Oh Farve...

In the two to three months since Brett Favre has decided to play another season on the Vikings, he has gone from hero to zero, making the PR buzz Minnesota football and the NFL had going become a PR nightmare. The word going around now is that Favre's devotion to his self-glorifying consecutive games-played streak is stronger than his devotion to this teammates and to winning a game - that he is keeping the Vikings back from their full potential.

Many football fanatics will still argue that Brett Favre is one of the best QBs in history, but I hope for his sake this isn't the way he goes into retirement. Who wants to be remembered for leaving their all-star athlete career by being hauled off the field, having a broken ankle, throwing numerous interceptions and just being looked at as the 'old' guy on the field?

From a PR standpoint, it's hard to say what should be done or said. I don't want Favre to play because he looks like he is in so much pain and I feel like he could get hurt severely at any time. However, the entire idea of his coming back has been blown so out of proportion that I feel he must play for the rest of the season and just keep saying he's giving it all he's got.

I'm sad to say I don't like to watch Vikings games anymore - they're too painful. I really like the team overall, even Favre, but they aren't playing well together. After yesterday's loss, putting them at 2-5, I'm not sure if they're even eligible to be in the playoffs. Every week it's a back and forth debate whether or not Favre will play the following week. I feel like this summer never ended because all we heard on the news in sports was whether or not Favre was coming back for another season. Don't worry though - next weekend's status is already clear because Favre made a statement, he'll be back next week to play against the cardinals. "I'm ready for next week's game, no body knows my body like I do. I think I'll be alright, ready to play next week. I'm shocked I was able to play and move around the way I was. ...my prayers were answered I expect to play (all season). I made my decision to come back, and I feel like this team is close."

Favre Return an Elaborate Publicity Stunt?

As if anyone actually doubted it would happen. Brett Favre reported to camp with the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday. I'm glad he's back, we really needed him to come back. Also, I never had a problem with his age and debate with retirement. Last season we saw him get beat up a lot - I don't blame him for wanting to consider his options. However, there's part of me that thinks this entire media blitz yesterday (and this entire year since that terrible game January 24th) was just part of an elaborate promotional campaign by the Vikings and the NFL. Do you really think it took sending three players, Jared Allen, Ryan Longwell and Steve Hutchinson to Hattiesburg to get Brett to return? Further, do you think he just suddenly told wife Deanna that he was leaving for Minnesota, you and the kids catch up with me in a few weeks? I don't think so. Without a doubt, the Vikings are better with Favre than without him; everyone knows it. But, there isn't a better way to start the season with hype and drama than this!

Coach Brad Childress has been fine with the timing of everything and the story has kept the NFL at the front of sports headlines throughout the summer. That's worth the salary increase that Minnesota reportedly offered Favre. Truthfully, every team should pitch in some cash for the publicity they got from this.

Regardless, it should be a good season! ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!

Does Winning Lead to Money and Support in Sports?

The success of the season created a lot of good buzz around the idea of building a new Viking's stadium, but will this week's great loss hurt the team's stadium support? Last weekend was a momentous weekend of the Vikings in more ways than one. Besides the devastating loss on Sunday, last Friday a team of execs proposed a new idea for the Viking's stadium which seeks federal funding.

The Minnesota Vikings have stated that regardless of Saint's game outcome, they are pushing forward with the new stadium project. "If nothing else, the last several weeks - indeed the entire dramatic season - reminds our state leaders and all Minnesotans how fortunate we are to have an NFL team," Vikings Stadium Executive, Lester Bagley said.

Legislators are still cool to the idea of a new stadium during a time of budget deficits. The team says they're pushing the project as an economic development in a tough economy, which will create thousands of jobs.

I go back and forth on how I feel about the new Viking's stadium topic. I really like having the Vikings in Minnesota (even if they continue to have the Charlie Brown/Lucy/football syndrome), but on the other hand, I think the Metrodome isn't that old and should be used a little longer.

Looking at it with my PR background, the Vikings are doing things right (except for winning) and have the ball in their court since their contract will run out soon. "It is clear that in order to retain the Vikings for the next generation in Minnesota, we have to resolve this stadium issue," Bagley said. Here are a couple recommendations I believe could help come to a conclusion and build public stadium support:

-Continue to explain all of the economic perks that will come with a new stadium. Give an estimated number of jobs and revenue a new stadium will bring.

-Continue to state that the Vikings will leave if Minnesota does not give them the stadium they've been asking for now over a decade.

-Propose other ways to pay for a new stadium besides tax payer's money. (Corporate sponsorship, federal funding, team fundraising, etc.)

-The team needs to build its PR. Prepare Vikings Owner, Zigi Wilf, Coach Brad Childress, players, etc to do public announcements on the topic, stating why it's important and needed. Have these icons make more public appearances doing public service, sighing autographs or just shaking hands at events.

-Continue to play well next season!

I'm not trying to say I believe winning this past Sunday's game and going to the Super Bowl would have guaranteed the team a new stadium. Despite everything, a brand new stadium would be a tough sell to legislators in this economy. However, I don't believe everything lawmakers say on the topic. I know if the Vikings would have continued to win this season the team would have helped the support for their new stadium greatly. If you have any new suggestions/ideas on what you would like to see from the Vikings in order to gain your support or dollars, please send them my way.