Author: David Shama

Darrell Thompson grew up in Rochester, was a school record-setting running back for the Gophers and played for the Green Bay Packers where his teammates included Brett Favre.  Thompson is a sharp football analyst so his opinion was sought about Favre, his teammate from 1992-94.

Favre and the Vikings defeated Detroit yesterday at the dome, 27-10, and Minnesota’s record is now 8-1.  Since Favre came here in August the Vikings have all but clinched the NFC North championship and moved into fast company among the NFL’s elite teams

At age 40, Favre has led the Vikings offense with remarkable intelligence and efficiency.  He and offensive Darrell Bevell are almost kindred spirits and the two are in agreement about the team’s offensive plan and execution.  Favre has thrown 17 touchdown passes and only three interceptions.   Last year after nine games with the Jets he had 16 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions.

With Favre on the filed it’s like having a combination player and coach.  It’s another version of the 12^th man, only this time it’s a legend in uniform, not spectators in the seats.

Thompson said it’s not unlike years ago when hall of fame quarterback Joe Montana was still playing in his late 30’s.  “Probably similar to any time you have a quarterback that plays that long, they get to be a little bit of a coach on the field,” Thompson said.  “Probably every 10 or 15 years someone comes along like that, but it’s not common.”

Thompson disagrees with those who think Favre is no longer a “gunslinger,” a long time Favre label because of his strong arm and willingness to thread passes into spaces where they aren’t supposed to fit.  At times that style resulted in a rainfall of interceptions as well as touchdowns.  During three of the previous four seasons Favre has either had as many or more interceptions than touchdown passes.

In the last second comeback over the 49ers Favre threw a miraculous touchdown pass to Greg Lewis in the end zone for a 27-24 Vikings win.  The pass and the drive leading up to the score was archive video of a younger Favre.

Mostly with the Vikings, according to Thompson, Favre finds himself in an “environment” that allows him to put his “gun” on the bench.  Favre manages a system he’s comfortable with, surrounded by talented defensive and offensive teammates including the world’s best running back in Adrian Peterson.

“You know what?  I don’t think the ‘gunslinger’ mentality is gone, but I don’t think it’s needed,” Thompson said. “I know from the time we were together he’s a real common sense person.  He’s going to listen to you but then when it comes down to game time he knows that players play and coaches coach.

“And when it comes to game time, I (Favre) am going to do the best I can to try to win.  If I feel like I gotta fit the ball in tight spots, I am gonna fit it.  If I don’t have to, and I got a big fabulous tailback behind me, and I got some receivers and I got a good defense, then I can survive.  Then I will get the ball again and I’ll get to make more decisions.”

Last week both Favre and Vikings coach Brad Childress were asked about the quarterback’s minimal interceptions.  Favre credited Bevell, his teammates, and being in manageable down and distance situations that don’t demand extreme responses.  “I don’t feel like my approach has really been any different than it has in the past,” Favre said.

Childress pointed out that two of Favre’s three interceptions were tipped balls.  He also said that Favre isn’t trying to “stick a round peg in a square hole.”

Usually Favre doesn’t try impossible physics exercises but we know he might complete such an assignment.

Minnesota isn’t the only Big Ten school having problems with students using their tickets, according to a Gophers spokesman.  Most conference games begin at 11 a.m. and a later start might help with the problem.

Bears coach Lovie Smith is receiving criticism in Chicago and there’s speculation he might not be retained.  It would be interesting if Vikings coach Brad Childress used interest from the Bears to help land a more lucrative contract from the Vikings.  Smith, partly because he coached his 2006 team to the Super Bowl, reportedly makes over $5 million per year.  Childress is believed to earn less than $2 million.

Local author Ross Bernstein has a new book out on Brett Favre that features flip flop covers, “I love Brett Favre,” and “I hate Brett Favre.”  More at https://www.bernsteinbooks.com/.

Harrison Barnes, the highly recruited Ames, Iowa prep basketball player who earlier this year had the Gophers on his short list of prospective colleges, committed to North Carolina on Friday.

The Twins have been looking for a third baseman for awhile and the timing is right to be searching among free agents during this offseason.  https://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091112&content_id=7660818&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

The Twins finished fifth in American League attendance, drawing 2,416,237, an average of 29,466 for 81 home dates.  Not bad for a franchise playing in one of baseball’s least appealing stadiums.

Target Field will have a sophisticated system (including drainage and heating) to best maintain the grass field playing surface.  https://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090825&content_id=6609106&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min.

It will be interesting to see what Twins player payroll budgets look like in future years now that Carl Pohlad’s sons own the team and revenues will increase at Target Field.

Probably no Twins player was more pleased with the trade that sent center fielder Carlos Gomez to Milwaukee than Denard Span.  Last season he saw playing time in right, center and left field but in 2010 will take over in center where he’s more than comfortable.  Among the offensive woes of Gomez was not only his .229 batting average, but his on-base percentage of .287 ranked among the lowest in the American League.

The Angels Torii Hunter, who was the Twins center fielder through the 2007 season, won his first Silver Slugger award last week.  The Silver Slugger awards are determined by a vote of coaches and managers to determine the best offensive performers at each position in the American and National Leagues.  Twins catcher Joe Mauer is a three time winner.

Vikings coach Brad Childress on whether his 8-1 team improved yesterday: “On the left hand side of the (win-loss) column that goes from seven to eight, yes.”

The Vikings placed emphasis on improved tackling leading up to the Detroit game.  Linebacker Chad Greenway talked about the importance of that basic fundamental:  “You can really take away the big play if you tackle well.  It’s always something we’ll continue to work on, but if we do – which I know we will – we’ll continue to get better as we go through the second half (of the season).”

Forbes.com has the Wild, owned by Craig Leipold, valued at $221 million and ranked 11^th among NHL teams.  Nashville, the franchise Leipold once owned, is valued at $164 million and ranked 23^rd. https://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/31/nhl08_NHL-Team-Valuations_Rank.html.

The early season success of hard working Gophers senior forward Tony Lucia has earned the admiration of knowledgeable hockey followers.  Lucia leads the Gophers in points with 11.