Good read, for a traditional T-day column that I remember from back in the olden days. Betcha Wilf wins next year's Grand Turkey too, on accounta agreeing to move the team to L.A. and change their names to The Conquistadors.

It should have been Mauer. That was a non-brainer - if Turkey Day were in August or September it would have been a slam dunk.

Always look forward to the Turkey of the Year article, but come on Pat! I know you like to be a bit contrarian with the pick sometimes, but this was not the year to go that way. Joe Mauer earned the award this year and you really had no other choice. I can only hope you honor Joe sometime in the near future.

It figured that Mauer was too obvious. I had it pegged as Ziggy. Though you have never awarded it to Joel Maturi and this was your last chance. For this omission, you are the Turkey, Pat (as per your Twitter request.)

Oh, Patrick. Just because you have to be a contrarian, you blew the most obvious Turkey ever. All the words you can write will never justify a turkey other than Joe Mauer. Not even you can write a convincing argument for anyone else to take the award.

Mauer is not leaving town anytime soon. Might as well save him for another year.

Agreed that the only logical choice this year was Mauer. And even though it was the obvious choice, Pat still should have went it with because it was the overwhelming correct decision. Doing otherwise just to be a contrarian is lame.

I can easily see the point of Mauer being not only "Turkey of the Year" but also of the decade, but I also agree with Zigi getting the honor. This constant threat of moving the team should have died with Pohlad's imaginary option of Dan Beaver in Carolina. Speaking of that, another "Turkey of the Year" nominee could be the Viking fans who continue to fall for this blackmail scheme over and over again.

Well Pat, I too thought the lazy extortionist from St. Paul was the easy and correct choice. He symbolized the crumbling of an entire franchise, and his greed and lack of effort are gonna curse this team for years to come. I can't entirely disagree with the Zygi comments, but then again he's owned the team for quite a few years and never explicitly threatened to move the team. And unlike that cheapskate McCombs he's at least paid to put a winning team on the field.

Mauer was a complete failure this year - where Zygi still has an outside chance to get something done. Mauer was the TOTY all the way!