This Week in Review: Bryce Harper, Brett Favre, and Roger Clemens

Bryce Harper Signed

For the second year in a row, the Washington Nationals signed the number one overall pick in the draft in an eleventh hour deal just beating the deadline. A lot was made out of this because of the similarities between Harper and Stephen Strasburg and because of Strasburg's comments, but I do not think there was any real doubt that Harper was going to sign. His entire amateur career has been sped up so that he could get into the majors. He completed his GRE after his sophomore year in high school, he signed with a college that plays in a wood-bat league; I really had a hard time believing he was going to let the deadline pass and sit out a full year for next year's draft. This is just how agent Scott Boras operates. He drags out these talks so that he can get the best deal possible for his players.

Any tension between Strasburg and Harper was purely a media concoction. Strasburg was badly misquoted earlier this week regarding Harper's negotiations. Far from being a negative comment, Strasburg was being very neutral and unconcerned saying that if he wanted to play in Washington then the deal would get done and if not he could go elsewhere. That's all. It was not a shot at his now teammate, it was just him being unconcerned.

Now the story will be whether Harper can behave himself. He will no doubt start out in the minors next season and if he doesn't climb the ladder as quickly as he thinks he should, then there may be some trouble.

Brett Favre Comes Back...Again

After all the debate, after all the "indecision" Brett Favre announced he would be joining the Minnesota Vikings for another season. What a shock. Before you listen to any of his press conferences or any statements by him or the team, there are a few things that you need to bear in mind. First, he came back on the Tuesday after the first preseason game. This matters because that is the exact time he came back last season. I have a very hard time believing this is a coincidence. That means all the apparent indecision, all the soul searching, all of that was a blatant lie. He was stalling just so he could miss camp just like last year. The second thing you need to keep in mind is that I predicted this. I'm not pointing this out to stroke my ego, I'm pointing it out because everything he did was completely predictable. Everyone knew he was coming back which he did, everyone knew he was just trying to avoid training camp which he did. All this talk about it being about the team, everything he says he thought about and all the reasons he gave for coming back are false. This is what he was planning all along and most people saw it coming.

Now some people may say that he really was on the fence until some of his teammates came to Mississippi to beg him to come back. I do not know exactly what happened here, but it just goes to show you how big his ego is. Some of the best players on the team had to miss practice to get on their knees and beg him to come back. This is ridiculous.

If Favre can still play, which he proved last season, good for him. The reason I hate Favre is not because I do not think he should play or that he's old and should step aside, it's because he has made it all about him. You cannot sit out of training camp just because you don't want to do it. You cannot handcuff an entire organization by not telling them what you're planning to do. If Favre went to camp, listened to his coaches and teammates, and decided quickly whether he was staying or retiring, he would still be a great quarterback. Aren't you curious why head coach Brad Childress is on the hot seat despite having a team most people would classify as a Super Bowl contender? It is because he has completely mishandled the situation. If Minnesota does not make a deep post season run, he may be out of a job. What's more is that he has been a terrible influence to the younger players. Adrian Peterson reportedly left practice early because he did not want to participate anymore that afternoon. When your team leader can do it, the whole team gets the message. This whole situation has shown how selfish and egotistical he really is.

Roger Clemens Indicted

Speaking of egotistical, it is hard to have any sympathy for cheating baseball players desperately trying to repair their legacies. Roger Clemens has apparently decided to take the Barry Bonds route of denying ever taking steroids despite the fact that everyone knows he did. Clemens was indicted this week for making false statements to congress for which he faces a maximum of 30 years. He was offered a plea bargain in which he would receive no jail time if he simply admitted to using steroids and he refused. Maybe Bonds and Clemens can share a cell.

Yes, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. I also think it is also worth mentioning that if I were charged of a crime I was innocent of, I would not admit to it just to avoid jail time either. But looking at the rampant cheating scandal through out baseball, Clemens' character, and the evidence against him it is hard to believe anything he says. The story began when the Mitchell report was released documenting the use of performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball. Clemens was mentioned 82 times in the report. He denied ever using steroids even while numerous other players in the report were coming clean. Then former trainer Brian McNamee came forward saying he personally injected Clemens with steroids numerous times and reportedly brought forward several syringes he used on him and bloody gauze (why he would keep it is a good question). Again, Clemens denied it and even tried to sue McNamee but the case was thrown out.

So, you have a player named mutiple times in a credible report, accused by a former trainer who has a box of evidence, and who now faces 30 years in jail and he refuses to admit that he's done anything wrong. If he is telling the truth, then good for him. If not, and it is hard to ignore the evidence against him, I do not know what he's trying to prove. His reputation is in the toilet, what is he holding on to? I do not understand what fantasy land these players like Clemens and Bonds are living in. Nobody believes them, their reputations are in shatters, and at this point neither will be getting into the hall of fame. Is it worth going to jail to protect a lie that no one believes?

This is a Drill, No Reason to Panic

There are many reports out there saying the Brett Favre has retired and I do not believe it for a second. We've gone through this several times before. It seems that Favre cannot commit to another season without hinting that he is retiring at some point. How many years did he tell EVERYONE he was retiring in Green Bay? He tearfully announced his retirement before signing with the Jets. He told everyone he was leaning towards retirement last season, then decided to come back halfway into training camp. This is not time for Vikings' fans to panic.

Why all the fuss? Why all the reports? Why is Favre not rushing to the nearest news station to tell people he isn't retiring? Because this is what he does. At this point, Favre has proven himself to be such a narcissistic jerk I actually think he likes this kind of attention and build up. What other reason could there be? Bard Childress may be saying the Vikings are prepared if Favre leaves, but they are not. They are going to go to Favre on bended knee and beg him to come back. Meanwhile, a 40 year old quarterback is the headline story of every sports page in America.

While I do think Favre is coming back, I really hope he does not. I cannot stand watching him act so selfishly in the offseason then talk every week about how it's about the team. I hate that to some people he justifies his behavior by having a good season. And, I especially want to see the Vikings suffer for not being prepared for what everyone saw coming. On the radio today I heard signing Favre compared to dating a stripper. Is she amazing? Yes, but you know one day you'll wake up and the bed is empty and she's gone. How if you are the Vikings do you not have a backup quarterback better than Tarvaris Jackson when your starter is Brett "I'm a selfish, narcissistic jerk who refuses to go to training camp and wants to retire every five minutes" Favre? How do you not FORCE Favre to make a decision? This is the NFL and you have a team that can make it to the Super Bowl if you have a quarterback. The Vikings could have gotten someone if they wanted. Now they may have to reap what they sow.

Still, not time to panic. This is just a drill.

Brett Favre Still in the News and Still Undecided

With NFL training camps beginning, Brett Favre has been in the news a lot lately about whether or not he will return. Coach of the Minnesota Vikings, Brad Childress, took a trip out to Mississippi just to hear Favre tell him again that he was undecided. I am really sick of all the talk surrounding Favre and how he has made this all about him and how the Vikings are still allowing this.

First, let me preface this whole thing by letting everyone know that both Favre and the Vikings know Favre is coming back. Come on, he is. He is not undecided at all. When the season ended and he said yet again that he did not know whether he was coming back or not, ok, so there was a chance at that point that he actually did not know. The longer he was undecided, the more clear it was that he was coming back. This is just a song and dance both sides are playing so that Favre can skip training camp just like last year. A year ago, Favre announced in the middle of the preseason that he was going to the Vikings. This year he is going to wait until the middle of the preseason and then he will announce that he is coming back. So for all of you that are actually Favre watching to see whether or not he'll stay or go, there's your answer.

Not only is this what he did last season, but the Vikings have also shown that they knew with their approach to the offseason. Before Favre came to Minnesota, this was a playoff team with no quarterback. The only person in the world that thinks Tarvaris Jackson can actually play quarterback is Childress. He let that experiment go on far too long and finally even he had to admit he needed a quarterback. If the Vikings thought for one second that Favre was even considering retiring, they would have brought in someone, whether it be through the draft or free agency. Without Favre, the Vikings turn back into the playoff contender with no quarterback. With a quarterback, they know they can challenge for the Super Bowl. There is no way the Vikings would allow that opportunity to slip by. The whole conduct the Vikings have shown this summer and last has been so frustratingly patient, that they have to know something we don't. It does not matter who that quarterback is, no team in the NFL goes halfway through the preseason without knowing if they are going to keep their starting quarterback or not. It just does not happen. On his most recent trip to Mississippi, Childress said he still would not give Favre any kind of a timeline. That's because he already knows he is coming back. If not, the Vikings have been completely mismanaged and if Favre does somehow decide not to come back, their season will suffer tremendously and it will be their own fault for not forcing him to decide.

So yes, if Favre is actually undecided, both sides are being stupid. Favre is being selfish and the Vikings are being spineless. This is not the case. So why do I still think Favre is being selfish and the Vikings are being spineless? Because Favre is thinking only of himself and in such a team sport, for the Vikings to allow this is unbelievable. How many players could tell their team, I'll play but only if I can skip training camp? I mean, they're not fooling anyone. Most NFL analysts know this is what's going on so you can be sure the players know it too. Training camp gets players back in shape for the season, important now the Favre has gained 14 lbs. this offseason, and allows the players to start coming together as a team. For quarterbacks, this is important so they can learn player's tendencies, how receivers run their routes, how running backs handle the ball, etc. There's a lot for them to learn. Training camp is not optional because it is important. Favre will miss a lot of practice that he needs and there will be teammates who resent this notion that he is too good for training camp.

People like throwing arguments out there saying it's ok. Favre is 40 years old, he can't handle an entire training camp. It did not seem to affect the team too badly last year as they went all the way to the conference championship game. These arguments are just plain dumb. The Vikings are well aware of Favre's age. If they are worried about how much he can take in a full season then put him in a jersey and put him on the sideline. They control the camp, they can have him play as much or as little as they want. You can learn a lot from just watching. That's why players and coaches constantly watch video. Plus, by being there they can get him back in shape. He's gained 14 lbs! He's out of shape! He needs it even more this season than last season. Plus, him being on the sideline will help his relationship with the rest of the team. Players resent this kind of thing! The Redskins have all come out to criticize Albert Haynesworth for all the nonsense he has put the team through. It will affect his relationship with the team and how he plays. When the New York Yankees signed Roger Clemens, he had it put into his contract that he was not required to travel with the team if he was not pitching. The team clearly resented a player, who was seen as a leader, stipulating that he did not want to be with the team. This is the same thing. Last season, while many people thought Favre was just trying to skip training camp, we did not know for sure and players would be more likely to give him the benefit of the doubt. Something like this had really never happened before. If he does it again this season, there can be no doubt. While Adrian Peterson and the rest of the purple and gold are working and sweating and hurting, Favre will be putting his feet up in his air conditioned home, still supposedly pondering whether to come back or not.

In such a team sport, it really bothers me that a player is putting himself that far above the rest of the team. What is even more baffling is that the team is allowing it! I just wish Favre had retired after Green Bay. I still had some respect for him after New York. Now I have none. Remember what Favre's legacy used to be? How much people looked up to him and loved him? How we used to cheer for him when he came onto the field after the death of his father and played so tremendously? Now I just want him to go away. Have the last three years really been worth it?

Brett Favre Shows Again Where His Priorities Lie

One of the big name free agents this year in the NFL was former San Diego running back, Ladainian Tomlinson. He narrowed his search down to two teams, the New York Jets and the Minnesota Vikings, and signed with the Jets on Tuesday. The Vikings asked their quarterback, Brett Favre, to help recruit Tomlinson. What did he do? He wouldn't meet with him and when Tomlinson asked him whether or not he would be back next year, Favre texted him saying that he had "no clue." Being the quarterback of one team and having played for both the Vikings and the Jets, his efforts to recruit Tomlinson no doubt would have meant a lot. Favre stated that he did not want to mislead Tomlinson with his status for next season and that both organizations could help Tomlinson succeed.

This is yet another example of Favre's baffling level of selfishness. How he can be so completely oblivious to how detrimental his "status" for next season is to his team just boggles the mind. On the surface it looks like a pretty innocent situation, so it's important to clarify. No, Favre should not mislead Tomlinson about whether or not he will be back and yes, he should be honest in his feelings for both organizations. It looks almost classy.

The problem is that Favre's indecision puts him in this ridiculous situation that is hurting the Minnesota Vikings. As a quarterback, Favre is looked at as a team leader just by the nature of his decision. For LT, this is the man that will be handing you the ball and calling plays at the line. If he's not there it completely changes the dynamic of the offense. The Vikings are now in a terrible situation in that they don't know who their quarterback will be next year. As you can see, this makes recruiting offensive players extremely difficult. Whatever LT may say, Favre's text had an impact. The offensive leader of the team won't meet with you and will only text you to say that he doesn't even know if he'll be back? No wonder why LT accepted less money to go to New York.

With the departure of back up running back Chester Taylor, the Vikings need a second running back. Adrian Peterson is of course one of the best, if not the best running back in the league, but the Vikings run a very successful two back system. Not only that, Peterson's aggressive style of play necessitates a very good running back who can step in if need be. The Vikings just missed their chance to sign one of the best running backs available because Favre didn't want to mislead him? Unless Favre has let the Vikings know what his decision is already, this is a very dangerous game he's playing. With free agency already underway and the draft quickly approaching, the Vikings need to know immediately if they should be looking for a new quarterback. What if Favre decides in August that he just doesn't have another season left in him? He will have hampered their free agency efforts and left the team with no quarterback capable of successfully leading the team (Tarvaris Jackson, really?).

How far are the Vikings willing to let this go? They need to sit him down and tell him that it's decision time. If he feels rushed, well that's too bad, thank you for your time and get out. He won't help you recruit, you don't know if he will be back, you don't know if you should be looking for a quarterback now and players like Brady Quinn and Jake Delhomme have already been signed, and the draft is approaching which is your last chance to get a quarterback to take the reins from Jackson. If Favre wants to pull the same trick he did last year where he won't make up his mind until after training camp, that's not going to cut it. Players don't get to pick and choose their practices. There were reports of players being upset with it last season, but the speculation surrounding it really took away some of the animosity. If he does the same thing this season, it will be blatant and it won't matter how good he is, this team will not respect him.

At what point did it stop being about what was best for the team and become what was best for Favre? The Vikings are a business and football is a team sport. They need to do what is best for the team and forget about Favre. If he won't make a decision then make it for him. You need to recruit players and begin setting up an offense for next season and you can't do either of those things without knowing who your quarterback will be. Favre's total disregard for what he's doing to the team is also contradictory to the entire sport of football in which the team is more important than the player. This guy won't even get off the coach to talk to someone. Favre's continued selfishness is inexcusable and I can't understand why the Vikings are sitting back and letting him string them along. Favre's one good season with the Vikings does not entitle him to do whatever he wants, but he will continue to do so until Minnesota tells him that they've had enough.

Vikings, Favre Score a Classless Late TD Against the Cowboys

As a Redskins' fan, I love to see the Cowboys humiliated. When I saw the 34-3 score, I was thrilled. But wait, weren't the Vikings up 27-3 after the 2 minute warning? Yep. So what happened? With 1:55 left to go, the Vikings had the ball on Dallas' 11 yard line on fourth down with 3 yards to go. Rather than kick the easy field goal or even run in an attempt to drain more time off the clock, Favre dropped back and threw his fourth TD pass of the day. Dallas linebacker Keith Brooking took exception. "I think it was totally classless and disrespectful." Brooking told Vikings' head coach Brad Childress exactly what he thought of it on the sideline too. Both Childress and Favre, however, say they were merely staying aggressive to the end.

This season has shown many people another side of Favre. Rather than say he wanted to play for Minnesota in the offseason, Favre announced his retirement. As soon as training camp ended, Favre "changed his mind" and became a Viking. Tensions arose between Favre and Childress because Favre was changing the call too much at the line and because Favre refused to be pulled out of the game against the Panthers. Now, he's kicking a dog when it's down and running up the score. What happened to the old selfless Favre that we used to cheer for? That part of him seems to be the only part that has retired.

The reason I criticize Favre is because I would not be at all surprised if he changed that play at the line to a pass. Childress, the same coach that wanted to pull Favre in a game in which his team was winning 7-6, was ok with his (let's face it) old, fragile quarterback dropping back and throwing with less than 2 minutes to go and a 24 point lead? Seems doubtful and he would never admit it now with all the media scrutiny his team faced after the Carolina debacle. But regardless of who made the call, it was totally classless and definitely was running up the score.

Let's look at the alternatives. Fourth and 3 on the 11 yard line with less than 2 minutes left. The Cowboys just used all their timeouts to try and get the ball back, but the game is over. What most people would have done is kick the field goal. Some may still criticize the Vikings for running up the score, but it would tick a few seconds off and the Vikings would then be able to pin the Cowboys deep on the kick off. Favre wouldn't even be on the field. Second, you could try to run for the first down. If you get it, you can run the clock out and celebrate a well deserved playoff win. The Vikings wouldn't have been risking anything if they turned the ball over as the Cowboys would have gotten the ball at their own 11. They even could have taken a knee. The game was over.

Instead Favre dropped back and threw a TD. What do they risk here? A pissed off Dallas defense could have bull rushed Favre and injured him on the play. While Adrian Peterson is clearly the biggest weapon on this team, the Vikings are now emotionally tied to Favre and a loss that big would be devastating. What do you gain? Nothing. Pure and simple. The Vikings can say what they want about being aggressive, but the game was over. I'm not saying take a knee, but there was no need for this. Put the shoe on the other foot. Do you think the Vikings would have shrugged this off and say "it's our job to stop them"? Absolutely not. In fact, had the Cowboys put an exclamation point on what could be Favre's last NFL game, he would have been very upset and people would be outraged about rubbing it in Favre's face.

What this season has showed us is the utter selfishness of Brett Favre. Why do I think Favre called that play? Because he had never thrown 4 TD passes in a playoff game before and he had one last shot when no one was really expecting it. "This is what I came back for," said Favre afterwards. I'm sure glad sportsmanship didn't ruin his big day.