Has Brett Favre Signing Created a 'Schism' in Vikings' Locker Room?

When Brett Favre announced that he was coming out of retirement again, Vikings fans quickly rushed to buy tickets. But ESPN.com's Adam Schefter and Pro Football Talk are both reporting that the response within the Vikings locker room was much chillier.

Schefter has the strongest report, as he cites three different NFL sources as saying that there is dissension among the players about which quarterback gives the team the best chance to win. One of the sources called it a "schism."

Sources with knowledge of the Vikings locker-room dynamics say some players believe Tarvaris Jackson gives the Vikings the best chance to win, while other players believe Sage Rosenfels gives the team the best chance to win -- which is one of the new twists to this storyline. In the words of one NFL source, Favre has "little support" in the locker room as Minnesota prepares for its Monday night preseason game against the Houston Texans.

Vikings coach Brad Childress denied the reports on Wednesday saying he hasn't seen "anything that looks close to that." Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune seconded Childress' claim, stating that while there are likely some members of the team frustrated with the move, the situation is nowhere near "as dire as it is being painted."

But if there is dissension, it's only logical. Childress has established that there's one set of rules for Favre and another set for everyone else. While participation in all of the offseason workouts was stressed for Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels (and everyone else on the roster), Favre was able to skip training camp, walk in and have the starting job handed to him the same day he got his jersey. It's not shocking if that created some resentment.

Favre can likely end any grumbling in the locker room by playing like a 30-year-old Favre. But it he falters, we could be looking at a pretty nasty situation brewing.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)

8-26-2009 @ 11:15PM

timjofred said...

Childers is a moron to bring in a diva QB who has proven that he is above everyone else on any team he is on. BF is all and only about BF. This will be another lost season for the Vikings. What a waste.

8-27-2009 @ 6:53PM

rbearfield said...

and you're a moron for spouting nonsense. you don't have a clue as to whats going on. they will win with him. this locker room stuff is just made up by the media looking for headlines.
would you please give me a break and smarten up.

8-27-2009 @ 7:03PM

what is this? do all the morons in the country line up to get on here to bad mouth favre.
do any of them have any active brain cells?
this is stupid, the amount of people on here saying crap. i can't believe the amount of idiots around, well, i guess i do now.
let me splain something to you halfwits. favre is a winner, unlike all of you bad mouthing him. get used to it.

8-27-2009 @ 12:11AM

JFCJR said...

Aw shucks.......looks like this hired mercenary is more enamored with himself than others are with him!

8-27-2009 @ 12:42AM

Jack said...

The Vikings deserve everything bad that will happen to their offense this year via signing this attention whore. This attention whore has been the single most annoying NFL player I have observed in my 55 years of NFL following.

8-27-2009 @ 12:03PM

Steve said...

well said Jack, Well said.

8-27-2009 @ 6:55PM

you know squat. smarten up, buy a brain, and don't watch him win. dufus.

8-27-2009 @ 10:35PM

Albert S. said...

Come on dude what about T.O., Phillip Rivers , Eli Manning , sh!t even M. Crabtree has him beat. Just count to ten and re think that comment. BF is atleast #5

8-27-2009 @ 1:13AM

Let's go Camping said...

I am a Jet Fan. The only thing I have to say is I am happy I am not a Vikings fan.
Those poor souls, they have no idea how bad this is going to be for them.....

8-27-2009 @ 4:38PM

Kenny said...

You are soooooo right..BF is a pain in the a_ _ and I for one am tired of him...stop retiring, unretiring, retiring, unretiring/retiring...you get the picture. POOR vikings..what a mess this team will be...

8-27-2009 @ 11:57PM

James said...

Brett sure didn't hurt the Jets any. You guys loved him when you were riding high last year. Then his shoulder started giving him problems, then you hated him. Talk about Fair-Weather fans.

As for Brett playing for the Vikings, I hope he does well. He's been a class act thoughout his career. No Dog fights, no drugs, never throws his teammates under the bus. Let the coaches take care of the Q.B. situation.

8-27-2009 @ 1:35AM

hotrodqd said...

when was the last time any of these people ..won anything ? didnt the jets make the playoffs ? this guy wins wherever he goes...Imagine if he is in the zone & with that great running back ..forget about it !!! this guy can throw 3 ints & still drive down at the end & put a win on the board ...unlike many !

8-27-2009 @ 5:56PM

tyrekyoung said...

Hot Rod the Jets didn't make the playoffs last year. I am not a Bret Hater but he is past his prime and will not admit that his career is over, unfortunately. Yes the Jets were 4-12 the previous season, however, the Dolphins were 1- 15 the previous year and Chad Penniington who is no Bret Favre took them to a 11- 5 record with a team that I consider inferior to the Jets offesnively and defensivley. When you draft a QB you only have 3 years to take a look at them and see it they are going to be the franchise QB or if you need to draft or trade for another, that was the position that Greenbay was in and that is the position that the Vikings find themselves in now, unfortunatley both teams are built to win now and just need a signal caller who can produce which makes the decision harder. Favre will end up destroying this team, especially if Sage or Jackson decide to walk and find another team to play for

8-27-2009 @ 8:10AM

Schmitty said...

No moron they the Jets didn't make the playoffs!!

8-27-2009 @ 10:14AM

quietmanrm said...

No, the Jets didn't make the playoffs. We tanked the 2nd half. Supposedly due to the arm injury nobody knew about. When he left the jets there were several players who spoke out about his me first attitude.

8-27-2009 @ 3:04PM

brian said...

when was the last time favre drove down and won the game for anyone he didnt do it last year with the jets and he didnt do it his last year in green bay either matter of fact he ended up losing the playoff game by throwing another one his famous interceptions right to the giants defender,enough is enough already with this media whore,hes always got to make it about him

8-27-2009 @ 1:36AM

hlee679862 said...

Jack extremely well put!

8-27-2009 @ 1:42AM

mississippians are tough ...and we will rock you ....favre...the mannings..j.rice..w.payton & other greats !!! we produce sound pro ball players ...not flash in the pan...college heroes !