Stop me if you've heard this one before: It's a very disappointing season to be a fan of the Minnesota Vikings.
Seven games into a highly-anticipated year, the USS Viking is taking on water in ever-increasing quantities. Yesterday's loss left the team sitting at 2-5 and you'd be hard pressed to come up with any positives from the team's play. The quarterback was a bit better, but the receivers couldn't get open with enough frequency or hold onto the ball when they did. The defensive backfield played better than I anticipated, but that's likely the result of a gameplan focused on minimizing risk. As a result, the pass rush was nonexistent and Tom Brady had all the time he needed to chuck the ball around.
Now the schedule softens up considerably, but there is no indication that any turnaround is about to occur, at least not one of the magnitude need to reach 9-10 win neighborhood needed for the playoffs. Popular opinion has long held that the Vikings winning ways of the last few years were accomplished more IN SPITE of their coaching than BECAUSE of it. While I've tried to give Brad Childress the benefit of the doubt, pointing out that winning in the NFL is no easy task, things are starting to wear thin. It's the easiest thing in the world to throw everything at the feet of the coach when tough scheduling, injuries and just plain bad luck, so I'm trying not to be knee-jerk...but he's lost me.
There's no one among us who'd call him a great tactician, despite what we were told upon his arrival about the game plans he crafted in Philadelphia. There's no one who'd call him an inspiring or colorful leader, given his monotone press conferences and generally flavorless appearance. And he is certainly not the quarterback guru that some (most notably himself) appeared to think that he was, look no further than the ongoing charade that is Tavaris Jackson. But what you could say about Chilly is: He had control of the room.
In the game of ego management and millionaire motivation, key to any professional sports endeavor, Brad Childress seemed to know how to push the right buttons to keep his teams focused and ready to play. One can't overlook the huge upgrade in resources he had over his predecessors, or the self-inflicted wounds that his ego inflicted on offense by remaining undermanned at QB, but at least you could say he knew how to work with what he had. Over the last season and a half, that reputation has been turned on it's head, because like most of us fans out there, Chilly got desparate.
It started with Favre, and the new set of rules that were crafted for him. Continued into the swing for the fences that was Randy Moss this season. And it almost worked. Unfortunately the history books are packed with near-misses, and with today's release of Moss, following his press conference tirade after yesterday's game, the chickens have truly come home to roost. I don't know who made the call on bringing him back, but based on what has happened since he returned, Childress must've been strong-armed. You have to be one of two things to think that using Randy as a decoy was going to end in harmony: Naive or stupid. Contrary to popular opinion, I do not think Brad Childress is stupid, so I'm rather befuddled here.
I mean alert the media, Randy Moss went off in a press conference, why should this be a shock? If you don't get him involved in the gameplan, he's going to check out, he's going to pop off, that's what he does. Instead of heeding a decade of past history, you spent four games antagonizing the man. Again, what did you think was going to happen? Please don't take this as a defense of his behavior, anyone who's a fan of sports should find characters like this revolting. Randy Moss represent every ugly truth we don't want to acknowledge about our obsession with sports, every me-first jerk out there who gets special treatment because of their athletic abilities. But there are two things that need to be acknowledged here:
The offense was better with him here.
You bought the ticket, now take the ride.
Instead we cut bait, in "too little, too late" fashion. Instead of trying to salvage what we could out of a bad situation, by clearing the air and making a commitment to doing what should've been done, we gave up, throwing away a 3rd round pick in the process. This may help Chilly's bruised ego heal faster, but it's not going to help with winning football games. Rules have been bent and broken, team unity is most likely hanging by a thread, and things aren't going to improve any time soon. The coach has no clothes and has very likely lost this team. My apologies for that mental image.
At the end of the day Vikings fans, we probably are all getting what we deserved. We quite literally made a deal with the devil here and it backfired, trying to paper over it with a second unholy addition just made things worse. Brett Favre has been breaking our hearts for the better part of two decades, why should it change just because he's wearing a purple jersey? Randy Moss already quit on us once when he didn't like what was going on, why should the second time around be any different?
Things have been ugly, now they're just getting sad, but easier to handle when they were seen coming a mile off. The whole thing just brings a lot of fundamental questions to mind. Did Childress ever want Moss on this team in the first place? Would Childress still be coaching here at all if not for Favre coming to save him? Could Mike Tice, a guy everyone laughed at, have done just as well or better with all the resources the current regime has been handed? Which is more important, the success that's been had over the past couple years, or that fact that the seeming arrogance of the coach has led to the current house-of-cards situation?
Or is it all just pointless to ponder?
Times like this it's good to be a diehard, because there's always the chance to sit back, bide time, and wait til next year.
Showing posts with label Randy Moss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Randy Moss. Show all posts
Monday, November 1, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Expanding on Randy
To get this out of the way, thanks to the Minnesota Twins for another fun season. As tough as it is to once again watch the team fall again in the postseason against the Yankees (flailing away in pathetic fashion while doing so) it can't be denied that this was a very special baseball season for many reasons. It's just that most of them had nothing to do with the team on the field.
The impact that Target Field has had on this city, and the whole summer in general, can't be emphasized enough. Ballgames are an event, rather than something we feel obligated to do only when given free tickets for a big game. Downtown Minneapolis is now a regular destination, rather than a rare stopover for the odd concert or random night out. The whole thing has just been a very cool addition to a part of town that needed a shot in the arm.
As I sat outside yesterday, having a pregame beer on a patio and enjoying the indian summer sun, I kept thinking over and over just how great it was I'd never again have to walk inside the teflon monstrosity that was the Dome on another beautiful day. While us Twins fans are far from content with how things played out, and not ready to resign ourselves completely to the "at least the park is fun" existence of Royals or Cubs fans, it has to be admitted that even another playoff choke is easier to take in those new surroundings. If they can pair up a great team with that great venue, well then that will truly be something. See you next April Twinkies (yup, you get the Twinkies, you've earned it this week).
Elsewhere in the world of loser teams, the Vikings acquisition of Randy Moss is now front and center on the local sports scene. When I addressed it Wednesday, details were still being hammered out, since then things have become much clearer and the principal players have spoken publicly about how things went down. At first I was a bit gun shy on things, worried that some ungodly amount of money was going to be handed over to a notoriously fickle player. But I have to say, the more I hear about it, the more I like the move.
Other than agreeing not to put on a franchise or transition tag that would limit Moss' free agent options, the team doesn't seem to be giving up much at all here. While it does strike me as odd that the guy would view his situation in Minnesota any different than the one in New England, Randy Moss is just a pretty odd guy in general, so I'm not sure how much to infer about his motivations. As a pending free agent, you'd think it would be in his best interests to tear up the league in a Patriots offense he knows, rather than try and do so while stepping into a Vikings uniform at the season's quarter pole. Instead he once again has appeared to sulk his way off a team, just like he did in his first go-around here.
Perhaps the comments from yesterday's news conference ring true, and he really is just "glad to be back home"; but given his past history here, that seems a bit dubious. Randy Moss is a frontrunner who's great to have when you're storming the trenches, but not the guy you want beside you in a foxhole. As far as I can recollect, he's been that way his entire career. Did I miss the part where he showed some great affinity for the state of Minnesota?
At any rate, it's a very exciting development from an organization that never seems to be in short supply of those lately. Just sitting around and hearkening back to the glory days of the Moss Show is enough to get someone excited for the prospects that this acqusition provides, and without leveraging the future through a big money contract, there really is no downside. It's extremely unlikely, but possible we just caught one of the all-time lucky breaks here. From Moss Part I, to Stephon Marbury, to Insert NBA Free Agent Name Here, Minnesota is very rarely a place where players WANT to play. Turning back the clock to the golden age of the Metrodome long-ball era would go a long way in making up for those slights.
Still need a split in the next 4 though, this might be too little, too late, we'll see.
Helluva interesting turn, thought I was off the hook here, damn them for sucking me back in :)
Week 5 picks:
Last week: 8-6
Season: 22-24-2 (Quest for .500 is on!)
BALTIMORE (no line) over Denver - Denver's better than I gave them credit for, but a TD or less and I'm going Ravens here
Kansas City +7.5 over INDIANAPOLIS - While I did pick the Jaguars to cover against the Colts last week, no part of me thought they would actually win. I like a methodical Colts victory here, something in the 4-6 range, so taking the points. Not a huge fan of this pick, but the Chiefs coming off a bye against an Indy team who's D looks shaky is just enough to convince me it will be close. Then again, the last time the Colts played at home in a bounce-back game, they TKO'd the Giants in the first half. Screw it, KC covers are treating me good this season, ride her til she bucks ya.
Tampa Bay +7 over CINNCINATTI - And now I'm about to take two 7+ road underdogs? No guts, no glory...and no busted kneecaps, but hey...
CAROLINA +3 OVER Chicago - Picked the Bears last week in a knee-jerk reaction to the win over Green Bay, after spending 4 paragraphs talking about how the Packers should've routed them. Dumb. Always great when you get a Week 4 matchup of QBs who didn't open the season as the starter.
Atlanta -3 over CLEVELAND - Browns were cagey and underrated, but when your rating is 'Crap', that just means you beat other crap teams. Atlanta isn't crap, despite the fact they sometimes give off that vibe.
HOUSTON -3 over New York Giants - Tough road game for a Giants team that's looked brutal away from home so far.
DETROIT -3 over St. Louis - Could be one of the Top 5 "Better than it looked when the schedule came out" games of the season. Both of these teams are at least making plays, St Louis is actually even winning some games. Probably the starkest QB contrast even, Golden Boy vs. Journeyman, bet San Fran would take Shaun Hill back right about now.
BUFFALO +1 over Jacksonville - I'm thinking letdown game for the Jags, but there's also a lot of potential for 4 TDs out of MoJo. Would stay far, far away with actual dollars.
Green Bay -3 over Washington - Loving the chinks appearing in the Packers armor these days, hating the fact the my fantasy football season is depending on Aaron Rodgers. Any way the Pack can just lose 42-39 every week? The way their D has looked lately, it might be possible.
New Orleans -7 over Arizona - Spread would have to crack 20 before I'd bat an eye
Tennessee +7 over DALLAS - Titans lose a tight one. Say that 5 times fast.
San Diego -6.5 over OAKLAND - Two massive road eggs laid by the Chargers so far, but they looked like a team who had things clicking pretty well last week.
Philadelphia +3.5 over SAN FRANCISCO - Last week was my "Niners play for their lives!" week, and it almost worked. Now I've moved onto "Niners fold the tents". Kevin Kolb has been abysmal, is it time for someone to tell him he's one more bad game away from having to fear for his life on the streets of Philly? Motivation or just added pressure there?
NEW YORK JETS -4 over Minnesota - Lotta sizzle, not enough steak, unless the Vikings defense can pull off a massive effort here, I don't see them hanging with the Jets. Possible that the Sanchize has a 3 INT game lurking beneath the surface there? Sure, but probably not against a team with no DBs who can catch.
The impact that Target Field has had on this city, and the whole summer in general, can't be emphasized enough. Ballgames are an event, rather than something we feel obligated to do only when given free tickets for a big game. Downtown Minneapolis is now a regular destination, rather than a rare stopover for the odd concert or random night out. The whole thing has just been a very cool addition to a part of town that needed a shot in the arm.
As I sat outside yesterday, having a pregame beer on a patio and enjoying the indian summer sun, I kept thinking over and over just how great it was I'd never again have to walk inside the teflon monstrosity that was the Dome on another beautiful day. While us Twins fans are far from content with how things played out, and not ready to resign ourselves completely to the "at least the park is fun" existence of Royals or Cubs fans, it has to be admitted that even another playoff choke is easier to take in those new surroundings. If they can pair up a great team with that great venue, well then that will truly be something. See you next April Twinkies (yup, you get the Twinkies, you've earned it this week).
Elsewhere in the world of loser teams, the Vikings acquisition of Randy Moss is now front and center on the local sports scene. When I addressed it Wednesday, details were still being hammered out, since then things have become much clearer and the principal players have spoken publicly about how things went down. At first I was a bit gun shy on things, worried that some ungodly amount of money was going to be handed over to a notoriously fickle player. But I have to say, the more I hear about it, the more I like the move.
Other than agreeing not to put on a franchise or transition tag that would limit Moss' free agent options, the team doesn't seem to be giving up much at all here. While it does strike me as odd that the guy would view his situation in Minnesota any different than the one in New England, Randy Moss is just a pretty odd guy in general, so I'm not sure how much to infer about his motivations. As a pending free agent, you'd think it would be in his best interests to tear up the league in a Patriots offense he knows, rather than try and do so while stepping into a Vikings uniform at the season's quarter pole. Instead he once again has appeared to sulk his way off a team, just like he did in his first go-around here.
Perhaps the comments from yesterday's news conference ring true, and he really is just "glad to be back home"; but given his past history here, that seems a bit dubious. Randy Moss is a frontrunner who's great to have when you're storming the trenches, but not the guy you want beside you in a foxhole. As far as I can recollect, he's been that way his entire career. Did I miss the part where he showed some great affinity for the state of Minnesota?
At any rate, it's a very exciting development from an organization that never seems to be in short supply of those lately. Just sitting around and hearkening back to the glory days of the Moss Show is enough to get someone excited for the prospects that this acqusition provides, and without leveraging the future through a big money contract, there really is no downside. It's extremely unlikely, but possible we just caught one of the all-time lucky breaks here. From Moss Part I, to Stephon Marbury, to Insert NBA Free Agent Name Here, Minnesota is very rarely a place where players WANT to play. Turning back the clock to the golden age of the Metrodome long-ball era would go a long way in making up for those slights.
Still need a split in the next 4 though, this might be too little, too late, we'll see.
Helluva interesting turn, thought I was off the hook here, damn them for sucking me back in :)
Week 5 picks:
Last week: 8-6
Season: 22-24-2 (Quest for .500 is on!)
BALTIMORE (no line) over Denver - Denver's better than I gave them credit for, but a TD or less and I'm going Ravens here
Kansas City +7.5 over INDIANAPOLIS - While I did pick the Jaguars to cover against the Colts last week, no part of me thought they would actually win. I like a methodical Colts victory here, something in the 4-6 range, so taking the points. Not a huge fan of this pick, but the Chiefs coming off a bye against an Indy team who's D looks shaky is just enough to convince me it will be close. Then again, the last time the Colts played at home in a bounce-back game, they TKO'd the Giants in the first half. Screw it, KC covers are treating me good this season, ride her til she bucks ya.
Tampa Bay +7 over CINNCINATTI - And now I'm about to take two 7+ road underdogs? No guts, no glory...and no busted kneecaps, but hey...
CAROLINA +3 OVER Chicago - Picked the Bears last week in a knee-jerk reaction to the win over Green Bay, after spending 4 paragraphs talking about how the Packers should've routed them. Dumb. Always great when you get a Week 4 matchup of QBs who didn't open the season as the starter.
Atlanta -3 over CLEVELAND - Browns were cagey and underrated, but when your rating is 'Crap', that just means you beat other crap teams. Atlanta isn't crap, despite the fact they sometimes give off that vibe.
HOUSTON -3 over New York Giants - Tough road game for a Giants team that's looked brutal away from home so far.
DETROIT -3 over St. Louis - Could be one of the Top 5 "Better than it looked when the schedule came out" games of the season. Both of these teams are at least making plays, St Louis is actually even winning some games. Probably the starkest QB contrast even, Golden Boy vs. Journeyman, bet San Fran would take Shaun Hill back right about now.
BUFFALO +1 over Jacksonville - I'm thinking letdown game for the Jags, but there's also a lot of potential for 4 TDs out of MoJo. Would stay far, far away with actual dollars.
Green Bay -3 over Washington - Loving the chinks appearing in the Packers armor these days, hating the fact the my fantasy football season is depending on Aaron Rodgers. Any way the Pack can just lose 42-39 every week? The way their D has looked lately, it might be possible.
New Orleans -7 over Arizona - Spread would have to crack 20 before I'd bat an eye
Tennessee +7 over DALLAS - Titans lose a tight one. Say that 5 times fast.
San Diego -6.5 over OAKLAND - Two massive road eggs laid by the Chargers so far, but they looked like a team who had things clicking pretty well last week.
Philadelphia +3.5 over SAN FRANCISCO - Last week was my "Niners play for their lives!" week, and it almost worked. Now I've moved onto "Niners fold the tents". Kevin Kolb has been abysmal, is it time for someone to tell him he's one more bad game away from having to fear for his life on the streets of Philly? Motivation or just added pressure there?
NEW YORK JETS -4 over Minnesota - Lotta sizzle, not enough steak, unless the Vikings defense can pull off a massive effort here, I don't see them hanging with the Jets. Possible that the Sanchize has a 3 INT game lurking beneath the surface there? Sure, but probably not against a team with no DBs who can catch.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Something wicked this way comes
Of course it had to be the Yankees.
Today is the day we've been waiting for since the baseball season kicked off in April, and on the other side will be the Twins familiar playoff nemesis. Wish I could call them a rival, but rivalries are two-sided, this is more of a rout so far.
There have been many opinions offered about why this might be the most vulnerable Yankees team to enter the playoffs in some time, and I'd like to get on board with that kind of thinking. But looking no further than tonight's pitching matchup, with our own loveable headcase Frank Liriano opposing playoff veteran CC Sabathia (aka The Fat Man), it's clear that the Twins are once again a significant underdog. I could blow sunshine up your @ss here about how it's a funny game, and you never know what will happen, but the bottom line is the boys will need to beat The Fat Man at some point if they hope to win this thing. Sweeping the 3 games he won't pitch is too long a shot.
So the verdict here? Yankees in 5. The hometown nine will represent better than they have in opposing years, but in the end the power of the Evil Empire will be too much for them.
Another wicked development (wicked sweet in this case, as our Boston friends would say) is the news that the Vikings are on the verge of acquiring Randy Moss for a 3rd-round draft pick. At that price it's tough to argue with the move, given the team seems to be on the verge of a season going down the tubes. But as any long-time fan will recall, the Moss Roller Coaster is not always the most pleasant ride. When he left town the first time, I have to say I was ready for him to leave. Seems dumb in retrospect, given what the team suffered through offensively for a few years there, but his "play when I want to play" act wore incredibly thin toward the end of his stint in purple.
It seems the nature of the big-time NFL wide receiver is a diva-like one, and the better many of them get, the more petulant they become. This has certainly been the case with Moss, one of the most spectacular and unapologetic team killers professional sports has ever seen. It seems unlikely an unhappy New England Randy will turn into a happy Minnesota Randy overnight, at least not without a large financial guarantee coming his way. Don't get me wrong, I'm in favor of the move, it's a steal of a deal and allows me to use one of my favorite words in description: Chutzpah. But if the team wants to maximize the opportunity here and get what they intended, then they need to do two things, give the man a chunk of cash and never (I mean NEVER) assume that he will play hard for a quarterback that doesn't command his respect. If you need it spelled out, don't put T-Jack on the field with Randy unless you want him to permanently check out.
Once again my favorite football team finds itself wandering in the desert, dying of thirst, and is reaching out for what looks like a cool glass of water. Only problem is, extreme circumstances cause people's minds to do crazy things, and that glass could be a mirage. Here's hoping we're not about to gulp down a pint of sand.
Love the moxie Zygi, but actually building a team might've been the cheaper, and more effective, way to go here. Good luck, lord knows I hope it works.
Today is the day we've been waiting for since the baseball season kicked off in April, and on the other side will be the Twins familiar playoff nemesis. Wish I could call them a rival, but rivalries are two-sided, this is more of a rout so far.
There have been many opinions offered about why this might be the most vulnerable Yankees team to enter the playoffs in some time, and I'd like to get on board with that kind of thinking. But looking no further than tonight's pitching matchup, with our own loveable headcase Frank Liriano opposing playoff veteran CC Sabathia (aka The Fat Man), it's clear that the Twins are once again a significant underdog. I could blow sunshine up your @ss here about how it's a funny game, and you never know what will happen, but the bottom line is the boys will need to beat The Fat Man at some point if they hope to win this thing. Sweeping the 3 games he won't pitch is too long a shot.
So the verdict here? Yankees in 5. The hometown nine will represent better than they have in opposing years, but in the end the power of the Evil Empire will be too much for them.
Another wicked development (wicked sweet in this case, as our Boston friends would say) is the news that the Vikings are on the verge of acquiring Randy Moss for a 3rd-round draft pick. At that price it's tough to argue with the move, given the team seems to be on the verge of a season going down the tubes. But as any long-time fan will recall, the Moss Roller Coaster is not always the most pleasant ride. When he left town the first time, I have to say I was ready for him to leave. Seems dumb in retrospect, given what the team suffered through offensively for a few years there, but his "play when I want to play" act wore incredibly thin toward the end of his stint in purple.
It seems the nature of the big-time NFL wide receiver is a diva-like one, and the better many of them get, the more petulant they become. This has certainly been the case with Moss, one of the most spectacular and unapologetic team killers professional sports has ever seen. It seems unlikely an unhappy New England Randy will turn into a happy Minnesota Randy overnight, at least not without a large financial guarantee coming his way. Don't get me wrong, I'm in favor of the move, it's a steal of a deal and allows me to use one of my favorite words in description: Chutzpah. But if the team wants to maximize the opportunity here and get what they intended, then they need to do two things, give the man a chunk of cash and never (I mean NEVER) assume that he will play hard for a quarterback that doesn't command his respect. If you need it spelled out, don't put T-Jack on the field with Randy unless you want him to permanently check out.
Once again my favorite football team finds itself wandering in the desert, dying of thirst, and is reaching out for what looks like a cool glass of water. Only problem is, extreme circumstances cause people's minds to do crazy things, and that glass could be a mirage. Here's hoping we're not about to gulp down a pint of sand.
Love the moxie Zygi, but actually building a team might've been the cheaper, and more effective, way to go here. Good luck, lord knows I hope it works.
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