March Break

I'm sorry about the sporadic activity on the blog of late. Real life is getting in the way of my writing about the Vikings. If only somebody would pay me a decent wage to do this....

I noticed the Vikings tendered wide receiver Sidney Rice and a bunch of other guys on Wednesday.

Tendering offensive lineman Ryan Cook is the only decision that I question among this group. The Vikings need some offensive line help, but Cook is a guy the Vikings could do without. It's true you can play him at guard or tackle. It's also true that he plays neither position well.

Mike Tanier of Football Outsiders fame is one of my favorite writers in this genre. So I was eager to his read his rundown on the Vikings and their NFC North opponents in the site's regular "Four Downs" feature.

As much as I like Tanier's stuff, I have to disagree with him on a couple of counts when it comes to his opinions on the Vikings.

1) Tarvaris Jackson is not a "viable stopgap and rookie groomer" for the Vikings at quarterback in 2011 (assuming, you know, there is a season.) Bring back Jackson – even in a supposed rebuilding year – and the Vikings fan base will go ape shit. The team will not sell out a game at the Metrodome or the Gophers home stadium or even the Target Center if Jackson is under center.

Okay, maybe there are sell outs when the Packers and Bears come to town. But that only happens because the stadium will be half full with Bear and Packer fans.

2) I don't think the Vikings stadium situation will have much of an impact on whether free agents decide to sign with Minnesota or not. Free agents care first and foremost about money, as every player should in a league where the average career lasts less than four years. If the Vikings offer a free agent more money to play for them than any other team offers, I think that player will sign with the Vikings even if the Metrodome isn't ready and games have to be played in a corn field.

That's all for today. Now let's wait for the inevitable lockout.