Former Packers Turned Vikings

Yesterday, former Packers Linebacker Desmond Bishop agreed to terms with the Minnesota Vikings.  He was released last week by Green Bay after missing all of last season with a torn hamstring.

Bishop joins a long list of former Packers that have signed with the Vikings.  Here are some of the other notable players.

• Greg Jennings
• Brett Favre
• Ryan Longwell
• Darren Sharper
• Robert Ferguson

Now, the Packers and Vikings are not the only rivalry to have this relationship.  The Boston Red Sox players have the habit of switching to the New York Yankees.  Here is a list of former Red Sox that have become Yankees.

• Kevin Youkilis
• Babe Ruth
• Wade Boggs
• Mark Bellhorn
• Derek Lowe
• Johnny Damon
• Roger Clemens

The take away from these lists is that sports is a business.  For the most part, players do not show loyalty to their teams.  Instead, they go where the money is.  With that said, there are some exceptions to these lists.  For example, Brett Favre signed with the Vikings to get back at Ted Thompson.  In addition, Babe Ruth was sold to the Yankees, so it was not his choice to change teams.  However, the decision to switch teams by the majority of the players on these lists was motivated by money.  

Ultimately, Packers fans will continue to complain about their players switching to the Vikings, and Red Sox fans will still point out that multiple Yankees players originally played for the Red Sox.  However, in the end, it all comes down to a five letter word—money.