My two cents is that anybody who blasts Vikings fans on the internet haven't gone there. Minnesota people are alot like Wisconsinites. We're all midwestern. I've never, ever been hassled by anybody there on the regular visits I used to have to Rochester. I know, it's off the beaten path but it pretty much exemplifies the mood of the average Minnesotoan. Fans are different and I know Vikings fans can be an annoying bunch but it's really a reach to call anybody from that state on anything. They are a welcoming and friendly bunch, unlike anything at all from the east or west coast. I can't say the same about Chicago folks. Sorry, I've worked with some and they are always annoying & constantly bad mouthing the Packers & this even entered the workplace. There might be respect among all the players but I am astonished that people rank the Vikings as even in the same ballpark as Chitcago as a rival. The Vikings have never won a SB. Nuff said. Fun fact: Does anybody remember Jim McMahon being a backup in GB?
As a football club, I'd be hard pressed to image any other concept at work than that the Packers were letting a good talent go and it would benefit the Vikings unless the brass didn't think they could perform. Can you think of a Packer player who didn't perform when the Vikings took him? There has to be some but you can't argue the Packers have had to at times part ways with players they didn't think would fit the price tag.
You can almost make the argument that many of those players had a bit of an edge as to show the Packers they made a mistake. Sharper, Longwell... good players the Pack didn't resign and who would blame them for wanting to compete and show their worth.
One last item, it might be that their release was exactly what their ego's needed to jolt them into performance?