Randy Moss may be gone but the drama at Minnesota Vikings camp is far from over, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Players and team sources spoke to the newspaper anonymously on Wednesday, airing their grievances against coach Brad Childress.
"We know that [Brad] Childress doesn't have our backs, so why should we have his?" one player told the newspaper. "We're playing for us, and we're winning despite him."
Childress, according to the Sun-Times, has criticized players and questioned effort.
"He has absolutely no people skills," one team source said.
Childress was upset with quarterback Brett Favre, who threw three interceptions, after a 28-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 24.
"You can't throw it to them; you've got to play within the confines of our system," Childress said, according to the Sun-Times.
"Sometimes it's OK to punt the football."
Favre's career-high 446 yards passing last Sunday led Minnesota to a season-salvaging overtime victory over the Cardinals, and some Vikings said afterward they saw a difference in their 41-year-old quarterback.
"This week I've seen in Brett what I haven't seen since last year, when it comes to energy that comes across from him," tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said then. "It definitely showed."
Asked Wednesday whether he felt more energy in the run-up to the Arizona game, well, Favre shrugged the question off like a quarterback sidestepping a pass rush.
"Say we lost in OT, I doubt he says that," Favre said, referring to Shiancoe's assessment.
Favre rested again Wednesday. He said he was fatigued during that comeback against the Cardinals. And discussing the left foot that still has two small fractures in it, Favre said he's still surprised it's not giving him more trouble.
"It's OK. Of course, after a game it always feels worse. It's still swollen, but at least I'm able to function enough on it that Monday and Tuesday and maybe Wednesday I try to stay off of it as much as possible," Favre said. "Get it back to where it feels tolerable. I'm surprised with a broken foot that it doesn't feel as bad as it probably should."
Six Vikings players told the Sun-Times they would like Childress to be fired but they won't give up on their teammates.
"We got too many good football players, and we won't lay down like Dallas," one player told the newspaper.
"As much as I hate Childress," another player told the Sun-Times, "I will keep playing."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.