Where does one start when it comes to ripping an organization that never fails to inhale the gas pipe like the Minnesota Vikings??? Legendary announcer Ray Scott, in the years just before his death in 1998, would start with the owner, then team president, coaches, players, probably even the waterboys and peanut vendors in the Metrodome. Hell, even the governor has a hand at screwing the team up. Then ol? Ray would take a shot at then QB Warren Moon (the Jason Kidd of 1995) and call him a phony. It was such a classic rant when Ray got going on his hometown team.
Well, the true vintage Vikings were on full display in Jersey last Sunday, and it seems like everyone in the organization had a hand on this debacle. Minnesota's master plan probably started unraveling in the pregame warmups when the always focused Randy Moss apparently decided to fly off the handle and go off on a profanity laced tirade on a Meadowlands rent-a-cop, who wouldn't let Randy's 'posse', or his 20 or so buddies on the field. First, why is Randy so worried about satisfying his 'posse' just before the most important game of his career??? Second, where is Dennis Green, or Cris Carter, or anyone else during this??? Would like to see Randy try to pull this crap with lets say, Mike Holmgren as his coach. I can hear Holmgren now, "Randy, get the F*CK back on the field".
Fresh off that distraction, New York takes the opening kick, goes down the field with four straight passes, scores, recovers a fumble on the ensuing kick, then scores again on the following play. GAME, SET, MATCH. And we're not even two minutes in, yet it manages to get even worse. Dennis proceeds to make Fassel look like a damn genius, which he is not exactly, despite what the NY media says. You mean Dennis didn't know NYG was capable of throwing??? Didn't Dennis see Fassel coach in the WAC, threw like crazy there, with Scott Mitchell at QB yet!!! And what was with Dennis's genius strategy of putting a safety in front of the goal posts while Daluiso attempted a 40 yarder that would of extended NYG's lead to 44-0. Barring a block, it wasn't like he was going to be short, this wasn't exactly a high school kicker we're talking about.
It gets even better after the game when #84 says that the team wasn't ready and may never has what it takes to make it to the bowl, then proceeds to say that he may want out when the contract comes up. Most of Randy's analysis was mostly true, problem is, he was the first offender. TALK ABOUT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK!!! Meanwhile, Carter sounded like he's ready to retire. Don't blame him, and he probably feels he doesn't need this shit anymore. When that comes to pass, I wonder what happens with Moss, without his babysitter around. The police blotter ought to good right around then.
Oh, and the best is yet to come in Minnesota. Jesse the Body wants no part in ponying up for a new stadium and McCombs taking the team and booking for San Antonio sounds like more of a possibility each day. When that happens, I hope Jesse, and everyone else in Minnesota, like watching GB games every week. In fact Wisconsin might as well annex the Twin Cities at that point.
The AFC game wasn't much of a contest either. At least the Raiders showed up. Problem was, they were playing a Raider-like team. What did I say last week, the Ravens are the Raiders. And the team wearing Raider uniforms were nothing but jobbers for them. Sure, Baltimore's offense has not been not much to write home about. But all they needed was one break and they got it early in the second with a Dilfer to Sharpe 96 yard connection. That turned the Black Hole into a morgue, for a 7 point deficit in this game was kind of like your pitcher giving up two runs in the first inning with Pedro Martinez on the hill.
But just to make sure, Tony Siragusa bellyflopped on Gannon a few plays later just to make sure this wasn?t a game, and it was well worth the ten grand it cost Guse. Hoying comes in, throws a pick for old times sake and Stover nails a few more threes to officially break the spirit of Raider Nation. All that was left was for Art Modell to take the hardware from SD idiot owner Alex Spanos. What a sick sight.
So this leaves up with a NYG-BAL bowl. Which is not as bad as it sounds. At least we know that it won't be 54-10. I'll go with 23-7 Ravens. The "D" is just that inpenetrable, and forget about running against it. The scheme should be a blueprint for teams around the league for years to come. Will preview that more this coming week.
Speaking of the Chargers, they have to be happy about Michael Vick coming out for the draft. SD has also managed to hire a few highly regarded front office guys from Buffalo. With the Bolts only having four other picks. There is a temptation to trade away the chance for Vick for several choices to address several needs. I wouldn't do it. Trading away an entire draft for Ricky Williams hasn't hurt the Saints too bad. In this era of the salary cap/free agency, a team can find serviceable guys on the scrap heat easy enough. Talents like Vick come around only so often. Remember the Bolts weren't nearly as bad as the 1-15 indicated. Six of the losses were by three points or less. Lots of work to be done regardless, but Vick would be a great cornerstone.
Meanwhile, it unfortunately looks like Ryan Longwell may be packing up and heading out of GB. He reportably wants 1.5 million a year. As important as a kicker can be (just ask Washington). A team, especially strapped against the cap, simply cannot afford to sacrifice 1.5 million for a kicker. Only Vanderjagt makes close to that, and we all saw him get the yipps on a potential O.T. game-winner in the playoffs. I'm sure Wolf can unearth another gem at that position. Just don't spend a third rounder on him.
I close by giving my NFC winners for the next two years. It will be the Eagles in 2001 (PHI has a ton of cap room) and it will be the Bears in 2002 with Brian Erlacher (a.k.a the next Ray Lewis, and I don't mean at the nightclubs and back alleys) leading the way. Especially if someone can get Cade McNown's head straight and find a better back than James Allen or Curtis Anus. Don't believe me, who would of thought Rams/Titans or Giants/Ravens??? In this era, anything is possible.
