Well NovaVikes, I'm really suprised nobody is squawking on this site, but here's
my take.

To date -- a D+, and that's being kind. Sage??? Yet, I am again the optomist
thinking maybe they aren't as dumb as they sometimes look, and maybe they have a
plan to make huge deal.

I've read (and believe) the stories from the front office that the free agent
pickings are slim and I do recognize they tried hard for Houshbag. Apparently,
other teams aren't jumping all over Sharper and the other Vikings FAs (so, front
office judgment nay be vindicated here and this may work out for the better).

Keeping Kleinsasser and Heath were good moves and Paymah will improve special
teams ...

However, they misjudged (or lowballed) Birk while not reacting fast enough to
get a quality FA center (Brown, the ex-Raven). And they watched decent FA
tackles get picked off one by one. The off-season is about filling holes and
lowering uncertainties. These moves (or non-moves) actually increased the
number of holes and the level of uncertainty on the OL. Huh?

I don't want to talk about Sapp.

My faint glimmer of hope is that Sage is not the planned-for QB of this team and
that they have designs on McNabb or Cutler (and earlier held some hope for a
Warner or Cassel to come their way).

How do they save the off-season and truly build a team capable of going deep in
the playoffs? Go for either Cutler (emotional baggage and all)or McNabb (ditto
on the baggage) even if it costs their 1st and a 2nd next year -- and make TJ or
Sage part of the deal.

Then they need to sign Tauscher quickly as insurance to also getting a quality T
with their #2 selection. Then go for best available WR or DT at #3 selection.

This would give me reasonable confidence -- and I would give them a B+ grade.
Maybe even an A-.

Oh weel, just daydreaming. I'll wake up soon and be forced to root for Sage (or
TJ) and expect poor-to fair play from center and Cook or a rookie at RT. And a
9-7 season next year (have you seen the 2009 opponents?).

Rusty