Childress, Why moss?

Childress On Bubble Of Being Let Go

Say it ain't so!



After a five year absence, Randy Moss was finally back wearing the famed Minnesota Viking "84" jersey. The jersey, many Viking fans longed to see him in.



After four games back where he belongs, Brad Childress, you mean to report that you have waived him? Why? Was your ego jilted? Was your ultra-thinned skin damaged by the truth?



After your Minnesota Viking team was defeated in New England 28-18 last Sunday, were you left in envy of a franchise that is everything yours is not? A winner?



Yes, the Patriots, winners of three Super Bowls in four appearances during the 2000's, also currently stand at 6-1, the best record in the league. Your team is 2-5 and sinking fast.



You have more talent on your roster than they do, but they have a great head coach on their sideline and you Brad Childress, are no great head coach. Frankly, you are not even a good one.



In Moss' post-game press conference when he referred to Bill Belichick as the best coach of all time, were you insulted because he did not bestow that title upon you? Perhaps you feel your 1-2 playoff record outshines Belichick's 15-5 playoff record?



Maybe you acted in haste, because during that press conference, Moss revealed to everyone, how even with him explaining the Patriots offense to you and your coaching staff, you still could not stop them.



Or, could it be you wasted a future third round draft pick, because you are upset about Moss' alledged outburst over a locker room meal? Is that why you suddenly decided to waive the second most prolific receiver in Viking history?



Currently, do you not have a quarterback on your roster being investigated by the NFL for possible misconduct that could result in a lawsuit? Is he getting ready to be waived also, or is his 29th ranked quarterback passer rating so impressive it warrants him receiving preferrential treatment?



Oh that's right, you said that you want "good people" on your team. Really? Seriously? Are you not the one who cut Marcus Robinson on Christmas Eve? Yes, Christmas Eve, because the receiver - who led the team in touchdown receptions at the time - dared to speak out about your dreadful offense that was so predictable, it would not have been able to outsmart a fifth grader.



You are such a "good person", that a few years ago you simply could not resist fining Troy Williamson for taking too long in South Carolina, attending the funeral of his grandmother who raised him, and taking care of her affairs. Yes, such a wonderful show of compassion on your part.



During last season's playoffs, your "class act" was on full display as you had an- already-selfish, stat-driven quarterback throw two unnecessary late fourth-quarter touchdowns to drub your outmatched Dallas Cowboy opponent 34-3.



Zygi Wilf, you own the Vikings, it is time for you to break your silence, and begin cleaning up this mess that is your franchise. It is time to acknowledge that your first and only coaching hire thus far, has been a mistake. A big one. Cut your losses.



When you hired Childress in 2006, his first order of business was alienating Daunte Culpepper, the third most prolific passer in Viking history. He unceremoniously cut Culpepper, the franchise quarterback at the time, just prior to the start of that season.



Now the latest fiasco has Moss being cut suddenly without any reasonable explanation being provided. What sense does this make? Here says that Moss will one day be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and that Childress will not.



Moss has played on the two highest scoring offenses in NFL history, the '98 Vikings and the '07 Patriots. This year, in the four games he played in, Moss boosted the per game scoring average from a paltry average of 14, to a respectable average of 21. Yet, just like that, he is gone, and realistically, so is this season.



The time has come that Brad Childress should be fired. The team is in total turmoil, there is no present indication that a turnaround is soon on its way. So why wait? The Vikings need a fresh start.



Remember Mr. Owner, how on New Year's Day, 2006, you didn't even wait until then Head Coach, Mike Tice, could even make it to the locker room to address his players after the victorious season finale? You fired him right on the spot in a room off of the tunnel. You certainly did not wait then, why wait now?



Your current coach has turned your organization into a joke, that lacks humor. It is unimaginable how there could be any respect for him in that locker room now.



In his four and a half seasons, at most a handful of teams have had as many Pro Bowl players on their rosters as he has had on his, yet Childress has only been able to produce a mediocre overall regular season record of 38-33.



As Brad Childress continues to run the organization into the ground, his ineptitude begins to reflect more and more upon the ownership. Just curious to know Mr. Wilf, what is the ownership going to do about it?

Minnesota Vikings: Randy Moss Explained

Vikings PhotosFull disclosure: I’ve been a Vikings fan since approximately 1970. I started attending about one home Vikings game per year in 1993. When 1998 came around, I told my then-wife that—if she still wanted to see the NFL on a yearly basis—we would need to buy season tickets.








The reason? No. 84.







Today marks the second day in my life that my favorite team has—and I cannot stress the next word enough—incorrectly decided to take Randy Moss away from Viking Nation.







The first time was after the 2004 season—a year in which an over-hyped QB named Daunte Culpepper would have won the NFL MVP had it not been for some guy named Peyton—and Randy was ignominiously traded to the Oakland Raiders. (Remember this, class. It comes up on the quiz.)







Randy languished in Oakland with no direction, no quarterback and no reason to excel. He considered retirement. (Actually, he considered retirement as soon as the trade was announced.)







Daunte Culpepper went on to…whatever. In his defense, I will say he entered the 2005 season in the best shape of his career. But without his bail-out option, he proved to be what most of us knew him to be—another guy wearing a purple jersey. Nothing special. Not bad, but not a world-beater, either. I hear he looks great in the UFL.







Fast-forward to 2007. After dealing with the loser mentality in Oakland for two years (quiz time!) Randy was traded to the New England Patriots. Under the coaching staff and imaginative game plans of Bill Belichick—which included such great plays as “Randy Go Deep”—the Patriots became the highest-scoring offense in NFL history. And who did they beat? The 1998 Vikings. But I digress…







Randy continued to produce in New England until this year, when he let it be known at the beginning of the season that he was looking for a contract extension. He said at the time that New England wouldn’t offer that because that isn’t the way they do business, which is true. Ask Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel or a host of others if you’re in doubt.







(Aside: Since 2001 and the Korey Stringer training camp death, the one thing I have said about Randy is, “Keep him away from a microphone unless you want to hear the truth.” Again, keep that in mind for the quiz.)







So here come the Vikings, offering a third-round pick for Randy. The Patriots gladly accept, the Minnesota Vikings fans go crazy—myself included—and Randy takes back No. 84. All is right with the world.







Except this: Randy smells Oakland, not New England. Randy knows this is a contract year. And—gasp!—Randy has access to a microphone!







So what does Randy do? If you’ve been paying attention, you know that Randy told the truth in front of that microphone. He told the world how the Vikings were out-coached by the Patriots. He said that he tried to help, but that it fell on deaf ears. He sensed a commitment to crap.







In a contract year, he needs to be somewhere where they will use him as John Madden once suggested. “You have to throw it deep to him once per quarter or he’ll sulk,” I can still remember the old man saying. And that’s kind of the deal.







The other side is that Randy wants to win. The Vikings are not winners. They don’t act like winners. They don’t smell like winners. And they sure as hell aren’t coached to win.







So, for the second time in my life, my favorite team has given up on my favorite player. And for the second time they fired the wrong guy. I can only wonder if Brad Childress will look great in the UFL. Lord knows I won’t watch him.







But I’ll watch Randy in Seattle, Denver, KC or wherever. And he’ll rise above it. Because he IS that good. And people will wonder, “Why couldn’t he do that as a Viking?”







The answer: We fired the wrong guy. Again.

No fly zone: the Vikings have a pass defense?

Antoine Winfield Disrupts A Pass Thrown By Aaron rodgers Last Year

During recent history, time floated by and members of the Vikings defense changed, but one stinging reality always remained: Minnesota was the toughest team in the League to run on, but they could easily be beat through the air.





How could you expect anything different entering the 2010 season? The front seven stayed the same and the secondary might’ve been even more of a question mark than years before. Antoine Winfield was a year older, Cedric Griffin was recovering from an ACL injury (and then proceeded to injure his other ACL) and the remaining players, Husain Abdullah, Tyrell Johnson, Madieu Williams, Jamarca Sanford, Asher Allen and Chris Cook were either inexperienced or failed to instill confidence in any fan.





But Minnesota has the sixth-best pass defense in the NFL and has allowed less than 200 yards per game for the first time since 1996. Since freaking 1996.





Granted, the season’s not over yet and the pass defense could take a complete nose-dive during the last 11 games. But the Vikings have played Drew Brees and the Saints and Tony Romo and the Cowboys and still have come out relatively unscathed.





How on earth, then, has Minnesota pulled this off?





For one, that invincible rush defense led by the Williams’ Wall has shown a few chinks in its armor through five games. The Vikings uncharacteristically allow 102 yards per game and are No. 11 in the NFL. It used to be weird to see Minnesota outside of the top-three spots in that category.





Running backs have had mixed success on the ground and it changes on a game-by-game basis. Pierre Thomas ran for 71 yards in the season opener and Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams had success in week two — combining for 131 yards. LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene also ripped the Vikings for 151 yards. Those are the three games Minnesota has lost this season. When teams get ahead, they haven’t had to throw the ball anymore and can instead rely on the run game.





It’s disturbing how many times some of those backs were able to break past that front seven and get chunks of yards with ease. There wasn’t the feeling that Minnesota had this unstoppable force up front. So teams didn’t have to pass — for once they had a choice.





Another reason for the pass defense’s rise is the fact that the Vikings haven’t been prone to many big plays through the air. They’ll bend all right, but Minnesota won’t break. Every Sunday you’ve probably pulled your hair out with some of the pass plays that cornerbacks allow, but there aren’t giving up any 50-yard bombs.





And when teams reach the red zone, the Vikings aren’t letting teams just walk right in. Minnesota has held opponents to just five touchdowns in 13 red zone trips this season. That’s the best part of the unit, that the Vikings haven’t given up a lot of points — just 17.6 points per game. But if you just account for the touchdowns that the defense has allowed — and not the touchdowns from the offense’s turnovers — Minnesota has allowed 14.8 points per game, which would only trail Pittsburgh’s average of 12 points allowed per game.





It doesn’t matter how many yards the opposing team racks up — it’s who has the most points at the end of the game, no ifs ands or buts about it.





In the past, other teams would just throw in the red zone because of the Vikings’ rush defense. Now it seems that neither is a weakness inside the 20.





Maybe the scheme that Leslie Frazier has in place is working exactly how he wants it. It seems to be working so far, and there hasn’t been a loss that anyone could blame on the defense. That’s encouraging. And despite a lack of talent, on paper, in the secondary the pass defense seems to be getting the job done.









Vikings fans haven’t been able to say that in 15 years.

Emptying Out The Vikings-Jets Notebook

Darrel Revis

Adrian Peterson

        VS.












  The Jets' offensive line has helped sustain an impressive early-season performance by the offense, which is averaging 167.8 rushing yards per play and 5.1 per carry and has allowed only five sacks of Mark Sanchez. As successful as the line has been thus far, it will certainly have its work cut out Monday night when the Jets face off against the Minnesota Vikings and their imposing defensive line.















“I think we recognize what a good run defense they are,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “They’ve got the big guys inside. The linebackers are really good players. They’re all underrated. They’re fast. With the bright lights of Monday night, we expect to get their best effort and they’re a really good unit.”















The members of the Vikings front four are perennial Pro Bowl right end Jared Allen, tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, and unsung stalwart left end Ray Edwards. The matchup on everyone’s mind will be Jets Pro Bowl left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson going against Allen. Ferguson is charged with the duty of protecting Sanchez’s blind side, and Coach Schotty is confident that his man will be solid as a rock.















“He tends to always step up and do a great job in these situations,” Schottenheimer said. “It will be a good matchup. We have some things protectionally where we recognize what a good front four they are. We have a lot of confidence in all those guys and Brick is a guy that we expect to play really well.”















Also along that left side is second-year guard Matt Slauson, who has had some ups and downs so far but whose play the past two games has been solid. The Nebraska product and his coaches believe he has matured through the first quarter of the season as a starter, but he still realizes the daunting challenge ahead of him.















“We’ve looked at everything,” Slauson said. “We know that they’re going to run a lot of games. They aren’t going to blitz a whole lot because they’re so confident in their front four so it’s going to be all about 1-on-1's and really locking them down.”















Schottenheimer praised Slauson and indicated that since the Jets' five linemen have about 200 snaps under their collective belt, they’re better adjusted to play as one. That was evident in the game at Buffalo during which the Green & White rushed for 273 yards and two touchdowns on 49 attempts. That breakthrough performance will hopefully spill over to Monday night against the Vikings' active 4-3 front.















“We have gone against a 3-4 every week this season,” right tackle Damien Woody said. “Now this is our first opportunity to go against a 4-3, so obviously your techniques and stuff like that changes somewhat because you’re going against a totally different style of defense. This is when your preparation really has to be on point.”















Schottenheimer, line coach Bill Callahan and running backs coach Anthony Lynn have formulated a plan that will help the Jets' running attack counteract the Vikings strengths up front. Even so, the big fellas in green will have to communicate, take care of their matchups and use proper technique to give LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene running room in addition to protecting Sanchez.















“It’s a great challenge,” Woody said. “As a competitor it gets you fired up because it’s like two titans going against each other. We’re second in the league in rushing and year in and year out they’re one of the top three or four teams in run defense. So it’s going to make for a great battle. So for people who like to see a battle in the trenches, this game, this matchup might be the best of the whole year.”

Jets-Vikings Will Feature Trench Warfare

Darrel Revis

Adrian Peterson

      The Jets' offensive line has helped sustain an impressive early-season performance by the offense, which is averaging 167.8 rushing yards per play and 5.1 per carry and has allowed only five sacks of Mark Sanchez. As successful as the line has been thus far, it will certainly have its work cut out Monday night when the Jets face off against the Minnesota Vikings and their imposing defensive line.



“I think we recognize what a good run defense they are,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “They’ve got the big guys inside. The linebackers are really good players. They’re all underrated. They’re fast. With the bright lights of Monday night, we expect to get their best effort and they’re a really good unit.”



The members of the Vikings front four are perennial Pro Bowl right end Jared Allen, tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, and unsung stalwart left end Ray Edwards. The matchup on everyone’s mind will be Jets Pro Bowl left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson going against Allen. Ferguson is charged with the duty of protecting Sanchez’s blind side, and Coach Schotty is confident that his man will be solid as a rock.



“He tends to always step up and do a great job in these situations,” Schottenheimer said. “It will be a good matchup. We have some things protectionally where we recognize what a good front four they are. We have a lot of confidence in all those guys and Brick is a guy that we expect to play really well.”



Also along that left side is second-year guard Matt Slauson, who has had some ups and downs so far but whose play the past two games has been solid. The Nebraska product and his coaches believe he has matured through the first quarter of the season as a starter, but he still realizes the daunting challenge ahead of him.



“We’ve looked at everything,” Slauson said. “We know that they’re going to run a lot of games. They aren’t going to blitz a whole lot because they’re so confident in their front four so it’s going to be all about 1-on-1's and really locking them down.”



Schottenheimer praised Slauson and indicated that since the Jets' five linemen have about 200 snaps under their collective belt, they’re better adjusted to play as one. That was evident in the game at Buffalo during which the Green & White rushed for 273 yards and two touchdowns on 49 attempts. That breakthrough performance will hopefully spill over to Monday night against the Vikings' active 4-3 front.



“We have gone against a 3-4 every week this season,” right tackle Damien Woody said. “Now this is our first opportunity to go against a 4-3, so obviously your techniques and stuff like that changes somewhat because you’re going against a totally different style of defense. This is when your preparation really has to be on point.”



Schottenheimer, line coach Bill Callahan and running backs coach Anthony Lynn have formulated a plan that will help the Jets' running attack counteract the Vikings strengths up front. Even so, the big fellas in green will have to communicate, take care of their matchups and use proper technique to give LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene running room in addition to protecting Sanchez.



“It’s a great challenge,” Woody said. “As a competitor it gets you fired up because it’s like two titans going against each other. We’re second in the league in rushing and year in and year out they’re one of the top three or four teams in run defense. So it’s going to make for a great battle. So for people who like to see a battle in the trenches, this game, this matchup might be the best of the whole year.”

Shooter Now: Who Was Really Behind The Vikings' Trade For Randy Moss?

Randy Moss Is Back In Town

   Randy Moss participates in pregame drills before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Foxboro, Mass. According to reports October 6, 2010, Moss has been traded to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a third-round draft pick. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) (Jim Rogash)RelatedMore Randy Moss



Tom Powers Live: Randy Moss will have big impact on Vikings — one way or anotherSansevere: Vikings' trade for Moss biggest in team history — and puts Minnesota back on Super Bowl trackBrad Childress: Vikings trade for 'tremendous competitor' in Randy MossPro Bowl wide receiver, Pro Bowl quote machine: Moss on Moss (w/ video)Photo gallery: Vikings' Randy Moss through the years'Pull A Randy Moss': See the hit YouTube song videoNFL flags Feingold's ad using clip of Randy Moss' fake mooningReport: Minnesota Vikings 'very close' to a trade for Randy MossThere are several ways to view the Minnesota Vikings' acquisition of eccentric wideout Randy Moss from New England.







One theory: Did quarterback Brett Favre direct the Vikings to make the deal? Remember, when Favre was with the Packers, he stumped for Green Bay to get him.







Another theory: Favre turns 41 on Sunday and has said he definitely won't be back next year. With the Vikings in accelerated pursuit of public money for a new stadium, owner Zygi Wilf could use a replacement marquee player to go along with running back Adrian Peterson. Wilf might need Moss to keep his team relevant to fans.







— Adding Moss dramatically changes the Vikings' offense, which has been moribund in the team's three games this season. Percy







Viking trades



Which is the biggest trade in Vikings' history?



The 1967 trade of QB Fran Tarkenton to the Giants



The 1972 trade for Tarkenton from the Giants



The 1989 trade for RB Herschel Walker from the Cowboys



The 2008 trade for DE Jared Allen from the Chiefs



The 2010 trade for WR Randy Moss from the Patriots











Harvin has been a fish out of water at flanker. Now, with Moss, he can move back to the slot.



And with Moss, Favre can throw those jump passes from fade routes that he was able to convert to Sidney Rice last season. Moss isn't as physical as Rice, but he's the next best thing.







It's still uncertain, by the way, whether Rice, recovering from hip surgery in August, will be effective when he returns to the field, and that could be later than sooner.







The hope for the Vikings is that Moss, at age 33, finally has grown up and the team won't have to deal with any more behavior issues.







— By trading Moss, the Patriots, maybe the smartest organization in the NFL, now have multiple picks in each of the first four rounds of next

Vikings Return To Work

It will begin a bit of an odd week because the Vikings do not play again until Monday night, Oct. 11 when they will face the New York Jets at the New Meadowlands Stadium. It's likely the Vikings will have a light workout Tuesday and then take Wednesday off before getting back into the full swing of things on Thursday.



Vikings executives, coaches and players should be in a very good mood when we see them next. The reason is simple: If this bye week did anything for them it should have made them feel good about their chances despite a 1-2 start.



The NFL likes to paint itself as a league that is all about parity but the word it should be using is mediocrity. Right now, the NFC North might be the best example of this, although the NFC East and NFC West also are in the running.



Chicago and Green Bay are off to 3-1 starts, but the success that appears to indicate will be temporary unless those clubs start to play much better football.



Last Monday night, the Bears beat the Packers, 20-17, thanks in large part to the fact Green Bay was assessed a franchise-record 18 penalties. It also didn't hurt Chicago that without Ryan Grant the Packers didn't have any real threat of a run game.



On Sunday, the Packers held on to beat the Lions, 28-26, at Lambeau Field, extending Detroit's winless streak on the road to 23 games. Even Packers coach Mike McCarthy admitted afterward it didn't feel like his team was 3-1 and had just won a game.



Imagine then how the Bears felt later Sunday when they lost, 17-3, to the Giants at the New Meadowlands. The Bears gave up nine first-half sacks, lost starting quarterback Jay Cutler to a concussion and were limited to 110 total yards. The Giants finished with 10 sacks and also chased veteran backup quarterback Todd Collins (stinger) from the game in the fourth quarter.



None of this was very pleasing to watch, but the Vikings have to know if they can get their vertical passing game going they have an excellent chance of getting right back in this thing.

Vikings Defense Epitomizing Consistency Early In 2010 Season

EJ Henderson

Antoine Winfield



Ray Edwards



Jared Allen

Williams Wall

With so many different variables leading to ebbs and flows in the Vikings aerial attack along with other personnel finding a rhythm early in the regular season, the Purple are welcoming the bye week to rest and gain extra preparation for a Week 5 Monday night matchup against the New York Jets at the New Meadowlands Stadium.



Yes, the Vikings have shown irregularities throughout the first 3 weeks. But one factor that’s been a consistent force is the play of the defense. Through 3 weeks the Vikings defense ranks in the top 5 in points (3rd-12.5 PPG) and yards allowed (5th-276.3 YPG) and also boasts an 8th-ranked passing (189.0 YPG) and rushing (87.3 YPG) defense.



The Purple have prided themselves on a dominant run defense ever since Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress’ arrival in 2006. The Lions were the latest team to face this staunch unit, as they were held to a season-low 63 yards rushing in last Sunday’s contest – nearly 100 yards less than Vikings RB Adrian Peterson’s total for the game (160).



As the run defense continues its stout performance, so has the pass rush.



Obtaining such a balanced defense is one of many reasons the Vikings have yet to allow more than 14 points a game this season. Even with CBs Chris Cook and Cedric Griffin out for the first 2 weeks, the Vikings pass defense allowed only 237 yards against the pass-heavy Saints team in Week 1 and a dismal 114 yards in Week 2 against the Dolphins.



During the Vikings 24-10 victory over the Lions on Sunday at Mall of America Field, the Vikings secondary welcomed back both Cook and Griffin in route to allowing 237 passing yards. After Lions star rookie RB Jahvid Best left the game with a toe injury, Detroit turned one-dimensional with its aerial attack and the Vikings quickly adjusted. Lions QB Shaun Hill was held to a 69.6 passer rating and was intercepted by LB Ben Leber and CB Antoine Winfield late in the game, putting a halt to any sort of comeback.



As the Vikings defense continues to show its consistency in both the run and pass rush, it’s well known that everyone needs to stay confident in their specific role with 4 straight games against talented offenses – at New York, home against the Dallas Cowboys and then 2 road games against the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots.



“Going into the bye week you need to get more confidence going,” Vikings LB Chad Greenway told reporters after Sunday’s victory over the Lions. “Whatever injuries we do have, the bye week will take care of them and now we know the stretch we have coming out of the bye so we need to get at least mentally healthy.”