Perhaps receiver Randy Moss had the right idea when he strutted toward the tunnel on Sunday against the Redskins, with the Vikings poised for an onside kick with two seconds left and trailing 21-18.

Why bother to stick around for the inevitable?

Perhaps the entire NFL is wondering why the Vikings are bothering to make the march to Lambeau next Sunday for their first postseason date ever with the Green Bay Packers.

Pundits may be saying, “So what if the Pack only beat the Vikings on two late-game field goals in their head-to-head meetings this season? We smell a blowout and we think the overall psyche of the Purple would be far better served if they don't show up for the game. They’ll fold up and leave the field like Moss did last Sunday.”

Mentally, the Vikings haven't shown up for several games this year, starting with a Week Eight loss at home to the Giants. So why should they subject themselves to yet another nationally televised embarrassment as the whipping boys for their biggest rivals?

What Moss did Sunday by leaving the field before time expired was uncalled for. It sent the wrong message to his coaches, teammates and fans alike. It made this life-long Vikings fan reach for the nearest antacid bottle and empty it.

So I got to thinking. What would Harry P. (Bud) Grant have done had he still be coaching the 2004 team?

My younger friends (born after 1970), along with fans who came aboard the Vikings bandwagon in 1998, always roll their eyes when I revert back to the Grant Era. And I’ve been doing a lot of retracing this year. Because Grant would have control of this team. Grant would have eliminated costly penalties. Grant would have the special teams excelling. And Bud would never have allowed a player to leave the field with time on the clock, no matter how improbable a late game comeback would have been.

I watched a special on the Purple People Eaters on Fox Sport Net the other night. It was a fantastic retrospective on the linemen that dominated the field of play for many years during the Grant Era: Jim Marshall, Alan Page, Carl Eller and Gary Larsen. Ah, those were the days.

Here’s a little known fact for you. At the 1969 NFL Pro Bowl the announcer said, “Representing the starting NFC Defensive Line are the Purple People Eaters.” That’s right; Eller, Marshall, Page and Larsen started the Pro Bowl that year. Yes, the Vikes used to have a defense.

During this program it was pointed out that Grant and Marshall had the utmost respect for each other. If Grant was having trouble getting a message across to a rookie, he gave Marshall a nod and the problem was solved. If players were out of position on the field, Grant gave Marshall a nod and the problem was solved. If a player was penalized while inside the opposing 20-yard line, Grant gave Marshall a nod and the problem was solved.

Marshall once was hospitalized for pneumonia for a week. He checked himself out of the hospital, played the game, then checked himself back in. Marshall once showed up with a temperature of 103. Grant asked ol’ Fred Zamberletti (the Vikings trainer) what Marshall’s temperature was because he looked so horrible. “103,” said Zamberletti. Grant replied, “Good. He’ll play a helluva game, 103 and all.”

Which takes us back to Moss. What do you think Grant and Marshall would have done with Moss as he attempted to leave the field early?

Once scenario has Grant quietly nodding to Marshall and then motioning his head towards Moss. Marshall would have grabbed Carl “Moose” Eller, sauntered over to Moss, stood in front of him with arms crossed and glared him back to the bench.

Another scenario, my favorite, would have Grant nodding towards Zamberletti. Zamberletti would have reached into a long duffle bag and handed Grant his duck hunting shotgun. Grant would have set his sights on Moss’ rear-end and let loose with a full barrel of buckshot. Then there would have been a fight amongst the players as to who would be the last player to leave the field after each game. For the next twenty years. As Mick Tingelhoff once said of Grant after a duck hunting trip, “Bud doesn’t waste any gunshot.”

Ah, yes. The Bud Grant Era. There’s nothing finer in Vikings history and it’s all I have right now. Precious memories of a time when players played for the love of the game and for each other.

That seems so long ago now. So very long ago.

A Few Are Fired Up

Yes, Pro Bowlers Daunte Culpepper, Kevin Williams, and Matt Birk are always ready to give their best during any given game. All 60 friggin' minutes, too! And now comes another of my close personal friends, Dave Dixon.

According to the STrib, Right guard David Dixon, the longest-tenured Viking, is normally a quiet presence in the locker room. He became talkative and fiery Sunday, once he found out the Vikings would be playing rival Green Bay in the first round of the playoffs.

He aimed a profane aspersion toward the Packers in general, then directed his real anger at nose tackle Grady Jackson.

"Who's that fat guy ... yeah, Jackson, running his mouth, saying we knew we couldn't beat the Packers," Dixon said.

A Grady-specific profanity followed and then he said, "If he can say that about us, we can talk about the Packers? You know what they say -- it's tough to beat a team three times.

"We'll try to make that hold true for the Packers."

Now that's what I'm talking about! Um, Dave. Get in Moss' face, OK?

Notable

You read it here first last week. My comparison of the potential playoff chances of the 2004 team to that of the 1987 team. I wonder if this guy, this guy, and this guy read my stuff!?!?!

Posted by maasx003 at January 3, 2005 07:49 PM | TrackBack