NFL 2006 preview: It’s time to rock ‘n roll!

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 9/07/2006

In two short years, the Minnesota Vikings have gone from a team that was on the come last year, a preseason Super Bowl favorite, to a team that you just don’t know about. Gone are Daunte Culpepper, Michael Bennett, Nate Burleson, Corey Chavous, and ticket-scalping coach Mike Tice, not to mention the great Randy Moss now two years removed. That’s star power in a major overhaul.

 

Let the Brad Childress era begin. The future of Vikings football started to take shape in January when the man from Philadelphia was named the seventh head coach in franchise history. Childress has a strong resume as offensive coordinator after seven years in Philadelphia with one of the best teams in the NFL.

 

However, Childress has never been a head coach before, much less called his own plays. He’s put together a team with a strong emphasis on discipline and accountability, but so far his players have had mixed results off the field. Take Koren Robinson, who made the Pro Bowl last year and was signed by Childress to be his top receiver with a three-year contract worth up to $12.7 million, including $5.5 million in guaranteed money.

 

In the NFL there are no guarantees — Robinson was cut two weeks into training camp after speeding 100 mph in a 55 zone in St. Peter. Robinson refused to stop for police until finally forced to do so 10 miles away in Mankato; he was charged with fleeing police, a felony, along with two DWI charges and three misdemeanors. His blood-alcohol content was 0.11 percent.

 

Starting safety Dwight Smith was cited by Minneapolis police for alleged indecent conduct, having sex with a woman in a Block E stairwell not far from Escape Ultralounge. After last year’s now-infamous sex cruise on Lake Minnetonka where three Vikings were convicted of misdemeanors, this is the worst thing that could happen to Childress and the Vikings.

 

The Vikings did finish strong last year, winning seven of their last nine games, but missed the playoffs for the third time in four years with a 9-7 record. The NFC North is far from the toughest division in the NFC. However, the Chicago Bears are good and Detroit is better. The Vikings will have a fighting chance if they can run the football, play mistake-free, and get tough and physical on defense.

 

First-time defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin will have an aggressive unit with a good blend of young talent and veteran leadership led up front by Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, with Antoine Winfield and Pro-Bowler Darren Sharper in the secondary.

 

Offensively, veteran quarterback Brad Johnson is back at age 38 as the leader of the offensive unit. If the Vikings can keep Johnson healthy and run the football with running backs Chester Taylor and Mewelde Moore behind $49 million guard Steve Hutchinson, left tackle Bryant McKinnie, and four-time Pro-Bowl center Matt Birk, the Vikings have a chance to be a playoff team.

 

Here’s how I see the NFL picture unfolding and the way teams will finish (• indicates playoff team):

NFC North: 1. • Chicago 2. Minnesota 3. Detroit 4. Green Bay

 NFC South: 1. • Carolina 2. Atlanta 3. Tampa Bay 4. New Orleans 

NFC East: 1. • Washington  2. • Dallas  3. New York Giants  4. Philadelphia

 NFC West: 1. • Seattle 2. • Arizona 3. St. Louis 4. San Francisco

 AFC North: 1. • Cincinnati   2. Baltimore  3. Pittsburgh 4. Cleveland

AFC South: 1. • Indianapolis 2.•Jacksonville 3. Tennessee 4.Houston

AFC East: 1. • New England 2. • Miami 3. Buffalo 4. New York Jets  

AFC West: 1. • Denver 2. Kansas City 3. San Diego 4. Oakland

SUPER BOWL XLI: Arizona vs. Indianapolis