Favre-Childress Call Doesn't Seem Necessary

The news that the Packers may have the Vikings dead to rights on tampering charges thanks to their phone records of calls between Brett Favre and Brad Childress is a pretty big blow for the Vikings.

If it's true, than the NFL will likely be taking away some draft picks in the next week or so and slapping a fine.

San Francisco is the only other team punished for tampering in the past decade, and all they lost was a fifth-round pick, which isn't a particularly painful penalty. As I said last week, losing a fifth-round pick for the chance to bring Favre to Minnesota seems like a pretty decent trade, especially when it also throws Green Bay into turmoil.

But while trying to get Favre to Minnesota may have been worth taking some risks, if what is being reported is true, it's a pretty big black mark against Childress, and a stupid way to go about it.

The Vikings had an in with Favre. He knows offensive coordinator Darren Bevell from their days together in Green Bay. Bevell could have talked to Favre in ways that could have conceivably remained on the right side of the rules.He could talk to the retired Favre about the Vikings need for a veteran quarterback. And if Favre talked about coming back, Bevell could have told him that the veteran quarterback still had plenty left in the tank and should consider it. All of that would have been just two friends talking, like they have for years. And it would have been enough to establish each sides interest in the other.

And if Favre decided after those talks that he'd like to come back, and maybe even wouldn't mind playing in Minnesota, that would have been his decision.

But the minute Childress got involved in actual talks with Favre, all of that likely went out the window. Childress doesn't know Favre, so it will be very hard to explain away any conversations between the two. Even if Favre called Childress, it would have been wise for Childress to simply politely explain that he didn't want to violate tampering rules (a 25 second call between Favre and Childress would actually be a useful piece of exonerating evidence).

It's hard to see exactly what would be gained by Favre and Childress talking. It's not like Favre would have to find out if he would be the starter in Minnesota--Tarvaris Jackson knows he's not winning that QB battle. And if Favre had any questions about the Vikings offense, he could ask them to Bevell.

The tampering charges will make it much less likely that the Vikings will ever get Favre--the 49ers didn't land Lance Briggs even when he became a free agent after their tampering. It was always hard for Favre to get to Minnesota unless he could induce the Packers to simply cut him. This will make it much tougher, even if Favre apparently wants to come to Minnesota.

So now it looks like the Vikings might get slapped with a pretty embarrassing tampering penalty. The cost of the penalty might not be that bad, but it's hard not to wonder whether it all could have been avoided.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-23-2008 @ 4:33PM

piranha man said...

Anyone got any blame to send Brett Farve's way? Maybe he made the first call, maybe not. But in my mind this is much more of a two-way street. Enough already.

Go Bears!

7-23-2008 @ 7:01PM

scott lykins said...

Handled badly yes! If Favre goes to The Purple People Eaters then the League is thiers! Packer fan for life and love the guy! Peterson and Taylor both would have 2000 yard seasons with the MAN completing just a few passes to the lame on the outside, and he will stick it in them! Nothing but win win for Minnesota in my opinion!!!

7-24-2008 @ 12:41AM

Vikings2869 said...

piranha man said...
Anyone got any blame to send Brett Farve's way? Maybe he made the first call, maybe not.

piranha man, I'm from MN and the reports around here are that Farve did infact call Childress, and not the other way around. Not happy about this. I am truly confindent in TJack. It takes 3 years (especially for QB's) before you see what you got. This is his 3rd year in the system, and 2nd as a starting QB. He showed signs of improvement last yr, especially towards the end of the season (bringing the vikes back from either 17 or 19 pts down in the 4th to force OT). He should be improved this year....when the D stacks 8 and 9 in the box it will be 1 on 1 for Berrian, not Williamson (the man that can't catch anything, even wideopen with pine tar on his hands). But who knows....I'm just an optimistic homer.

7-24-2008 @ 6:23AM

JG said...

Vikings2869, If that's true, i can't understand how the Vikes can be charged with tampering when Favre initiated the conversation. And even so, unless they recorded their conversations who knows what was said, but come on, Jackson in his 3rd year waiting to prove he is a viable QB, or an already proven QB in Favre who would elevate your team to an elite SB contender? The choice seems unquestionable.

I saw on the NFL Network that the Packers contacted over 20 teams seeing about a trade. I can only see maybe 16 teams interested in Favre and being of need of a QB and that wont cause a problem in question of the already starting QB.

NFC: Vikes, Bears, Skins, Falcons, San Fran.

Yeah people keep talking about the Bucs, but i think it's a poor fit. They have Garcia and that would just cause bad blood seeing as how Garcia did well there and is looking for a contract extention. There is no way Favre would play for the Falcons. The Niners seems unlikely with their development of Smith. The Skins seems like a great fit, but i think it's a bad decision because of how strong that division is. The only logical place in the NFC that gives Favre a true chance at being in the hunt for making the playoffs and beyond is the Vikes with the addition of Banard. The Bears really don't have a good WR crew, unless you want to count Hester but he will be doubled the whole time.

AFC: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Baltimore, Texans, Chiefs, Riaders.

The Bills seem like the best fit out of the Dolphins and Jets, but highly unlikely that Favre would want to go there, especially with the dominance of the Pats in that division. Baltimore is a bad decision because the division is tough with Pittsburgh and now the Browns showing that they are contenders. The same can be said with the Texans in that regard. There is no way Favre would play for the Chiefs and it would be Deja Voo like Montana there. Raiders, no way as well.

Best fit is Vikes and possibly the Bears to give Favre and that team a ligit chance of a SB run.

7-24-2008 @ 10:54AM

Jeff said...

The Vikings are contenders right now, don't be foolish claiming their not. But, by all means go ahead.

Now the thing is, the Vikes don't need any Bret Favre to come in and take all the credit from an already well built solid team. It doesn't make much sense, especially after Chilly has spoken that TJack is his starter. With Booty signed and Bollinger still on the list as well as Gus, do you think theres any room for the guy now?

Now heres a strange thought;
If the Packers were smart about this claim, they would ask Bret to come in right now to play, before he says its all a mistake and that the phone conversations were of not much merit and not in the line of football.
And another thing, the Packers and Bret could be setting up the Vikings also, it could all be a nice big ploy created by the brains of thier outfit, Ted Thompson to come up with another idea on how to burn the Vikings from getting anymore prominant than the Packers. Infact it could be more of a reality than many think it could be, it actually makes logical sense.

7-24-2008 @ 11:42AM

Jeff you're crazy. Conspiracy theorist are ya? Brett and Brad are buds.

Yeah the Vikes were the best agianst the run (and not by much), but what were they against the pass? Dead last! and how did they finish in passing? 28th. Yeah, vikes don't need Brett, what was i or anyone else thinking?!?!?....LOL

Logical sense is based on facts, not on theory.

7-24-2008 @ 3:08PM

Deano said...

Yeah the vikqueens are way more prominant then the pack. Every year I hear how good you guys are going to be and every year you guys choke. I forgot how many points did you score against us at Lambeau last year. Hell, forget Lambeau how did you do when we came to that hell hole you guys call home.
Win the big won, sell out more games then just the Packer game every year and then talk about how good you are. Until then(it will be a while)wait until the queens are 4-6 just like every other year give up on your team and plan your January's without football.

7-25-2008 @ 7:00PM

King of all Vikings said...

Fire Ted Thompson, hes an idiot, like all Cheese heads.

7-30-2008 @ 1:15PM

tony said...

First of all I must say that even if Favre goes to the Vikings, a.k.a never won anything team, they will still choke like every Minnesota before them. They are not and will not ever have Favre on thier team. They are going to bad this year, maybe not during the pre-season or in the first half of the season but when it counts down the stretch. To all you Minnesota Queens fans out thier who think Favre should share the blame for this call Childress is the dumbest coach in the league. Have fun this season.