Like Sand Through an Hour Glass.....

It has been an interesting football season. Especially if you are a Minnesota Vikings fan. If you don’t mind, I would like to review some of the events of the past year or so. This may sting a little bit.
August 18, 2009, Partly due to frustration with the development of quarterback Tavaris Jackson and the struggles of Sage Rosenfels, the Vikings signed Brett Favre for the 2009 season. Favre joined to the team after a controversial courtship which included Childress picking him up at the airport. "I am excited about the opportunity to join this football team," said Favre. "From ownership, to coaching to the players, it is evident that everyone in the Vikings organization is committed to bringing the fans of Minnesota a Championship. I am eager to join my new teammates and get to work towards that goal." Because Favre is a vested veteran, the $12 million contract is guaranteed for this season if he is on the opening day roster.

On November 19, 2009, the Vikings announced they would be extending Brad Childress's contract through the 2013 season. The owner Zygi Wilf was cited as saying, “Brad has done a tremendous job leading this football team and we value the positive environment he has created for the Minnesota Vikings on and off the field. He has continued to positively impact this team and create a strong foundation for future success." Financial terms weren't immediately available but the deal is believed to be between $4 million and $5 million a year.

January 24, 2010, The New Orleans Saints, are heading for their first Super Bowl. By battering Brett Favre and beating the Minnesota Vikings 31-28. There were nine fumbles and two interceptions, and the biggest mistake belonged to Favre. Flushed from the pocket in the final minute, he seemed to have room to run to set up a field goal. But hampered by a left leg injured in the third quarter, he threw cross-field and was intercepted. The Saints then won the coin toss and ended the game on a field goal 4:45 into OT. That finished off Minnesota's chance for its first Super Bowl trip in 33 years -- and opportunity to win it for the first time after four defeats. The Vikings have lost five straight NFC title games. "I've felt better," said Favre, who looked every bit his 40 years. "It was a physical game. A lot of hits."

August 17, 2010, Favre returned to the Minnesota Vikings after three teammates, Steve Hutchinson, Jared Allen and Ryan Longwell, flew to his Mississippi home to recruit him to play a 20th NFL season. Favre received his $3 million signing bonus when the new contract became official. He earned an additional $13 million in 2010 base salary, which became guaranteed once he was on the roster in Week 1 as a vested veteran. Favre also has the $4 million in incentives as part of the new deal. Favre said, "I owe it to this organization to give it one more try.”

October 5, 2010 The Vikings acquired wide receiver Randy Moss from the New England Patriots in exchange for the Vikings' third-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. “He can still go downtown and get the football, which is a stand-alone factor," Vikings coach Brad Childress said.

October 24, 2010, Brett Favre threw three second-half interceptions and the Packers beat the Vikings 28-24. "It's devastating," Favre said. "I don't know how else to put it. I take a lot of pride and ownership in all phases of the game. You've got the ball in your hand, you hope to win those. You just feel like you let everybody down."

On November 1, 2010, less than four weeks after being traded to Minnesota, Vikings head coach Brad Childress told Vikings players in a team meeting that Moss was going to be waived by the team, one day after he criticized Childress and teammates in a press conference following the Vikings' loss to the Patriots. Just before the press conference, Moss reportedly told team owner Zygi Wilf that Childress was unfit to coach in the NFL and should be fired. Childress did not consider consulting with team owner Zygi Wilf on this decision. Wilf reportedly considered firing Childress and keeping Moss, but Moss was officially waived the next day, November 2.

On November 21, 2010, Brett Favre looked ready for retirement, with six likely meaningless games now left for Minnesota in the epilogue of his 20-year career. Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay's swarming defense sure made it clear who's in charge of this Packers-Vikings rivalry right now. He beat Favre for the second time this season and sent Green Bay to a 31-3 victory over melting-down Minnesota. "This has got me at a loss for words," Favre began his post-game news conference. "Disappointing would be an understatement."

On November 22, 2010 Brad Childress is gone, one season after he famously picked up Brett Favre at the airport, got a contract extension and came within a field goal of reaching the Super Bowl. The Minnesota Vikings fired Childress on Monday, ending an eventful and often tumultuous run with the team marred recently by player unrest, livid fans and an angry boss over everything from his abrupt decisions to a 3-7 start. But don’t feel bad for Childress, he will still get paid $6.6 million dollars in 2011 and 2012.

I didn’t want to see Childress go. I was afraid that a new captain at the head of the Viking ship would steer them in the right direction. But the fact that with their season all but over, new coach Leslie Frazier is sticking with old #4 as his starting quarterback, instead of getting some quality playing time for quarterback in waiting, Tavaris Jackson, with live bullets, just means that the Vikings have picked the right man for the job. My advice to Vikings fans, “batten down the hatches, it looks like you are in for some rough seas.”