News&Rumors concerning NFL championships II

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 09:52 PM

Winfield won't let pain intercept playoff chance

January 22 Akron Beacon Journal

Antoine Winfield seems more than willing to accept the tradeoff of persistent pain for unprecedented success.
On Sunday, the former Garfield High School and Ohio State star will play in the first championship game of his 11-year NFL career. His Minnesota Vikings take on the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome with the NFC title and a trip to the Feb. 7 Super Bowl on the line.
But Winfield, a cornerback named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl on Tuesday, is not expected to be in the starting lineup, although he will cover the slot receiver against the Saints. Since suffering a cracked right foot Oct. 18 that forced him to miss six games, Winfield's snaps have been reduced by the Vikings' coaches.
In last Sunday's 34-3 rout of the Dallas Cowboys, Winfield played in short-yardage and nickel situations, which meant more work than expected as the Cowboys threw 35 times. The Saints finished the season with the league's fourth-best passing attack and use three-receiver sets regularly, which means Winfield's aching foot will not be spared.
''Every game's going to be a setback. You cut, you feel it, you get pain,'' Winfield said in a telephone interview earlier this week. ''It's not going to get any better until the season is over and I can get off it. You've just got to fight through it.''
But the Vikings' victory over the Cowboys was just Winfield's second playoff triumph, making him more determined to suffer in silence.
The 23rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, Winfield and the Bills lost to the Super Bowl-bound Tennessee Titans in the AFC wild-card game in his rookie season. Signed by the Vikings as a free agent in 2004, Winfield got his first playoff victory that season over the Green Bay Packers, but the Vikings fell to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round. In 2008, the Eagles defeated the Vikings again.
''My rookie year, we went to the playoffs and lost in the Music City Miracle,'' Winfield said. ''You're young, you think you're going to make the playoffs every year, you thought it was easy. It's tough. This is my first NFC Championship Game and I'm excited.''
Although most of the glory in this season's playoff run has gone to 40-year-old quarterback Brett Favre, Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said Winfield played a significant role last weekend. The Vikings had a first-round bye, which gave Winfield a little rest. Against the Cowboys, Frazier said they put Winfield ''in the best situation to be successful.''
''He's so, so key to us,'' Frazier told the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Sunday. ''It's just big to have him out there. When I saw him moving the way he was in practice on Thursday, I told one of our coaches, 'We're going to play lights out.'
''I really felt that way, just seeing how he moved on it and just knowing what he does for our defense — his presence. It's much like if Jared [Allen] wasn't out there or Kevin [Williams]. I went up to [Winfield] and asked him, 'Are you feeling better?' He said, 'Coach, I feel about as well as I've felt in a while.' I go, 'Wow, OK, we're going to play pretty good on defense.' ''
Earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl in 2008, Winfield said he took 35 family members with him to Hawaii. Then he reaped the benefits last summer, signing a five-year, $36 million contract with $16.1 million guaranteed.
He came out strong in the first five games of 2009, totaling 28 tackles and four passes defensed, with 10 tackes and an interception against the Packers. Then he was injured in Game 6 against the Baltimore Ravens.
''I didn't even hit anybody,'' he said. ''I turned and ran and cracked my foot.''
Winfield struggled when he returned on Dec. 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
''I was getting fatigued, I had missed two months, that's why I was giving up big plays in the fourth quarter,'' he said. ''That's when they decided to cut down my reps.''
Winfield finished the regular season with 55 tackles (53 solos), an interception, a sack and five pass breakups.
He said the opener against the Browns on Sept. 13 ''seems like so long ago.'' It was his first time playing in Cleveland in the regular season and he said he had 131 tickets.
This season has brought its challenges, but Winfield, 32, has amazed himself with his longevity.
''I never thought I'd still be playing at this age,'' Winfield said. ''When I was drafted, I thought I'd play 10 years and then retire. But my body still feels good, I'm playing at a high level. I'll continue to go as long as I can.''
When he needs inspiration, he need only look to Favre.
''We have a goofy team, a lot of characters, a lot of personalities,'' Winfield said. ''He's 40 years old and still working hard. It's our day off and I just saw him in the locker room laughing and cracking jokes. He came back for one reason, to win the Super Bowl. The year he's having, we have a chance to do that.''

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 10:01 PM

Brees vs. Vikings secondary is a mismatch

January 22 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Michael Lombardi

QUOTE: “To believe is to be happy; to doubt is to be wretched. To believe is to be strong. Doubt cramps energy. Belief is power. Only so far as a man believes strongly, mightily, can he act cheerfully, or do anything that is worth the doing.” -- Frederick William Robertson

Last weekend against the Cowboys, the Vikings looked the best they have in
every aspect of the game. But can they continue to play at that level when they go on the road? As we know, the road has not been kind to the Viking defense, which gives up nine points more on the road than at home and struggles to win the turnover battle. And Sunday, the high-octane offense of the Saints will challenge the Vikings defense to the max. Without the benefit of the hometown crowd helping the defensive line get off the ball, the Vikings’ secondary gets exposed and the yards and points begin to mount.
The Vikings were undefeated at home but went 4-4 on the road this season with wins in Detroit, Cleveland, St Louis and Green Bay. Other than the Packers, they have not had an impressive win on the road. In their four losses -- against the Cardinals, Bears, Steelers and Panthers -- the Vikings allowed 11 touchdown passes and had only one interception, and in three of the four games, the opposing quarterback had a passer rating over 100.0. With the exception of the Cardinals, this weekend the Vikings will face the best and most versatile offense they’ve seen all year.
The Saints are like a good basketball team (not like my 76ers) that can create mismatches and force a defense to show its hand with its pre-snap look. The Saints are not a west coast offense; they are a multiple offense that can attack a defense in many ways. Their skill level is far better than the Vikings’ skill level in the secondary, so unless the Vikings can rush quarterback Drew Brees the same way the Cowboys did, he’ll shred their secondary.
On the other side of the ball, the Vikings are very good when they’re attacking with their passing game. The key to the Vikings winning the game will not be running back Adrian Peterson establishing the run, but rather the arm of 40-year-old Brett Favre. The Vikings’ offensive line has limitations in the run game, mostly on the right side where rookie right tackle Phil Loadholt can’t cut off the back side, so running the ball to their left is a challenge. Loadholt lacks football quickness to prevent a down-the-line player, and if the edge is set, the back side closes down. As a result, the Vikings are mostly a right-handed run team, which helps the defense game plan. Now, this is not to imply that Peterson can’t break off a long run, but he’ll have to do it more on his own than a play being perfectly blocked in front of him. The way the Vikings can win the game is to establish the pass, then feed Peterson the ball in the run game.

From my viewpoint, this will be a good offensive game if the Vikings can handle the crowd noise and not allow the Saints’ blitz package to force them into making mistakes. For the Vikings to win the game, they must be able to make the right adjustments during the game once they determine exactly what defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has in mind for them. Running blitzes is not a random thing, as good defensive coaches know more about pass protections than any offensive coach. So once Williams shows his hand, the Vikings must have answers – yes, plural -- to handle the scheme devised by Williams, who will have more than one way to attack Minnesota’s protections.
Williams will double wide receiver Sidney Rice all over the field as he’s done recently against other top wideouts and force Favre to throw the ball somewhere else to disrupt the rhythm of the Vikings’ passing game. The goal of the Saints defense will be to disrupt the rhythm of the passing game and pressure Favre, which will be helped by the crowd noise inside the Superdome. For the Saints to win, the “Who Dat” nation will have to be loud for 60 minutes.
So, who do I like? I think it will be a great game, but I’m going with Brees and the Saints. Favre will need to play very well, and I’m sure he will, but the Vikings’ lack of talent in the secondary against the best offense in football is too much to ignore. For me, the combination of the talented Saints offense and the inability of the Vikings to play good defense on the road makes them my pick.
Enjoy the games.

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 10:08 PM

Can Reggie do it again?

Saints RB needs another big performance to send his team to Miami
January 22 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Matt Bowen

We all know what Reggie Bush did last weekend against the Cardinals in the divisional playoffs. I wrote about it write after the game because, well, I was impressed.
Was it Bush’s best performance as a pro? Considering he racked up 298 total yards and scored two touchdowns — on only 12 touches — it had to be pretty close. But what we all talked about was how he finished runs, the way he accelerated up the field and how it reminded us of Bush vs. the Pac-10 when he was at USC.However, the question now is simple: Can he do it again?

I still view Bush as a creative tool for Sean Payton's offense in New Orleans, and if the Saints want to head to Miami for the Super Bowl in two weeks, Reggie is going to have to make plays — against a nasty defense from Minnesota. The Vikings can pressure with their front four, which allows them to play coverage in the secondary. Plus, when they do use their Tampa 2 scheme, Bush — who likes to hit the edge of the defense — essentially will be running against a nine-man front with the corners sitting hard on the run.
But that doesn’t mean that Payton won’t find ways to get him involved.
Does he play in the slot? How is he used on third downs? Do the Saints use pre-snap movement to get the matchup they desire? Because when Bush is in the game, he’s in there for a reason — to get the ball.
Like most players in this league who are used in multiple ways in multiple formations, expect to see Bush used in the Saints game plan as a weapon. He could align as the “X” receiver to the open (or weak side), or he can align as a No.3 in a bunch formation. But wherever he is, he will align there to beat a Vikings defender in a one-on-one matchup. Get him the ball in open space and let him use his athleticism and speed to pick up yardage in chunks.
Plus, we can’t forget the kicking game. Big plays on special teams in championship games can be game winners, and field position is huge — both for Payton’s game plan and Gregg Williams defense. Use the kicking game to make Brett Favre drive the length of the field.
But can Bush do it again? Can he replicate the best pro performance of his career in the biggest pro game of his career?
One game. That’s all that stands between playing for the Super Bowl title and turning in your playbook and checking back into town in late spring for mini-camp. From my perspective, despite the enormous number of weapons the Saints have on offense with QB Drew Brees, Bush has to show up. He has to be that dynamic player we saw last week — the same player we envisioned when the Saints drafted him No. 2 overall.
The stage is set for Sunday, and now Reggie has to deliver — again.

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 10:12 PM

Brett Favre is bitter pill in Minnesota Vikings territory

January 22 New Orleans Times-Picayune

If you feel for the folks in Kiln, Miss., as they struggle with their divided loyalties between the Saints and hometown hero Brett Favre, consider the season-long plight of Green Bay Packers fans as they've watched the former object of an entire state's affection take snaps with their most bitter cross-border rivals.

"I've tried to take the high road, but people are mad," Mary Heyer said. "I still can't believe it."

What she can't believe isn't that the player who was to the Packers what Michael Jordan was to the Chicago Bulls decided to continue his career elsewhere. Large portraits of Favre hung on the wall of Heyer's Wasau, Wisc., home even after he joined the New York Jets in 2008. They came down only after he skipped over to the Minnesota Vikings, the Packers' divisional and regional foe, and the surreal sight of the quarterback taking the field in purple and gold has required fans of both teams to re-examine their allegiances.

"I hated the dude at the beginning of the summer," said Mike Lutz, a Vikings fan positioned in a booth inside Gabe's Roadhouse in St. Paul on Wednesday night. "Now I call him the Purple Baby Jesus."

He was voicing an attitude held by Vikings fans across the Twin Cities, which sit roughly 30 minutes west of the Wisconsin border. In more than 16 seasons playing for Green Bay, Favre faced off against the Vikings twice a year in the regular season while becoming one of the most celebrated quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. His crowning achievement came at the Superdome in January 1997, when he led his Packers to a Super Bowl victory, something no player has ever experienced while wearing a Vikings uniform.

It was a career every Vikings fan observed with clenched teeth.

In the 10 years Steve Spencer held season tickets 15 rows away from the Metrodome's field, "a lot of the pleasure I took from it was at being able to yell at Brett Favre and have him hear me." The Minnesota native admits his swift change in attitude toward the quarterback renders him "a total hypocrite. I love the guy now."

Considering the success Favre has enjoyed as a Viking, Spencer also believes what he calls "the paradox" of watching the quarterback play for his former nemesis is much more difficult for a Packers fan to bear.

"The Packers fans I know have taken it very, very hard," he said.

"As a small-town boy, he was a perfect fit for the Packers," Heyer said of Favre. "Over the years, we sort of felt like we felt every bump in his personal life. We agonized with him. It's almost like we raised him. We went through all those personal struggles and then obviously celebrated over his triumphs."

In her mind, when Favre joined the Vikings, "he went from playing for the love of the game to being one of the many prima donnas who play in the NFL. And that's disappointing."

It can't help matters that Packer fans living in Minnesota have to endure the taunts of the natives. A popular bumper sticker around the Twin Cities shows a cartoon version of Favre wearing a Vikings jersey relieving himself on the words Green Bay -- and that's one of the less vulgar ones. When asked if there isn't something a touch emasculating about the Vikings needing to enlist the services of a legendary Packer in order to succeed, Lutz had a ready reply.

"No," he said. "It's like sleeping with your ex-girlfriend's hot sister."

"It's the NFL and the way pro sports are now," said Lutz's friend Bill Schwandt, who was still wearing the shin guards he had strapped on for an earlier game of broomball, a recreational sport similar to hockey that is popular in these parts. "The best players go around trying to find themselves the best chances."

"Is the guy from Wisconsin?" asked Tom Fournier, a bartender at Bar La Grassa, a new Italian-style eatery in Minneapolis. "It doesn't matter. He is the reason we've made it this far."

Kim Gruetzmacher is a Wisconsin native who regards the Favre-as-a-Viking circus pragmatically, respectfully and with the edge of a rival. He owns the 8th Street Grill in downtown Minneapolis, one of the many "Packers bars" in the Twin Cities area, and he holds the same season tickets his grandfather first acquired back in 1957, the first year the Packers played on Lambeau Field.

"I think the majority of Packers fans do not wish ill of Favre but have a hard time rooting for the Vikings," Gruetzmacher said. He believes the excitement surrounding Favre could help the Vikings earn the public support to build a new stadium, something many Minnesotans think will be necessary to keep the team from moving to another state when its Metrodome lease expires in 2011.

"The team will be better off if Favre helps them finally win one," Gruetzmacher said. "After being in the league for 51 years, you really ought to win something."

Mentioning that Viking kicker Ryan Longwell became the Packers all-time scoring leader when he played in Green Bay, Gruetzmacher said he and his fellow Packer fans have discussed the once impossible-to-imagine possibility of Favre winning a championship wearing Minnesota purple.

Should that come to pass, he said he and his friends agreed there should be an asterisk next to the Vikings' name on the Vince Lombardi Trophy. It would read that when the team finally managed to win a Super Bowl: "It took a Packer quarterback and a Packer kicker" to get it done.

slacker00 · 01-22-10, 10:14 PM

Brees can pick apart the Vikings unless he gets dirty. If the Vikings pass rush doesn't get there, it's gonna get ugly. I think it will.

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 10:20 PM

New Orleans Saints' Tracy Porter, Minnesota Vikings' Sidney Rice return strong

January 22 New Orleans Times-Picayune

Tracy Porter and Sidney Rice look like football prodigies now, but they appeared more like projects at the beginning of 2009.

Sid Rice the 6-foot-4, 202-pound, second-round 2007 draft pick, drew criticism for a 15-catch 2008 season. All that potential, not much to show for it, naysayers fired. Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams saw weakness in Porter, a cornerback.
"I thought (Porter) was physically tough, " Williams said. "I didn't think he was mentally tough. I needed to callus him mentally, so I chose and I picked him out to ride unmercifully through the OTAs, the mini-camps and training camps, and I will tell you truthfully, there's a couple of times I think I'm going to mentally break this kid, and then all of a sudden, someone came from behind and said, 'You know what he's doing don't you? He obviously likes you, because he wouldn't be spending this much time doing this if he didn't; psychology 101.' "
Without question, both have transformed, producing banner seasons. And now they will be pitted against each other in Sunday's NFC championship. It will be Rice's task to live up to his promise -- and Porter and fellow cornerback Jabari Greer's job to shut down another gangly, hotshot receiver.
Rice has blossomed into a dependable receiver on the long passes and shows his desire with effort. He has more than tripled his previous best-season output, finishing fourth in the league with 1,312 receiving yards. That was second-best in the NFC. It's not the same 21-year-old that showed up.
"He was like a Great Dane, all arms and legs, and all over everywhere, " Childress said during a press conference Wednesday. "But I think he's gained some physical strength. I think, mentally, he's fought through a lot of adversity there, and I think he's grown leaps and bounds. What is he, 23 now? Getting old, boy."
Rice, who set a franchise record for touchdown catches in a postseason game (three) last week, has a better understanding of how to use his size to advantage. Greer and Porter stand 5-feet-11, a good bit shorter than Rice, who is salivating at the prospect of single coverage.
"(The advantage) is huge, " Rice said Thursday in Minnesota. "I actually don't know what the span is or anything like that, but it's huge. I feel comfortable with my size and my strength, being a bigger receiver, facing smaller guys in one-on-one coverage. Every receiver in the league loves one-on-one coverage."

But keep in mind that when Greer and Porter were healthy this season, they met every receiving challenge out there. Greer posted 44 tackles and two interceptions this season, and Porter had 57 tackles and four interceptions and forced two fumbles. The two helped keep Arizona standout Larry Fitzgerald without a catch until 32 seconds remaine in the first half and scoreless to game's end.
"These are the types of corners that get us involved in the run game, " Rice said. "So as a wide receiver, we're going to have to be on point with our blocking and things like that, just watching as soon as the ball snaps, because if they see the ball is being handed off, they're going to shoot inside. It's not going to help at all if we can't get our guy blocked on the outside for Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, so we've got to be on point with that.
Greer and Porter have the speed to run with Rice, but don't have the vertical leaping ability Rice does.
"(Rice's) been making plays all year, " said Saints cornerback Malcolm Jenkins. "He had a breakout year, and he's made a lot of plays downfield for big gains, and it helps that he has Brett Favre, too. It's a big challenge for us and something we are trying to prepare for.
"I think when you have somebody as talented as Rice is and you add someone as talented as Brett Favre, it makes a good combination, especially because Brett likes to take shots downfield and Rice is big enough and strong enough to go up and get the ball and make some acrobatic catches. That's a great combination for them."
But Williams likely isn't betting against his guys.
"Both those guys as corners, you've got to be mentally tough at corner, " Williams said. "You got to be able to say, hey, short memory. You've got to be physically gifted, but you've got to be mentally tough. Both those guys are now. I'm pretty hard on both of them."

DOMINATER · 01-22-10, 10:29 PM

pauly you sure you don'tdo this stuff for a living , excellent report

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 10:46 PM

Minnesota Vikings hope for running start against New Orleans Saints defense

At an early morning staff meeting the day before the 45-14 win over the Cards, Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams had another game he wanted to play with his assistant coaches. The "What If" game.
"As trite as this may sound, the day before the game at an 8 a.m. staff meeting, I posed a bunch of what ifs, " Williams said. "The first what ifs was tell me what your body language is going to be, tell me what your demeanor is going to be, tell me what your coaching point is going to be, tell me how you are going to react if something bad happens on the first play of the game."
Guess what?
"I'll be damned if it didn't happen."

On the first play from scrimmage, Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner took the snap from center and handed the ball to running back Tim Hightower, who dashed through a hole on the right side of the line, avoided two failed attempts at tackles by Saints safeties Roman Harper and Darren Sharper and sprinted 70 yards for a touchdown.
"I didn't even watch the back run to the end zone, " Williams said. "What I did was I stepped back and looked at all my coaches. And they responded very well. The players needed us. They didn't need more stress."
What the Saints defenders got Saturday after the long run was some tutelage and motivation.
The coaches worked almost in unison, Williams said, to help correct the miscues on Hightower's score. They chatted with players and looked at the offensive set the Cardinals came out in.
This wasn't anything new for the players and coaches, though. They've been in this position more times than they have wanted.
While Hightower's run was the longest run allowed by the Saints' defense this season, it wasn't the first time a back has broken free for a big gain.
In their 17 games this season, the Saints have allowed 12 rushing plays of 20 yards or more.
Continuing a perplexing trend, eight of those runs have come in the first quarter, including six on the first possession of the game.
The Saints likely can't afford such miscues on Sunday Verses the Vikings and All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 1,383 yards and 18 touchdowns in the regular season.
"We are definitely trying to get that fixed, especially against a team like the Vikings, who are known to come out and score a lot of points in the first quarter, " Saints defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis said. "We can't continue to allow that to happen. And we are doing our best to get that fixed."

Typically, the Saints have mended their blown assignments during games. But the task this week, several Saints said, is to not allow the big runs to happen in the first place.
Williams and Coach Sean Payton said the Saints' struggles to stop the run early on in games have no recurring theme.
"No, I don't think (there's a theme), " Payton said. "I guess the similarity being when they happen early in the game. But they've been plays that have been different schemes, different type of runs.
"When it happened last week, certainly on the first play of the game, it takes a little of the energy out of the stadium. But we were able to come back with the next drive and score. So I think it's just been the start, and I know Gregg and those guys on defense are working their tails off to start games the right way and will continue to do that."
At times Williams said the Saints have used poor run fits, meaning the players have attacked through the wrong gaps, allowing gaping holes for the runners to sprint through.
On other occasions, running backs have cut back against the Saints' over-pursuing defense, running across the back side of the line for long runs.
Hightower's score was simply defensive end Bobby McCray getting sealed and Harper and Sharper whiffing on tackles.
"It's real simple when you watch the film, " Williams said. "In this last ballgame, we have two unblocked players at the point of attack and they don't make the tackle. So that (touchdown run) is probably going to happen.
"It usually comes down to fundamentals. It really is not as much about schemes, it usually just comes down to the execution of fundamentals. And that player (Hightower) made two of our better tackling guys miss at the point of attack."
Although that run stunned the crowd, momentarily silencing the sold-out Superdome, the Saints players and coaches said they didn't come close panicking.
Instead they buckled down, yielding just 31 yards on the Cardinals' next 14 carries.
"Obviously, it's not good to have experience with that, but we have experience with that, " Saints linebacker Scott Shanle said. "It had happened before so we knew that game wasn't going to be determined by that one play. Since we had seen that before earlier in the season, there was never any panic."
The key, however, is trying to play with the same discipline in the opening of the game as the Saints do in the later stages.
But that's easier said than done.
"I don't have any explanations of why that happens, " Shanle said. "If I knew why, Gregg would be mad at me for not telling him why."
"Do I like those big runs? No, it kills me, " Williams said. "I don't like those big runs. But the fact that we are able to adjust and not let them happen again is real good."

20Four7 · 01-22-10, 10:55 PM

Pauly,

You said earlier you were going to stop posting, please listen to yourself....

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 11:02 PM

New Orleans Saints injury report for Jan. 21

Receiver Robert Meachem returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday and said he's determined to play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Safety Darren Sharper (knee) was also back on a limited basis. Tight end Jeremy Shockey (knee) and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins (hamstring) did not participate in the team portion of practice, however.
Shockey declined to discuss his knee injury, saying he got fined the last time he opened up about his health. Coach Sean Payton described it as "more of a knee bruise" and said he's been coming along this week. Shockey did continue to play last week against Arizona after he suffered the injury, so it's likely he'll play this week.
Meachem seemed like more of a long shot earlier this week when he had his ankle in a protective boot. But he was adamant on Thursday that he won't let the ankle injury keep him off the field.
"This is one of the biggest games of your life," Meachem said. "You're gonna play. You're gonna try to do anything you can to play. If you can't play, you really are hurt."
Meachem had his ankle taped Thursday but said it feels so good, he might be able to go without tape Friday. He said he started out as limited Thursday but wound up going through the whole practice.
"You've got to get out there and show Coach you can do a little bit," Meachem said. "I had to see where I was at, get my timing with Drew (Brees) and try to get a look at these coverages live.
"I moved pretty good today. It was a little stiff at times. Tomorrow will really tell me where I'm at."
Sharper should be fine. Payton said he was just getting the same rest on Wednesday that he's been getting in recent months. Jenkins' availability is unclear.

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 11:08 PM

Headache for Harvin keeps him on sideline

Vikings rookie Percy Harvin missed practice Thursday because of what the team described as a "headache," but that raises concerns, given his history with migraines.
Harvin was added to the injury report, and his status for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints is unknown.
Harvin has suffered from migraines since he was 10. He experienced a debilitating bout that forced him to miss one game and nearly two weeks of practice earlier this season.
Harvin visited the Mayo Clinic in late December and said he left with a "great plan" for dealing with his migraines after meeting with the specialists.
Harvin said recently that he hadn't experienced any problems since returning from the Mayo Clinic. Vikings coach Brad Childress said Harvin's migraine episodes have differed in severity and length.
"I think it's just a matter of trying to slow the onset," Childress said. "For a while he had them pretty often. This is the first time one has raised up [since his Mayo visit]. Expect him to be OK. ... He has a headache so he has to take care of it. [It's] not something you can fight through."
Caution: Men kicking Punter Chris Kluwe, kicker Ryan Longwell and long snapper Cullen Loeffler made their weekly trip to the Metrodome on Thursday evening to get in some work that isn't possible in the smaller quarters of the Vikings indoor practice facility at Winter Park.
However, this time there was a catch. Because the Metrodome is set to host a monster truck show Saturday and the playing field has been filled with dirt, the Vikings players had to wear orange vests because of OSHA rules. The workers put down a strip of turf on the dirt for Kluwe and Long-well to practice on. Kluwe said ramps for the trucks also were in place.
"One of our maintenance guys went down and took a picture so we could have an idea kind of what we're working with and it looks like they've got like these three ramps like right at the 20 so I'll probably aim like for the outside corner of each ramp on the side," he said. "So you still have something to aim at."
More verbal volleys Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe conducted interviews at his locker wearing a baseball cap that said sharper42.com on the front. Saints safety Darren Sharper, who will be matched up on Shiancoe at times Sunday, gave his former teammate the hat last season when both were with the Vikings. Shiancoe had taken the liberty of drawing a couple of lines through the Sharper42 part.
Meanwhile, a day after Shiancoe predicted he would score 10 touchdowns on Sharper, the latter was asked to respond.
"That's kind of a Shiancoe quote, living in a fairy-tale land," said Sharper, who used to have a locker next to Shiancoe at Winter Park. "Ten touchdowns? Is that possible? I don't think so."
Etc. • Vikings wide receiver and punt returner Darius Reynaud, who grew up just outside New Orleans and led Hahnville High School to the Louisiana Class 5A title and was the MVP of the title game in 2004, grew up a Saints fan and said he will have 230 friends and family at the game. Reynaud said he still needs 10 more tickets. "It will be a lot of fun to go home," he said.
• Sharper (knee) and wide receiver Robert Meacham (ankle) did limited work in Thursday's practice, while cornerback Malcolm Jenkins (hamstring) and tight end Jeremy Shockey (knee) missed a second consecutive day. Saints coach Sean Payton said Shockey could play even if he misses the entire week of practice.

Vikings coach Brad Childress said rookie Percy Harvin missed practice Thursday because of a "headache." Harvin's history with migraines is well-documented. He missed one game this season because of a severe bout.
Harvin visited the Mayo Clinic recently and said he came away with a good game plan for how to deal with his migraines. Harvin had not experienced any problems since meeting with Mayo doctors.
"I think it's just a matter of trying to slow the onset," Childress said. "For a while he had them pretty often. This is the first time one has raised up. Expect him to be OK. ... He has a headache so he has to take care of it. [It's] not something you can fight through."
Childress also said he's hopeful that defensive tackle Kevin Williams and defensive end Ray Edwards can do some work in practice. Both missed their second straight day of practice because of knee injuries.
"They might get out here tomorrow," Childress said. "I'm in hopes they are, but again we'll see how much progress they make."
Limited for the Vikings were wide receiver Bernard Berrian (ankle); left guard Steve Hutchinson (shoulder), linebacker Ben Leber (knee) and cornerback Antoine Winfield (foot). Defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy (thumb), cornerback Benny Sapp (ankle) and nose tackle Pat Williams (elbow) continued to be listed on the injury report but did not miss any practice time.
For the Saints, cornerback Malcolm Jenkins (hamstring) and tight end Jeremy Shockey (knee) did not take part in practice for a second consecutive day. Wide receiver Robert Meachem (ankle) and safety Darren Sharper (knee) were limited after sitting out Wednesday. Defensive end Bobby McCray (back) and center Jonathan Goodwin (knee) were listed on the report but did not miss any of practice.

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 11:15 PM

Report: Kevin Williams expected to start

Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams has a bone bruise on his left knee but is expected to start on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game against New Orleans, according to a tweet from NFL Network reporter Jason LaCanfora.
Williams did not practice for a second consecutive day on Thursday -- starting left defensive end Ray Edwards also sat out again because of a knee injury -- but he was seen after the morning walk-through and was wearing a protective sleeve on his knee.
Williams recently was named to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time in his seven-year career and is a key reason the Vikings have been so good against the run. Minnesota was No. 2 in the NFL this season vs. the run. While Williams won't be 100 percent for Sunday's game, his absence would be a major blow to a team that is trying to slow the high-powered Saints.

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 11:22 PM

Terry Bradshaw: If Vikings don't win Super Bowl, Brett Favre will play another season

Will Brett Favre play again in the 2010 season?
Hall of Fame QB Terry Bradshaw says it all depends on whether Favre and the Vikings advance to -- and win -- Super Bowl XLIV.
Bradshaw, now a Fox analyst,told USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand that if Favre wins the Super Bowl, he will likely hang up his cleats -- for good. Bradshaw says Favre is motivated by a desire to show up the Packers, the team he divorced in 2008.
Favre, Bradshaw said, wants to "embarrass them, put it in their face. And nothing would throw it in their face more than winning the Super Bowl."
Bradshaw said in Week 1 that he was "fed up" with Favre, weeks after the QB ended his second retirement to join the Vikings. Two months later, with Favre the Vikings riding a wave of success that led to an NFC North title, Bradshaw acknowledged his criticism is wrong
And Bradshaw said if the Vikings' season doesn't end with Favre hoisting a Lombardi Trophy, expect to see the QB back in Minnesota. -- Sean Leahy

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 11:26 PM

'Validation' not a priority for Childress

Coach says Wilfs set good tone for successful season

Vikings coach Brad Childress said he's grateful the team's owners gave him a contract extension during the season instead of waiting until after the year is over to evaluate the decision.
"Obviously, it's a show of faith," Childress said, "but I think the Wilf ownership, the best thing they've done, they've empowered all of us to do our jobs. They ask questions, you give answers, they don't get in your way, they hire you to be an expert in your area, and they appreciate that. I appreciate the fact that they're supportive, whether it's with my contract or acquiring players or upgrades to the facility or how we travel or whatever it is."
The Vikings went 12-4 this season, claimed their second consecutive NFC North championship and defeated Dallas in the divisional round of the playoffs. But Childress said he doesn't feel validated by the team's success.
"You know, you don't want to get into (whether) I had to be validated as a coach by wins and losses," he said. "Like I've said, I'd be in the fetal position a lot of the time by my locker. You know what you know. You do the best that you possibly can.
"We've got good players, good coaches, good ownership, and I'm not worried about getting validated. You have a vision, you sell your vision, and the success thing is never final; it's 'what have you done for me lately,' including this week."
Winfield to be limited: Antoine Winfield again will be limited mostly to slot coverage in nickel and dime packages,

leaving Benny Sapp out on the left corner. Asked if he feels OK with that lineup, defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said, "Under the circumstances." "When Antoine gets to that point where he's 100 percent and has the confidence to do the things he did prior to the injury, we're better with Antoine on the outside," he added. "Without question, the matchups are to our advantage. But under the circumstances, we're pretty good the way we are right now."
Winfield hinted he might be able to go back outside if the Vikings go to the Super Bowl.
"I feel a lot better," he said. "When I first tried to come back, things were kind of tough. Once I fractured my foot, I really couldn't condition, really couldn't lift (with my) lower body, so over the last couple of weeks, I feel myself getting my strength back, getting closer to 100 percent.
"Probably this week (I'll be in) the slot role, but we might give them a couple of different looks. I know I'll be inside when they bring in the big personnel, so we'll see what happens."
No reply: Frazier demurred when asked about getting passed over for the Buffalo Bills' head coaching job. He interviewed for it last week, one of seven head coaching interviews he's done the past three years.
Asked if he had any reaction to losing the job to former Cowboys coach Chan Gailey, Frazier paused, then replied, "Uh, no. No, not really, no."
John Shipley contributed to this report.

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 11:32 PM

Vikings' fake noise falling on deaf ears

TOM POWERS
There probably are more annoying things in life. It's just hard to think of one.
"It's so irritating," said Benny Sapp.
"Very annoying," said Brian Robison. "It's like your wife nagging you at home."
Oh my God, I had no idea.
"It's an ear-piercing sound," said Ryan Longwell. "Constantly, for two hours."
The Vikings were referring to the fake crowd noise being pumped in during practice this week. Supposedly, this gets them used to the ruckus that will occur at the Superdome on Sunday. In reality, it just makes everyone miserable. Tempers get short.
"I hate it when they're doing it," said Heath Farwell. "But we're preparing for the worst."
This isn't a new tactic. It's been done by many teams for many years. Basically, it gives the players a chance to work on their visual communication. Of course, these are the same signals they use every week when playing on the road. No matter, it apparently makes the coaches feel better to know their charges have withstood a week of ear-blasting practices.
"It makes our ears ring an hour after practice," Ben Leber said.
That can't be good, and some of them may suffer the consequences one day.
Sixty-year-old Ben Leber: "I just got a new hearing aid."
Friend: "What kind is it?"
Sixty-year-old Ben Leber: "About 7 o'clock."
Some teams use music, but the Vikings use recorded crowd noise blasted through amplifiers. According to the players, there are two volume levels: ear-shattering

and I-wish-I-were-dead. The ear-shattering level is constant. It gets cranked up to the second level when the teams walk to the line of scrimmage to run a practice play. It's not very realistic because, as a couple of the guys pointed out, the noise doesn't change no matter how the practice play turns out. There could be an interception or a long completion and yet the noise level doesn't rise or fall. Even more of an issue is that it's just pure noise with no one screaming profanities.
For example, it would seem much more authentic if they spliced in chants of, say, "Loadholt, you suck!"
"That would be a lot more realistic," agreed Sapp.
"Yeah," said Phil Loadholt. "You do have a lot of that stuff (in real games)."
"You have to insert that on your own," Longwell explained. "In your head."
I'm convinced, and a bunch of players agree, that this is a useless exercise. For one thing, the defense never hears noise at that decibel level. The home fans always tone it down a bit so their offense can operate, which means the opposing defense can bark signals as well.
In addition, in real games, the noise tapers off between plays. At practice, it blares constantly. Again, this can't be good for the purple.
Sixty-year-old Adrian Peterson: "Doc, I think my hearing is bad."
Doctor: "What are the symptoms?"
Sixty-year-old Adrian Peterson: "Oh, you know, it's the show with Homer and Bart."
A couple of rookies, Loadholt and Jasper Brinkley, said their college coaches occasionally had fake crowd noise or loud music pumped into practice. So this doesn't overwhelm them.
"Yeah, I guess it's about the same," said Loadholt. "It might be a little louder here because it's inside. We were outside at Oklahoma."
"We'd do it before the Florida game," said Brinkley, out of South Carolina. "But this is a different level."
Yet the coaches might be craftier than we are giving them credit for. The players hate the noise, and they are determined to show the coaches it doesn't affect them. So according to several players, not one has jumped offside in practice this week, despite the caterwaul. That's because they don't want to give the coaches the satisfaction of saying: "See? That's why we're doing this!"
"Oh, you definitely don't want to be that guy," Loadholt said with a smile.
"You don't want to be the poster child for what could happen," said Robison.
Well, they're certainly paying attention to their visual snap signals. Maybe Brad Childress and Co. know what they are doing after all. Let's just hope everybody survives it.
Three 60-year-old Vikings are at a barbecue.
Viking No. 1: "It's windy today."
Viking No. 2: "Thursday."
Viking No. 3: "Yes I am, how about a lemonade?"

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 11:39 PM

Game plan pulls in Winfield

An injury has limited the defensive back to playing when opponents are set up to pass, but against the Saints that means he'll play most of the time.
Antoine Winfield texted his former teammate Darren Sharper on Sunday evening after the Vikings-Saints matchup in the NFC Championship Game was set. The two veterans became friends as leaders of the Vikings secondary for four seasons.
"See you Sunday," Winfield wrote.
Sharper's response?
"It's on like Donkey Kong," Winfield said, laughing.
The Vikings certainly could use a monster performance from Winfield against the Saints' run-and-gun offense. Still recovering from his fractured right foot, Winfield said he'll play primarily in the slot as the nickel back once again.
That's been the case the past two games, but that hardly means a reduced role for Winfield this week. He estimated the Vikings will employ their nickel package 70 percent of the time because the Saints use three and four wide receivers so often. Winfield said the defense uses its nickel package roughly 40 to 45 percent against most teams.
"Not against them," Winfield said. "They have so many explosive players, and they want their playmakers on the field."
Winfield said his foot feels better, but he's not comfortable enough to play in his regular spot at left cornerback for an entire game. Benny Sapp has assumed that job.
"I feel a lot better," Winfield said. "I think when I first tried to come back it was kind of tough. Once I fractured my foot I really couldn't condition, really couldn't lift lower body, so over the last couple of weeks I feel myself getting my strength back and getting close to 100 percent."
Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said it's not an ideal situation using Winfield exclusively in the slot.
"When Antoine gets to that point where he's 100 percent and has the confidence to do some things he did prior to the injury, we're better with Antoine outside without question," Frazier said. "Just the matchups are to our advantage when that's the case. But under the circumstances we're pretty good the way we are right now."
The injury sidelined Winfield for six games and clearly hindered him in two games after he returned, ultimately resulting in a reduced role. That's why it came as a surprise when he was named to his second Pro Bowl, as an injury replacement, this week.
"It shows the respect that I have in this game around the league," Winfield said. "I have had statistically better seasons. I didn't expect it, but I'll definitely take it."
Winfield said he won't participate in the all-star game next week if the Vikings lose to the Saints. That's understandable since his foot likely won't be fully healed until summer. The 11-year veteran is more concerned about making the most of this opportunity, whatever role he plays.
"You have to take advantage of every opportunity, especially in this game," he said.
"When I came [into the NFL], in '99 with Buffalo, we went to the playoffs, and I was thinking, 'Oh, we'll be in the playoffs every season.' I didn't go back until '04 when I came here. But to be in the NFC Championship is special. Guys are enjoying it, we're having a lot of fun. We're not ready to go home yet, so we expect to go down to New Orleans and get a win."

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 11:43 PM

Sound of silence is Vikings' goal

The Saints' vocal fans in the Superdome can be disruptive to the visiting team, but Sidney Rice knows the antidote: Make plays.
Vikings players were fitted for custom-made ear plugs last summer to help them better cope with blistering crowd noise.
Many of them tested their ear plugs in practice Wednesday as they began preparing for the raucous atmosphere awaiting them at the Superdome for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints.
The Superdome is one of the NFL's loudest venues under normal circumstances, but the decibels could reach ear-splitting levels given the magnitude of this game.
"Playing there [last year] it was definitely the loudest stadium I've played in," running back Adrian Peterson said.
The Vikings won that Monday night game 30-27, but even some of their veterans described the atmosphere as the loudest they have ever experienced.
"That place was rocking," offensive lineman Artis Hicks said. "When Reggie Bush returned that second punt [for a touchdown], you couldn't hear yourself think. For some guys, that might not be a bad thing."
That comment drew a laugh, but his point was unmistakable. The Vikings have to manage the noise and minimize its effects, particularly when they are on offense.
"We already know how we can take them out of it: Go out there and make plays," wide receiver Sidney Rice said. "That's the only way and that's the only thing we're going to have to do to keep them quiet. If we're making plays, I'm sure it's not going to be as loud in there. We know it's a real noisy environment. It can get like the Metrodome this past week. We have to be on point."
The Vikings are taking different measures to prepare for the noise. Many players tried out ear plugs that were designed by Eden Prairie-based Starkey Laboratories. Starkey president Jerry Ruzicka described them as "passive ear plugs" that are "designed to dramatically reduce noise."
Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe showed his ear plugs to reporters in the locker room before practice.
Oh yeah," Shiancoe said. "This is custom-made. It's going to be loud down there so we're going to wear them in practice. It's going to be loud every day in practice this week. They're going to turn it up. We're going to try [the ear plugs] out." Left tackle Bryant McKinnie might be one player most affected by the noise because he's at the end of the line. He also tested the ear plugs.
"They were all right," he said. "I'm going to try them again [today]. Mine kept popping out. I just have to make sure it stays in."
The Vikings piped in loud crowd noise during practice to simulate the effects.
"It was cool," cornerback Antoine Winfield said. "It was a lot of noise. But we expect it to be real loud down there. It could be a factor."
The Vikings got a taste of what to expect last season, but they expect the Superdome to be even more hostile this time.
"It's going to be totally different," offensive guard Anthony Herrera said. "The volume is going to shoot up a lot."

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 11:47 PM

Peterson studies Saints film for clues to improve

Adrian Peterson can be forgiven for wanting to put his last appearance against New Orleans as far in the rear-view mirror as possible. Perhaps that's why the Vikings running back said Wednesday that his 32-yard, 21-carry rushing performance against the Saints on Oct. 6, 2008, was two years ago.
"Those guys did a great job," Peterson said of the way the Saints defense played in a Monday night game that the Vikings won 30-27 on a last-second field goal. "I don't take anything away from those guys but studying the film, there is really a lot that I did. I really wasn't patient in that game. I missed a couple of big runs. ... It's going to be very critical for me to make sure that I take advantage of the opportunities where it presents itself this time."
Peterson gained only 63 yards on 26 carries in Sunday's playoff victory over Dallas, but said there are some things that he and the coaches are looking at correcting.
"In practice you design every play to score, but when you're out there, sometimes the play doesn't go exactly how you practiced it," he said. "You might have a guy slip down. It's football. Those guys on the other side get paid too, so you might not win every matchup. So on one play it might be a guy getting beat, or it might be me not being patient and missing the hole. It's those things that you have to correct and make sure you take advantage of those opportunities in a big game like this."
Kluwe unplugged Punter Chris Kluwe drew a lot of media attention Wednesday regarding his game plan for Saints punt returner Reggie Bush, who returned two punts for touchdowns against the Vikings last season.
"Actually, we were planning on first pooping our pants and running screaming toward the sidelines, and then Reggie would be able to just pick up the ball and run toward the end zone," Kluwe said. "In retrospect, though, that might not be the best plan, so I'm sure we'll come up with something else."
Coach Brad Childress and Kluwe had a heated conversation on the sideline last season after Bush's second touchdown return. Asked about it, Kluwe said: "It happens. Emotions run high during games and you go from there. Me and Coach are much more heavily medicated now, so hopefully we'll be OK on the sidelines."
Erin Henderson returns Backup linebacker Erin Henderson returned to practice after being reinstated by the NFL following a four-game suspension for violating its policy on performance-enhancing substances. Henderson declined to reveal what substance he tested positive for, but he indicated it came from a prescription he received in training camp to treat an allergic reaction.
Henderson said he met with Childress on Tuesday to discuss his status. Henderson has a roster exemption that will expire Monday. "We had a pretty good conversation," Henderson said. "He said they're going to give me a shot, a chance to get up and be active this week."
Something in common The StarCaps court case that kept Vikings defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams from having to serve a four-game suspension also kept Saints defensive linemen Will Smith and Charles Grant on the field this season.
Grant is on injured reserve now, but Smith stayed healthy and led the team in sacks with 13. "It was a blessing because we all had pretty good seasons in just not missing any time," Smith said. "To be out there helping my team to get where we are today, I think [the StarCaps case] played a huge part."
Etc. • Veteran NFL referee Pete Morelli's crew is expected to work Sunday's game. Morelli was the referee for the Vikings' 26-7 loss at Carolina on Dec. 20. He called five penalties on the Vikings and six on the Panthers.
• Wide receiver Bernard Berrian (ankle) and linebacker Ben Leber (knee) were new additions to the Vikings injury report Wednesday. Both were limited in practice. Also limited were left guard Steve Hutchinson (shoulder) and cornerback Antoine Winfield (foot). Tight end Jeremy Shockey (knee), cornerback Malcolm Jenkins (hamstring), wide receiver Robert Meacham (ankle) and safety Darren Sharper (knee) did not practice for the Saints.

PAULYPOKER · 01-22-10, 11:55 PM

Brett Favre says he has nothing left to prove

Certainly there's no emotional conflict, because all Farve4ever wants to do is ruin the biggest game in the Saints entire history, in the building where he had the biggest win of his statistically unparalleled career.
All he wants to do at the Superdome on Sunday is what he did there 13 years and two days ago, on Jan. 26, 1997. Then, in Super Bowl XXXI for the Green Bay Packers, his team posted a 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots. This time the objective of the now 40-year-old quarterback is to lift the Vikings over New Orleans in the NFC championship game, to give Favre a third trip to the Superbowl and deny the Saints a first, on the Saints' home turf.
And of course, to justify the wholego into come out of soap opera he authored the past two or three offseasons.
"I came back for the opportunity, in hopes of getting back to the Super Bowl, no doubt about it, " Favre said. "I really don't think there's anything left to prove. Every guy wants to be a part of the Super Bowl. As you get older, you appreciate it more. I'm just thankful for this opportunity."
But that statement, endearing and elderstatesman-ish as it is, won't curb the Saints' plan to smack around the Mississippi native and self-professed Saints fan (on every day except this Sunday).
"We know he's been playing this game for a long time and brings a lot of experience, " defensive end Will Smith said. "I don't think there's going to be anything we can do to him to rattle him. He's just kind of out there playing, having a good time, leaving everything out there. It's going to be tough, but we've got to figure something to slow him down and slow the run attack.
"(When playing Favre in the past) one thing we always talked about was his ability to keep the play going. There's never a dead play. We have to stay after him, and make sure when we get our hands on him we bring him down."
They had better.
It's no secret that Favre, who completed 15 of 24 passes for 234 yards and four touchdowns in Vikings win over Dallas, is at the top of his game. In a freakish season for a man of his age, Favre started every game (for the 17th consecutive season) and completed 363 of 531 passes for 4,202 yards and 33 touchdowns, with seven interceptions.
Favre hadn't had a single-digit interception season since he was a rookie with Atlanta, when he threw only four passes in two relief appearances. He had never before completed 68.4 percent of his passes, or averaged 7.9 yards per attempt, and only twice in his 19 seasons had he totaled more passing yards.
"He's been a fantastic player, " Saints Coach Sean Payton said. "To see what he's doing right now at this point in his career is really unprecedented, in the success he's having and the season he's having."
On that front, the Saints have him equaled.
New Orleans hasn't ever been 14-3, in position to host the NFC championship game or better positioned to win its way into the Super Bowl.
The last hurdle is the Vikings -- and Favre, who is preparing to play in the building where he directed his greatest triumph, hoping to deny the Saints theirs.
"There have been guys that have played in our league a long time, but he's played very well and is playing as well as he has throughout his career right now, " Payton said. He's decisive. He knows where he wants to go with the football. He's got great arm strength still. So those are the challenges."
All the lifelong Saints fan wants to do is spoil the biggest party in Saints history.

PAULYPOKER · 01-23-10, 12:00 AM

Big game is familiar to Favre

The veteran quarterback's ability to keep tense situations loose, then focus on the task at hand makes him an island of calm in the mayhem.
Brett Favre admitted he choked Sunday.
After throwing four touchdown passes in a 31-point victory over the Dallas Cowboys in a second-round playoff game, Favre struggled through his own rendition of "Pants on the Ground" in the Vikings locker room as his amused teammates looked on. By now, most everyone has seen the Internet video of Favre attempting to sing the ditty made popular on "American Idol."
"It's not like that song has a lot of words to it," he said Wednesday after wrapping up a news conference at Winter Park. "It's 'Pants on the ground, pants on the ground, looking like a fool' -- which I was. That's why I left that out [the rest of the words] because I said it's bad enough."
Whether it be the 40-year-old Favre attempting to sing a song that isn't aimed at his demographic or him slapping the behind of a teammate with enough force that it causes the person to cringe, the quarterback's ability to provide levity is much appreciated by a group of players that find themselves in the midst of what could easily turn into a stressful week.
The Vikings are one step away from their first Super Bowl berth in 33 years and need a victory Sunday in New Orleans in the NFC Championshi Game to reach the NFL's biggest stage. Of the 53 players on the Vikings roster, 46 have never advanced this far in the playoffs. But this is nothing new for Favre.
He will be making his fifth appearance in an NFC title game in his 19-year career. Favre has posted a 2-2 record in those games, beating Carolina and San Francisco during the 1996 and '97 seasons and losing to Dallas and the Giants after the 1995 and 2007 seasons, respectively. Favre has passed for 1,057 yards and thrown eight touchdowns and five interceptions in the four games.

I hope the little experience I have in these games -- which is more than most -- will help some," Favre said. "That's not to say I don't get nervous and stressed and all those things as well. I think, for me, as far as my leadership goes, of course practice and things like that, it's what you always do. But I try to keep not only myself but the other guys calm and relaxed. It's OK to be excited, but especially in an environment like we're going to face ... to be able to focus -- and I've played them at home, and I've played them away -- these games, they're tough anyway. But they're really tough on the road because of the noise." The last time Favre played in a conference championship game, he found himself battling the Giants and the frigid conditions at Lambeau Field in an extremely disappointing, 23-20 overtime loss. Favre was picked off by the Giants cornerback Corey Webster in the extra session, setting up Lawrence Tynes' 47-yard winning field goal.
The elements won't be a factor this time, but the noise in a domed stadium that can accommodate more than 70,000 certainly could have an effect. That prospect alone has the potential to cause anxiety for some, especially if the quarterback appeared uptight.
"You go back to the pressure thing," coach Brad Childress said. "That [pressure] that you feel and that you apply. ... [Favre's] able to calm things down, whether it's practice or whether it's any heightened anxiousness. He does a great job with it himself and it kind of spreads to others."
While Favre has a silly side to him, he also has proven to be extremely introspective on numerous occasions and that side of him was on display again Wednesday.
Favre has said, from the day he joined the Vikings in August, that his sole intention was to get back to the Super Bowl. He led the Packers to victory in the game in January 1997 and a year later lost to Denver and John Elway. But Favre said he isn't still playing because he feels the need to prove something, and he even managed to indicate there are those who don't remember why he shouldn't have to prove himself again.
"People may think that I'm pulling their leg, but I really don't feel like there's anything left to prove," he said. "The thing with playing 19 years is people actually forget that I had success, had been in a Super Bowl. I have to remind them of that sometimes: 'Hey, you know I've played in the Super Bowl.' And they say, 'Really?'

PAULYPOKER · 01-23-10, 12:04 AM

Return engagement: Vikings prepare for next brush with Bush

Ryan Longwell started needling punter Chris Kluwe on Saturday night after the New Orleans Saints secured a spot in the NFC Championship Game.
The Vikings still had to earn a chance to play the Saints by defeating the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but Longwell couldn't resist a friendly jab at Kluwe after watching Reggie Bush return a punt 83 yards for a touchdown in the Saints' 45-14 victory against the Arizona Cardinals.
"I saw him return it and it brought back memories," said Longwell, the Vikings' veteran kicker. "Some not so good."
Those memories were probably more like nightmares for Kluwe and the Vikings coverage units. The Vikings' trip to the Louisiana Superdome last season served as the low point for their special teams in a 30-27 Minnesota victory.
Bush returned two punts for touchdowns (71 and 64 yards) in the second half as the Saints racked up 354 total return yards.
Childress was livid after the game, telling reporters that Kluwe was instructed to kick the ball out of bounds on two of Bush's returns. Childress also offered a blunt verbal warning to Kluwe.
"If he can't do that, I will find somebody who can kick the ball out of bounds," Childress said.
Childress managed a wry smile Monday when asked about Kluwe's game plan against Bush in Sunday's NFC Championship Game.
"I think that we will go back and revisit our last trip we had to the dome and probably have a little sit down about that to see if either one of us has evolved in our processes in communicating that," he said. "I don't want to give any competitive advantage to how or where we will kick the ball. He is a very good returner as you know and I know."
The Vikings special teams also are markedly improved this season and better equipped to handle Bush. For one, they have their Pro Bowl special-teams captain Heath Farwell leading the charge after missing all of last season because of a knee injury.
The Vikings overhauled their coverage units this season, injecting more speed. Kluwe has altered his approach by focusing more on hang time than distance, and Long-well also uses more directional kicking on kickoffs.
"Obviously we had a history with Bush last year, but we're a different unit than we were last year, too," Longwell said. "A lot quicker. Guys take a lot more pride in what they're doing and it shows."
The coverage units had their best performance of the season in Sunday's 34-3 victory against the Cowboys. Dallas averaged only 15.4 yards on seven kickoff returns while Kluwe forced two fair catches and placed one out of bounds at the 2-yard line.
Childress described his coverage units as "unbelievably outstanding." Three different players collected two special-teams tackles.
"It was just unbelievable," linebacker Kenny Onatolu said. "We were all running down there as fast as we could. You just saw one guy after another making a play. It's what you hope for every time, but it doesn't always happen that way."
Onatolu said he and backup safety Husain Abdullah stood on the sideline before the coin toss discussing how much they wanted to start the game with a kickoff.
"We just wanted to set the tempo," Onatolu said.
Defensive back Eric Frampton did just that when he belted Kevin Ogletree on the opening kickoff. The Vikings smothered the Cowboys returners all game.
"Guys did a good job running down there, flying around, making plays," Farwell said.
The Vikings need to duplicate that effort Sunday. Bush's touchdown return against the Cardinals was his first since the Vikings game last season. He has battled knee injuries this season but he showed he remains a game-changer when healthy.
"It's a big test for us," Farwell said. "We have a lot of respect for him. He's one of the best returners in the league. He showed that again [Saturday]. He's dynamic offensively and on special teams. We have our hands full, but we'll do what we do and we'll be fine."

capper123 · 01-23-10, 12:26 AM

like how is it even possible to type that much

THATRUTH · 01-23-10, 12:30 AM

Man!!! Your fingers must be hurtin

Grandmaster B · 01-23-10, 12:46 AM

whoa

PAULYPOKER · 01-23-10, 08:58 PM

It's a playoff payoff for Vikings-oriented businesses

Ray Crump isn't a casino high roller, yet he figures he has $100,000 riding on Sunday's NFC championship game between the Vikings and Saints.
A Minnesota victory in New Orleans means excited fans will mob his sports souvenir shop. A defeat, and he'll be sitting alone with his stock of Helga braids and Brett Favre jerseys.
"I hope I'm not crying Sunday," said Crump, owner of Dome Souvenirs Plus, near the Metrodome. "My wife said she'd love to be in a business that didn't depend on a team winning."
So far, this has been a sweet season for Crump and other businesses that prosper from Vikings victories — ranging from potato-chip makers to flat-screen TV sellers to beer distributors. Should the Vikings reach the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years, scores of local businesses are poised to profit.
But if the ball bounces the wrong way, the party's over. So lots of local businesses are cheering the Vikings as loudly as Ragnar.
Roseville-based Old Dutch Foods saw sales surge about 15 percent for last week's playoff game with the Dallas Cowboys as hungry fans snapped up chips, dips and pretzels. Sunday's game should be even bigger.
And a Vikings Super Bowl?
"It's been so long since we've had a Super Bowl, we don't know what kind of an increase we'll see," said Jay Buckingham, director of sales and marketing. "So we're looking forward to being challenged by that opportunity."
More than 1.4 million Twin Cities viewers watched the Vikings-Cowboys

game, the Nielsen Co. reported — and that's a lot of hungry and thirsty people. Supermarkets, beer distributors, sports bars and others can see a big surge in game-day business, so they must plan ahead, then scramble once the final gun goes off.
"You look at past (delivery) records from other playoffs, whether it's another sport or a similar-type event, and you adjust," said Kevin Ryan, state general manager of Wirtz Beverage, a St. Paul-based beer and liquor distributor. With the Vikings in the playoffs, local liquor stores have been boosting their beer deliveries by 20 percent or 30 percent, he said.
Cub Foods, which sees an increase in traffic before every Vikings game, has been stocking up on game-day mainstays like dips, chips, pizzas and pop — and adjusting work schedules for employees. This weekend, Cub employees also are encouraged to dress up "to support the team of their choice," said Brett Lein, Cub Foods district manager. So purple jerseys and yellow beads are in.
How about horned Viking helmets?
"As long as they can get the horns between the door, we'd be OK with it," Lein quipped, later adding, "We don't encourage face-painting."
One factor that helps the business plan is, football fans tend to like the tried-and-true. When Supervalu released a survey about game-day food favorites, it found an overwhelming majority of football watchers (81 percent) didn't care much about healthy options — nor did they feel guilty about it.
At Old Dutch, that means potato chips, tortilla chips and dips are hot on football Sundays. But caramel corn and cheese curls are not.
"I think the average consumer has a menu in mind," Buckingham said.
For businesses selling food and drinks, kickoff time matters, too. A late game — like Sunday's Vikings-Saints game at 5:40 p.m. — is better for supermarkets, pizza-delivery places and liquor stores, because more people are likely to host Vikings parties and watch the game at home. An earlier game is better for bars and restaurants.
The Green Mill in St. Paul has both covered. Its drivers deliver a lot of game-day pizzas, and its 16 TV screens draw a crowd even for regular-season games. Sunday's game won't be routine, though.
"It's not your normal Vikings game. This is do-or-die right now, so everyone's pumped up pretty good," said Jim Kreiser, managing partner at the Green Mill on Grand Avenue.
Pumped up is a good description for the activity at Crump's sports souvenir shop. While the store has been busy enough, what's really going crazy is online sales, thanks to the Vikings fans scattered around the country. They're attending their own parties Sunday and want the right accessories. (Helga braids?)
"It's been un-, un-, unreal," said Crump, the Minnesota Twins' longtime equipment manager. "Last year, we didn't do that well. This year, we are sending 100 to 150 packages every day. We came in here after Thanksgiving, and we never took a day off until after Christmas. It's like back to the World Series days."
Whenever he can, Crump has put in provisional orders — triggered by a Vikings win Sunday.
"We have our order in, and if they win, they'll start printing that night," Crump said.
So on Sunday, some of the loudest cheers for a Vikings victory will come from Crump and small-business owners like him.
"If they win, people come in the store and they buy," he said. "If they lose, people run by the store. So we know we have big dollars going, whether they win or lose."

masr · 01-23-10, 11:09 PM

blueghost · 01-24-10, 12:05 AM

looking forward to your super bowl report

MidgetTossers · 01-24-10, 12:10 AM

Originally posted by capper123

like how is it even possible to type that much

copy and paste