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Rosenfels Torches Rams for 3 TDs

Jewish QB makes his case for playing-time

by
Marc Tracy
August 17, 2010
Sage Rosenfels against the Rams on Saturday.(Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Sage Rosenfels against the Rams on Saturday.(Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

UPDATE: Almost immediately after I published this, Favre basically announced he is returning. I blame myself.

As the Minnesota Vikings desperately send three of their best players down to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to find out if their presumable starting quarterback, Brett Favre, is planning on actually suiting up this year, a fight is raging among their two other quarterbacks over which will appear second on the depth chart—or, if Favre does retire, over which will start. And if the Vikings’ first preseason game yesterday is any indication, Jewish quarterback Sage Rosenfels has a real chance.

Rosenfels lit up the St. Louis Rams for three touchdowns, no interceptions, and 23 completions on 34 attempts for 310 yards in their game a few days ago. (Tarvaris Jackson, who is currently the starter, only played a few downs at the beginning.) Caveat number on is that the Rams are so dreadful it’s almost immoral. Caveat number two is that, it being the first preseason game, Rosenfels did the bulk of his work against the Rams’s second-teamers, which is basically the equivalent of decent D2 school (I exaggerate—and it’s worth nothing that Rosenfels was working with his team’s scrubs, too).

So this is exciting! Even if Favre does come back, we will likely see the 32-year-old Rosenfels taking a few snaps (unlike last season). And if Favre doesn’t—and Tablet Magazine’s official position is henceforth that he shouldn’t—then Rosenfels will genuinely be fighting for the starting job. Go Vikings?

Marc Tracy is a staff writer at The New Republic, and was previously a staff writer at Tablet. He tweets @marcatracy.