Rusty,

I agree with your analysis and grade of a D+ on efforts to improve the team this
offseason. Bottom Line: The Z-Man may have decidied not to burn more cash when
the state of Minnesota has shown no effort to support a new stadium. I do not
blame him. The Vikes have tons of cap room - approx $30M - and are not spending
$$$ this year. I don't blame him and agree with his decision.

Sadly, the team will not improve much if any over last year without upgrading at
some key positions like C, RT, WR and QB. My only hope is that T-Jack stays off
the field. Everyone but a few crazed Viking fans realized this a long, long
time ago. I knew it was a mistake the day we drafted the guy due to a less than
flattering scouting report and the fact that he could not cut it at the
University of Arkansas.

Three years of time and effort with this guy is too much already. He is in the
last year of his contract and the Vikes have shown no interest in signing him to
an extension - a great move - need to keep it that way and move on. Time to
call endex to this project and move forward with our best but less than optimal
QB option - Sage is now the man. At least he has the intelligence to play the
game. T-Jack was not the answer and never will be, because he lacks
intelligence, poise, confidence and leadership not to mention the fact that he
can't hit the broad side of a barn while tossing the ball with horrible
mechanics and in a dumb mistake prone manner.

GO VIKES!!!

Buffster

--- In novavikes@yahoogroups.com, "Rusty OBrien" <James.OBrien.ctr@...> wrote:
>
> 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
>