Official Aaron Rodgers Beard Growing Contest Rules

1. You have until the end of Monday to join the Contest.  In order to be officially entered, you must post a Video Response to the following video verifying that you are clean shaven.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpYm1AWUgOE

2. The winner will be chosen by BitterBorderBattle fans and will be judged on length, creativity, and whatever other criteria the fans decide.

3. The winner of this contest will earn the respect of Packer fans near and far -- Bragging rights only.  There will be no monetary prize given (unless somebody cool donates something really awesome!).

4.  Side bets are authorized and encouraged -- Please share on our Facebook page so we have something to look forward to.

5.  Weekly updates are appreciated but not required and Please refer your friends to get involved as well.  Again, you have until 11:59 PM CST to submit your video response in order to be eligible.

Favre should be at training camp.

Since there is an overwhelming pro Brett Favre sentiment around here, I wanted to even the playing field so to speak, with a critical post. Don't get me wrong, I appreciated everything Favre brought to the Vikings last season. He made this team relevant, and once he got turned loose he played better than any quarterback in this league. At that age, it was an amazing spectacle to behold, that is unless of course you pledge allegiance to the fugly green and gold. Without him there wouldn't even be a thought of a ring.

Having said all that it's time Favre gets his ass to camp. The excuse makers will say "he doesnt need camp, look at last year".  Now maybe that is true. I don't think he necessarily "needs" camp but shouldn't he want to be at camp with his teammates? Last year was a different story, if he would have showed up in Mankato last year it would have been a zoo. If he would have announced he's coming back and going to training camp this year, it would still have been a zoo but not quite as bad.

Is it because he doesn't want to live in a dorm? Do you really think that if Favre said he wanted to come to camp, the coaches wouldn't give him his own room with full amenities? That excuse doesn't fly either.

Is it because his ankle is truly hurting? If that's the case, why and how did he work his tail off to lose weight this summer? I don't buy that, he looked pretty good working out with his high school buddies.....

Speaking of his high school pals, why is it that he can throw to them all summer but not Sindey Rice, Visanthe Shiancoe and Percy Harvin? I doubt the coaches would run Favre into the ground, he could be there getting his timing down.

Last year the first two games of the year were Cleveland and Detroit. This year it's New Orleans and Miami. It took him a couple games to get in the groove last year, will it take him that long to get it going this year? If so, it could be 0-2 out of the gate.

Now I'll just put myself in Childress' shoes (most likely penny loafers) and understand that this organization doesn't really have much of a choice. They can either force Favre's hand, ridicule him publically, and hand the reigns over to TJack. Or they can continue to coddle, suckle, nestle and bow down to Lord Favre and not risk pissing him off. There is no doubt he loves this time of year, and by not being at training camp, he's saying alot without even saying it, that he runs the show and thats the way it's going to be.

Vikings Training Camp Notes 7/31

Big scare with Percy Harvin taken off the field in a stretcher with an undisclosed injury, but he was back on the field later and appeared fine. With Sidney Rice hurting, the Vikes can ill afford too many injuries at that position.

Great quote from Pat Williams referring to a monster hit on Toby Gerhart..."I don't care who it is. This aint college no more, theres grown men out there, they're paying these college boys like they've already played before. This is a different breed out here, this is grown men, this aint boys no more"

Just reading that quote from Fat Pat makes me wanna go decleat my own grandmother.

Tarvaris Jackson is taking the snaps with the first team in you know who's absence.

I plan on attending training camp Monday and I should have a bunch of nice pics to share.

Aaron Rodgers Beard Growing Contest part 2

Just post a reply to this video if you want to take part in the contest.

Aaron Rodgers Beard Growing Contest.

Today I challenge Aaron Rodgers and all of our viewers to beard growing contest to kick off training camp.  Shave your beard today and whoever has the best beard by the end of camp gets to be named the manliest of mans.

What If Brett Favre Doesn't Come Back?

Bulaga Signs Five-Year Contract per Adam Schefter

Bulaga will be making some big bucks over the next 5 years after signing a deal for 14.75 Million, 8.76 of that is guaranteed.  Here is to many years of protecting Rodgers back side.

Toby Gerhart signs contract according to Judd Zulgad of Strib

According to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune, RB Toby Gerhart, 2nd round pick, has signed. Details to come later.

New Stadium for Vikings?

Whether it is a political ploy to pull on the heartstrings of a land covered in Purple Pride or a legitimate campaign promise, Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner sketched out a plan on Thursday that would build the Vikings a new state of the art complex.  The stadium would likely come with a fixed roof that would allow other grand events such as Super Bowls, Final Fours, and even perhaps an NBA All-Star game.

While I will not bore you with the details of how Horner intends to pay for the $900 million dollar project even while the state faces a $6 billion dollar deficit, I assure you that this move will be a home run or strikeout.  Either Horner gathers a lot of support for this idea, or the cash stricken state decides his priorities are inappropriate.

Horner's proposal would call for the Vikings to sign a 40 year lease as opposed to a traditional 30 year lease to spread payments owed over a longer period of time.  If a new stadium fails to get done by 2011 (when their current lease is up), it is very likely that the Owner Zygi Wilf would look to move the team to LA, a city that is begging for a team.

I do feel confident about one thing: If the team moves to LA in 2012, Brett Favre will not follow.

Deanna Favre is Ready for Another Year in Minnesota

  

It appears that Deanna Favre has come to the same conclusion as the media, fans, and teammates have in regards to Brett Favre's future.  She apparently believes they will be moving back to Minnesota in the near future as Patrick Reusse of 1500 ESPN in Minnesota reports that an "inside source" at Lifetime Fitness in Edina informed him that she has renewed her memebership for the upcoming year.

While this story is very intriguing, I do take caution in using it to further my conviction that Favre will be back in 2010.  First of all, this slip up seems almost uncharacteristic of the Favre camp from what we have been through in the last 5 years.  Usually everyone has been able to reiterate the same message and keep a secret pretty well.

Secondly, if she signed up for a one year membership, then her current membership would still be valid, thus not needing to call ahead to renew.  Either way, if there is truth to this story then I guess Deanna will look as fantastic as ever in the luxury box seats.

Vikings sign 2nd round draft pick

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/blogs/99549389.html

The Vikes signed their top draft pick CB Chris Cook to 4 year, 5.32 million dollar deal, including 3.55 million in guaranteed money.

2nd round pick Toby Gerhart is the only Vikings draft pick unsigned.

Curse of a blow hard?

First off, I'm not a believer in curses. When I hear someone mention a curse I cringe a little, most often times it's an excuse for your team playing like garbage (yeah you, Cubs fan) I've even heard the "c" word from fellow Vikings fans, but most of them are still living in their parents basement or suffer from Downs Syndrome. But I had a nice little chuckle when I read that Peter King picked the Packers to win the Super Bowl this year. Remember last year when this fat lard picked the Chicago Bears to win it? Yeah, how'd that work out? The year before that? Dallas. Didnt even make the playoffs. In 2006 he picked the Saints. Close but no cigar. Seems like the Packers have been getting their yearly offseason love from the media, not only Peter King, but others as well. Don Banks has the Packers ranked ahead of the Vikings in his power rankings. Last year the Pack were a trendy pick to represent the NFC North as well. Well, you know what they say opinions are like........(found this phrase to be incorrect, type in "born without anus" into a search engine)........but really, when a blowhard like Peter King is riding your jock its definetly not something to be real proud of.

NFC North, Strongest Division

When you take a look through the division in the NFL, it is hard to find one stronger than the NFC North.  In fact I don't believe there are any that compare.  I know there could be some arguments for the NFC East but who is Donovan McNabb going to throw the ball to in Washington, and how good will Kevin Kolb really be this season?  There is no division that can stack two teams toe to toe with the Vikings and the Packers and they are not even the biggest winners of the off-season in the division.

The Chicago Bears, who were picked to be

Vikings vs. Packers: Who has the better fans?

There is no doubt that the Metrodome (technically Mall of America Field) is one of the most daunting places for opposing teams to play in the NFL. I experienced first hand just how loud 63,775 fans can be (which was the average home attendance for the Vikings in 2009) when you pack them in an old worn down football field with a giant bubble on top. On three consecutive plays, the Seahawks had two false starts and then called a time out to avoid a delay of game penalty. After each play the crowd became increasing shattering with noise.

Although I have never

Vikings interested in veteran WR?

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/blogs/99433079.html

Judd Zulgad, Vikings beat writer for the Star Tribune, has reported that the Vikings are interested in bringing in another veteran receiver to camp, and may be in pursuit of former Raven Kelly Washington. He caught 34 passes for 431 yards and two touchdowns.

This looks like he's being brought in for strictly a training camp body, as Sidney Rice is still recovering from lingering effects of a hip injury.

Stay tuned.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Bryan, and I'm addicted to the Vikings

(Imagine sitting in a circle in folding chairs, Alcoholics Anonymous Style)

"Hello, my name is Bryan, and I'm addicted to the Minnesota Vikings"

     The first step in the recovery process is admitting you have a problem, and yes folks, I have a major one. Thanks to BitterBorderBattle, you'll get to join me throughout the year as I fiend for all things purple.

     As many Vikings fans, I have been brainwashed since birth by my father, to love this team. I remember holding the ladder so he could adjust the antenna for better reception. If someone would have told me there would be such a thing as NFL Sunday Ticket back then I probably would have thought they were nuts. Really, the Vikings werent just the local team, they were the ONLY team on television back in the 80's. Years of tears of joy and pain have molded me into what I've become, throwing shoes at the TV, cussing out Tommy Kramer and calling him a drunk, falling in love with Anthony Carter, thinking we were going to the Super Bowl after the Herschel Walker trade, yes, what was happening was legalized brainwashing by my old man.
     Fast forward to present time and I've become hardened as a Vikings fan to the point where I've come to expect disappointment and actually relish in it. You don't become a sadist overnight, and I don't think I need to go into detail what happened in 1998 and 2009. Countless other "mini tragedies" come to mind, but you get the point. Now I have a brother and son who are realizing that pain, and in a weird way we wear it as a badge of honor. You don't invest this much time into something without becoming obsessed with it.
     I like the concept of BitterBorderBattle, to me the Vikings/Packers is the best rivalry in the entire NFL. Sure, Bears/Packers has the tradition, Browns/Steelers is intense, Washington/Dallas has alot of hoopla but this rivalry is as good as it gets.
     I'm excited for this season, I'll be a weekly contributer on alot of things, from my own opinions on and off the field. I'm definetly looking forward to it, and if this year turns out as good for me from strictly a Vikings/Packers standpoint, I'll be happier than Johnny Jolly with is face buried in a medicine cabinet filled with codeine.

Atari Bigby Signs Tender

According to league sources, Atari Bigby has signed his restricted free agent tender today and is scheduled to make $1.759 million this season.  Bigby has been a no-show for off-season workouts and mini-camps apparently feeling a little blue that Nick Collins was rewarded with a new contract.


While the SS position will be Bigby's to lose, rookie 3rd round pick Morgan Burnett has impressed all off-season so far and will look to take that time away.  On a side note, don't worry Packer fans, Bennet DOES in fact have dreadlocks so he will fit nicely with our secondary.


Z

Brett Favre: Drama Queen or The King?

Here it is in late July again and there is still no definite answer on whether Brett Favre will be back or not.  Most people are tired of hearing about him but should they really be getting annoyed still?   I could understand this if it was the second or third time around, but we are on annual “Favre Watch” for the 5^th  or 6^th  year in a row now and hasn’t he came back every year?

If there is one lesson we should have learned by now is that we can expect Favre to be under center come Week 1 of the NFL season unless, of course, he is not under center during Week 1.  Then, and only then, we can “assume” that he has officially retired.  What I have found (even though I am obviously a little bias) is that I get more annoyed of people being annoyed about hearing about Brett Favre than I actually am annoyed by hearing about Brett Favre.  Clear as mud? Great.

The thing is, Brett Favre is a grandfather and will turn 41 during this upcoming season, which will be his 20^th in the league.  Also, he is a superstar and we all know that superstars DO get treated different (See: Lebron James).  Jared Allen was on ESPN the other day commenting that he doesn’t care if Favre shows up to training camp or not, and he feels that Brett has earned the right to skip if he wants.

People try and vilify Brett Favre for being a drama queen because they get tired of the will he/won’t he scenario that plays out every summer, but why not blame that on the media.  Shouldn’t it really be a matter best left between the Vikings and Brett?  If the Vikings were concerned with him missing training camp, don’t you believe they would put a deadline on his decision?  Favre has been to more training camps than his WR’s and RB’s combined.  Will he really get better by grinding through two-a-days or will it only tire him down for the end of the season?  I mean really, the guy hasn’t missed a start in 18 years and we get annoyed because he doesn’t want to grind through training camp. 

And it is not like he is holding out for a contract issue which we see quite often.  He is holding out because he doesn’t want to put his body through another training camp (it is obvious that he is milking the ankle surgery).  Bottom line, Brett Favre has earned the respect of coaches and teammates otherwise this would not be allowed to happen.  Therefore I am left with one conclusion – Brett Favre is the King.

Z

We Need Your Help!

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Thanks to everyone for the visits!

5 Bold Predictions for the Vikings in 2010

http://youtu.be/3grI4-klF1c

TGIF

Two things come to mind when I think of Jermichael, play maker and mouth.  Finley gets a lot of heat from a lot of Packer fans because he loves to talk and his recent interview on ESPN proves it.  Although Finley has shown immaturity in the past I believe he is on the path to be what we like to call "Packer People."  Finley is still young and like most young men we think we are invincible.  Now add on growing up as the star football player in a town called Diboll, Texas.  A town just shy of six thousand people, everyone of them telling you how great you are.  This may not be the way most of us from the Midwest were brought up, so it is easy for us to call a player like Finley out.  The one good thing that comes of this?  CONFIDENCE!  When you are told over and over that you are the best you start to believe it, you start to be it.  Having confidence is what gets you the girl, having confidence is what gets you the job, having confidence is what makes you the best at what you do!  If you want to get someones best you have to tell them, "you can't beat me."  So Call out the great ones TGIF because to be the best you have to beat the best.

Austin Auch

Johnny Jolly Needs to Study

Johnny Jolly will be
suspended for the
2010 season.

The off the field issues surrounding Johnny Jolly for the past year have been no secret nor has been his presence as a driving force in the middle of the defensive line for the Packers.  While his suspension will leave a gaping hole (pun intended) for The Pack to fill, details of his addiction are becoming a little more clear and concerning.

While Johnny Jolly has a full year to figure out his personal life, it seems as though his issues run deeper than a little purple drank.  Earlier today, the Miller Lite Football Show with Mark Chmura had Jason Wilde on as a guest and the conversation quickly turned to Johnny Jolly and his recent suspension.

Chmura stated "Jason, I heard the number was like 20 (failed drug tests)"  Maybe Chmura was better friends with Jolly than we knew!  Either way, it is pretty apparent that Johnny Jolly needs to start studying for these drug tests...

Z

A Man of Class

If you have not had a chance to read "Above It All" an article on Aaron Rodgers by Tim Keown over at ESPN.com you really need to check it out.  Rodgers will be on the cover of the July 26th cover of ESPN the Magazine a must buy for any Packer fan.  The Magazine will feature the article along with some cool photos.

Austin Auch

AP on Favre

AP expects Favre to be back.

The general consensus is that Favre will be playing again in 2010 for the Vikings and the same can be said for Adrian Peterson.

“I saw him down in L.A. for the first time this offseason, down at the ESPYs. Looking in his eyes, I got the sense he was coming back,” Peterson said. “I’ll be going down to his house, telling him, ‘Favre, I need you back.’ I grew up watching Favre. I’m as big a fan of his as the people that’s watching him. It would definitely feel good (if he came back) this year (and we) hoisted up that trophy (together) in Dallas, Texas.”

Since everyone firmly believes Brett Favre will be back to play this season, does that then make this the year he does hang them up for good?  He always seems to have a flair for the dramatic.

Brett Favre's Timeline

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6C62XAKFAk

Position Battle: E.J. Henderson vs. Nick Barnett

 VS. 

Both of these middle linebackers (EJ started on the outside) were chosen in the 2003 NFL Draft. Nick Barnett was chosen 29th overall by Green Bay in the 1st round out of Oregon State.  Eleven picks later the Vikings chose E.J. Henderson who played his college ball at Maryland.  Both linebackers immediately became integral forces in their respective defenses.  

The similarities continue.  They both missed significant time in 2008 for the first time in their careers.  E.J.'s season was cut short after week 4 when he dislocated multiple toes and Barnett went down in week 9 with a knee injury.  Of course we all know Henderson missed the last 4 games and playoffs of 2009 with a gruesome leg injury.

Hey Brett Favre -- I could really use a wish right now...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J30zedA5Izw&hd=1

Kings of the North (continued)

It is definitely fair to say that Austin and I have taken very different paths since high school. Back then, we were the only two Packer fans in very passionate Vikings territory. I personally was very unhappy with the Packer's decision to trade Brett Favre. I felt this decision was wrong and was a slap in the face to #4 himself.

Saying that, I have always been a Packers fan since although I have remained a die-hard Favre fan. I can't help but love the way he plays the game and I always want him to win. This last season was very interesting for me because obviously he was no longer playing in the AFC. I still rooted for the Packers and was just as passionate during their games as ever. Then came Week 4. And YES, I was very happy to see Brett stick it to the Packers (both times).

While I understand I have alienated myself from most true Packer fans, I didn't really feel like I had a choice. It wasn't a decision for me, it was just how things worked out. So, I have sold my soul to cheer for the Vikings as long as #4 is under center in hopes of seeing him raise the Lombardi Trophy one more time.

Brett Favre is coming back...MY WISH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hlr8oASthA

Kings of the North

With QB Brett Favre of the Minnesota Vikings meeting with coach Brad Childress today, you know we are that much closer to seeing #4 play another year. The question is when Brett does come back, will it be enough to crown the Vikings as the kings of the north? Or will Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers rise to the top.

With training camp just days away lets take a look at what both teams will bring to the table in what is arguably the greatest