Minnesota Vikings

Iraqi detainees taunt Wisconsin soldiers about Brett Favre

If you happen to be a Packers fan who is sick and tired of hearing about Brett Favre(notes), and you're thinking of joining the National Guard and going overseas to get away from it all, stop. It's not going to work. The detainees in Baghdad are going to be just as vicious as the Vikings fans you know.

A Wisconsin National Guard unit charged with keeping watch over detainees in Baghdad decided to put up Packers colors and logos all around the camp. The prisoners noticed, started asking questions and suddenly, Favre became an unwitting ally.

From 620WTMJ's Jay Sorgi (subbing in for the injured Waylon Manning):

"They know Favre by name," said First Lieutenant Tim Boehnen, who is from New Richmond, Wis.

"One of the big words they know now is shenanigan.  They'll constantly talk about 'Favre shenanigans,' 'He's so good for the Vikings,' and 'The Packers have got to really feel bad about that one.'  "

[...] "They obviously then started up the conversations, and started talking about Brett Favre. They soon learned about Favre going to the Vikings, and things just started going downhill from there."

In retaliation, I think our troops should make the detainees watch ESPN's Week 4 Monday Night Football contest between the Vikings and Packers, including pre- and post-game shows. They'll never want to mention Favre again.

• Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:01 pm EST
• Shutdown Corner
• By MJD
• 314 Comments

Is there still a "code" in the NFL?

For his new book, "The Code", Ross Bernstein talked to dozens of current and former NFL players and coaches about the unwritten rules that have held the game together for decades. I've been reading and enjoying the book since I bought it. One play this season made me wonder if the gentrification of pro football has suppressed or eliminated the "eye-for-an-eye" factor. When Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett(notes) pressed his elbow into Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's(notes) throat after Hasselbeck was down on a sack, the only guy who had Hasselbeck's back was head coach Jim Mora -- and that was a day after the game. Dockett wasn't penalized on the play.

"I don't like when it's our quarterback, but if they're not going to call it then I'd like to see our guys do it to their quarterback," Mora said at his Monday press conference, in revealing that he'd sent 17 plays to the NFL's head office for review. "If they're not going to call it. I don't know what the rule is. I haven't heard back yet, so I don't know what they're seeing there. But if that's not going to be called, then we should be doing it."

People have criticized Mora for going public with his complaints, and perhaps rightly so. But who else was standing up for Hasselbeck? Nobody on the field with him. According to current Ravens and former Vikings center Matt Birk(notes), that's not how it's supposed to be done. From the book:

The code to me is all about not taking unnecessary cheap shots or playing dirty. When a player is in a vulnerable, susceptible position, our code says that you have to back off. Sure, you can hit a guy hard, but you can't intentionally try to hurt or injure him. If you do, that is when you will get retaliated against ... if a guy plays dirty or does something that violates the code, we see it and make a note of it for the next time we play them.

Nobody wants more injuries. But with increased focus on what the league deems as unnecessary roughness, and Roger Goodell's insistence on a family-friendly game, is there room for "the code" anymore? Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson(notes), also interviewed for the book, took the concept a step further by calling it "a moral code". But in the battle of the players' morals and the league's ethics, reality will trump old-school justice in the long run if that's the way the NFL wants it. If that's the way the NFL wants it, Step One has to do with throwing that flag and having officials observant enough to see what's going on. And if the refs don't do their jobs, the league can't blame the players for stepping back in.

• Fri Nov 20, 2009 11:16 am EST
• Shutdown Corner
• By Doug Farrar
• 35 Comments

Vikings Cruise to an Easy Win

Brett Favre controlled the game through the air as the Vikings cruised to an easy win over Seattle.

• Sun Nov 22, 2009 EST
• Daily Norseman
• By Anthony21

The Vikings Red Zone Review, Sponsored by Comcast

Gonzo is back again with his review of the Vikings' red zone performance, sponsored by Comcast.

• Sat Nov 21, 2009 EST
• Daily Norseman
• By Gonzo

Well, Isn't That Special (Teams)?

The Minnesota Vikings' special teams are on the verge of doing something historic. . .and it doesn't involve being awful!

• Thu Nov 19, 2009 EST
• Daily Norseman
• By Gonzo

So 'Housh' Laughing Now?

The Daily Norseman enjoys a little schadenfreude at the hands of T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the receiver the Vikings tried to woo to Minnesota in the offseason. Plus more analysis of the Vikings/Seahawks matchup and the Week 11 NFL picks.

• Thu Nov 19, 2009 EST
• Daily Norseman
• By ericj69

Viking Fans Apparently Stuffing the Ballot Box

There are lots of Vikings at the top of the Pro Bowl balloting lists this year. How many? Come have a look!

• Tue Nov 17, 2009 EST
• Daily Norseman
• By Gonzo