The Vikings Should Take a Step Back
 2/13/00

        It pains me to say this; I think the Vikings will only get better by getting
worse. I feel the Super Bowl window has closed for the time being. Next year
will more than likely be a downer. Jeff Diamond said that his strategy called
for big spending when the window was open and then a drop as bills came
due. Well, they are due. Everybody wanted the Vikings to spend the big
money to retain their own guys; it was a welcome change from the penny
pinching ways of the ten headed monster that previously ran the team. The
Vikings, behind Denny Green, failed to capitalize on that open window, and
are now faced with two choices: Try to hang on and sign bargain bin free agents
to supplement their roster, while resigning Christy, George, and maybe Berger,
or take a year to clear as much cap space as possible and rebuild. I feel the best
course is option 2.
        I believe that throwing big money to retain our own freeagents would be a
mistake. The Vikings defense will not be improved enough next year for a title
run, so sinking more money into the offense represents a continuing of the trend
that got us into this mess. The offense was always Denny's baby, and the defense
was ignored to a point that John Randle is contemplating a refusal to re-do his
contract to make that point. If I were him, I would only re-do it if it was going to
lead to a defensive player being added, not for Berger, George, or whomever
plays on the offense. The D has been treated like a homeless beggar for too long.
            If you believe like I that the defense stands to only get help via the draft,
then you understand that the chances of the D being championship caliber next
year is remote. The following year the Vikings will have more cap space and
should be more active in free agency if, and only if, they don't dedicate a large
amount of money to sign offensive free agents. This could lead to Robert Smith
being let go when he becomes a free agent. The Vikings would be smart to trade
him now so they can atleast get something in return. He will get a mint next time
he hits UFA, so he will be gone if we like it or not. My proposal is to trade him
for a first round pick or a package of middle round picks and then trade a 2nd
rounder to the Broncos for Orlandis Gary. This will give us a good young runner
who will be a few years away from free agency. Smith's bonus will accelerate, but
Gary won't add much to the payroll for `2000 so the net effect will be about the
same as if Robert was not traded. But for `2001, our starting RB(Gary) will be
making less than 1 million a year compared to five million. The 4 mil could bring
in a solid player for the defense.
                As the final four teams of this past season showed, you don't need All-Pros
all over the O-line to win in this league. Tampa and the Rams are good examples.
The Rams had 2 solid players and three average joes, the Bucs lost Gruber and had
only one All-Pro caliber player in the title game. The Jaguars wen't into battle with
one All-pro(Boselli was out) and the Titans had three guys you could call solid but
not Christy or McDaniel caliber. I don't know if Birk and Liwienski are capable of
filling in for the two solid players that won't be back, but I do think we can get
"good enough players" in the draft the next two years or in free agency at half the
cost. Its alot easier to find O-lineman than good CBs or DEs.
            Continuing the lavish spending on offense is a mistake. The Vikings must
have a balanced team. The Vikings will never be horrible on offense with Moss
around. In `2001, I think Culpepper will be polished enough to lead us on a
Superbowl run; this year he should get his feet wet. The Vikings should cut costs
and sacrifice `2000 for a better future. In 2001 they will be in position to add some
help via free agency and will be more balanced. They will have a high draft pick
and may even have a new coach.