vikings/nfl

I don't think an 8-8 record alone measures this team's success or failure for the year prior to the season even starting. If this team goes 8-8 and is competitive all year long and all of those young players mentioned in the article show they are the real deal (especially Ponder), then a .500 season is reason to celebrate because we will all be optimistic for the future. However, if we finish 8-8 by getting lucky a few times because our opponents gave games to us we should not have won and none of our young studs show any promise, then I'd prefer another season where we compete for the first pick in the draft rather than going 8-8 and calling that a success! Here's hoping the first scenario is how the year plays out. SKOL Vikes!

Not a bad take Aloha. One thing that I think is overlooked is that of the 13 losses last year 9 of them were by 7 or fewer points. We were in most of those games till the end. Some people get too caught up in w/l of a rebuilding team. We are better than most give us credit. I'm not making a prediction with this next statement, but I am using it sort of as a measuring stick. A certain rival of ours had a very young team that had a bad year. Most of the games they lost were by 7 or fewer points. The next year they won the super bowl. I believe we have comparable talent to that young team. Be patient Viking faithful. Great things are on the horizon.

This club is built for nothing but losing as long as Spielman and Frazier (two proven and undisputed losers at the NFL level) are around and that cannot be disputed!!! This club is so poorly coached it doesn't matter what quality of player is on the field, they are and will continue to be put in losing situations with Frazier as head coach and Spielman in the front office!!!

The Vikings on paper look to be a little better than last year, but I'm not sure it will show in the W-L column. My prediction is 5-6 wins this year then by next year be at least in contention for play-offs.

Footballs have a funny shape. That, and the relative shortness of the season can mean that one bounce of that funny-shaped thing can mean the difference between a .500 season or two games under, or a fortuitous bounce can propel a team that lacks real talent into the playoffs for a certain year. That doesn't mean that excellence, in the long term, won't win out. But one year, or even two, really doesn't mean all that much.

I agree with AM... the key this season is do some new and young players (Kalil, Robinson, Smith, Wright, Cook, Rudolph, Fusco, Brinkly, Guion... and of course Ponder) step up and show some star-level performance in plays. For any future improvement, we need a few more ProBowl or near-ProBowl level type players. If this happens, and we're still a 5-6 win team, then fine... as 8-8 is probably the ceiling.

Watching the game , the Vikings look pretty stinky. Where is our superstar in the making Kyle Rudoph, is he hiding. They keep saying how good he is. I really wasn't impressed with him last season he has to start getting open and so something. Our other great pickup Carlson a true superstar LoL, is always hurt. We have no passing game. Ponder has no weapons to throw to. Hope Homer Simpson turns out to be good. Oh well I know it will be a long long season, Thankyous to Washington for injuring Peterson and also taking RG111 from us. He looks great. We need to end up with the top or 2nd pick once again this year we are no threat this year.

What Ziggy should do this year is let Frazier run the show and make sure we get the top pick this year. Fire him then hire Cowher or Gruden or Billick or Parcells. Then they will build us a winner. A top head coach who knows talent and what it takes to be a winner. Even Mike Singaltary would be a good choice. He built the 49s defense and now the next guy gets the credit. I do hope the Vikings play alot of close games but lose. The Vikings will one one game vs the Packers and that will embarrass the packers. We should have one of the games against them last year.

Where oh where is Rudolph the red nosed reindeer?

I'd take 2 and 14 season if it guarantees us the number one pick. And if we have 9 losses by 7 points or less that would be good pretty competitive to watch. We need a top pick next year no worse than the 3 or 4 pick. It is so obivious we need a top wide reciever. But if we end up with the number one pick I doubt we would use it on a wide reciever number one. But we could use it and trade down to 2 or 3 and get a extra number one pick like the Rams did and still get a top wide reciever. We need a top wide reciever next year and get another one via free agency.