Bullpen

Uh-oh, Vikes fans, here we go again

Maybe this snowy weather makes some of us wish were in L.A., but I'd rather the Vikings not be there. Right now, though, Vikings fans have to take seriously the team's threats to relocate if a stadium deal doesn't get done during the 2011 Minnesota legislative session.

As Star-Tribune Vikings reporter Judd Zulgad wrote on his blog less than an hour ago, Vikings vice president of public affairs Lester Bagley confirmed that the team has been approached by the two main groups looking to bring an NFL team to Los Angeles -- the group led by Ed Roski, and the group led by Ted Leiweke.

Bagley revealed the information in a chat session on the Vikings website today. The most interesting point that I noticed: Bagley said Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf toured the L.A. area last year when an NFL owners meeting took place in southern Cali.

Bagley and the Wilfs still say their main priority is to get a deal done in Minnesota.

"Clearly, the Vikings stadium issue is being followed nationally and it's no secret that we're down to the last year on our lease. We've told those groups that we are focused on resolving the issue in Minnesota. We feel solid momentum and feel we're well-positioned with the new legislature and governor. Instead of spending energy speculating on other markets, let's keep the focus on building a world-class facility for the community and the State of Minnesota."

So, the question now becomes, how much of this Vikes-to-L.A. talk is serious and how much of it is the Wilfs and Bagley just blowing smoke to put more pressure on the legislature? Some people in Minnesota say "let 'em go to L.A., we don't need 'em." Some say, "do whatever it takes to keep 'em here."

It's no secret which side I fall on, though, ultimately, I fail to understand why the Vikings and the University of Minnesota couldn't have found an acceptable solution for a joint stadium. To me, that idea needs to be revisited, even though the Vikings say that's not an option. I know, Zygi wants a mega-complex, including a stadium and bar/restaurant district for blocks around a new stadium. But, why not try to work out an option for the expansion of TCF, along with a deal for Zygi to make money off concessions, parking, etc.?

In the long run, he still makes his money (plus saves whatever he was going to put toward the cost of a new stadium), the Vikes have a beautiful facility to play in, and the fans are happy.

Ultimately, though, it's gonna be left up to the legislature, who will probably find a way to keep the Vikings here. But if it's not worked out in the next legislative session, those threats from the Wilfs will become reality.

-- Jason Feldman

Zygi deserves some love from Vikes fans

We'll touch on this in "Points On The Purple" in Saturday's P-B print edition, but now that the buzz (no pun intended) from the Randy Moss deal has calmed down a bit, it's time for Vikings fans to think about just how much Zygi WIlf has done for this franchise. Wilf generally receives boos when he gets introduced at Vikings games. But, Purple fans, know this:

He is not Red McCombs. There's no better way to put it.

McCombs was overwhelmingly loud and obnoxious at times. Other than "PURPLE PRIDE! PURPLE PRIDE! PURPLE PRIDE!" I'm not sure McCombs ever said anything substantial publicly about the team he owned. Who can forget the big-name free agents McCombs paid for. You all remember Henri Crockett, right? Or Keith Newman? (Yeah, he started 14 games at OLB in 2004).

Point is, McCombs would laugh at his coaches when they said they needed money to upgrade personnel. Wilf, on the other hand, will say "how much do you need?"

He's brought in Jared Allen, Brett Favre and now Randy Moss (who, by the way, was only traded away from Minnesota because McCombs didn't want to pay his salary). Wilf also dished out big money for Madieu Williams and Bernard Berrian, neither of whom have panned out like the Vikings had hoped, but Wilf at least was willing to pay for them, which McCombs would never have done.

Wilf is not Jerry Jones. He is not Dan Snyder. (We can be thankful for that.) The Vikings are not his personal real-life fantasy football team (does that even make sense? ... you know what I mean).

Wilf is willing to spend money like Jones and Snyder, if he and Rick Spielman and Brad Childress feel the money is well-spent. They're not afraid to deal draft picks to get the right player(s) in return, unlike a GM in our division who refused to make a no-brainer of a deal to land RB Marshawn Lynch. For that we should be thankful and appreciative.

-- Jason Feldman

Vikings, live in-game chatter with Phersy and Limbeck

PHERSY: Well Limbeck, this game couldn't be going any worse, could it? So far so terrible. The Saints marched through the Vikings D like a warm knife through butter on that first drive. And then the Saints shut down the Vikes on the next possession.

The refs don't seem to be helping either (not a fan of that holding call on AP's run).

What's going on? Can this team really play with three active corners? The defense certainly doesn't look like it can hang with an elite offense like NO's. No pressure from the D line yet, and with a banged-up and mostly new backfield, that D line has to get pressure for this defense to be effective.

So should we be more worried about the defense or the offense?

Anyway, it's only 7-0 right now. Season isn't over just yet ...

•••

LIMBECK:  Saints receivers are open all over the place. The defensive backs are getting beat and the pass rush has yet to step up. But, only one TD allowed in the first quarter. You knew the Saints were going to move the ball on offense. The biggest surprise is the Vikings offense has yet to roll. Penalty to wipe big AP run was marginal call at best.

•••

PHERSY: Woooo hoooo!!!! We're on the board. The Vikes are right back in this thing. Hey, like you said Limbeck, we should all be happy they're only down 7-3 (5:22 left before halftime).

More good news: AP looks great, and he hasn't fumbled yet. The Saints are trying to rip the ball out, and AP has been protecting. If he can keep this up, he can keep the Vikes in this until the defense gets going.

Since we wrote the last post, the Vikings also got a sack (Jayme Mitchell). Greenway blitzed and ate up like half of the Saints o-line, allowing Mitchell to run free at Drew Brees.

Limbeck, the Vikes would be happy to get in at halftime down just 7-3. Anything on top of that would be gravy. Giving up a TD here could be bad news ...

***

LIMBECK: Favre has thrown a horrible pick, under pressure, but the defense has really stepped up in the second quarter. Saints can't run at all, and shouldn't even try. A stop and a field goal miss and now Favre has directed a quick TD drive in the closing minute of the half. Shiancoe makes a couple of big plays and it looks like the Vikings might lead at the half. The missed extra-point being a slight buzz-kill.  And Vikings get the ball to start the second half. Watch out for that on-side kick.

***

LIMBECK: Another slow start to a half. The Vikings can't move the ball after getting the kickoff in the third quarter. Now the Purple defense can't stop the run and the Saints are ahead with a TD in the third quarter.

•••

PHERSY: The Vikes are down 5 with two minutes left in the third ... I still feel like they're lucky to be in this game. First the Saints moved the ball through the air, and then they moved it on the ground. But the Vikings have kept them out of the end zone for the most part. Two TDs to this offense ... I'd say before the game, Vikings fans definitely would have been happy with that.

Also, that patchwork defensive secondary is garbage.

Hey ... how dumb does that Greg Camarillo for Benny Sapp trade look right now??? The Vikings could use a warm body in the defensive backfield at this point, and Camarillo isn't on the field! Ugh!

OK, time to think positive thoughts.

•••

LIMBECK: It's over. The Vikings lose to the Saints 14-9. The offense did nothing in the second half. Favre played like a grandpa he is. The pass rush was also horrible; did Jared Allen even play? Plus the defense couldn't stop the run in the second half. Sidney Rice was really missed tonight. A positive? The defense only allowed 14 points. But 9 points of offense is never going to get the job done.

Why all the hand wringing over backup QBs?

With all of the issues the Vikings have, just eight days out from the season opener against the defending Super Bowl champs, why all the fuss over who will back up Brett Favre?

Sports talk radio has been consumed by the Great T-Jack/Sage Debate since Rosenfels outplayed Jackson during Saturday's preseason game against Seattle. (Maybe part of the issue here is that I'm gauging fan interest in general by people who call into a radio show ... have you heard some of these people? You're not the most stable individual when you suggest trading Sage Rosenfels for Randy Moss, as one post-game caller did on Saturday. I kid you not.)

Really, are we as Vikings fans more concerned about who the first-string clipboard holder is going to be, as opposed to who our first-string QB might be throwing to? Or the team's sudden lack of cornerback depth? (Think Miami would give us back Benny Sapp in exchange for Rosenfels and a draft pick?)

I would lose more sleep over that groggy offensive line. Teams are going to blitz the bejeebers out of Brett Favre until one of two things happens: 1) He beats them too many times on deep passes; or 2) they knock him out of a game. Right now, there's little reason to think Favre can be amply protected (Bryant McKinnie nearly got Favre driven through the pretty new turf at MOA Field on Saturday). There's also little reason to think the running game will be any different than a year ago, when A.P. would rattle of 6-7 runs of 0 or 1 yard, then go for a dozen or more.

Personally, I don't care who the team keeps to back up Favre because, if he goes down, the Vikings go from Super Bowl contender to just another above-average NFL team.

And, for that matter, if Favre AND his backup go down to injuries, again, I couldn't care less who that second-stringer was, because Rick Spielman and Chili will have to swallow some pride and roll their Rolodex to the F's (see Frerotte, Gus) or G's (see George, Jeff) or to some other undesirable letter.

So, please, with one preseason game and eight days remaining until the season opener, can we stress out about the health of Chris Cook and Cedric Griffin, the amount of time it might take Sid Rice to come back, and the amount of time it might take this offensive line to look like a cohesive unit?

— Jason Feldman

Thoughts on the Bore by the Bay

Before the panic kicks in for Vikings fans and the celebrating begins in Green Bay, keep in mind that Brett Favre's first preseason game in 2009 looked a lot like his first preseason game of 2010.

So, after four plays and one shot from the Niners defense that knocked him on his Favre, grandpa picked himself up, trotted back to the sideline and Chili pulled him out of Sunday's 15-10 Vikings loss to the 49ers.

This isn't to say that Favre will have the season he had last year, nor can we know that the Vikings will have the season they had a year ago. Sunday's yawner at Candlestick (or whatever it's called these days) was what it was, a preseason football game, a means for coaches to evaluate guys who either won't be playing or won't be on the roster two weeks from now (and also a means for NFL teams to charge regular season prices for a joke of a game).

So, what can we take out Sunday's game?

THE GOOD

• E.J. Henderson. The middle linebacker returned to an NFL football game nine months after having a steel rod inserted in his leg. Henderson not only returned, but played like he hadn't skipped a beat. He was a beast in the brief time he played, even busting through the line to take down a Niners running back. His return cures a lot of headaches.

• A.P. is running hard. Say what you will about Adrian Peterson's fumbles, but 28 is running with a purpose and he's dang good when he's playing that way. Vikings coaches never try to rein him in, but, it's the preseason. He might wanna step out of bounds rather than lowering that shoulder at times.

• Alex Smith. The Niners QB, the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick is starting to look like he belongs in the league. We'll see if it carries over to the regular season, but if Smith indeed has had his "lightbulb" moment, the Niners could again be a team to reckon with in the NFC.

• Karl Paymah. Why is he listed under "THE GOOD?" Because he's now playing for San Francisco. I'm surprised he's not still running down the Lambeau Field sideline, chasing a Packers receiver, while Packers QB Aaron Rodgers runs right behind him. Good luck, Niners, if you have to have Paymah in your lineup.

THE SO-SO

• T-Jack. He threw a couple of short passes intended for Toby Gerhart that were tipped, and at least one probably should have been picked off. The good news is that T-Jack didn't look nearly as tentative as he has in the past. His offensive line gave him little-to-no time and he made some good decisions. He scrambled a couple of times at the right time and in general looked more comfortable. That said, he didn't direct a touchdown drive.

THE BAD

• Pass defense. The Vikes have to get something figured out at safety and need to get the pass rush wound up. The safeties looked routinely late on their coverage. Jamarca Sanford started in place of Tyrell Johnson — something our Points on the Purple guys have advocated since late last season — but none of the safeties were noticable on Sunday. Madieu Williams needs to become noticable this year — for the right reasons — to justify what he's getting paid ($5.5 mil per). The Vikes first-team defense in general looked like it was just out there going through the motions. I'd bet they don't like what they see on film come Monday.

• The DirecTV "Troy Barkman" commerical. Wasn't funny the first time I saw it. Now it's getting annoying.

• Vikes offensive line. The top folks at Winter Park might want to watch the waiver wire when other NFL teams start making cuts. Either that or make some deal with the Devil to keep the Vikes' five starters healthy all season. If they have to turn to rookie Chris DeGeare or, ahem, veteran Ryan Cook, they're in trouble. DeGeare could turn into a player; he's still raw, playing in just his second NFL game. Cook has been around long enough (2006 2nd round pick), but is still a human turnstile. The Vikes cannot trust those guys in key situations in the regular season.

So, now onto the home preseason opener. It's Saturday, 7 p.m. vs. Seattle. This will be the one preseason game worth paying more than passing attention to. The starters should play all of the first half and we'll have a better idea of Favre's comfort level, A.P.'s comfort level as a pass-protector and the offensive line's comfort level.

— Jason Feldman