Can Favre deliver for the Vikings?
By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 08/26/2009
After a summer of controversy and fans on the Favre lookout, he finally arrived last week. But if you think the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers are now going to step aside and allow the Vikings to roll through the NFC North because they’ve got Brett Favre, keep in mind that’s easier said than done.
In the Vikings’ world, they believe they now have what it takes to win Minnesota’s first-ever Super Bowl. Let’s hope so — there are obviously no guarantees in the NFL.
This is my 31st season covering the Vikings, and I’ve covered 29 Super Bowls. I’ve been watching the Vikings closely; in some ways they are like family, and they are very good with a ton of talent on both sides of the ball.
When I arrived in Minnesota in late 1978, my vision was that I would be covering a championship caliber organization and the Vikings would be challenging for Super Bowls. My oldest son, Larry, Jr., was not even born then. Isn’t it ironic that he led the Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl last year while the Vikings have not had a sniff in all this time?
Yes, they’ve been close. In 1987 they lost the NFC Championship at Washington after winning at New Orleans and San Francisco for Jerry Burns. Wade Wilson was the quarterback.
In 1998 the records were flying. The Vikings were 15-1, at the time the highest-scoring team in NFL history for Dennis Green with Randall Cunningham as MVP quarterback and Randy Moss, Cris Carter, Robert Smith, Randall McDaniel and Gary Anderson. That ended with a 30-27 overtime loss to Atlanta in the NFC Championship.
In 2000, the Vikings were torched 41-0 in the NFC title game at New York under Dennis Green again with Daunte Culpepper as All-Pro quarterback.
Not until last season did the Vikings win the NFC North, and the Philadelphia Eagles delivered a Metrodome knockout. Yes, it’s about time, you might say, that the Vikings take the bull by the horns and get it done.
“As a quarterback, you kind of go as the team goes,” said Favre after he was hustled into Minnesota last Tuesday on the Vikings’ private jet after Brad Childress called and asked him to come. Childress even left practice to pick up Favre at the airport. It was a whirlwind kind of a day with lots of smiles and pats on the back.
Expectations? They are enormous. Are the Vikings capable? We’ll see.
Favre is not a short-order cook; this team has to develop the chemistry and will from inside to achieve greatness. “You never know,” said Favre. “I’ve heard all off-season you don’t have to do as much [because] we have a great running game. We all know that there always will come a time when you have to make plays.
“I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t think I’m capable of making some of the plays I used to make,” he continued. “My mind may tell me I can, but I don’t know if physically I can do that. So, understanding my limitations and how it pertains to what we’re trying to do is all a part of this process. But all I want to do is win. That’s all I came back for, was to win.
“There is nothing like it, and for guys who have played this game and played sports in general, it’s tough. There’s no substitute for playing on Sundays. So that’s what I’m here for. I don’t know what I’m going to be asked to do, but I know one thing in particular, and that’s how to be a leader. I know I can do that.”
Can Favre deliver on a two-year $25 million contract? Can he get the ball moving on saving Vikings football in Minnesota? The Vikings need to win on and off the field.
Face the facts: Tavaris Jackson could not deliver a new Vikings stadium. The Vikings are confident that Favre can help deliver the boost of momentum in St. Paul to get a sleeping legislature and governor to realize that, like Gophers football and Twins baseball, the Vikings need a new home — and fast.
This season with Favre will answer several questions. The circus is now in town, and like the Ringling Brothers, you have to deliver a great show.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:20 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday & Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at 3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Larry welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com , or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com .
