Vikings mini-camp this week
The team's future is highly uncertain
By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 06/10/2010
It’s been an interesting off season for the Vikings, the two-time defending NFC North Champions who were so close last season when they lost the heartbreaking NFC title game in overtime to the eventual Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints. The Vikings are like everybody else having to start all over and build up the resolve to make a run for the title in 2010.
Quarterback Brett Favre, a key player in the Vikings’ plans, is still a question mark on his pending return for the 2010 season. He did have successful surgery on his ankle and has begun rehab.
I firmly believe Farve intends to play, but he has not shared the decision with anyone that he has made up his mind and plans to play for the $13 million he is signed for. After all, where is a great competitive guy 40 years old going to make that kind of money this late in his career?
Farve won’t be at Winter Park for the team’s mini-camp this week, but everybody else is expected in town. This is a veteran team still loaded with talent and experience on both sides of the ball and very capable of another title run.
The last time the Vikings were in this position was in 1987, 1998, and as recently as 2000 coming off an NFC title game loss. The following 2001 season was tragic, not successful, and led to much change.
Star tackle Korey Stringer died in training camp of heat stroke. Then-Head Coach Dennis Green resigned after 10 years as head coach with one game remaining. Cris Carter retired, and Mike Tice became head coach of the Purple and Gold.
The Vikings lost another opportunity at getting any political support or leadership for their endless stadium bid with the team’s lease expiring at the Mall of America Field at the Metrodome in 2011.
The Vikings organization issued this statement: “The Vikings organization is extremely disappointed that the Governor and State Legislature did not move the stadium issue forward this year. Resolution of this issue has now been pushed to the final year of the lease.
“The Vikings and the NFL have made significant commitments to this market — commitments that cannot be sustained at the Metrodome. In 2006 the Vikings were asked by Governor Pawlenty and State leaders to step back and allow the Twins and Gophers stadium issues to be resolved.
More than four years later, those commitments have not been honored. This solution must be finalized in the 2011 Session.”
And with the 2011 season being up in the air pending the NFL owners lockout plan of the NFL players, you never know — this could be the last season of Vikings football in Minnesota. There are no guarantees, so Vikings fans, enjoy mini-camp this week and the 2010 season, because the uncertainty of the 2011 year could knock the Vikings off their axis.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:20 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-recorder.com , or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com .
