Greg C.
Cheesehead
I was pleased to see the Vikings on SI columnist Michael Silver's list of the five worst offseasons (so far) in the NFL. They came in at #5 (after the Bears, Chargers, Titans, and Browns, in that order). Here's what Silver wrote about the Vikings:
When a local columnist, in this case Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, publishes a non-satirical piece headlined "Conspiracy Theory: Vikings Purposely Self-Destructing," you know it has been a rough offseason.
Whether or not owner Zygi Wilf is actually trying to weaken his franchise so that it will be easier to move the team is beside the point; the fact that enough Minnesotans are talking about it to warrant a column means that there are serious questions about the team's ability to compete under the reign of Wilf and second-year coach Brad Childress.
Right now the Vikings' quarterbacks are Tarvaris Jackson and Brooks Bollinger, which indicates that either a) Childress is a genius who is a step ahead of the rest of us; b) Brady Quinn is on the way; or c) the conspiracy theorists have a point.
It gets better: The Vikings just shelled out $15 million over five years to acquire ex-Titans wide receiver Wade, prompting two NFL executives to call Pioneer Press beat writer Sean Jensen to mock Minnesota for spending too much on a mediocre player. Similar charges have been made concerning the Vikings' acquisition of former Giants backup tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, who got $7 million in guaranteed cash.
If Minnesota really wants to beef up its passing game, perhaps Wilf should pick up the phone and call Al Davis. I hear that for the right price, Randy Moss is available.
Here's the link to the article:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/michael_silver/03/22/bad.offseasons/index.html
When a local columnist, in this case Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, publishes a non-satirical piece headlined "Conspiracy Theory: Vikings Purposely Self-Destructing," you know it has been a rough offseason.
Whether or not owner Zygi Wilf is actually trying to weaken his franchise so that it will be easier to move the team is beside the point; the fact that enough Minnesotans are talking about it to warrant a column means that there are serious questions about the team's ability to compete under the reign of Wilf and second-year coach Brad Childress.
Right now the Vikings' quarterbacks are Tarvaris Jackson and Brooks Bollinger, which indicates that either a) Childress is a genius who is a step ahead of the rest of us; b) Brady Quinn is on the way; or c) the conspiracy theorists have a point.
It gets better: The Vikings just shelled out $15 million over five years to acquire ex-Titans wide receiver Wade, prompting two NFL executives to call Pioneer Press beat writer Sean Jensen to mock Minnesota for spending too much on a mediocre player. Similar charges have been made concerning the Vikings' acquisition of former Giants backup tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, who got $7 million in guaranteed cash.
If Minnesota really wants to beef up its passing game, perhaps Wilf should pick up the phone and call Al Davis. I hear that for the right price, Randy Moss is available.
Here's the link to the article:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/michael_silver/03/22/bad.offseasons/index.html
