vikings/nfl

Dan and Mark, great points all. Nothing would be more awesome than for Peterson to shatter the single-season rushing mark next year, but I think it'll take a change at QB to do it. Tim Tebow led the Broncos to the playoffs last season, but John Elway recognized that an offseason upgrade at QB could mean the difference between a wildcard and a contender. Now Denver has home-field advantage. There is no Manning out there to be had, certainly, but the Vikings should not hesitate to upgrade at starting QB if they can, if it means the difference between being pretty good or being a Super Bowl contender.

"Somewhat" surprising 10-6 season? "Somewhat"? Find one preseason prediction anywhere that had the Vikings above .500, including the authors. Outside of QB and Coaching, there is broad talent parity in the NFL with the key variables being injuries and schedule breaks. It shouldn't be surprising that teams can go +/- 7 games now.

Most frustrating to me about Harvin is that the press knows nothing. 2nd most valuable player on the most important team in Minnesota and no one at the State's largest paper can provide any insight into what Percy is thinking. He has to be taking to someone, a friend, a relative, a teammate, someone! For a year now there has been this cloud hanging over Percy Harvin yet no one from the Trinune can tell us anything, very disappointing.

My big problem with Phil Loadholt is all the penalty flags he draws. He had 11 this year. I know it's best to keep an O line together and we have bigger needs in free agency and the draft so we should sign him. He has great run blocking skills and I read that Peterson really wants him back. He's also improved his pass blocking and gets a little better every year. Maybe All Day can teach Loadholt how to cut down on penalties the same way he cut down on fumbles...

Harvin isn't talking. There is no doubt that he is probably the second most talented player on the team; when he can play. I think you can read a little bit between the lines about how he feels about the business end of football. If the right deal came along for maybe a trade with San Fran, why wouldn't you do that?

Further; we need wide receivers. Harvin is an unknown, but I think you can put Wright's name up there with the idea that he could be pretty decent. Why not work out Webb with someone like Chris Carter all off season? What are you going to do with him? His trade value as a QB plummeted with his QB rating. OK, one game doesn't or shouldn't determine a player's worth, but it was so bad that nobody would give you much. What have you got to lose teaching him to be a wide out? That, is why he was brought to the vikes in the first place. Then you could run you two tight end set as well with at least one know good receiver at TE and possibly two. Carlson needs to step up but....

Faith in Ponder? Hopeful? No, not really, and I hope I am wrong and Frazier is right.

This much is certain. The Vikings need too pick up 2 great wide receivers in the off season. If they do that they will be in the mix for super bowl contenders. Pick up one with their number one draft pick and one in free agency. If they do that they will find out Ponders true skills. He had zero receivers after Harvin. The rest were pathetic. Maybe Wright will develop more. I'm sure Wilf isn't that stupid to realize that the Vikings will not win a super bowl with the receivers we have. If we get 2 great receivers this year. The Vikings can have a season like the 98 team possibly. If the Vikings have 3 threats at wide receiver to go with Peterson in the backfield. The offense would be unstoppable. Having receivers that run good patterns and have great hands and get open make any Qb better. If Rodgers had our present receivers he would struggle allot to. Getting 2 great wide receivers would make the offensive line even better. The other teams would not be able to stack the line and it would make less pressure on the line to make blocks. Wilfy if you are listening or watching the games this year you can figure this out. Come on Wilf, wake up and get it done.

Wilfy get the weapons at wide receiver for next year and if you do, you will find out if Ponder can be a franchise Qb or not. It was so unfair to Ponder this year to have to play with our pathetic receivers we have. Jenkins is big and slow and makes 1 catch in the beginning of games and a couple near the end of games when the game is either out of reach or we are far ahead. He does not get open. Aromodusu is a joke he cannot catch a pass if covered. Most of the games it is hard to tell if he has even been in the game. Wright may become better, Harvin is the only true threat and we all know he is injury and migraine prone. Moss Carter and Reed made any Qb great. Cunningham and Johnson both could do anything they wanted in 98. I believe almost any Qb could have won with that team.

They really need to get a decent WR. Then the Ponder defenders won't have any more excuses for when he passes for 75 yards in an entire game.