Word Is That Favre Is An Issue In The Vikings Locker Room

Listening to the swirl and skimming the Internet, rumors (not confirmed of course) abound that Brett Favre has become an issue in the locker room at Minnesota.  That the combination of support for the other contenders for the leadership position of this football team AND Brett’s appearing knack for not having to participate in all of preseason camp, is creating some strife among the team.

The bottom line from my standpoint is that I believe it is absolutely true.  I don’t believe that an NFL football team locker room is much different from any other organization where this kind of political drama goes on.

Now I know that you may be saying that I am listening to all the media that is just trying to stir things up.  Or you may point to the reactions coming out of the Vikings camp:  everything from amusement to annoyance, but no confirmations.

But here is my point in this.  Look at what you have in this situation. You are going to have those guys that like Tarvaris Jackson, those that back Sage Rosenfels, and there may even be those that think that Favre is the man.  So immediately you have some disagreement and choosing sides.  But that’s not enough for it to blow up at this point.

Now add in the fact that Favre will NOT be considered the hardest working football player at Mankato, Minn for this 2009 preseason.  That will raise some eyebrows.  But you may still be wondering why I believe the rumors right?

Well it boils down to this…. human nature.  There is always a bit of discontent in organizations, be they football teams, broadcasting crews, sales organizations or entire companies.  There is always that “water cooler” type conversation and gossip. And where there is such intense competition for the leadership role, people are going to take sides, if for no other reason than to hope to be on the winning side when the dust settles.  So, to me, human nature says that the seeds of discontent are already in place, put there by the situation  itself AND the fact that Brett showed up late to the game.

Brett to me is a big part of the issue by the way he has approached this entire thing.  If you are going to play, then make the decision and show up.  And if you are the age that Favre is, you probably ought to show up early and get extra work in, no matter what your record is.  Lead by example.

The key will be to watch the first 6 weeks.  If the Vikings go 2-4, things will heat up.   If they win, well it becomes a non issue.  Winning cures a lot of ills.  But it doesn’t mean that they aren’t there.

I don’t have a dog or a football in this hunt.  I am just an interested observer.  But I am curious to see what week 7 of the NFL football season will bring in Minnesota.