Brought to you by Mr. Cheer or Die and the Vikes Geek, welcome to the
Views and Personal Photos on the Vikes from the Inaugural Hall of Fame fan.
Brought to you by Mr. Cheer or Die and the Vikes Geek, welcome to the
Back on January 19, I officially started the Poutin' Quarterback the First Watch which was to monitor when Daunte Culpepper would be shipped off to parts unknown. Just for PQ the First, I started a smoke signal much like when a new pope is chosen. Each day I would post a photo with smoke emanating from a small chimney white for "we are keeping him" or black for "PQ the First has been traded". The smoke is now black. The trade has happened.
PQ the First has been dealt to the Miami Dolphins for a second-round draft choice in the 2006 draft. The deal is conditional on Culpepper passing a physical.
That ought to make the Poutin' Quarterback the Second quite pleased. (Recall when Brad Johnson wanted off the team earlier this year as he wanted to be a starter? That earned him PQ the Second honors). Big Bad Brad (BBB) has just been handed the reins to lead the vaunted Brad Childress west coast offensive attack. And we know that BBB has at least been at Winter Park learning the new system and not bunkered down in south Florida wearing tin foil on his head to keep away the strange voices.
But, hold the mayo and onions for a tic. A close personal friend of the soon-to-be-highest-paid-OL in the league may say otherwise. And this is where it could get very interesting. Steve Hutchinson's agent is none other than the same agent for free agent Drew Brees. That person is Tom Condon. I wonder if Condon has even left Winter Park yet.
You see, there are reports that Brees does not want to play for the team that has sought him from the beginning of the FA period. That team is the New Orleans Saints who are playing hard for Brees' services.
I wonder who will call first, Condon or Childress. I'd look for Brees to be on a plane to the Twin Cities within 24-hours.
Update: Brees has since signed with the Saints (wonder what his Wonderlic score was!?!?) But now look for the Vikings to try and move up to the Saints first round pick. The Saints have their man and will no doubt start flaunting the #2 overall pick in the upcoming draft to the highest bidder. Wil the Vikings bite? In that case, which of the BIg Three QB's do you want: Leinart, Young or Cutler?
Poll Happy
Trivia Time
Culpepper passed for more TD's in the 1st five games of 2004 (18) than anyone else in NFL History at that stage of the season. Who held the old mark of 16? Leave a comment below.
Wow, I know I shouldn't be suprised. It's just going to be really strange without PQ#1 around. If you would have told me two years ago that Pepper and Moss would be gone, I would have laced you up in a straight jacket.
It will be interesting see if Brad is scrutinized like Daunte. The national media has even commented on the "free pass" he got when he stunk it up against some good teams (Pittsburg, Baltimore) last year.
I guess it's Brad for one or two more years til we get our next good young qb. It won't be Brees or anyone in this years draft.
Posted by: pa viking at March 14, 2006 1:28 PMUnfortunately, it looks like the Saints have signed Brees. I wish we could have kept PQ1, but I'd have liked to Brees as his replacement if he had to go.
Posted by: stuntdog at March 14, 2006 1:37 PMBBB is only a band aid and I do believe Childress and company have a plan. I think the draft is going to suprise some.
Posted by: Lonnie at March 14, 2006 1:54 PMBrad Johnson and who, Craig Nall? That tandem doesn't exactly strike fear in any defensive coordinator. I had been praying to the purple gods for Brees also, but it aint goin' to happen.
Defense is were it's at. How many championships did we win with a great offense(Pep, Robert Smith, Carter and Moss). Our defense always bent over at the end of the game. Let's get a great linebacker and a great safety. Let's lean towards defense in the draft. Our defense started to play very well last year(your welcome, Brad).
It would be great to go crazy over an ass kicking, cheese splattering Viking defense. How long has that been? Trust me our offense is depending on it.
Posted by: pa viking at March 14, 2006 2:01 PMMy guess is that the Vikes go after Bowling Green's QB Omar Jacobs, who is said to be ideal for the offensive system that Childress wants to install. He might be a reach in the mid-second round (where the Vikes will have the 48th & 51st picks), but it wouldn't shock me to see the Vikes pull a Jason Campbell and take him anyway.
Posted by: J. Ryan at March 14, 2006 2:02 PMIf the Birk Hutchinson tandem (and company) can keep Omar Jacobs from tucking and running too soon (as he has a tendency to do) then I think that Jacobs could do a great job at QB in MN.
Otherwise, I'd like to see Jay Cutler, or possibly even Lienart learning under BBB's leadership this season.
Even if we get no QB worth mentioning this year, I think MN can do well concentrating on defense in the draft and letting Brad manage games to victory. Either way, I'm optimistic about this season.
Posted by: Peter at March 14, 2006 3:10 PMI think we're getting Miami's second round pick in next years 2007 draft. At least that's what I've read a couple places.
Posted by: pa viking at March 14, 2006 3:21 PMIf we move up the draft to that #2 pick, I say we take Leinart or Cutler. Vince Young's stock appears to be falling, though, I expect him to sign with the Raiders.
Omar Jacobs, as the others have mentioned, in the 2nd round also seems likely - very fitting for Chidress' approach.
"BBB" is not the future of the team, we need to draft a young QB to take over for the long-run and I think that needs to happen in this offseason.
If all else fails... we could always pick up M. Vick #2...
Posted by: Timm at March 14, 2006 3:49 PMMatt Leinart is the way to go if we are going to draft a QB. He was supposed to go #1 last year. I say we give NO our 1st & 2nd for their first, if that is not enough then give them the 3rd we are getting if Burleson leaves to another team, this way we still have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd to draft players. I really like this scenario.
Posted by: Goose at March 14, 2006 3:56 PMI'm glad DC is gone so the Vikes front office can concentrate on rebuilding the OL and LB units.
A rookie QB and another OLB seem likely in the draft. IMO, a journeyman SS will be the last free agent acquisition. All this depends on Seattle's decision on Hutchinson. If that falls through, the Vikes will need to draft an OG in rd 2, but they have the ammo to do so with Miami's 2nd. The Vikes should move up to draft a QB in rd 1, but can fall back to an OLB at #17.
The Vikes have removed the impediments to returning to the Super Bowl. I await the draft to see if they can acquire the missing piece (QB) to remain competitive for the next 5-10 years.
Posted by: R. Wilk at March 14, 2006 8:40 PMJohn Clayton asks at ESPN.com
What were they thinking?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=2368527
Posted by: J. Lichty at March 14, 2006 9:22 PMGreat. Lovely.
So in the last 12 months, the Vikings have traded Randy Moss AND Daunte Culpepper for the following. . .
-A WR that couldn't catch syphyllis in a whorehouse in Bangkok,
-A LB that won't even be on the roster this year (and probably shouldn't have been last year, either),
-A DB that didn't even make it to the second cut-down, and
-A #2 pick. Have you seen our #2 picks recently?
You'll have to pardon me if I'm not jumping for joy here.
Posted by: Gonzo at March 15, 2006 6:09 PM