Diner Morning News: Childress Must Fix This Mess

National Football Post

QUOTE: “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”—Maria Robinson

Brett Favre gave Brad Childress of the Vikings an answer Tuesday. I’m not sure it’s the one he wanted to hear, but nonetheless, it was a decision. For now, he is not coming back -- emphasis on the “for now.”

Of course, we got a quote from coach Childress: “I just think it was a rare opportunity to explore a Hall of Fame quarterback who had a background in the NFC and in this division. He knows our system inside out...This doesn’t change anything about how I feel about our football team.”

A rare opportunity? I wouldn’t call chasing a 40-year-old quarterback coming off a shoulder injury “rare.” Had Favre been 32, then yes, this would have been a rare opportunity.

Speaking of rare, do you consider a 26-year-old quarterback who has thrown for more than 8,000 yards (Minnesota has thrown for 5,700) and 45 touchdowns the past two years rare? For me, the rare opportunity was when Jay Cutler was on the market, not Favre. But Childress didn’t like Cutler, didn’t like his personality, had heard some “things” (for lack of a better word) and decided to pass.

I love Brett Favre as a player. I'm really happy he didn’t come back because, as I mentioned in the Sunday Post, he hasn't trained his body to play this season. Without proper training, he would’ve had a hard time staying healthy and playing at the level of excellence we’ve all come to expect. The aging process takes a toll on everyone, even someone as great as Favre.

So, where does my favorite NFL head coach go now? Of course, he’s going to mention to everyone, except his own quarterbacks, that he has confidence in his team, his beloved system, and his players.

What I find funny is that Childress had time to talk to Peter King of SI.com (nice work, Peter) about the Favre situation but didn’t have the time to call Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson. I love Peter, but he’s not going to help you win games; Rosenfels and Jackson just might. Don’t you think they should have been told first and been given some love and nurturing?

I was told Wednesday night that many in the Vikings organization were not in favor of chasing Favre, that it was solely the idea of the head coach. This was his baby from start to finish, even to the point where it was reported that the team hadn’t imposed a deadline on Favre and allowed him to take as much time as he needed. Clearly, Childress just wanted Favre.

Being fair to Childress, maybe he saw a need to acquire Favre as a reaction to what has transpired in the NFC North. Maybe he felt that with Cutler in Chicago and the Packers being healthy, he needed a quick fix. Because let’s face it, even if Favre came back, it was only for one year. Where would the Vikings be in 2010?

Now, the burden of moving the ball falls back to Jackson or Rosenfels, and the burden of calling games falls on offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.

But the greatest challenge awaiting Childress is restoring the team’s confidence in its quarterbacks. Childress has lost some trust of the players with this pursuit, particularly the quarterbacks. Some may dismiss it as just trying to improve the team, but trust me, these moves can backfire and create a very unpleasant locker room.

One of the key traits of leadership is called “Management of Trust,” which means the leader is honest and consistent with his actions, something Childress clearly has not been through this process. He never addressed the situation with either player, nor told them what they could expect. In fact, when he recruited Rosenfels to come to Minnesota before the trade with Houston, he never mentioned any other quarterback he might compete against except Jackson.

It will take some time to repair this mess created by the Favre chase, and it might continue if Favre keeps throwing and the Vikings keep calling. For now, though, coach Childress must clean up the mess—quickly—and stop thinking there is no mess.

JIM JOHNSON

Jim Johnson’s passing is very tragic. He was a great person, a great leader, and—most of all—an inspiration to his players. He built something in Philadelphia, and it wasn't just a defense. He created a legacy. When you say “Philadelphia Eagles defense,” you think of Jim. And that will not stop now that he’s gone. His work will always be with the Eagles.

What I most admired about Jim was his love of the game. He was never bitter about not being a head coach or being passed over; he was someone who accepted his role, enhanced it, and made the most of it. In the world of pro football, egos can be huge, but Jim was an egoless man who only wanted to do his job well, regardless of who got the credit.

Someone once said, “One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.” Jim, your life was worth watching. You will be missed.

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