Sullivan Tries To Keep Positive Outlook

Favre Embraces Sullivan After Touchdown

In reality, Sullivan has missed three consecutive games. He injured his left calf on the first offensive play against Detroit in Week 3. He was inactive against the Jets coming out of the bye. He was active last week against Dallas but he did not play.







Sullivan also missed nearly all of training camp because of an injury to his right calf but was able to start the season opener even though his conditioning was not 100 percent.







Needless to say, Sullivan is disappointed by the start to his second season as the starting center.







"It's been frustrating at times but you've just got to roll with the punches," he said. "Having a negative attitude about it doesn't help anything. I've just been trying to get my treatment in and get better as soon as possible and go out there and help the team win."




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Favre Embraces Sullivan After Touchdown

Vikings coach Brad Childress said last week that Sullivan's injury could bother him all season. Childress said Friday that it's possible Jon Cooper, who started last week, could play a series or two Sunday depending on how Sullivan feels with his conditioning.







Sullivan said he actually feels stronger now than he did against New Orleans in the opener.







"I think I'm in better shape now than I was coming back for the opener," he said. "It shouldn't be as bad as that. Obviously I'm not in as good of shape as I want to be in, but that's just the circumstances."

No fly zone: the Vikings have a pass defense?

Antoine Winfield Disrupts A Pass Thrown By Aaron rodgers Last Year

During recent history, time floated by and members of the Vikings defense changed, but one stinging reality always remained: Minnesota was the toughest team in the League to run on, but they could easily be beat through the air.





How could you expect anything different entering the 2010 season? The front seven stayed the same and the secondary might’ve been even more of a question mark than years before. Antoine Winfield was a year older, Cedric Griffin was recovering from an ACL injury (and then proceeded to injure his other ACL) and the remaining players, Husain Abdullah, Tyrell Johnson, Madieu Williams, Jamarca Sanford, Asher Allen and Chris Cook were either inexperienced or failed to instill confidence in any fan.





But Minnesota has the sixth-best pass defense in the NFL and has allowed less than 200 yards per game for the first time since 1996. Since freaking 1996.





Granted, the season’s not over yet and the pass defense could take a complete nose-dive during the last 11 games. But the Vikings have played Drew Brees and the Saints and Tony Romo and the Cowboys and still have come out relatively unscathed.





How on earth, then, has Minnesota pulled this off?





For one, that invincible rush defense led by the Williams’ Wall has shown a few chinks in its armor through five games. The Vikings uncharacteristically allow 102 yards per game and are No. 11 in the NFL. It used to be weird to see Minnesota outside of the top-three spots in that category.





Running backs have had mixed success on the ground and it changes on a game-by-game basis. Pierre Thomas ran for 71 yards in the season opener and Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams had success in week two — combining for 131 yards. LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene also ripped the Vikings for 151 yards. Those are the three games Minnesota has lost this season. When teams get ahead, they haven’t had to throw the ball anymore and can instead rely on the run game.





It’s disturbing how many times some of those backs were able to break past that front seven and get chunks of yards with ease. There wasn’t the feeling that Minnesota had this unstoppable force up front. So teams didn’t have to pass — for once they had a choice.





Another reason for the pass defense’s rise is the fact that the Vikings haven’t been prone to many big plays through the air. They’ll bend all right, but Minnesota won’t break. Every Sunday you’ve probably pulled your hair out with some of the pass plays that cornerbacks allow, but there aren’t giving up any 50-yard bombs.





And when teams reach the red zone, the Vikings aren’t letting teams just walk right in. Minnesota has held opponents to just five touchdowns in 13 red zone trips this season. That’s the best part of the unit, that the Vikings haven’t given up a lot of points — just 17.6 points per game. But if you just account for the touchdowns that the defense has allowed — and not the touchdowns from the offense’s turnovers — Minnesota has allowed 14.8 points per game, which would only trail Pittsburgh’s average of 12 points allowed per game.





It doesn’t matter how many yards the opposing team racks up — it’s who has the most points at the end of the game, no ifs ands or buts about it.





In the past, other teams would just throw in the red zone because of the Vikings’ rush defense. Now it seems that neither is a weakness inside the 20.





Maybe the scheme that Leslie Frazier has in place is working exactly how he wants it. It seems to be working so far, and there hasn’t been a loss that anyone could blame on the defense. That’s encouraging. And despite a lack of talent, on paper, in the secondary the pass defense seems to be getting the job done.









Vikings fans haven’t been able to say that in 15 years.

Brett Favre Returns To Green Bay

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Bret Favre Statue Built In Green Bay

In anticipation of the Packers-Vikings game in Green Bay on October 24th, the mayor of Green Bay, Mayor McCheese, has asked Packers fans to welcome back Brett Favre but to keep the welcomes “tasteful.”







“So a statue of Brett wiping his behind with a slice of funky French fromage is out of the question?” asks petulant Packers fan Jack Pepper.







“What if we draw up a banner showing Brett sandwiched between two waffle slices?” asks pretty perky Packers fan Pamela Muenster.







“I’ve got it! We’ll have a dummy wearing No. 4 mashed under a big pile of cheeseheads!” offers pesty Packers fan Colby Asiago.







“What if we make fun of Brett’s commercial where he can’t decide which TV to buy by showing the TVs have sprouted legs and are walking off in disgust?” asks particularly prickly Packers fan Jack Monterey.







"What if we showed Brett trying to make phone calls, but instead of getting reception, all his phone calls are intercepted...or maybe showing him making phone calls without his pants?” proposes pompous Packers fan Paneer Provolone.







“How in the heck are you going to depict phone calls as being intercepted?” asks perplexed Packers fan Feta Monchego. "I can see depicting him holding the phone in the crotchital area—but being intercepted?"











Adam Bettcher/Getty Images “I’m not exactly sure,” Provolone posits,“but we could hire the artist, Mike Krawczyk. He can draw anything.”







“I’m not sure we can afford Krawczyk,” says prudent Packers fan Brie Camambert, “and even then, I hear he might be a Steelers fan.”







“OK, how’s this?” replies the priggish Provolone, “We show Favre sitting at a big table in a Waffle House, since he’s such a waffler, and someone at the far end of the table asks him to pass the syrup. Then, when Favre passes the syrup, instead of the guy at the far end of the table who originally asked for the syrup getting the bottle, another guy in a Packers shirt intercepts it.”







“That would be a very complicated mural,” ponders periodontally prominent Packers fan Parmesan Ricotta. “I’m not sure that even an artist like Krawczyk could complete such a project in this short period of time.”







“Okay, how’s this?” the preening yet pragmatic Provolone poses. “We erect a statue of Brett facing a group of Packers fans who all have knives in their backs...with Jenn Sterger carrying the biggest knife.”







“Guys!” yells Mayor McCheese while wearing a cheese coat and a cheesehead hat with string cheese hanging from his nose. “Keep it tasteful!”

Despite Win, Issues Still Exist

Does The Minnesota Vikings  Offensive Line Have Problems?

I tried to keep it fairly positive around here following the Vikings three point victory against the Cowboys, but there is no doubt that there are still some issues, negative in nature, that plague this team.



The Vikings made some unusual moves when deciding who would be active for the game. They had Fahu Tahi inactive and instead Albert Young suited up. The idea seemed to suggest that the Vikings would protect Favre to the max with multiple tight end sets and having Young in there to pick up blitzes and take some third down duties.



Additionally, Jon Cooper became the third different center to start for this team this year.



I can’t honestly say that despite the effort in shaping the active roster, the pass protection did not seem to improve and the run blocking may have declined.



Favre was hit many times, especially early in the game, and the Vikings gave up three sacks. Anytime Favre tried to extend the play by holding onto the ball, it seemingly ended in disaster, which is why the longest pass play of the day was a 20-yarder to Jimmy Kleinsasser of all people. On a number of occasions, the Cowboys defense was daring Favre to go deep but even if his injured arm could chuck it down the field, he never had the chance to show it.



Peterson, on the other hand, was given his biggest opportunity of the year to be “featured” with 24 carries. It seemed like Peterson was constantly hitting a wall on his way to 73 yards, a three yard average per carry.



Peterson was able to break a fifteen yarder, but it seemed like every other time he broke a long run, it was negated by a penalty along the offensive line.



The Vikings only ended up having five penalties for 45 yards, but they all seemed to come at inopportune times (as if there is ever a good time for a penalty).



To make Peterson’s day even rougher, he came up limping after one play and was the self-proclaimed culprit of the bad exchange that resulted in the Vikings only turnover, despite Favre being credited with the fumble. Peterson’s only catch went for negative two yards.



Presuming Favre’s arm is hurting him, and considering the leaky offensive line, he did a decent job of not throwing the game away. He was pretty darn accurate as he went 14 of 19, but the type of game played is shown by the fact that he only gained 118 yards on those 14 completions. Seeing Favre manage the game was a positive, but seeing him so utterly ineffective only furthers the already existing worries that he is declining rapidly this season.



However, with every week that goes by, Favre can really only develop better chemistry with his receivers and guys like Sidney Rice are only going to get healthier. Speaking of injured pass catchers, Visanthe Shiancoe (hamstring) was once again nearly invisible, and his name was only really called on a penalty that negated an Adrian Peterson run.



In the end, the Vikings offense only managed 188 total yards, and it seems that most of the problems begin and end with the offensive line play.



It is kind of difficult to be too picky about this defense, as they played really well overall, yet again. They held the Cowboys potent running game in check, and Romo’s 220 yards passing was his lowest of the season so far.



Despite the victory and solid performance, there are always areas which can be improved on. The pass rush was better this week, in my opinion, despite the absence of any sacks. Jared Allen and Kevin Williams were able to be disruptive enough to cause at least one turnover, and Romo seldom was able to set up a long pass to his main playmaker Miles Austin who was held to 12 yards.



Perhaps Austin’s lack of production can be explained by the fact that he was never lined up against Lito Sheppard. Sheppard was a nightmare after playing somewhat solidly this season. All three touchdowns, two from Roy Williams and one from Dez Bryant, were the result of poor play from Lito Sheppard.



Asher Allen was almost the victim of a long touchdown caught by Austin Miles. The play was negated by offensive pass interference. By all appearances, however, Allen may have gotten lucky as the contact was quite minimal and the Cowboys may have had good reason to be upset about the call. Allen also got picked on a few times, and when it came time to end the game with an easy interception, he let it go right through his hands.



Husain Abdullah left early in the game with a concussion and was replaced with Jamarca Sanford at the strong safety position. There was no real notable drop off, and solid tackling all around for the Vikings made up for other shortcomings.



While there are always things to improve on, and the Vikings have their share, Sunday was a day to be celebrated. After all, the Vikings (who we love) beat the Cowboys (who we hate), and were the only team from the NFC North to win on Sunday.

Vikings and Cowboys: Double desperado

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Romo And Favre A Little Too Much Fun On The Field

The last time the Vikings and Dallas Cowboys met, the circumstances were cut and dried, the significance understood. It was win and advance, lose and go home.







Playoff football offers no gray area.







Flash forward exactly nine months to the day after the Vikings advanced to the NFC Championship Game and ended the Cowboys' season with a 34-3 victory at Mall of America Field at the Metrodome.







Same teams, same venue, many of the same players. The stakes are obviously much different, but it can be argued that both teams might feel a similar sense of desperation.







With so much returning talent on both teams, the Vikings and Cowboys were viewed nationally as Super Bowl candidates with enough firepower to be the last team standing this winter.







But their paths took a detour. Both teams are 1-3, a scenario few would have predicted.







"Not ... at ... all," Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield said. "We are surprised, too. But we still have a long way to go. It's not impossible. But our main focus is getting a win this week."







Unlike last January, the season won't end for the team that falls to 1-4. But the margin for error will continue to shrink while any remaining preseason optimism will all but disappear.







Consider: Since the current playoff system started in 1990, only five teams that started 1-4 made the playoffs. None won the Super Bowl.







Neither team wants to test that history.







"Two teams starving for a win," Vikings middle linebacker E.J. Henderson said. "I think a win would point us in the right direction. I'm expecting a lot from the Cowboys and definitely expecting a lot from the Vikings."







Said Dallas coach Wade Phillips, whose job security has become a hot topic again: "I think both teams are certainly disappointed with what their record is right now, but they can both do something about it. It's a good opportunity for one team to get their season started in the right direction."

Bevell Calls Favre's Status 'Day To Day Thing'

Favre did not practice Wednesday because of tendinitis in his right elbow. Favre said he would consider not playing and thus ending his record consecutive games streak if he feels like he's hurting the team.

Could This Be It For The 40 Year-Old QB?

Bevell said he can't envision Favre not being on the field, but he said his status this week is a "day-to-day thing." Bevell also said he didn't see Favre clutching his arm after making several throws Monday night until he watched the highlights.



Bevell was asked if Favre's injury will affect how he has to call the game.



"No," Bevell said.



Not at all?



"No," Bevell said.



Because you have confidence he can make every throw or you can't worry about it?



"If a guy is going to play then you have to play it the way you're going to play it," Bevell said. "You're not going to be able to hide the quarterback obviously. If he's got to make throws, he's got to make throws. If he can't make them, you have to put somebody else in there."



Of course, we also know that Bevell is not going to tip his hand on any game plan thinking. No coach would. But it seems reasonable to think the Vikings will want to establish the running game and rely on that heavily Sunday against Dallas to limit the amount of throws Favre has to make.



"If that's the approach we take then I'm all in for it," Adrian Peterson said. "I'm ready to do my part. But that's the mindset we come into every game. Make sure we estsblish the run game."

Brett Favre Hints That He Could Sit Out

Brett Favre has started 289 consecutive regular season games…but that streak appears to be in serious jeopardy thanks to the elbow tendinitis the quarterback is currently battling.



The elbow issue first came to the media’s attention during practice week leading up to Monday night’s Jets game, though Favre says the situation has actually been around for a lot longer. During the game, Favre seemed to have full velocity, but was at times wildly inaccurate. This inaccuracy prevented the Vikings from finishing the furious second half comeback Favre started by flinging a long touchdown to Randy Moss.



In his Wednesday presser, Favre acknowledged that the elbow affected his throws.



“There were some throws that, blind-folded, I felt like I could have made, and made some good throws but missed on some that I don’t miss on,” Favre said. “That’s what I don’t want to happen. You’re not going to make every throw, but I would have made some of those throws.”



Favre also addressed the possibility of sitting out a game to rest the elbow. Perhaps surprisingly, the quarterback noted for his supreme toughness didn’t rule out the idea.



“Sure, I think any player would have to consider that,” Favre said. “Going through that type of situation where, I can [play], but will rest help? Yeah, that’d be a consideration.”



The Vikings face the Cowboys this weekend, in a game that could very well degenerate into a shoot-out. That being the case, this would be a very inconvenient time for Favre to hand the keys over to Tarvaris Jackson.



After that the Vikings face the Packers – there’s no way Favre misses that game – and then the Patriots, another team the Vikings probably can’t handle with T-Jack at the helm. The home game against a weak Arizona squad Week 9 would probably afford the best chance for Favre to sit and have it not badly cripple the team’s chances of winning – but by then the Vikings might already be out of serious playoff contention, rendering the whole situation moot.



Of course, there are some who have argued that an injured, distracted Favre isn’t any good to the Vikings anyway, and they would be better off if he retired now and they went with T-Jack the rest of the season. To these people I can only say, what short memories you have.

Is Brett Favre Helping or Hurting the Vikings' Chances at a Super Bowl?

Vikings PhotosOnce a trendy Super Bowl pick, the Minnesota Vikings have fallen to 1-3 through the first five weeks of the NFL season. So who's to blame for their poor start?



It's not the defense, which has kept the Vikings in every game.



It's not Adrian Peterson, who leads the league with 120 rush yards per game.



It's not that the Vikings don't have a plethora of elite playmaking pass catchers, because they do.



So what is it?!



It's got to be Brett Favre. Through four games Favre has thrown seven interceptions, tying the number he had all of last season and putting him on pace for 28 picks in 2010.



Even when he's not soft-tossing interceptions to the defense, Brett has looked much less accurate this season than in 2009. Multiple times Favre missed opportunities to make easy throws to a single-covered Randy Moss against the Jets. In the fourth quarter with the game on the line, No. 4 overthrew Percy Harvin, who was wide open after badly beating Darrelle Revis.



Brett Favre doesn't seem capable of making all the throws Brett Favre makes. He is no longer the three-time MVP, but a subpar 41-year-old quarterback with a bum ankle and tendinitis in his elbow.



Not only is Favre hurting the Vikings on the gridiron, he is becoming a problem off it too. With a pending NFL investigation and a possible suspension facing Favre, there is a lot more chatter going on in the locker room than just how they are going to turn their disappointing season around.



So what should the Vikings do? Tarvaris Jackson has shown nothing to prove he should replace Brett. Joe Webb is an exciting prospect who could add another dimension to the offense, but he is very raw as a rookie and shouldn't be handed the keys to a team with Super Bowl aspirations.



Even if there was an alternative option, how would it look if the Vikings replaced the man they fell over themselves to get back?



The Vikings may have no other choice than to hope Brett shakes off the rust and finds some of his old magic that made Minnesota fall in love with him a year ago.

Emptying Out The Vikings-Jets Notebook

Darrel Revis

Adrian Peterson

        VS.












  The Jets' offensive line has helped sustain an impressive early-season performance by the offense, which is averaging 167.8 rushing yards per play and 5.1 per carry and has allowed only five sacks of Mark Sanchez. As successful as the line has been thus far, it will certainly have its work cut out Monday night when the Jets face off against the Minnesota Vikings and their imposing defensive line.















“I think we recognize what a good run defense they are,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “They’ve got the big guys inside. The linebackers are really good players. They’re all underrated. They’re fast. With the bright lights of Monday night, we expect to get their best effort and they’re a really good unit.”















The members of the Vikings front four are perennial Pro Bowl right end Jared Allen, tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, and unsung stalwart left end Ray Edwards. The matchup on everyone’s mind will be Jets Pro Bowl left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson going against Allen. Ferguson is charged with the duty of protecting Sanchez’s blind side, and Coach Schotty is confident that his man will be solid as a rock.















“He tends to always step up and do a great job in these situations,” Schottenheimer said. “It will be a good matchup. We have some things protectionally where we recognize what a good front four they are. We have a lot of confidence in all those guys and Brick is a guy that we expect to play really well.”















Also along that left side is second-year guard Matt Slauson, who has had some ups and downs so far but whose play the past two games has been solid. The Nebraska product and his coaches believe he has matured through the first quarter of the season as a starter, but he still realizes the daunting challenge ahead of him.















“We’ve looked at everything,” Slauson said. “We know that they’re going to run a lot of games. They aren’t going to blitz a whole lot because they’re so confident in their front four so it’s going to be all about 1-on-1's and really locking them down.”















Schottenheimer praised Slauson and indicated that since the Jets' five linemen have about 200 snaps under their collective belt, they’re better adjusted to play as one. That was evident in the game at Buffalo during which the Green & White rushed for 273 yards and two touchdowns on 49 attempts. That breakthrough performance will hopefully spill over to Monday night against the Vikings' active 4-3 front.















“We have gone against a 3-4 every week this season,” right tackle Damien Woody said. “Now this is our first opportunity to go against a 4-3, so obviously your techniques and stuff like that changes somewhat because you’re going against a totally different style of defense. This is when your preparation really has to be on point.”















Schottenheimer, line coach Bill Callahan and running backs coach Anthony Lynn have formulated a plan that will help the Jets' running attack counteract the Vikings strengths up front. Even so, the big fellas in green will have to communicate, take care of their matchups and use proper technique to give LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene running room in addition to protecting Sanchez.















“It’s a great challenge,” Woody said. “As a competitor it gets you fired up because it’s like two titans going against each other. We’re second in the league in rushing and year in and year out they’re one of the top three or four teams in run defense. So it’s going to make for a great battle. So for people who like to see a battle in the trenches, this game, this matchup might be the best of the whole year.”

Jets-Vikings Will Feature Trench Warfare

Darrel Revis

Adrian Peterson

      The Jets' offensive line has helped sustain an impressive early-season performance by the offense, which is averaging 167.8 rushing yards per play and 5.1 per carry and has allowed only five sacks of Mark Sanchez. As successful as the line has been thus far, it will certainly have its work cut out Monday night when the Jets face off against the Minnesota Vikings and their imposing defensive line.



“I think we recognize what a good run defense they are,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “They’ve got the big guys inside. The linebackers are really good players. They’re all underrated. They’re fast. With the bright lights of Monday night, we expect to get their best effort and they’re a really good unit.”



The members of the Vikings front four are perennial Pro Bowl right end Jared Allen, tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, and unsung stalwart left end Ray Edwards. The matchup on everyone’s mind will be Jets Pro Bowl left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson going against Allen. Ferguson is charged with the duty of protecting Sanchez’s blind side, and Coach Schotty is confident that his man will be solid as a rock.



“He tends to always step up and do a great job in these situations,” Schottenheimer said. “It will be a good matchup. We have some things protectionally where we recognize what a good front four they are. We have a lot of confidence in all those guys and Brick is a guy that we expect to play really well.”



Also along that left side is second-year guard Matt Slauson, who has had some ups and downs so far but whose play the past two games has been solid. The Nebraska product and his coaches believe he has matured through the first quarter of the season as a starter, but he still realizes the daunting challenge ahead of him.



“We’ve looked at everything,” Slauson said. “We know that they’re going to run a lot of games. They aren’t going to blitz a whole lot because they’re so confident in their front four so it’s going to be all about 1-on-1's and really locking them down.”



Schottenheimer praised Slauson and indicated that since the Jets' five linemen have about 200 snaps under their collective belt, they’re better adjusted to play as one. That was evident in the game at Buffalo during which the Green & White rushed for 273 yards and two touchdowns on 49 attempts. That breakthrough performance will hopefully spill over to Monday night against the Vikings' active 4-3 front.



“We have gone against a 3-4 every week this season,” right tackle Damien Woody said. “Now this is our first opportunity to go against a 4-3, so obviously your techniques and stuff like that changes somewhat because you’re going against a totally different style of defense. This is when your preparation really has to be on point.”



Schottenheimer, line coach Bill Callahan and running backs coach Anthony Lynn have formulated a plan that will help the Jets' running attack counteract the Vikings strengths up front. Even so, the big fellas in green will have to communicate, take care of their matchups and use proper technique to give LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene running room in addition to protecting Sanchez.



“It’s a great challenge,” Woody said. “As a competitor it gets you fired up because it’s like two titans going against each other. We’re second in the league in rushing and year in and year out they’re one of the top three or four teams in run defense. So it’s going to make for a great battle. So for people who like to see a battle in the trenches, this game, this matchup might be the best of the whole year.”