Posted by Andy Benoit

It’s always interesting when sources talk to Yahoo! Sports. Especially when those sources talk about a coach. Yahoo! Sports has given us the Tom Cable punching Randy Hanson story, the Jimmy Raye can’t call plays story and the Childress Favre drama stories.

Speaking of…

Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports has another installment in the Childress Favre drama genre. Take a look at what he wrote Wednesday:

Locker-room sources say the frost between Childress and Favre is palpable right now, a bad situation obviously exacerbated by the Vikings’ disappointing 1-2 start. The surprising trade that brings (Randy) Moss back to Minneapolis, on the heels of a failed attempt to land disgruntled San Diego Chargers wideout Vincent Jackson, is a last-ditch effort to salvage an increasingly volatile situation – one which could take down virtually all of the leading figures if things break the wrong way.

An anonymous Viking player told Silver, “I think it’s all or nothing. It’s either the missing piece and we go all the way, or Moss takes on Chilly and this thing blows up by the end of October. There’s no C grade on this one. It’ll either be an A or an F.”

That’s been the mantra for the entire season (all or nothing is implied when you talk a 40-year-old quarterback out of retirement). No matter what happens, it will make for compelling viewing.


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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

The trade is now officially official, as the Patriots and Vikings have acknowledged it and have sent out statements by New England coach Bill Belichick and Minnesota coach Brad Childress

Said Belichick: "Over the course of the past several months, I have spoken with Randy and his representative about Randy's place on our team and his future in football. Consistent with my dealings with Randy from the day we acquired him through our conversation this morning, it has been honest, thoughtful and with great mutual respect.

"While I will keep private the details of internal conversations with players and staff, suffice it to say that many things were taken into consideration before making the trade. In this business, there are complex and often difficult decisions, but it is my responsibility to make them based on what I feel is best for our football team, in both the short term and long term. I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached Randy Moss and aside from facing him as an opponent, I wish him the very best for the remainder of his Hall of Fame career.”

And now, here's Childress' statement:

"We feel very good about the opportunity to add a player of Randy Moss' caliber to this football team. He is a tremendous competitor and was an integral member of the Vikings organization from 1998-2004. Once again, ownership was completely supportive of our efforts to add a valuable football player to our team. I know the entire organization is thrilled to welcome him back to the Twin Cities and look forward to his contributions."

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

If this wasn’t the surest indication that the Vikings want to win the Super Bowl RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND, today’s trade for Randy Moss – without a new contract deal in place mind you, meaning Minnesota could have traded its third-round pick in 2011 (and maybe more, say some reports) for a 13-game rental – is the latest confirmation.

Of course, you could have said the same thing each time coach Brad Childress – or any of his players – flew to Minnesota basically to beg Favre to return for his 20th season.

But the fact Moss will be in a Vikings uniform, that will certainly help a Vikings offense that ranks 24th in the NFL in the passing game (and 16th in offense overall).

Even with Favre returning, the Minnesota pass game has been very unimpressive. Sidney Rice, Favre’s favorite target last year when Favre had one of the best seasons of his career, is out until at least midway through the season (and maybe longer) while recovering from hip surgery.

Percy Harvin – who’s struggled with migraine headaches all season – hasn’t done much, and Bernard Berrian has been even worse. In all, the only receiver Favre seems to trust is TE Visanthe Shiancoe.

Plus, Favre is playing like a 40-year-old man.

But because Moss can stretch the field vertically – similar to what Rice can do – that should help Harvin in running his underneath routes.

A deep threat in Moss also should serve to help the running game and Adrian Peterson. The running game has been good so far – it ranks fifth in the league – but with Moss on the field, the opposing safeties will have to worry about him and Peterson, and since they can’t play the pass and play the rush at the same time, that only will help Minnesota’s offense.

One unknown in this scenario is whether the Vikings can give Moss the contract extension he wants – some reports say he wants as much as $10 million a season. But since it seems they’re going for it all right now, that might not matter. It’s Super Bowl or bust for the Vikings, and Moss' performance and attitude could make or break that movement.

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

Last week, I brought you some of my favorite weekly picks from the brains of whoever makes the prop bets for bodog.com (this is a pretty cool job, but man, that would be a really cool job).

This week, I’ve got a new batch. Maybe I should start a weekly feature called, “For the gambler in you.” How much you wanna bet that I’ll do that?

Will a team from Texas win Super Bowl XLV?

Yes 4/1

No 1/6

At 4/1, I might be inclined to put my money on that, though I don’t think it’ll happen. Wait, the San Antonio Spurs are eligible to play, right?

How many games will Kevin Kolb start from Week 4 onward in the 2010 NFL Regular Season?     
  
Over/Under 2

Too many possible factors to go with the under here. Vick could get injured, he could get benched, Andy Reid could change his mind again before Sunday.

Completion % - Jimmy Clausen (CAR)

Over/Under 54%

There are quite a few backup-QB-turned-starter-this-week prop bets, but this is a pretty good one. Until Clausen proves me wrong, I’d take the under. His first year playing at Notre Dame, it should be noted, he recorded a 56.3 completion percentage.

How many sacks will Clay Matthews record in the 2010 NFL regular season?          

Over/Under 20  

This is a tough one. I don’t think he’ll break the NFL record of 22.5, but I’d have a hard time putting him at the under as well. So, if I had to spell it out in a mathematical equation, maybe I’d say: 22.5>Matthews>20. 

Which of these NFL coaches will be fired first during the 2010 NFL regular season? 
         
Eric Mangini 3/2

John Fox 2/1

Wade Phillips 3/1

Brad Childress 5/1

I was asked this week if I thought Phillips would be fired mid-season, and I said I doubted it because I think the Cowboys will (somewhat) turn themselves around. But if they don’t – if they start 2-6 or something like that – I wouldn’t be terribly shocked for Jerry Jones to give Phillips the mid-season pink slip. So, I’d go with him. 

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Posted by Will Brinson

Well, it's after 4 PM EST on Wednesday and the San Diego Chargers still own the rights to Vincent Jackson -- which means, folks, we're not going to see a deal.

From all accounts, the Minnesota Vikings worked pretty, pretty hard at getting something done, but in the end couldn't justify parting with two early draft picks in 2011 with the possibility of Jackson of being nothing more than a one-year rental if they couldn't agree to a long term deal with his camp. (Additionally, there's the fear of sinking money and picks into a player who could potentially face up to a year's suspension stemming from the personal conduct policy.)

This means Jackson will miss six games now, at minimum, and things are looking more and more like he'll end up missing the entire season. That's based not only on Jackson's previous comments but what his agent Jonathan Feinsod told Adam Schefter today .

"Archie Manning had it right," Feinsod said. "They call [A.J. Smith] the 'Lord of No Rings' for a reason."

Yes, that is a burn, and yes, it means that Jackson's agents (Neil Schwartz and Feinsod) probably aren't really friendly with Smith right now. After all, they wanted their client to get a new deal -- Smith's unwillingness to lower his asking price for the wideout means he'll miss a minimum of six games and have to wait what could be a lengthy period of time for his new contract.

And, potentially -- or perhaps likely -- miss the entire 2010 season.

Update (4:39): Jason LaCanfora reports on Twitter that he exchanged texts with Vincent Jackson who said, "I just don't understand why [a trade was not completed]. They obviously think I'm a valuable player by asking for such high trade compensation, but why am I only offered tender salary. My agents and teams interested did everything to make it happen but this organization stopped it. I just want to play football. It feels unethical and I am disappointed."

Wow -- that's a whole bunch of texting. More importantly, though, it's a whole bunch of opining from a player who certainly doesn't seem like he wants anything to do with the San Diego organization any longer.

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Posted by Will Brinson

Most of yesterday afternoon was spent hearing not-so-hushed whispers about the prospect of Vincent Jackson being traded to the Minnesota Vikings -- at least until Michael Vick was named the starter in Philly anyway .

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reported late Tuesday that the rumored deal (which has been in the hypothetical makings for quite some time) "looks dead" because the Chargers continue to demand more than the Vikes are willing to give up. Specifically, Cole reports that the Bolts want a 2011 second- and third-round pick in exchange for Jackson.

Reportedly, Minnesota has reached a deal with Jackson's camp that would pay him $6 million in 2010; the problem is that Minnesota doesn't want to give San Diego that hefty of a compensation package in return.

Instead, Cole states that they want to give up a second-rounder and then a pick whose value is tied to inking Jackson to a longer deal; based on the stubbornness of the Chargers and A.J. Smith in negotiating deals it seems pretty unlikely the Bolts will change their stance on what they're willing to take.

That also explains why the Rams are now reportedly out of the running for Jackson's services .

Any deal that the Chargers make needs to be done by 4 PM EST Wednesday -- otherwise the reduction of Jackson's suspension to four games is voided.

One more interesting point from this -- Cole's sources indicate that Jackson, if he leaves the Chargers as an unrestricted free agent after 2010, will purposely sign a back-end-loaded contract so that the Chargers won't receive the third-rounder they've been using as leverage for not giving up Jackson for less than he's worth.

That might just be a bluff coming from Jackson's camp, or it might be him spitefully getting back at the Chargers' stubbornness in dealing with his situation.

Come 4 PM EST on Wednesday, though, any vendettas will have to wait for the offseason, as once Jackson's second suspension gets locked in, it's highly unlikely that any team will be willing to part with too much value to pick up the disgruntled wideout. But, hey, on the bright side, Minnesota : Hank Baskett!

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Posted by Will Brinson

It's just kind of presumed that the Minnesota Vikings are interested in trading for Vincent Jackson, who, if dealt by Wednesday, would be eligible to play in their fifth game. (Also interested/rumored to be interested are the Seahawks, Redskins and Rams, for what it's worth.)

But just because it seems obvious that the Vikes would want Jackson on their squad to help make up for the injured Sidney Rice and the migrained Percy Harvin doesn't mean coach Brad Childress is going to admit it -- according to Jeremy Fowler of the Pioneer-Press , Chilly "deflected" questions about Jackson during his presser on Friday.

"He's really not a guy I'm able to speak about for the fact that he's their property," Childress said. "I wouldn't get into any speculation about anybody on anybody else's roster."

What's the old adage? Where there's a funny looking bald dude desperately trying to blow out the smoke there's generally fire?

Whatever, it seems pretty safe to say that if Childress is refusing to speculate on Minnesota's interest in Jackson (he wouldn't discuss whether or not they'd asked the Chargers for permission to discuss a trade) that there is in fact some interest there. Otherwise he'd just say "No."

The problem still remains, however, that if the Chargers don't want to trade him -- and that seems like a very real possibility; they could end up spitefully holding the Jackson and trying to land a third-rounder in compensation for him leaving -- it doesn't matter who wants him, because he won't go anywhere. And that's a very real possibility.

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Posted by Will Brinson

Brett Favre's gray hair is a constant reminder that he's a modern miracle of athletics, still playing football at the age of 40, unlike other athletes -- think Keith Hernandez, Emmitt Smith -- who have retired to the world of crappy infomercials.

But maybe Favre's not so far off. Michael Rand writes today that Favre's being offered $1 million to endorse "Go Away Gray" an all-natural pill with the enzyme Catalase which reverses the graying of hair.

"When Anderson Cooper didn’t accept our offer last month (after all, he’s a Vanderbilt), we decided to go after somebody that was going to be in the public eye week after week, reaching our core audience," said Cathy Beggan, owner of Rise-N-Shine, LLC. "And it doesn’t help that he’s an athletic and handsome devil."

Oh, Cathy, you poor fool. You think it's just going to be that easy, offering Favre money and hoping he just plays along? Have you even been paying attention to football over the last five years??

Hope she's ready for a drawn-out negotiating period followed by him acting like he's not interested in the product, only coming back later to say he is but only if she gives him like five times what she originally offered.

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