How the Vikings mortgaged their future for a Super Bowl…and failed
**IT WAS **after a 2008 playoff loss to the Eagles when the Vikings, even Brad Childress himself, knew that Tarvaris Jackson wasn’t going to be the guy to get this otherwise talented team to a Super Bowl victory. Four months later, the Jets released Brett Favre, who said he had no intent of returning to the NFL, and behind the scenes Childress and Vikings management began their four month courting of Favre while pretending that Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson were going to compete for the job.
After a ridiculous media circus and a Favre re-retirement in July, the Vikings landed their savior midway through the preseason. Favre looked rusty through two easy games against Cleveland and Detroit, but a last second miracle touchdown pass against the 49ers ignited the team who went 10-2 before coaching problems between Favre and Childress became apparent at Carolina and Chicago. The Vikings finished 12-4, shellacked the Cowboys in the first round, and came one costly Favre interception short of perhaps kicking themselves into the Super Bowl. Favre was battered and bruised after the season’s end, and his future with the Vikings was in doubt.
In the 2010 offseason period, the Vikings should have found another quarterback, perhaps McNabb or traded for Michael Vick, or even drafted McCoy or Claussen, but they ignored their problem at quarterback and gambled their entire season on Favre’s return. Favre again missed all of camp and a preseason game before deciding to bless the Vikings with his presence. Missing the time with the team, who were going to be missing Favre’s favorite target, Sidney Rice, took its toll on the team. As of week 10, the Vikings have found no rhythm on offense and anonymous locker room quotes prove that Childress has lost the players.
Childress seemed to lose the players during the time Randy Moss joined the Vikings. Moss’ acquisition and subsequent waiving after four games made transparent the lack of structure in Vikings management. The Moss move looked to be made by Rick Spielman, VP of player personnel, with the support of owner Zygi Wilf, and the ousting of Moss was all Childress. In anonymous quotes coming out of the Vikings locker room, it sounded as if Moss tried to help Childress plan against the Patriots and belittled Childress’ game plan. After Childress cut Moss, more anonymous quotes painted an unhappy relationship between the players and Childress.
It’s obvious that the Vikings aren’t going anywhere near the Super Bowl this season, which points out to the multiple failures of the organization. Despite spending money on players, the ownership failed to look at the biggest problem plaguing the franchise: Brad Childress. After all, it was his decision to make Tarvaris Jackson the franchise quarterback, and after that failure, his decision to romance Favre. After Favre failed in ultimate number 4 fashion in the NFC Championship, it was Childress’ decision to again romance the beleaguered veteran to return to Minnesota, another massive failure around an otherwise talent-filled team.
UNLESS the Vikings go 10-6 and win a pair of playoff games, Childress will be fired at the end of the season. Favre, who is having one brutal game after another and has become a turnover machine, is likely to finally retire. The “Triangle of Power,” between Owner, VP of personnel and Head Coach will be transferred to a general manager or “football czar.” It will take a great mind to fix the quarterback situation and all of the contracts yet to be signed by those who could become free agents. Will this failure to get a Super Bowl result in total rebuilding? Only time will tell.