Are the Vikings ready?

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 8/08/2008

 The Vikings kick off the 2008 Preseason this Friday night, August 8, against the NFC West defending champion Seattle Seahawks at 7 pm at the Dome. It will be the first of many measuring-stick opportunities to see if the Vikings have the right stuff this year.

 Expectations and anticipation will cross at some point. Are the Vikings overrated or understated?

“I don’t think so at all,” said Jared Allen, the reigning NFL sack leader and the Vikings’ biggest addition. “Everything can look great on paper, but until we get together as a team and get all the kinks ironed out, we still have to go every day and prove it. We have to prove it on the grass.

 “The cool part about this league is that everybody is zero and zero, so everybody has the same shot to do whatever,” Allen continued. “We are out here [Mankato] working hard, and I think the expectations are extremely high.”

 Last year the Vikings were 8-8, highlighted by winning five in a row. This is the 43rd year that the Vikings are training in Mankato. I’ve been to Mankato and watched the Vikings work; this team has a lot of talent, and the expectation of being one of the best teams in the league is real. The players and coaches understand the deal.  

Fitz Notes & Quotes

 Professor Dennis Green?

 Former Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Dennis Green is a teaching instructor in a three-hour class in sports management at San Diego State University in California. It’s a part of the MBA program at SDSU. Green is a master at thinking outside the box.

 Did you read his book? Can you say “Randy Moss”? Do the Vikings have a stadium? He hired Tony Dungy as defensive coordinator! Who’s the last Vikings head coach to guide the team to the playoffs eight times over a 10-year span?

 Former Viking and now Pastor Greg Coleman will hold his annual Celebrity Golf Tournament Monday, August 18, benefiting inner-city youth through Athletes Committed to Educating Students (A.C.E.S.) at Victory Links in Blaine; call 612-331-3468 to play or contribute.

 Last season, 64 different quarterbacks started for 16 different teams — that’s the most ever. It’s hard to believe that Daunte Culpepper and Byron Leftwich are not among the NFL’s top 64 quarterbacks. Both Leftwich and Culpepper were drafted in the first round and can’t find jobs.

 Two former Vikings, defensive coordinator Emmitt Thomas and offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman, were inducted into the NFL’s Hall of Fame. Thomas, an undrafted defensive back, played most of his brilliant career with Kansas City and was defensive coordinator for the Vikings in 2001. Thomas thanked Dennis Green, Charlie Baggett and Richard Solomon.

 The Green Bay Packers and General Manager Ted Thompson pushed Brett Favre into retirement in March and are so selfish that they want to get their guy, Aaron Rodgers, in at quarterback. It led to the story of the summer, the bizarre standoff with Favre wanting to return and play.

 What kind of sportsmanship is that? It’s a selfish mentality. Ron Wolf and Mike Holmgren traded for Favre and rebuilt the Packers’ return to glory.

 Favre’s streak of 240 consecutive starts will continue thanks to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell getting involved. The Packers obviously forgot all those games Favre played in when the Packers were not a competitive team.

 The Packers should be fined for falsely accusing the Minnesota Vikings of tampering with Favre, all but calling him a traitor. There is no love loss between the Vikings and the Packers. Then to offer Favre $25 million on a marketing deal to not play? They tried to embarrass Favre.

 Note: As we go press, we have learned that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has ruled that contact between the Minnesota Vikings and Brett Favre this summer did not violate league tampering rules. “We respect the Commissioner’s decision and the thoroughness of the process,” the Vikings said in a statement.

 Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, and on WDGY AM-740 Monday & Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at 3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Larry welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-re corder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.