Former Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter, now an ESPN analyst, believes that the anticipated arrival of veteran quarterback Brett Favre could trigger chemistry problems inside the Minnesota Vikings’ locker room.
Especially wherever fellow quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels hang their shoulder pads, helmets, and cleats.
Carter told Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press that the roller-coaster ride Jackson and Rosenfels have experienced this offseason could leave them disgruntled and confused.
Jackson and Rosenfels were supposed to compete for the starting job until Favre entered the picture.
“The bad thing is, what is the backlash from no communication with the other kids?” Carter said. “Because ultimately, you have to tell these kids something. You’re setting yourself up where they’re going to have a very uncomfortable time, at the first day of camp, because Tarvaris don’t know nothing and Sage don’t know nothing. That right there will be the hurdle for them to overcome, internally.”
Plus, Carter is of the opinion that the extended saga involving whether Favre will end his retirement and is disruptive to the Vikings’ players in general.
“They’re tired of watching ESPN and finding out what’s happening with their team,” said Carter, who predicted that Favre will play this season in Minnesota.
Carter also criticized the Vikings for giving Favre special treatment by sending coaches and trainers to visit him in Mississippi to monitor his progress.
“I played a long time, and I trained almost exclusively away from here,” Carter said. “They never sent [former Vikings trainers] Chuck (Barta) and (Fred) Zamberletti to see me. I would only be sending my employees to work with employees.”
All of that said, Carter acknowledged that signing Favre makes sense for a passing game that could use an influx of talent.
“If I’m running the Vikings, I’m looking at every position and seeing how I might get better at every position,” Carter said. “I know he’s better [than Jackson and Rosenfels]. He can make them dangerous.”
Carter also pointed out that Favre’s uneven 2008 showing with the New York Jets might have been due to a lack of ideal knowledge of the scheme.
With the Vikings, Favre would be running a virtual carbon copy of the offense he orchestrated with the Green Bay Packers.
What else did he say ??
He can make (the Vikings) dangerous.”
Carter called Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson the “most dominant non-quarterback in the league,” who demands the opposition to put eight defenders in the box.
“With Brett, what kind of cover you going to play against them?” Carter said. “He opens it up. And Brett opens up their offense for Brad. Brad will do things that he has never done, because of Brett.”
Carter said 2008 might not be the best barometer of Favre’s abilities because the quarterback waited until late offseason to decide not to retire, then the Packers traded him to the New York Jets during training camp, and he had a limited time to learn a new offense.
“He went from spending all of his life in the United States to all of a sudden speaking Chinese when he went to a different system,” Carter said. “(The Jets) couldn’t run their whole offense.”
Carter said the adjustment to the Vikings would be much easier for Favre, who ran a similar West Coast offense in Green Bay.
Do the Vikings really want all this hassle for a guy who wouldn’t play more than one year and isn’t really any upgrade to their current QB situation?
How the hell this guy landed a job on ESPN is beyond me. I would have thought basic grammar skills would be a pre-requisite, but that’s what I get for thinking I guess.
Damn I love PFT! Keep the Viking’s stories comming. The bottom line here is that Chris Carter said “I know he’s better [than Jackson and Rosenfels]. He can make them dangerous.”
Of course it will create problems in the locker room. Bringing in farve is like Putting all your eggs in One basket. If they get no championship this year and farve calls it quits, the overall backlash with disgruntled players may be far worse than attempting a superbowl championship. Tavaris and Sage are the loosers in this boat.
Oh I’m sure Cris Carter knows all about chemistry problems from all that coke he used to cut.
Basic grammar skills, were you in a coma for the entire run of Emmit’s debacled career at the four letter.
Again- Keyshawn Johnson was on ESPN radio recently and said some good things about Favre in a leadership role. If you are going to hammer Favre every other story, how about going a little more digging?
Ok Chris, so you do not think the Vikings have said anything. Also how can they not know that Favre is coming? The last time I checked TV’s and the Internet are available in Minny. What a knob! Fill the crack pipe, I think you need another hit!
Going out on a limb here I don’t think he’s only going for one year… Think he’s got 2 or 3 in the tank. With Adrian on the ground that’ll keep his jersey clean.
Good!
Why is Sage Rosenfels always referred to as young and a kid? He’s like a 9 year vet that has sucked too bad to play.
You know what, it’s a cut throat league and if Sage or TJ has a problem with that, they just need to go to one player for advice: Chester Taylor. That guy could be a starter for 3/4ths of the teams out there, but yet lost his starting job the second they drafted Adrian Peterson. But yet he sucked it up and contributed to the team, making them one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL. Sage and TJ need to suck it up and do the same.
“With the Vikings, Favre would be running a virtual carbon copy of the offense he orchestrated with the Green Bay Packers.”
Yeah virtual carbon copy of the offense, that produced one of his worst season ever. But yeah go for it Vikes.
Carter, the loud moth, over-opinionated personality who’s resume includes “Former Drug Addict” . Yeah, tell us about Favre. LOL
Coach to team: OK kids, its the coaching staffs job to bring in players that can help the team win…NOW. Would u rather win or worry about who’s feelings get hurt?
ok, before you read this, just be ready to stay calm…
if i were a defensive coordinator i would load the box with 8 guys all day long against brent and the vikes. my game plan would be to make brent beat me( yes, i know that sounds stupid). i would aim to stop the run and force favre to throw the ball 35-40 times a game, in hopes that
A: he will make enough mistakes to hurt his offense
and/or
B: to wear his arm out (thus creating a better chance he throws one of his patented 35 Mph dead ducks to one of my defenders).
still think it sounds stupid? maybe….but remember who whe are talking about here. then think about how god awful he was at the end of the year last year. then think about how he is 40 years old, coming off of surgery, playing in a place where he is expected to make every throw, and expected to get to the superbowl.
i will not be suprised if mn goes 6-2 leading up to a 10-3ish type of record only to finish 9-7/10-6 and either just miss the playoffs, or make them and have favre blow it just like he has EVERY TIME for the last 10 years.
still think i’m dumb for wanting to make brett prove he still has it? we will see.
@SpartaChris says: July 16, 2009 5:49 PM
A bunch of bad stuff about Cris Carter
____________________________
You forgot to mention that the “special treatment” comment wreaking of hypocriscy.
Cris Cancer was among the league leaders in catches and putting his own interests ahead of the team.
Mr. Cokehead shouldn’t judge anyone.
And going on ESPN and saying you know Favre is better than Sagevaris will help the chemistry, right?
Hey, if I go and get a lobotomy can I get a job at ESPN too?
All that being said: he’s right. Bringing in UberFavre without talking to the two guys you told would be competing for the starting job sets up a bad vibe. And if somehow, by some bizarre twist of fate, that could never happen, in a million years, Bertt gets injured … well, then what? You go to the two guys you just dicked over and ask them to bail you out?
It’ll be like the finale of “Mr. Baseball”, where Selleck’s coach, Uchiyama, tells the owners: “It’s gonna cost you, chief.”
To: Ragnarthe, Zygimilf & Jimicos -
WHO gives a flying old fart/favre in space except you three amigos who have your head so far up the old farts keester everything looks different shades of brown to you.
I really hope the old fart bag signs a contract because the “Days Without a Fart/Favre Meter” will officially end. But dont get to joyous about that because a new meter will be unveiled the day he signs his contract.
And here is a sneak peek at what lies ahead:
“Games Without a Fart/Favre Interception Meter” and I will be stunned if it gets higher than one game all year.
If the Vikings really wanted to get better, they would stop looking at the players on their roster and start to examine their coaching staff.
Evaluating the team on paper is one thing (remember one year ago today, the Cowboys were favored to go the Superbowl), coaching them up and putting together both offensive and defensive game plans are another.
We have supreme confidence that Col Klink could screw up a wet dream. Leave it to him to call the wrong plays, throw players under the bus and over-react to circumstances as their season goes swirling down the shitter like the turd that he is. Favre will merely be the head engineer of that train wreck.
# J.Cannon says: July 16, 2009 5:50 PM
Damn I love PFT! Keep the Viking’s stories comming. The bottom line here is that Chris Carter said “I know he’s better [than Jackson and Rosenfels]. He can make them dangerous.”
——
Ye Vikings fans with such simple minds. That’s not the bottom line here, but when you look through your purple tinted glasses and see what you want to see like most delirious Vikings fans I guess you can go with that.
Terrell Owens was dangerous as well, wasn’t he? How about Randy Moss when he was a Viqueen? Why weren’t they franchise players with the teams that drafted them? Team chemistry anyone???? Not to mention the fact that nobody really knows if Favre is dangerous or not. He’s 40, broken down and coming off of an arm surgery. Throw in a terrible pass blocking line and mediocre receivers at best and nobody can predict if he will be dangerous or a dud.
Carter’s one of those dudes I thought I would hate listening to when he came to ESPN. I don’t always agree with him, but he is interesting and usually brings up points no one else does. In this case, he made some very good ones, such as why is a guy who isn’t employed by a team getting visits from their trainers? Most players have to come to the team when they are FA.
I think Childress is acting like a lovesick nerd who is all excited the faded old homecoming queen is entertaining the thought of going out on a date with him. Meanwhile he is not being fair to his football team let alone the two other guys @ QB to keep going on and on with this ass kissing of Favre this late into the offseason. IF he was being brought in as a backup, no problem, But you know this jerk is gonna be handed the starting job after having done ZERO work with the team in the offseason. The HC comes off as a huge hypocrite for putting a guy who ISN’T EVEN UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE TEAM ahead of guys who ARE and have been working all offseason. Disgusting.
This guy can’t be the same Chris Carter that used to opine with Bob Costas and the gang on HBO’s Inside the NFL, can he? They don’t speak the same language.
I love how everyone here brings up his coke problem from TWENTY YEARS AGO.
Carter dropped coke after he left the Eagles.
Speaking as Chris Carter: This ain’t be high school or college anysmore. This is the NFL! You are now a professional type person. As much as you may hate having your boss contimplate bringing in a player that could possibly help the team ’cause they ain’t sure bout you, go ahead and be mad, but if youz called upon when the old man goes down, you betta be ready and take the rains. Phashizzal.
Name another NFL team Toodles and Sage could start for next year. I rest my case. LOL
how exactly is Minnesota’s offense a a virtual carbon copy of the Packers offense :S
Razon says:
July 16, 2009 6:24 PM
“With the Vikings, Favre would be running a virtual carbon copy of the offense he orchestrated with the Green Bay Packers.”
Yeah virtual carbon copy of the offense, that produced one of his worst season ever. But yeah go for it Vikes.
*******************************************
I don’t get your point. Which “his worst season ever” are you talking about? Certainly his worst year occurred in a Green Bay uniform because he played all but one there. I don’t count the year in Atlanta because he only threw 4 passes there. His NY year is not his worst, so it must be in GB by default. Overall, he certainly had far more success in that offense than failure, so what is your point? If you’re referring to his final season there (2007) then go back and look at the numbers: 4155 yards, 28 TD, 15 int, 66.5% comp, 95.7 QB rating. Can’t be that one.
The seasons where he had less success were not because he lacked knowledge of the offense (except maybe 1993 when he was learning). His problems occurred when he didn’t have enough players around him on offense and felt like he had to force things to make something happen (more than the normal “gunslinger” asttitude). Basically trying to make the impossible play instead of simply taking risks. This resulted in the bigger interception numbers. He won’t have that problem in Minnesota. I think if he is (and can stay) healthy, he’s going to have a big year.
t-jack isnt a starter or much of a qb, period.
rosenfels could start for the vikes today. detroit too. cleveland too. jets too. tampa too. frisco too.
of course, some other guys could too.
Boo hoo hoo.
I am a poor QB who is being mistreated…..by being paid hundreds of thousands of dollar a year playing football.
Sorry Chris, no sympathy here. Tell Rosenfels and Jackson that Favre is the QB if he comes in….period. Case closed.
If there is bad chemistry with them after that, dump them because they are the cause of the bad chemistry! And they are not team players either.
Is he still afraid of gays in the league because:
“I showered with those guys.”
Cause we all know that every gay person will just jmp you in the shower at moments notice.
That statement alone made me realize that this guy is perfect for ESPN
I don’t think the Vikings will have to worry about Favre’s presence destroying the team chemistry…
BECAUSE players calling each other out in the media, low ticket sales and inability to sell out home games, the Williams suspensions, Chilly’s ineptitiude and pending firing, Harvin’s drug use, players split in their support of other players, a fair weather and frustrated fanbase, already insecure and disgruntled QBs, Winfield’s hold out, the indignity of playing in a run-down sh1thole in front of empty seats, the loss of Birk, the criticism from former players like Tarkenton & Carter, the looming move to L.A, the scrutiny and the hype of the media, the history of scalped tickets and wizzinators and loveboats, terrible coaching, terrible ownership, and injuries and inconsistent play
will ALL have done that for them ALREADY.
They are the Vikings.
They don’t even know what “chemistry” means (except as it relates to testing positive for banned substances, or as a class they failed in high school).
Hey Snarky Snide Sniper AKA Skol hole AKA Hungry N. lickdahsac, AKA Fucthm N. lickdhssac you can run but you cant hide your propensity for making ludacris Vikings hatting remarks give you away everytime. If you don’t mind from here on in I will refere to you as Skol hole (the name I was forced to bash you on before). Nice post buddy but you’re getting a little repetitive. Spell check this one for one. Thanks
whatthehellisgoingonouthere? whatthehellisgoingoninyourhead budy? Before you start getting emotional and respond to my posts take the time to read what I have written and what you inturn you have responded to it with. I quoted Cris Carter when he said “I know he’s better [than Jackson and Rosenfels]. He can make them dangerous.” And you said in your post “Nobody can predict if he will be dangerous or a dud.” I agree with that. I have never said that Favre will do anything more than make the Vikings exiting to watch and piss of Packer fan’s (and apparently a lot of other fans). You and snarky sni… Skol Hole keep getting emotional everytime you see a Viking’s/ Brett Favre story the emotinally charged Viking’s hate you guys spew is classic. Quick question did one of the Vikings player’s or a member of the Vikings organization have a fling with you two and call it off? Every single posts I see from you two have the resemblance of a girl who’s boyfriend just broke up with them… Oh wait was Brett Favre your boyfriend?? I get it now… sad.
Sounds to me like some of these guys should be wearing diapers instead of shoulder pads and helments…