Another ‘Schism’ in The Vikings’ Locker Room?

Here we go again….

Last year, ESPN.com made a huge deal about a reported “schism” in the locker room regarding quarterback Brett Favre’s arrival.  This year, a new schism has emerged between the players, specifically Favre, and coach Brad Childress, according to Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports.

Cole has some quotes from unnamed player or players on the team.  The player/s apparently did not like the fact that Childress basically made offensive coordinator Darrell Bevel and special teams coach Brian Murphy lie during reports that kicker Ryan Longwell, guard Steve Hutchinson and defensive end Jared Allen had flown to Hattiesburg to pick up Favre.

“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?”

According to a player, many players on the offense, including Favre, do not have respect for Childress.  According to Cole, multiple team sources said “Favre’s disdain for Childress is deep.”

“Brett thinks Childress has no clue about offense,” a Vikings player said.

Cole even reports that visits from Childress to his home in Hattiesburg reduced Favre’s desire to play for the team.  “Brett just doesn’t trust him,” a player said.

This is probably the homer in me but we must remember that people tend to say just about anything when they are anonymous and we won’t really know if that player has an agenda.  Maybe this player have a feeling he’s going to get cut, because why would a player agree to give anonymous quotes that would hurt the team’s chemistry, especially if  the same pieces of the team were so close to the Super Bowl?

Maybe one or a handful of players feel that way but do the majority of the team really feel that way about Childress and the situation?

I don’t know, maybe if we dig deeper into this we might find something.  Childress did unsuccessfully attempt to bench Favre against the Carolina Panthers last season.  Favre technically said in his press conference that he was coming back for the “players in the locker room,” and never necessarily said he was coming back for Childress.

Either way, we expect the team to be in denial mode just like the whole “schism” thing from last season.

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