According to a report by Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole, Vikings coach Brad Childress antics throughout the Favre retirement saga has caused him to lose to respect of the locker room. Cole was also told by at least one player that Favre has little regard for his coach.
On Tuesday, Childress pulled a stunt that confused many of the players. Childress had special teams coach Brian Murphy and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell tell reporters that three Vikings players were really in the team facility, rather than aboard a private plane ferrying Favre between Minnesota and Mississippi. The subterfuge struck reportedly struck many o the team's players and pointlessly deceitful.
“Chilly can’t even tell the truth about that,” the player said. “I mean, how ridiculous is that? What’s the big deal that he has to lie? Worse, he has to tell other guys to lie for him?”
What looks worst of all for Childress is that the player who he is creating these elaborate smokescreens for was reportedly hesitant to return simply because he didn't want to play for Childress.
“Brett thinks Childress has no clue about offense,” a Vikings player said.
Childress’ presence, not Favre’s ankle injury, was one of the biggest reasons Favre was hesitating about playing again, sources said.
Of course, there's nothing better for morale than winning. Remember, of course, that there were numerous reports out of Vikings training camp last year about how the team was supposedly split about Favre being allowed to report late without penalty. Those feelings of animosity either vanished or were not spoken aloud again once the team started piling on the wins.