Tim's Two Cents-January 25

Super Bowl XLIV Matchup Revealed.  For once, my prediction came true!  It will be the Saints and the Colts battling it out on February 7 in Miami.

What can I say about the Colts?  Peyton Manning is unbelievable.  He didn't panic in the first half when the Colts were down 17 to 6 against the Jets.  With under two minutes remaining before halftime, Peyton Manning and the Colts marched down the field in just two plays that ended in an Austin Collie touchdown reception to cut the defecit to four at 17 to 13 before the half. 

From that point on, the Jets had no chance to win in the second half.  Peyton Manning dissected the Jets defense with a surgeon's knife.  The Jets were held scoreless in the second half as the Colts punched their ticket to Miami with a 30 to 17 triumph.

The Vikings and Saints was a good encore that followed.  It was a back and forth matchup like the Packers and Cardinals a couple weeks before.  The Vikings put up a good effort even with five turnovers in a 31 to 28 overtime loss in the Big Easy against Drew Brees and the Saints.  Brett Favre stood resilient even though he was getting knocked around like a human pinata.  The retirement discussion is sure to start up again soon.  My prediction is he'll decide to come back eventually at some point over the summer, probably after training camp.

Photo courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Ytoyoda and Craig ONeal under CC-SA 2.0 License

Tim's Two Cents-December 22

When I was watching SportsCenter yesterday morning, they mentioned something that caught my attention right away.

Is the Vikings Locker Room in a Schism?  Following Sunday's 26 to 7 loss against the Carolina Panthers, questions surrfaced around the Minnesota Vikings and possible tension in the locker room.  During the game, head coach Brad Childress was seen talking with quarterback Brett Favre about being pulled from the contest.  Let's just say it didn't go well.  Favre didn't want to be pulled and he wasn't of course.  There have been rumors that over the past few weeks, Childress and Favre have been at odds with each other.  It is the classic matchup of head coach versus future Hall of Fame quarterback.

There is a bigger point to be made here, however.  I don't know about you, but I have grown sick and tired of the Brett Favre saga over the past few years.  Sure he's still a decent quarterback, but it seems like he is being treated like royalty.  Also, don't get me started on the will he or won't he retire part of the story we have had to endure over the past two summers.  I can only hope this is Favre's last year of his playing career.  When next summer rolls around, I don't want to see any possible SportsCenter stories from down in Mississippi wondering if he will retire or continue playing.  I know it will probably be a huge topic of discussion after the season, but I don't want any part of it.

As far as what will happen the rest of this season, the Vikings have clinched the NFC North, thanks to the Pittsburgh Steelers beating Favre's former team, the Green Bay Packers 37 to 36.  Heading into the playoffs, the Vikings will most likely be the number two seed in the NFC behind the New Orleans Saints.  If they reach and win the Super Bowl, Favre will probably retire.  So how will it all play out?  Stay tuned.

Photo courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Keith Allison under CC-BY License