it. Here are a few numbers that jump off the stats sheet. These are just a few of the *playmakers* that started getting a lot of media attention after Favre came to town.  Were going to break this down into two categories,  Before Favre and With Favre.

Sidney Rice.

Before Favre ( These numbers are a combination of season totals for the 07 and 08 season)

46 Receptions

393 Yards

8 Touchdowns

With Favre

83 Receptions

1,312 Yards

8 Touchdowns.

Your ready to start renaming streets and babies after Sidney after that kind of season aren’t you?  Lets look at another one shall we?

Visanthe Shiancoe

Before Favre ( Once again combination of season totals for the 07 and 08 season)

69 Receptions

919 Yards

8 Touchdowns

With Favre

56 Receptions

596 Yards

11 Touchdowns

Now you will notice a drop in the yards and receptions, he missed 3 games this season. I’m sure the drop off also has something to do with the addition of Percy Harvin, and the breakout season of Sidney Rice. I am not going to break down the entire offense, I think you get my point.

Viking fans if your perfectly content with your newly found *playmakers* going back to being average then send Favre out to pasture and go with one of your backups. You could even draft a quarterback in the upcoming draft. As long as you are fully aware of the fact that you will go back to being a stagnate below average offense, as you were with Tavaris Jackson under center. Are you ok with going through a *rebuilding* process with a rookie quarterback? Especially after the season you just had, winning the division and making a deep run into the playoffs? There are a lot of question that you have to answer going into next season. Soul searching if you will.

My intent is not to defend Brett Favre, merely pointing out that he is not the sole reason for loss last night.

]]> http://www.ickscorner.com/2010/01/vikings-fans-can-we-talk/feed/ 8 http://www.ickscorner.com/2009/08/this-day-in-sports-116/ http://www.ickscorner.com/2009/08/this-day-in-sports-116/#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2009 02:59:47 +0000 Ick http://www.ickscorner.com/?p=3596 This day in sports is brought to us by the New Orleans Superdome.

1975 - The New Orleans Superdome was officially opened when the Saints played the Houston Oilers in exhibition football. The new Superdome cost $163 million to build.

This has bee a production of *This Day In Sports*. Please join us tomorrow to see where history will take us.

1997 – Morton Anderson (New Orleans Saints) became only the fifth player in NFL history to reach 1,600 career points when he kicked an extra point.

This has been a production of *This Day In Sports*. Please join us tomorrow to see where history will take us.