Sometime this week, our quarterback touted as 'the future of the franchise' will undergo surgery. Serious surgery. The result of which might mean the difference between an aging pocket passer versus the mobile Daunte Culpepper we all know.

The surgery will be performed by Dr. James Andrews. Andrews has quite an impressive list of past clients. From Charles Barkley and Emmitt Smith, to Jack Nicklaus, Chris Webber, and Roger Clemens.

When asked how he can operate on such high profile stars, Andrews responded, "The most important thing in treating a high-level athlete is you don’t treat them any differently than anybody else. You develop a routine and a system that works for you. To change that system because the patient is a high-level athlete just creates problems for you and the patient. There’s always that increased pressure, though. I remember when I operated on Jack Nicklaus’ knee, I had him all set up: I looked down to put the scope in his knee, and, being a big golfing fan, I said to myself, "My goodness, this is Jack Nicklaus." Once I got started, though, it was like doing anybody else’s knee. I had the same feeling when I did my young daughter’s ACL when she was in the eighth grade. I was a little bit nervous until I got started, then it was like anybody else’s knee."

Well, this surely is not anybody else's knee. And there are an infinite number of possible forks in the road for Vikings future that will result from how Culpepper responds.

Scenario One: Culpepper's surgery and recovery go swimmingly and he has limited participation in training camp and starts the season on time.

Probability: Spitting into a hurricane

Action Needed: None, as Culpepper is the starter and Brad Johnson the backup.

Scenario Two: Culpepper's surgery and recovery go fine and he is held out of training camp and preseason. He starts the season on the bench, available for duty after Week Four.

Probability: Spitting into a heavy wind

Action Needed: Little, as Brad Johnson starts the season with Shaun Hill as backup. The depth chart changes when Culpepper steps back in as starter.

Scenario Three: Culpepper's surgery and recovery go OK and he is held out of training camp and preseason. He starts the season on the bench, available for duty after Week Eight.

Probability: Spitting into a mildly heavy wind

Action Needed: Some, as Brad Johnson starts the season with Shaun Hill as backup. The depth chart changes when Culpepper steps back in as starter but the team could pick up a short-term veteran to back up Johnson for the first half of the season

Scenario Four: Culpepper's surgery and recovery go OK and he is held out of training camp and preseason. He starts the season on the bench, available for duty after Week Twelve.

Probability: Spitting into a breeze

Action Needed: Definite, as Brad Johnson starts the season with Shaun Hill designated as backup. The depth chart changes when Culpepper steps back in as starter and the team picks up a short-term veteran to back up Johnson for the season as insurance.

Scenario Five: Culpepper's surgery and recovery go OK and he is held out of training camp and preseason. He tries to practice but the knee swells up badly. He is placed on season-ending IR.

Probability: Spitting with the wind

Action Needed: Panic. The team names Johnson the starter, and secures a seasoned veteran to serve as backup. Hill stays as the number three QB.

Scenario Six: Culpepper's surgery and recovery go badly when it is discovered there is also damage to the posterolateral corner. The team announces Culpepper wil not play in the 2006 - 2007 season.

Probability: Spitting with the wind at your back.

Action Needed: Full blown chaos, as Johnson is named starter and the team reaches for a QB in the 2006 NFL draft. The team also secures a seasoned veteran to serve as backup. Four quarterbacks are carried on the roster.

The point is we could make up any number of scenarios but we will not know much until post surgery when we learn the extent of the injury and which ligaments were chosen to be repaired. The ACL and MCL must be fixed but the PCL could be left alone, only affecting Culpepper's flexibility.

Those findings and ultimate decisions will tell us the time-table. They will also tell us if Culpepper will be on the train when the team leaves the station next fall or left on the platform for another season.

Honors Rolling In

Lot's of people paying homage to me this week. And why not? With my prediction of the Vikes winning in New York coming true it is to be expected and dealt with. Such are the duties of being, ahem, a deity.

My favorite tribute lies over at the Greet Machine, complete wit portrait. Nice job Shane!

Viking Underground Podcast

Listen in as Vikes Geek and I bring you VU Podcast Twenty-Seven. We talk about the win over the Giants and take some questions from you via the mailbag.

Have a question you'd like us to address on an upcoming podcast? Just send an e-mail to COD or to Vikes Geek and we'll address it.

Posted by maasx003 at November 15, 2005 06:26 AM