New members, new attitudes for Vikings this season

-- L. Maurice Draine

A lot has changed in one off-season for the Vikings—they just may have finally put the long years of defenseless defenses away. After the Vikings got rid of problem child Randy Moss during the off-season, they finally decided it was time to change the identity of the team. Around the NFL, the Vikings have been known mainly for their offense, but never their defense. They haven’t had a dominant defense since the days of the “purple people eaters” in the ‘70s, and that defense went to four Super Bowls in that era.

Now it’s been four years since former head coach Dennis Green and his defenseless team have gone away. But current coach Mike Tice hasn’t been much better. In his first three seasons with the Vikings he has also put out some bad defensive teams. From 2001 to 2003, Tice’s first full head-coaching seasons, he went 6-10, then 9-7, and then back down to 8-8. Hopefully, that’s all about to change now.

What a difference a year can make in the National Football League. Red McCombs, finally got his wish and sold the team for $325 million more than what he originally bought them for four years ago. Now there’s a new owner in town and his name is Ziggy Wilf, a New Jersey real estate tycoon, who has overpaid big-time to purchase the team. He’s going to try and get done what McCombs couldn’t and that is to build the Vikings a new outdoor stadium. Some say that Wilf is a good guy, but that he may have other interests besides owning an NFL team; some say that he only bought the team to be able to sell more real estate here in the Twin Cities.

Well, whatever, as long as he keeps opening up his large checkbook to sign big-time defensive free agents, I don’t think anyone will really care. So far, he’s signed safety Darren Sharper, formerly of the Green Bay Packers; defensive tackle Pat Williams, formerly of the Buffalo Bills; cornerback Fred Smoot, formerly of the Washington Redskins; linebacker Napoleon Harris, formerly of the Oakland Raiders; and linebacker Sam Cowart, formerly of the New York Jets.

All these acquisitions are set to be starters in their respective positions. When the season finally gets started, the spotlight will be beaming on Sharper and Cowart. The last few seasons both players have had their share of injuries. Some people are even calling them injury prone. But if they can hold their bodies together for the entire season, the Vikings will be a serious NFC contender for the first time since 1998.

You remember ’98 right? That’s when the Vikings were one field goal away from going to the Super Bowl to pound John Elway and the Denver Broncos. Gary Anderson, the kicker at the time, missed a “chip-shot” (an easy shot) field goal after going perfect the entire season up to that point. ANYWAYS, Vikings fans are not the only ones who think they can go all the way this year. Even Las Vegas thinks the Vikes are a major player. The odds for the Vikings to take it all this year is an amazing 5-1.

Overall, Vikings fans and players are glad to have Wilf over McCombs. Wilf came right in and started writing checks to solidify the defense. For that, let him do whatever it is he wants in real estate, as long as it doesn’t involve moving the team anywhere else. As for coach Mike Tice, he has all the guys he wanted and asked for. Now it’s time to put up or shut up for Tice and his staff.

If you have comments about the sports column or sports in general, please feel free to contact Maurice at drainele@go.metrostate.edu.

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