Brad Childress, Brett Favre dispute has been festering for awhile
By Sean Jensen
Pioneer Press
Updated: 12/22/2009 12:07:34 AM CST
During the Minnesota Vikings' 10-1 start, coach Brad Childress and quarterback Brett Favre celebrated plenty of highs.
But their relationship hit a low Sunday night during and after a 26-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers. NBC cameras captured Childress and Favre having an animated discussion on the sideline in the third quarter, which the quarterback later said revolved around the coach's inclination to plug in backup Tarvaris Jackson.
Interviews with six members of the organization revealed that Childress ripped his offense during halftime Sunday and that he privately unleashed an expletive-laden outburst toward Favre long after the game in the visitors' locker room.
The focus Monday was on damage control, with Childress downplaying his sideline discussion with Favre and suggesting that the point of his "stream of consciousness" centered more on the physical toll his veteran quarterback was enduring than anything else. In addition, a "calm Childress," as one player described him, made sure they were given their caps and T-shirts celebrating the 2009 NFC North championship.
But all is not well between Brad and Brett, and the primary difference centers on the quarterback's penchant to check out of runs and into passes. According to one team member, Favre has expressed frustration for much of the season about Childress' unwillingness to let him audible more.
ESPN reported Monday that Childress considered replacing Favre on Nov. 1 against the Green Bay Packers, and
two people with the team told the Pioneer Press that the coach considered replacing the quarterback Nov. 15 against the Detroit Lions.
Both incidents were overlooked, but Sunday's was uncovered.
Childress lashed out at his offense at halftime, after the unit had mustered just 66 net yards and struggled to run or pass the ball.
He cursed, and he called it "laughable" that they consider themselves a Super Bowl team.
One player described the tirade as "entertaining." Another likened it
to a parent chastising a teenager.
The offense opened the second half with another three-and-out series, and Favre apparently pushed his coach over the edge on the next series. According to a member of the team, Favre checked out of a run and into a pass, then was sacked for a 5-yard loss by Panthers cornerback Dante Wesley.
The Vikings punted the ball away for the fifth time in the game on the next play.
NBC cameras showed the exchange, with Childress placing his right hand on Favre's left biceps. But Favre pulled his arm away after Childress said something to him.
"We didn't have time - I didn't have time to sit there and say why or what. My response was, 'We've got to win this ballgame, and I want to stay in and do whatever I can.'
"Now, unfortunately, I didn't do that, but that was my intention."
Apparently that wasn't the first time he's infuriated Childress with an audible.
On Nov. 1 at Lambeau Field, the Vikings were leading 31-26 and seemed to be taking a conservative approach. On first down, from the Minnesota 41, Favre completed a screen pass that running back Adrian Peterson turned into a 44-yard gain. The Vikings ran the ball on the next two plays, losing a yard, and faced third and 11.
A run was called, according to ESPN, but Favre audibled and completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to receiver Bernard Berrian.
Despite the 38-26 lead, Childress instructed offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell to remove Favre from the game, ESPN reported, but the quarterback returned to action and handed the ball off on four consecutive plays.
Against the Lions on Nov. 15, Favre called an audible early in the second quarter that upset Childress, who told Jackson to start warming up, according to two team members. The Vikings were clinging to a 3-0 lead until Peterson scored on a 22-yard run with just under 11 minutes remaining in the quarter.
But Favre remained in the game, which the Vikings won 27-10, and he completed 20 of 29 passes for 344 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.
Childress was asked Monday if he has broached the idea of giving way to Jackson in a close game this season.
"Where I approached him? No," Childress said.
Asked if there was any game when he thought about doing it, Childress said, "Now we're going deep. I'm going to let you guys go deep with (that) however you want."
Since taking over the Vikings in 2006, Childress has empowered his defensive coordinators but reigned over the offense. His inflexibility frustrated veteran quarterback Brad Johnson, and Gus Frerotte lamented to the Pioneer Press in August that he "basically had to run whatever they called." Frerotte also wondered if Childress and Favre could co-exist.
"It will be interesting to see if coach lets him do that or (he) still wants to take control and lead everything," Frerotte said of Childress.
In a story published Oct. 24, Bevell insisted Favre doesn't do "anything on his own," although he acknowledged that Favre "probably has more leeway" than his predecessors "because of his experience."
But tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said Favre was "progressively making more and more" adjustments.
"He's playing outside the lines but within the scheme," Shiancoe said at the time.
Favre, who is easygoing off the field, draws plenty of laughs at his press conferences, and he has referred to Childress as "Chilli" in several instances. But Favre hasn't abided by one of Childress' credos: not to air in-house information publicly.
Favre has been forthcoming about his own injuries, as well as the ailments of other players this season, including starting offensive tackles Bryant McKinnie (ankle) and Phil Loadholt (shoulder).
But Childress didn't express outrage about Favre's post-game comments.
"I think he probably gave you a stream of consciousness from the best of his recollection, wouldn't you say? Yeah," Childress said. "The great thing about telling the truth is you can tell it over and over again."