Ick's Corner

What do you get when you assemble some of the best talent in the league, a head coach who is trying desperately to hold on to his job, and you sprinkle in below average play at the quarterback position? No Liverdamage you don’t get the Dallas Cowboys, at least not for this post. You get the Minnesota Vikings.  The Vikings find themselves trying to return their franchise to the glory days when they had dynamic duo’s that gave defenses fits.

Dynamic Duo #1  Randell Cunningham and Cris Carter

Dynamic Duo #2 Daunte Culpepper and Randy Moss

Since trading Daunte Culpepper to the Dolphins the Vikings have failed miserably to find consistent play at the quarterback position. Let me rephrase that, they have failed miserably to find GOOD consistent play at the quarterback position.  Tavaris Jackson, Brooks Bollinger, and Gus Frerotte have all shared time under center, and all have look horrible doing it. Tavaris Jackson had a decent rookie season leading the Vikings to a 10-6 record, but has looked horrible ever since. Needless to say the Vikings were wrong when they thought they found their franchise quarterback after spending a first round draft pick on Jackson in 2005.  Now that we all know where the Vikings have been, lets look at where they are going.

The Vikings actually find themselves in a good position to become a powerhouse in the NFC North. Sorry Packer fans, Bears fans, and red headed stepchildren of the NFL fans (Detroit Lions). Your teams just haven’t done enough. Sure the Bears now have a decent quarterback in Jay Cutler, something you guys are not used to having. Yes you have Devin Hester, Matt Forte, and a solid defense. The Bears are still a long way from doing the Superbowl Shuffle.  I know the Packer nation has finally passed the torch to Aaron Rodgers, and yes you guys had a good draft this year. Do I really need to say anything about the Lions? While I’m sure it was hard for the Lions not to spend a first round draft pick on a wide receiver again this year, drafting Matthew Stafford is not the answer. Its a start, but not the answer. The Lions still have alot of work to do. The Vikings on the other hand have spent the last few years quietly putting together a sleeping giant. With the addition of Jared Allen, Percy Harvin, Adrian Peterson, Bernard Berrian, and a few other missing pieces the Vikings are quietly becoming a possible division powerhouse. When will the giant be awoken, when the Vikings can get a serviceable quarterback. Enter Micheal Vick.

Lets go ahead and put it out there, Vick’s career passer rating (53.3) stinks, but the pure athleticism he brings to the position can make up for it, in the right system. When you have Adrian Peterson in your backfield it is very easy to become a balanced offense.  A balanced offense would take some of the pressure of Vick to have to make plays with his arm. The addition of Vick and Percy Harvin (Florida Gator) opens up your offensive playbook tremendously. Trick plays, wildcat formations, and double reverses for starters. Lets be honest, Vick is better then what the Vikings have been running out there at quarterback for the last few seasons. I know Vick will be a PR nightmare for any team that signs him. I’m sure that whatever team signs him will also lose some fans. Hey once the winning starts, the fans that jumped off your bandwagon, will jump right back on. Winning also generates cash. Isn’t that what sports have become? All about the money and winning championships?

Vick is a high risk, high reward player. If your the Vikings and you can get Vick for a low risk contract, why not take the chance? Viking fans be honest with yourselves for a second, who is your quarterback? How confident do you feel going into this season? Tavaris Jackson is hurt again, John David Booty is a joke, and your only decent quarterback on your roster is Sage Rosenfels. Not to say there is anything wrong with Rosenfels, but he is a career back up. Cast aside your opinions about Micheal Vick and the horrible dog fighting ring he financed. Think about it from purely a football stand point. You can’t deny the fact that Vick is better then what you have on your roster right now. You also can’t deny the fact that at one time or another since Vick entered the league you didn’t catch yourself saying *Man I wish we had Vick*. He is an electric player to watch, and he gives defensive coordinators fits trying to scheme for him.

These are merely my opinions. While I’m sure some of you out there will think I have lost my mind, others of you out there will read this and agree.