The 49th season of Vikings football begins on Sunday with more hype and optimism than any in recent memory. As I anxiously wait to see if this squad can really deliver, here’s what’s on my mind…

Favre with new Vikings jersey

Brad Childress is a better coach than most fans give him credit for. He’s not a great coach, but I’d put him in the decent-to-good category. What he is horrible at is public relations. It started with the aloof, unfounded arrogance he brought to the position in 2006. From there he released the team’s best receiver, Marcus Robinson, on Christmas Eve, fined Troy Williamson for taking too long to comeback from his grandmother’s funeral and then yesterday, released the popular Bobby Wade three days before the season opener and a week after the WR had agreed to a 50% pay cut. And who can forget the “kick ass offense” comment you know he regrets to this day.

As much fun as I am having with the idea of Brett Favre wearing purple – there is a small part of me that thinks this could go very, very wrong. If there happen to be football gods and/or other mystical forces at work – and I don’t think there are – the Vikings and their fans may be punished as blasphemers.

Speaking of Favre, if you believe that a simple phone call from Childress on August 18 convinced the veteran signal caller to come to Minnesota then you need to check into rehab because you’ve overdosed on the Purple Kool Aid. Anyone blessed with even a shred of critical thinking ability knows the two had an agreement that reached back weeks, if not months.

The Vikings best move of the summer may have been not trading or cutting Tarvaris Jackson. If Favre can’t hold up this season – and let’s face it, there’s a good chance he won’t – I am comfortable with Jackson running the show. The 4th-year QB showed enough late last season and in the preseason for me to believe he can get the job done.

Finally, the Vikings got a HUGE break today when the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that kept the case involving Kevin and Pat Williams in the state courts. It’s complicated, but what this effectively means is that the Pro Bowl DTs will play the entire season for the Vikings. That’s a good omen – maybe it is the our year after all.