vikings/nfl

Cautiously pessimistic... and agressively realistic

While I agree on the Gophers, its quite a stretch to just say the Vikings can't even be competitive for 3 years, given the NFL is the league of quick turnarounds and surprises every year. Who had the 49ers, Bengals and Bills being what they are this year? I also disagree with the definition of competitive being tied to the playoffs. Tampa was 10-6 last year but missed the playoffs. Were they not competitive? And New England won 11 a few years ago and missed the playoffs. The Vikings stink right now, but they also just got blown out by a team that might go undefeated. I think they're being judged right now at their absolute lowest.

It is safer to assume the Gophers have hit bottom and are on their way up because a proven coaching staff is in place for the long haul, and because college players don't get worse with age as the highly paid geezers on the Vikings will. The coaching staff of the Vikings has proved nothing, has no general manager to offer it support and is about as opaque in its thinking as the team owner. I say team unity crumbles after a couple more blowout losses.

I have a scathingly brilliant idea. Since Bud Grant still has an office at Winter Park why not hire him to scout for the Vikes when he is not fishing. He had a nack of finding great unknown players from no name schools. Rick Danmeier comes to mind. He was a place kicker for Sioux Falls College. I don't see it taking the Vikes that long to become a factor again. What really sux is the Colts had all of those glory years with Manning and now it looks like they will get Luck. Unless of course they all of a sudden start winning.

I agree with Mr.Reusse. but to all MN sports fans DON´T GIVE UP on our teams support them the players deserve it especially the the College, players they give it all and are not paid like the pros.

It not really a question of giving up on a team.Rather it's more about being a realist when it comes to making an emotional investment in something that has no chance of paying off in the short term.The next team we play are the Raiders who haven't been a playoff team since their SuperBowl year of 2002 (thats nine years) which goes to show that the road back to the playoffs can be a long one for a franchise that's bottomed out. Look at Detroit (Last playoff year was 1999) for proof that having high draft picks for years on end doesn't always translate into a turnaround.

I agree on the Gophs. It will take a few years, but we have hit bottom and looking up. I am all in for Coach Kill and his staff. This years team is young, and we have a good group coming in next year. I like the Wisconsin model, to build the program such that in-state kids grow up dreaming to play for THE state university. Ski U Ma

Ruesse, why get worked up about the Vikings? You are against public money for a new stadium, and guess what???? Without a stadium deal in place, the Minnesota Vikings will be playing their last game January 1st against the Bears. The less sports franchises in Minnesota, the less need for sports writers.

The giant flaw in Patrick's theory is that the NFL has a draft and free agency. The worse you do, the better the talent you acquire in the draft. A couple of good drafts and a decent free agent or two and you are back to being competitive. College has recruiting. Bad football programs never get beyond mediocre. Yes, there are exceptions. Sconi being about as big an exception as there is. Bad programs can't recruit the best athletes. It's the little engine that could until you play the real teams. Face facts folks. The Gophers football program is ALWAYS going to stink. The best run they've had in decades was a couple of years under Mason and all they ever did beat tiny schools to be bowl eligible. They were never over .500 in the Big 10. They were never more than mediocre.

For the VIkes to be competitive again with a team like Green Bay they need to 1. Hire a GM. 2. Acknowledge they need a full blown rebuild. 3. Trade older players with value for draft picks. 4. Use multiple quality picks on the O Line. 5. Play the young guys NOW. 6. Don't sign any FA's until AFTER you turn it around.