What to Watch Tonight: Monday Night Football X2

Today is your lucky day, because there is not only one Monday Night Football game tonight, but two! Well, maybe you don't consider this fact to be good luck, but here is the scoop on tonight's match ups to keep you interested.

• NY Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings: This game was supposed to be played yesterday in Minnesota, but a major snowstorm up in the midwest seriously damaged the Vikings' stadium. Check out the video below. Instead, the game will be played tonight in Detroit at Ford Field. The story line of the night is whether Brett Favre will continue his consecutive starting streak and play tonight, despite a painful shoulder injury. Tune in at 7:20 eastern to find out.
• Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans: The Texans need the win to stay alive in the playoff hunt. Its offense is quite solid, so it needs to maintain its scoring and get its defense to step up against the Ravens. I have both teams' runningbacks on my fantasy football team so for my sake just root for each team to run the ball. Who knows, if my fantasy team wins it all there may be something in it for you - more money for Sportsgirl!

What to Watch: NFL Week 14

Here is a rundown on some of the major NFL storylines this weekend:

• N.Y. Giants at Minnesota Vikings: The question of the week is will Brett Favre start against the Giants? Favre has a current streak of starting 297 games in the NFL, but suffered a strained shoulder last week. He has been medically cleared to play, but will he be able to throw the ball effectively even with pain relieving injections? It is unlikely that Favre will let his streak end when the doctors have given him the go ahead. This guy is tough, despite his old age.
• Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers: Chiefs QB Matt Cassel is talking about starting again this week after just undergoing an emergency appendectomy. Is he crazy? Sure, this is a big game where the Chiefs have the opportunity to get control of the AFC West title, but is it really worth the risk of serious injury? The NFL should really be stepping in on this one to regulate Cassel's return post surgery.
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• New England Patriots at Chicago Bears: The Pats are looking unstoppable as of late, but Jay Cutler and his Bears could be the squad able to control Brady's good looks. If Cutler can harness his offense and control his offensive possessions they will have a chance. Truth is, I am still not starting Cutler on my fantasy team.

Vikings Fire Coach Childress

Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings have had, to say the least, a dissappointing season. Coming off of big hopes from making it to the NFC Championship game last season and getting Favre back in the game, the team has failed to perform this season with a record of 3-7. Vikings owner responded to the failures by firing head coach, Brad Childress, yesterday. Even though the head coach usually takes the heat for the players' inability to perform, this firing seemed rooted in a personality conflict between Childress and his players.

In response to Childress' firing and the promotion of defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to head coach, players consistently mentioned the respect and good vibes they get from Frazier, implicating the uncomfortable relationship shared with Childress. Hopefully, Frazier can get a hold on the bickering and finger pointing on and off the field, or his tenure will be quite short as well.

Just quite unfortunate for Childress who was forced to take Favre back, and then gets sacked for Favre's weak performance. Childress taking the fall for Brett Favre's poor playing, is a bit like Jen Sterger taking the fall for Favre's illicit behavior...When will Favre realize the pain he is causing others by forcing his lost Superbowl dreams?

Fired!

After only three weeks, the Minnesota Vikings have placed wide receiver Randy Moss on waivers. Moss is an all-star receiver the Vikings recently traded for in a deal with the New England Patriots. By being placed on waivers, Moss is now available for other teams to scoop up. He has approximately $3.5 million left on his contract, that the Vikings will be liable for should no other team sign Moss.

So to clarify, the Vikings just gave up arguably their best receiver after already relinquishing a draft pick to the Patriots to acquire him, and now may also still have to pay him $3.5 million! This is like giving up your Saturday to drive to the outlets and then deciding after walking through one store that you do not want to shop and you drive home. You give up your Saturday and still come home with no good finds.

Sounds like a completely ridiculous decision. The backstory here, is that Moss is lazy on the field and likes to speak out against his team to the press. In last week's game, Moss arguably gave up a touchdown pass and then complained to the media about the Vikings' game strategy. This is no shocker for the Vikings since Moss has a history of being a spoiled brat, but just unfortunate for Vikings fans who are stuck with the consequences of poor management.

In Case you got Sleepy Last Night....

Rex Ryan and his Jets beat out Favre and his Vikes 29-20 last night in a torrential downpour in New York. It was all about the defenses until Favre woke up in the second half. He had some beautiful touchdown passes (his first connecting with newly signed Randy Moss), but also some bad snaps and an interception. Favre looked like an inconsistent rookie, but you still loved him, because he went for it all despite the tabloids and the tendonitis in his elbow. Yet, the Jets took the win and march on.

Earlier in the night the SF Giants closed out the series with the Atlanta Braves. The Giants get to move on towards the Pennant, but the night was about honoring Braves manager Bobby Cox who retired after last night's game. Cox managed for 29 years in the majors and had a record 14 straight division titles with the Braves! This is a feat that we will never again see in our lifetime. Cox was a winner, but his emotional farewell spoke to how much more this game meant to him.

Monday Night Football Drama

Tonight the Minnesota Vikings take on the New York Jets. This match up is full of peripheral drama so here is the juice to focus on:

Randy Moss: Randy Moss was recently traded from the New England Patriots to the Minnesota Vikings. Tonight is his first game with his old team (he previously played for the Vikes) and he gets to face an old division rival in the Jets. Moss will be out to prove he still has it in his old age so look to see some spectacular one hand grabs in the end zone.

Brett Favre: Yes, this grandpa QB is full of drama. First, Favre is facing his old team the Jets in this Monday night showdown. Favre's time with the Jets was brief and fairly unenlightening so the Jets will want to put him in his place.

Secondly, Favre is facing the team in the center of his scandal with Jen Sterger. As was recently reported, it is rumored that Favre sent racy messages and photos to a former Jets employee, Sterger. These messages have been released and its hard to deny Favre's voice. In addition, two Jets masseuses have come out accusing Favre of inappropriate behavior. Although nothing has been proven, the NFL is now involved and investigating. Tune in, cause you may just get a peek into the not so perfect side of Favre.

Moss Back to the Vikes

One would think that after proving yourself to owners, players, fans, and the league for over ten years that your contract would be secure. Well, unfortunately, that is not the case for seven time pro bowl receiver Randy Moss. Moss was traded this morning from the New England Patriots to the Minnesota Vikings, after failing to catch one ball in the Pats win this past Monday against the Miami Dolphins. (This is the first time as a Pat that Moss failed to have a reception in a game.)

Whether the Pats were disappointed in Moss' performance this past week or just sick of his controversial antics, the team was willing to trade him for a mere third round draft pick. Seems like quite a bargain for the Vikings, who now get to add an all-star receiver to Brett Favre's lineup. It may be Moss who gets the last laugh with the Vikings who boast Favre, Percy Harvin, Adrian Peterson, and now Moss to their starting offense.

Chargers Devastating Pride

The San Diego Chargers had a 4 p.m. deadline yesterday to trade wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Yet, Chargers general manager A.J. Smith failed to make a trade for Jackson with the Minnesota Vikings (who subsequently signed Hank Baskett), because Smith believed that the draft picks offered in exchange were insufficient.

So here is where this leaves everyone: The Vikings settled for Baskett, a second tier receiver to Jackson. Jackson is stuck on the Chargers' exempt list where he is likely to sit out the entire 2010 sesason. And, the Chargers are forced to keep Jackson around (even when they will never let him back on the field) instead of having the opportunity to boost the team with some great draft picks in 2011.

Smith is known for letting his pride get in the way of trades, as seen with the draft and subsequent trade of Eli Manning several years ago. It's time San Diego fans stand up and challenge his ways, because there is no denying the Chargers continue to disappoint. Soon enough the Chargers are going to start to resemble the greedy ways of David Caruso and Terrence Howard - you hold out long enough and let your pride get in the way, you end up leaving the red carpet for basic cable.

Heating Up in Minnesota

Even with the return of the almighty Brett Favre, the Minnesota Vikings have disappointed this season with a 0-2 start. Clearly, there are an abundance of issues with this squad, but to remedy the loss of the teams top two wide receivers, Minnesota has signed Hank Baskett to the purple and yellow.

Baskett should really be called Mr. Kendra since his NFL career has been completely overshadowed by his wife's boobs. Hopefully, however, he can perform and steal some spotlight in Minnesota. He may not only be able to help the team, but also save Favre's reputation by providing him an outlet on the field in which to go out with a bang. And if not, at least Minnesota fans will get a good laugh from Kendra!

Interrupting the Entertainment

While fans were getting their favorite beers and snacks ready for the kickoff of the NFL 2010 season, the anticipation for an escape into the world of football was interrupted by the players of the Vikings and Saints walking onto the field together with hands raised with the number 1. This act was intended to be a symbol of solidarity for the players during this period of labor negotiations with the league.

The collective bargaining agreement ("CBA"), the agreement that governs the relationship between the NFL (league and owners) and the players, is set to expire at the end of the season. (The players are part of a union that is in direct negotiations with the league.) The parties have begun negotiations and hope for a new CBA prior to the end of the season. This hope, however, is quite grim as there are many issues at play here that are far from being resolved. (And yes, all of the issues come down to money.)

The players acting in unison last night was intended to show that they are one unit working together to negotiate a new CBA. Although, this act had minimal impact, it was something that I just did not want to be bothered with as I was escaping into my football fantasy land for the night. At a time when unemployment is at crazy highs, I didn't want to be disturbed by the players' pleas for more money. Sure, both the players and the owners need to negotiate a CBA that will provide each party with what they deserve, but this discussion should not burden the fans. All the fans see are guys who make millions of dollars for a dream job complaining about money. The players need to make sure that they do not alienate their fans with these "acts of solidarity." Stay strong as a unit, but pick a different forum in which to exemplify your strength. The fans watch football for an escape and do not want to be burdened with the players' financial struggles, especially when those of the fans are much more severe.