Butler bashes Brett

Former Vikings safety LeRoy Butler has become the president of a club that speaks out against Brett Favre at seemingly every opportunity to take a shot. He was at it again this week with the latest Favre frenzy.

The bashing of Brett Favre continued Wednesday, as a longtime teammate took it upon himself to insert his opinion into the media frenzy that has been growing since Sunday night, when head coach Brad Childress and Favre butted heads after Favre admitted Childress considered pulling him from the game in the third quarter against Carolina – at a time when the Vikings still held a 7-6 lead.

Former Packers safety LeRoy Butler said in a story in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal that “everyone in Minnesota knows that Brett Favre is running that organization.”

Butler has been openly critical of Favre since he made he decision to return to the NFL and play for Green Bay’s rivals. Butler, who was credited with inventing the Lambeau Leap, is given God-like status in Green Bay by their passionate fans and, when he talks, people listen. He backed up his “Brett runs the Vikings” statement with what he believes is the day-to-day scenario going on at Winter Park.

“So you knew Brett was a diva, you knew Brett wanted it his own way, you knew this all along,” Butler said. “It was just a matter of time before it happened. If I’m Percy Harvin and I have a question on a route or a play, I’m going right to Brett Favre. If I’m Adrian Peterson and I’m not getting the carries I want, I don’t go to Childress or (offensive coordinator Darrell) Bevell, I go to Brett Favre. He’s running the team. All this falls on Brett.”

What is becoming clearer from multiple reports is that Childress has been annoyed that Favre has audibled out of plays – typically run plays being changed to pass plays – with some reports saying he has been angered even when the play in question works after the audible has been called.

Why exactly Butler felt obligated to take shots at Favre and his being “a diva” is unclear, but what does seem to be crystal clear is that there remains resentment among the Packers faithful that Favre opted to move west to play with the rival Vikings. Even during the holiday season, resentment doesn’t take a play off.

THURSDAY NOTES

The Vikings initial injury report was quite brief in comparison to recent weeks. Only four players were listed, and all of them practiced on a limited basis – Steve Hutchinson (shoulder), Pat Williams (elbow), Antoine Winfield (foot) and Brian Robison (quadriceps).

The Bears’ injury report was considerably more lengthy. DE Adewale Ogunleye (leg) was listed as out. Five others did not participate – linebacker Lance Briggs (back), OT Chris Williams (ankle), TE Desmond Clark (illness) and safeties Al Afalava (knee) and Kevin Payne (ankle). Three other starters were limited – DT Tommie Harris (knee), WR Devin Hester (calf) and OT Orlando Pace (groin).

Bryant McKinnie spoke to reporters following Wednesday’s practice, saying that penalties caused his to think too much. McKinnie, who was called for a holding and a false start, had a hard time blocking Julius Peppers after the veteran defensive end moved from the left side of the line (where he was handled pretty well by rookie Phil Loadholt) over to the right side where he faced up with McKinnie.

“When I watched the film, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was,” McKinnie said of facing Peppers. “I felt like people probably made it seem like more than it was. When I finally saw the film, I saw that he got a sack. I think what threw me out of my game is that when I tried to jump the snap count one time and the ball didn’t get snapped, I got a false start. Then they called me for holding, so it took me away from something else that I normally do – something that I tend to do when I’m pass setting.”

After a sub-par performance last week, former Viking Daunte Culpepper will be replaced in the Lions starting lineup by Drew Stanton in their game Sunday with the 49ers.

The Houston Texans released former Vikings safety Brian Russell Wednesday.

The Lions released former Viking offensive lineman Melvin Fowler on Wednesday.

It’s been a bad week for former Vikings. On Tuesday, cornerback Marcus McCauley, who had been signed earlier in the month by New Orleans, was released by the Saints.