We decided to take a 12-hour break from posting anything regarding the Childress-Favre feud because, really, there's nothing new to say about it.
But the 12 hours are up, and there's something new to say, courtesy of the network that will milk this cow until 24 hours after Monday night's game between Minnesota and Chicago has ended.
Ed Werder of ESPN has gotten inside the heads of Brad Childress and
Brett Favre, and Werder reports that the tension arises from
disagreement regarding the influence each man should have in the offense.
Werder, who cites multiple team sources in support of his report, claims that the talk regarding the possible removal of Favre from multiple games arises not from a desire to protect Favre, but from Favre's tendency to change the plays that have been called.
(Given the subtle pro-Favre tone of the report and Werder's history of interviewing Favre and lack of history specifically covering the Vikings, it's not a stretch to conclude that Favre is one of Werder's sources.)
Werder also reports that Favre resents that Childress "seldom" discusses the game plan with Favre, and that Childress rarely asks for Favre's input. And when Favre changes the play, Childress "bristles," even when the audible works.
By taking the situation public, Childress is now powerless to remove Favre under the guise of protecting him, or for any other reason. So Favre is running the show in Minnesota, and nothing Childress says or does can change it.
His best bet, then, would be to enjoy the fact that Favre's performance has removed Chilly from a very hot seat, resulting in a long-term extension. And while Brett is running the offense the way he sees fit, Childress can spend his free time trying to figure out how he'll regain the confidence and respect of the players who'll be on the team once Favre is gone.
