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• Jon Kitna will have to fill in for the Cowboys- NFL Soup
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Check back for a special Halloween article

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Randy Moss Traded To The Vikings

Will he sport the old number 84? Will Favre pick the guy up at the airport?…wow

The Patriots receive a 2011 third-round draft pick in exchange for the seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Randy Moss, who started his NFL career with the Vikings in 1998. Moss was no doubt going to leave in free agency next offseason, so trading him now I guess holds some value. Although the Patriots were likely to receive a third-round selection in the 2012 draft as compensation.

Randy Moss is about to make up for his week 4 MNF performance.

Fantasy Factor: For starters, those who were happy about not having to face Randy Moss in week 5 as the New England Patriots are on a bye, now get to see him on Monday Night Football in Purple. The Vikings have been struggling since Sidney Rice went down and once again are stacked with the deep threat option.

Brett Favre: From fantasy waste to fantasy gold, the presence of Randy Moss adds a huge element to the Vikings passing attack and Favre’s fantasy value. With the added threat of the go-route receiving target Moss, players like Percy Harvin and Visanthe Shiancoe have more breathing room underneath. Favre should return to his top fantasy form from a season ago. He has had a week off and even gets the extra day playing on Monday Night

Percy Harvin: The kid wasn’t ready to become the top receiver on this team just yet. Settling back into a number two role should spark your interest into fantasy options once again.

Tom Brady: This trade does take away the deep pass, but with the overall jackpot with the Patriots Tight end rookie class, along with up in-coming targets Brandon Tate and Julian Edelman, Tom Brady’s fantasy value doesn’t really lose any wealth.

Randy Moss: Clearly the big mouth-big play target wasn’t growing tired of New England and wanted a change. Heading from the cold outdoors to the warm dome in Minnesota will be a huge factor in the ability Moss brings to your fantasy team. Moss is no spring chicken, but this trade will boost his fantasy stock without a question.

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[Updated: He did it again, Favre says he'll play if healthy, denies texting Vikings otherwise]

Third times a charm?

We have heard this one before. Brett Favre says he’s done, and while neither Favre nor the Vikings has confirmed the news just yet, a statement is expected later Tuesday, sources say. Rumors were floating around that the old-timer was going to retire the rocket arm but even Brad Childress said Tuesday after talking to Favre in the past 24 hours, he was unaware of the reports of Favre’s apparent decision to hang it up.

I know this is a story we have all grown tired of, but Favre is a player that we just have to have in the game. I don’t care about the indecisive decision making of number 4, I hope this retirement attempt matches his jersey number.

Brett Favre Is Calling It A Career Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

Brett Favre Goes Under Knife Before Center

Vikings QB Brett Favre underwent arthroscopic surgery on his injured left ankle Friday morning. The obvious attempt to repair such an injury is almost a thumbs up to a return in 2010.

Favre, who’s 41 in October, had one of his best seasons of his career in Minnesota.  33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions while guiding the Vikings to a 12-4 record.  Actually let me say that again… only 7 interceptions. Favre is a gun slinger, and has been known to make a few bad passes, but last year while leading a very young squad the old timer had his best seasons in the interception category, QB ratting category and even setting a high with his passing percentage.

Favre is expected to be out 4 to 6 weeks, but Viking fans are going to want to him to take all the time he needs, old bones don’t heal so fast (trust me).

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Hot Tub Time Machine: Super Bowl XXXII

As a writer for Gridiron Experts I’m constantly trying to predict the future. Whether it’s picking games on Sunday or digging for fantasy football gems, it’s all about the day after tomorrow. On Saturday night, the NFL Network let me take a break from the psychic friends hot-line, putting down the never-ending flipping of draft mags to re-live a memory from 1998.

Favre vs. Elway, Packers vs. Broncos, Super Bowl XXXII was one of my favorite games of all time.

You know that feeling where you get a chance to reminisce on the past, and prefer the memories. Seeing things in a different light and not having it live up to your expectations. Like an old-school video game that you played to death; Mega Man, Excitebike or Techo Bowl that seemed so much cooler when you were a kid…Super Bowl XXXII was not an exaggerated memory.

While I did get a kick out seeing a pre-streoid: Ed Hochuli, a younger Mike Holgrem or the wicked high-tech special effects that TV could offer in 1998, the game was very entertaining. Still, it’s funny seeing retro baddass’s like Bill Romanowski or fantasy studs like Mark Chmura that you’ve completely forgotten about. Fans never forget, but as these two teams were not favorites and just great entertainment for me at the young age of 22, I didn’t have any real sense of love loss from reliving that day.

Some things never change; “Rookie” Darren Sharper was in full effect, the Broncos running game had all the trademark formations and play calling that one would expect, while the rocket arm of Favre was still making plays that we’re all use too seeing (a including the ones where you’re questioning what he was seeing)

I’m not sure if this game was motivation for Redskin fans, as Mike Shanahan (with less of a leather face) lead the Broncos with a 37-year-old quarterback to a Super Bowl victory that year. Washington’s offseason of additions does have a sense of throwback irony, and I’m sure the NFL network had that in mind when replaying it.

Epic battles like Super Bowl XXXII are a staple of the NFL at it’s best. Elway is long retired but Favre is still hanging around. I wonder how long we have before battles between Manning and Brady become wicked throwbacks. Of all the junk on NFL network these classics keep my subscription going.

Other notes from a game that happened more than 12 years ago:

• The Packers were 11.5 point favorites (huge payday for me)
• Jewel sang the National Anthem.
• The pregame show was narrated by comedian Phil Hartman, who celebrated the music and history of California.
• Halftime show was titled “A Tribute to Motown’s 40th Anniversary” and featured Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Queen Latifah, Martha Reeves and The Temptations
• Terrell Davis was named Super Bowl MVP (157 yards, 2 rec for 8 yards, and scored a Super Bowl record three rushing touchdowns.)

Hot Tub Time Machine: Super Bowl XXXII Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

This was the first of two, and if we’re lucky, there could be more.

True, Brett Favre turns 40 in a week, the very number that analysts and experts are afraid to say, weary of an old man’s bones breaking mid-sentence, but at the same time can’t help but blurt out with laughter.

Favre is an old dude, and he can still sling it. Even the Favre (and Packer) faithful found it interesting, that even at his new home, with Adrian Peterson backing him up, and a tenacious and relentless Jared Allen getting him the ball back, that Favre looked so good. Flawless, if you will (and even if you won’t). Save for a called back interception from one yard away from the end zone, Favre made no mistakes. He exposed the Packers aging corners. You know, the ones who everyone tags “the best corner duo in the league”.

And he helped destroy the Packers linebackers, forcing them to pile-up the tackles, while his receivers took slants further than they should have, one of them for a score.

In the end, Favre was mostly sitting on the sidelines, pondering over whether or not this Rodgers kid had that “Favre magic” in him, while Brad Childress and co. played it safe, almost giving the game away.

But before that happened, we were being hand-delivered an epic battle. Between the young and the old. Between the praised and the forgotten. The king and the heir. And while the heir (Rodgers, of course) performed remarkably well, especially considering the fact that his line gave up eight sacks, the king still prevailed.

He was in his new home, and despite very little help from his newest partner in crime (Peterson), Favre tossed three scores (and nearly a fourth), 271 yards, and completed over 77 percent of his passes.

After the game, even Favre admitted that he didn’t expect “the passing offense” to play that well. And he down-played what it meant to beat Rodgers, Ted Thompson, and the rest of his former teammates. But with tears, naturally blended with sadness and redemption, Favre finally looked like he was at peace.

At the same time, however, it was very clear that this truly wasn’t about revenge. He just wanted to be on the same field as those Packers again. To be welcomed back into the league, wanted, and accepted.

Even before this game, though, he had accomplished that. And to all those fans or nay-sayers out there who are still clinging to those “40-year old”, “washed-up”, and “traitor” tag-lines, I will finally refrain from thwarting you off.

Go ahead. Make Favre’s day.

After asked how it felt to be the only player in NFL history to defeat all 32 existing teams, Favre responded, “Well, you have to be remembered for something.”

Something tells me being remembered will be the least of his worries.

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I was flipping between games as this was going on; the Redskins were in roughly in the exact same area of the field and needed the exact same throw to beat the Lions, but fell short. I turned back to see this pass with perfect timing only to form the most incomplete sentence in disbelief, I was an infant for 10 seconds while jumping out of my seat forming words like a caveman trying to describe the amazing play. Only Favre could’ve made that throw.

This was worth all the indecisive pre-season garbage, and Vikings fans will speak of this game for years.

Although, not much love going out to Greg Lewis in this highlight. “Brett Favre did it” the announcer says after watching the replay, how about “nice grab Greg Lewis”, aka Glew in his Eagle days. Lewis has been bounced around the league like a beach ball at a Nickelback concert lately, it’s nice to see him still making catches.

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MICHAEL VICK HAS A FRIEND IN PHILLY -WWTDD

It goes to illustrate the point that people either are willing to live with Vick’s past life as dogfighting’s Don King, or they just accept that practice as a whole, and don’t really care. click on the image

Steven Jackson Makes A Movie About Himself- Awful Announcing

In the age of viral marketing, and sports based reality shows, players try to do everything they can to get their name out there. The latest, and very interesting venture, comes from Steven Jackson…click on the image





‘Schism’ Isn’t For The Middle Ages Anymore – Lombardiave.com

Apparently, there is another great schism happening in the world today. No, it’s not Christianity splitting up (again) or another Tool song. It’s the Minnesota Vikings locker room. According to a report filed on ESPN by Adam Schefter, the Vikings locker room is split three ways between players supporting Tarvaris Jackson, Sage Rosenfels, and Brett Favre, and one player went as far as to call the situation a “schism,” making it a situation of religious proportions. The players allegiances are based on …click on the image

With Simms Injured, It’s Orton Time in Denver! -Rumors and Rants

Denver Broncos team sources have told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Chris Simms will be out two to four weeks with a high ankle sprain. You know what that means … It’s Orton Time baby!It looks like Kyle Orton will have to play far more than was originally thought in the team’s final two preseason games. If the Broncos don’t pick up a free agent or make a trade while Simms is ….click on the image

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Believe it or not, Brett Favre may come out of retirement for the second straight season after he asked the Jets to release him last week. The Vikings are now the team of interest and in talks with number 4 about playing this coming season. Head coach Brad Childress and Favre plan to meet at an undisclosed location later this week to discuss the possibility of renouncing his retirement from the NFL.


I loved watching Brett Favre play for years in Green Bay, but last year was obvious that he doesn’t have the arm to last the whole season. If Brett does play in Minnesota this year, the Vikings need to use him in a much more reserved role, meaning the team needs to continue to run the ball with A. Peterson and use the pass only in key situations, play action, or only 3rd and longs. Farve’s arm fell off at the end of last year and a return is hurting his chance of entering the Hall of Fame, but a team where he’s not asked to do as much might give one last chance for a ring.

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