04/18/24
November 11, 2010
Vikings Players Want Childress Out: Six Minnesota Vikings players want coach Brad Childress to be fired, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, but not enough to give up on the season. One player (unnamed, naturally): "As much as I hate Childress, I will keep playing." Another: "We've got too many good football players, and we won't lay down like Dallas."
Never good when you start comparing yourself to Dallas.
posted by graymatters at 09:41 AM on November 11, 2010
Why don't they shut the hell up and play football.
My guess is that they've been doing that all season, that they feel they've been making a good faith effort, that they feel things are going down the toilet and Childress is responsible, and that they are frustrated because all their "shutting up and playing football" isn't helping.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 12:04 PM on November 11, 2010
Or, maybe they're just not that good. They put all their faith in a aged quarterback who misses camp, and a pain in the ass receiver they should have just said no to. I guess Childress forgot how to coach since last year, when everyone was so thrilled they nearly went to the Super Bowl. He must have lost all his "people skills" since then also.
It reminds me of earlier this year when everyone thought Giants coach Tom Coughlin should be shown the door because he was a crap coach, was losing the players, and dumb ass Tiki Barber even chimed in with his two cents. Well, all of a sudden the guy has remembered how to coach, out of nowhere, and the Giants are suddenly the team to beat in the NFC. Amazing.
Coaches are paid to coach and players are paid to play. If Childress needs to be let go, then cut him loose. Until then, the players need to execute.
posted by dyams at 04:16 PM on November 11, 2010
Or, maybe they're just not that good. They put all their faith in a aged quarterback who misses camp, and a pain in the ass receiver they should have just said no to.
I guess I'm confused. When you said "Why don't they shut the hell up and play football", I thought you meant the players, and specifically the players who were complaining about Childress. Obviously you must mean someone else, since those players aren't exactly making personnel decisions. Maybe you could clarify just who should shut the hell up.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 05:52 PM on November 11, 2010
Your turn dyams.
posted by irunfromclones at 06:22 PM on November 11, 2010
I was talking about the players. My saying they may not be that good is because of who they have playing (Favre (old, possibly not in the best of shape, injured; Moss (who I see as very hot/cold with regards to performance)). Sometimes the players on the team (including, obviously, the nameless individuals who made the comments) need to concern themselves with doing their own jobs better and not worry about what the coach is doing, or how he's doing it. If they want to coach, quit and get into coaching.
My comparison with Coughlin is an example of how players think they know what's best for a team, start chiming in (along with former players; analysts, etc.) but things do end up turning around, and all of a sudden the coach looks like a genius, not a joke.
I'm not saying this is absolutely the case with Childress, but when the team starts worrying about coaching, rather than playing their own roles on the team, it won't get any better. Again, we're talking the same coach who had them a few points from the Super Bowl just last year.
I can't help wondering if we're even having this conversation if Sidney Rice stays healthy and Randy Moss doesn't even show up in Minnesota.
posted by dyams at 07:16 PM on November 11, 2010
I too think that even if they're right (and they probably are), they need to shut the fuck up and play football. Or quit. I don't think anonymous bitching through the media is anything more than passive-aggressive irresponsible behaviour, not to mention utterly counterproductive. It's like a preemptive excuse. It's fucking weak.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 07:39 PM on November 11, 2010
I don't think anonymous bitching through the media is anything more than passive-aggressive irresponsible behaviour,
Agreed. Its comparable to one of your 'friends' on Facebook who bitch and complain about someone but will not name names. Its the easy way out of confrontation.
posted by sgtcookzane at 12:27 AM on November 12, 2010
It may be weak, but it says something about the state of the Vikings that six current players were willing to bitch to the media about Childress. They're not anonymous to the reporter or the newspaper, so there's a measure of risk in what they are doing.
posted by rcade at 01:00 AM on November 12, 2010
Again, we're talking the same coach who had them a few points from the Super Bowl just last year.
And 12 men in the huddle after a timeout in the NFC Championship.
posted by kirkaracha at 08:14 PM on November 12, 2010
And 12 men in the huddle after a timeout in the NFC Championship.
Yeah, who could forget the only penalty or mistake in NFL playoff history.
Give me a break.
posted by dyams at 08:40 AM on November 13, 2010
Yeah, who could forget the only penalty or mistake in NFL playoff history.
How big an umbrella is that? Could he have run out on the field and intercepted a pass and you'd still say it was just another mistake? That's an egregious error by someone with years of experience who's working at the top level of his chosen industry in a game he's spent his whole adult life preparing for. One of the things a coach is in charge of is not letting mistakes happen.
posted by yerfatma at 10:13 AM on November 13, 2010
Why don't they shut the hell up and play football. I'm sure they'll get their wish, possibly soon, but in the meantime, look in the mirror and realize you all have been playing some fairly sucky football.
The team will probably turn the corner when they cut ties with Childress, Favre, and any other players with poor attitudes and maybe they'll reach their potential.
Gotta love those "nameless" players and team sources who want to bash the head coach.