I love when alleged football fans immediately dismiss the NFL pre season as meaningless. That may have been true in past seasons, but the 2009 NFL pre season is anything but meaningless. There has been more drama, story and controversy than in any other NFL pre season that I can remember. This NFL pre season is anything but meaningless.

The drama has just been second to none. The drama this pre season rivals NFL regular season drama and storylines. Some of the drama actually translated into actual game play. For NFL players like Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Tarvaris Jackson, Michael Vick, Jay Cutler, and Donovan McNabb, this was anything but a meaningless pre season.

The Michael Vick saga rivals any NFL regular season drama. Where would Vick go? Would anyone take him? How would fans react to Vick playing on their team? Does Vick still have the same NFL abilities he had before jail? Is there any off-the field storyline that will even touch this in the regular season?

For Philadelphia Eagles fans and the NFL world, the Eagles pre season game against the Jacksonville Jaguars was anything but meaningless. Viewers were glued to their televisions to see what Vick had left and how the Eagles would use him. There are more questions than ever on the field regarding Vick and McNabb after the game. This is one storyline that is just beginning.

Tom Brady is arguably the golden boy of the NFL. Good looking, married to a model, actor, and the most accomplished NFL quarterback of this generation. Brady was knocked out of last season in Week 1 with an injury. Further complications had some doctors predicting that Brady would never play again. Tom Brady’s return to the field whether it be regular or pre season is meaningful to everyone.

Brett Favre pulled well, another Favre. Favre retired and unretired for the second year in row. Favre joined the hated rival of his former Green Bay Packers team, the Minnesota Vikings. That alone is enough drama to carry us through the regular season. The cherry on the sundae is unlike last year, Favre wasn’t given a heroes welcome by his new team.

Favre’s first game as a Viking opened up a bigger can of worms. Favre played a few snaps against the Kansas City Chiefs and looked awful. Fellow quarterback Tarvaris Jackson followed Favre and had an outstanding game, which compounded the drama. This game has been the catalyst for a rift in the locker room which has only gotten uglier in recent days. All eyes were on Favre the following week in Houston. There was nothing meaningless about the Week 3 game between the Texans and the Vikings.

Jay Cutler was traded in the off season from the Denver Broncos to the Chicago Bears. Cutler quickly became the most hated man in Denver by his demands to leave the city. Cutler threw fuel on the fire by critisczing Broncos fans. Denver fans didn’t have to wait long to get their revenge on old Jay.

Cutler returned to Denver in Week of the NFL pre season. The hype surrounding this game rivaled an NFL playoff game. I could argue that this will be the biggest game in the city all season. Cutler was booed so loudly that the stadium shook. After the Brandon Marshall mess, this was a night that Broncos fans could use to take out their frustrations. They did and created an amazing atmosphere for any game. This was hardly a meaningless game to Jay Cutler and Denver Broncos fans.

There have been plenty of issues to write about off of the field. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger became the defendant in an embaressing lawsuit as pre season started. Brandon Marshall made a mockery of himself and his new coach on video. Mark Sanchez barely grabbed the starting job in New York. Vince Young was one slot away from going to NFL Rookie of the Year to third string quarterback in just a few seasons. Chad Ochocinco became such a model citizen for the Bengals that he even volunteered to fill in for the kicker. This has been the most fun NFL pre season that I can ever remember and the best news is that we’re just getting started.

So whoever said the NFL pre season is meaningless has been missing one hell of an exciting pre season.

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NFL fans are quick to say that pre season games don’t matter. Minnesota Vikings fans may disagree when it comes to tonight’s game. Brett Favre returns to Monday Night Football and will play a full half for the Vikings. Anything less than a good effort from the gunslinger could officially rip this team apart at the seams.

There are no more excuses tonight for Brett. Favre’s debut performance for the Vikings last week was awful. It didn’t help matters when Tarvaris Jackson came into the game and had an outstanding performance. Favre chalked it up to a lack of time with the team. That isn’t going to fly tonight for concerned Vikings fans and players.

To say that the signing of Brett Favre has been anything short of a disaster thus far would be an understatement. I read and heard many ex-NFL players predict fallout from the start. These analysts predicted that head coach Brad Childress would lose the team with this decision. Reports of a “schism” in the locker room followed which solidified the words from these analysts. A perennial Super Bowl favorite has gone from contender to pretender in less than two weeks.

The problem here is that Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels were promised an open competition for the job. Rosenfels signed as a free agent due to those intentions. Childress told his players that Favre wasn’t coming and 24 hours later he is there. These are the kinds of actions that have divided that locker room.

This team could be in big trouble on Tuesday morning with a sub-Favre performance and another lights out showing from Jackson. The team committed $12 million to Favre. No matter what happens, he won’t be sitting. Players will have to endure a losing season due to a bonehead decision by the coach and management. Favre will probably do himself no favors and keep his distance from the team. Remember what Thomas Jones said?

This is a pre season game that definitely counts. Favre needs to show his teammates and the fans that he does belong behind center for the Minnesota Vikings. Favre needs to lead several steady drives down the field. Favre doesn’t necessarily need a touchdown, but he has to at least get them into field goal range. If Favre pulls out one of his many pick six tricks, he is going to be in for a long week.

Green Bay Packer fans are likely loving the latest turn of Favre events. I put myself in their positions and imagine what it would be like if Brian Westbrook played for the Dallas Cowboys. I’d be bitter my team let him go, but it would be even harder to stomach seeing him in blue and silver. I would breathe a sign of relief if I saw that he didn’t have it anymore and my team got the chance to show him up twice a year. I am guessing that Packer fans are feeling the same about their former hero.

I know what Brett Favre said about his legacy, but this isn’t good for anyone. Like him or not, he should be remembered for this great Monday night moments and playoff heroics. Unfortunately he may be remembered as a laughing stock which isn’t necessarily fair. Regardless, it will be a lot easier to mend fences with Packers fans when he gives them two wins a year just by playing for the other team.

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What happens when your team turns a NFL Super Bowl contender to a Super Bowl pretender with one free agent move? You get Brett Favre, and the frustrations of last season’s Jets fans. If Brett Favre’s Minnesota Vikings debut is any indication of the future, then Vikings fans are in for a long season.

Brad Childress took a gamble and signed Brett Favre to the Vikings last week. Favre has had no mini-camp, no rigorous off-season rehab, and a torn rotator cuff. Oh yeah, Favre is also 39 years old. Favre finally made his debut and looked every bit of a 39-year old broken down quarterback that you’d expect. Even the biggest of Vikings’ fan has to be scratching his head on this one.

Favre finished his season last year with the Jets in embarrassing fashion. The Jets were eliminated at home from the playoffs against their rival Miami Dolphins. This was as big of a must-win./playoff situation as you get for an NFL team. Favre played miserably, throwing 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions. Is this the Brett Favre Vikings fans are getting?

There is something of a Favre-myth I have written about for the last few years. Favre has been an average to below average quarterback in his last 4 of 5 seasons. Favre had a tremendous season in 2007 for the Packers, but there was a huge difference. Favre underwent a rigorous off season program which he credited for his regular season success. Favre has not followed that program since then, thus we are seeing the old gunslinger at his worst.

Favre did play well for the Jets to start the season last year. However, Favre broke down and went back to his old erratic ways to finish the season. Favre talked in his press conference about leadership and how any of his teammates with the Jets would speak up for him. Apparently Favre has read any of the comments his old teammates have made since he left the Jets.

Thomas Jones said following the Miami game, “We’re a team and we win together … but at the same time, you can’t turn the ball over and expect to win … The other day, the three interceptions really hurt us. I mean, that’s just reality. If I were to sit here and say, ‘Oh, man, it’s okay,’ that’s not reality.” Jones went on to say that Favre should have pulled himself out of the game. Even Favre’s own teammate wanted him on the bench.

Another anonymous Jet said the following about Favre and his “leadership” qualities with the Jets. “He never socialized with us, never went to dinner with anyone,” the player said. Asked to describe Favre in a word, he said: “Distant.” – NFL Fanhouse.

Favre played his first Vikings game on Friday night. Favre played the first few snaps of a pre season game. Quite honestly, he looked awful. He looked slow and very erratic against the pass rush. I know it is pre season, but in his pre season debut with the Jets he led the team on a touchdown scoring drive. It is obvious that Brett Favre is too old and too hurt to be playing for a Super Bowl contender.

To make matters worse for Vikings fans, Tarvaris Jackson came in and had a hell of a game. Jackson had a qb rating of 158, and went 12 of 15 for two touchdowns and 202 yards. The Vikings signed Sage Rosenfels in the off season to compete with Jackson. Rosenfels is a very good quarterback who has the potential to be a breakout star in the NFL. Up until Favre’s signing the Vikings were looking very good at quarterback.

So why in the world would the Vikings toy with a good thing and bring in Favre? There is a good chance that the Vikings will lose Jackson who has a world of potential. Rosenfels will probably demand a trade in the off season. Unless something dramatically changes, I can’t see Favre making it through an entire season. The quarterback situation is in shambles but hey, now you can rub it in the faces of Green Bay Packer fans.

This has disaster written all over it and Packer fans couldn’t be happier.

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