Tom Powers: Vikings wasting time collecting mediocre quarterbac...

The Vikings apparently are collecting them. And they are very good at it. Had the powers that be chosen to collect, say, decorative thimbles or rare coins, the results might be less impressive.

[odennorsson]

This may be true (mediocre QBs), but there really are very few out there that are truly special.Sage is a good pick-up in that he does have upside. He has a good percentage of completions on a team with a sub-par line. Only Vick and McNaab were, in my opinion worthy of consideration. The Vikes apparently did not feel they could get McNaaB who just signed an extension. Drafting a QB doesn't make sense with a play-off caliber team. Why spend time tutoring him now after tutoring TJack the last 3 years?and there are alot of holes that need to be fixed, such as O-line and reciever, D-backs etc.

[joep]

Fire Chilly now! Or fire whoever made this deal. I hope it works out. Last year we get a top 10 player in the league. Zigy you want a staduim? You need to get rid of chilly and get a QB.

[fracas]

A good article by Powers, and I agree completely. It is more fun when you can take issue with the reporters, but at least this time Powers is spot on.

The two most important positions on a football team, and here we are, stuck with a Jackson-Rosenfels combo, and the inept Klink.

Random thoughts: Birk is over the hill and not worth whatever he ultimately gets paid....let him walk. Sharper's play is declining as well, but he is better than any safety we have on the roster. It will be a leap of faith to turn the job over to Johnson. A one year deal for Sharper would be ideal, but I doubt he would go for that. Kleinsasser and Farwell are one dimensional football players, but very good at what they do. Sign them if they can be resigned at a reasonable price. I think JK would like to finish here, and I think he can be resigned. Farwell would like to actually play some LB and I think he wants out, but we'll have to see if he gets any offers that he likes better. The vikes need a WR that commands some respect and attention. Berrian on one side is fine, but what we currently line up opposite Berrian scares no one. I question whether we have a free agent target in mind. Perhaps Chester, or Chester and one of our young DE's could be dangled as bait.

[Huge Jazz]

Tom, you mentioned only Vick in your oh so very long list of "many big names being tossed about". Can you name another, ANY for that matter, available through trade, draft or free agency that would have a realistic chance of giving the Vikes this "super premium performance" as you call it? ANY at all? Cassel is not a lock to super perform and would be very expensive, or Garcia, or McNabb or Anderson. There IS no super QB out there worth giving up big bucks for. There just aren't.

This article has no redeeming value or new information.

How about this; just call for Childress' or Speilman's job. I have no problem with that. But I do have a problem with sniping about these guys trying to make moves that better the team in relation to available REALISTIC options.

[manrod]

Why does no one ever mention Booty. He has GOT to better than Jackson

[harry]

Gr8 article, all true.

[BeerBibleBullets]

If somehow Kurt Warner comes available, maybe the Vikes would look his way??? I agree with you Tom, I think they are in a 3 year window to win a title, something that rarely happens. After that goodbye Kev and Pat, AP will be slowing down Hutch will be done too.

[Skol Vikes]

Stop crying and give the man a chance! All I hear everyday now is whiny Vikings fans always looking to complain about something. Who knows.....maybe coming to a new team is exactly what he needs to shine. I have more faith in him then I do in TJack. All the other QB's that are FA's aren't going to work. Garcia...too old, Cassel....too expensive and inexperienced, Donovan....not getting traded, Derek Anderson....Cleveland said they aren't going to trade him, Warner....wants way to much money. What's left? If you guys were real fans, you would cheer on Sage and hope he does awesome and stop whining like a bunch of babies!

[Al Coholic]

Right on Tom! If we don't add some serious players over the next week, it's over. This team will be the team that represents the coach. A conservative, boring middle of the pack team. I can't believe they honestly think Sage will get us over the hump. Not to mention the fact that Childress cannot see how poorly Car-Jack has played and continues to give him a shot. He going to give him competition? Wow. How about give him security in knowing he is a back-up QB by signing a legit STARTING QB? What's the fascination with Sage anyway? Because he is Jewish? This could get ugly REAL quick here in purple land if they don't add some receivers who can bail our QB out. I know it's not popular or "boy scout" but if we want to put fans in the seats and give our team a chance to win the Championship, Mike Vick would be a fantastic signing. Beyond that, I would've brought in Garcia who can scramble and is tough as nails.

[purplehaze]

good article Tom...however, as others have noted the well is pretty dry for francise player type qbs. cassel, as jazz noted is still unproven,(given the core team he had to work with in patsieland), furthermore, with all the other team needs,( wr, rt, etc.) his tag would be the equivalent of the underwear man ( Haynesworth); and we need to address these other areas. in addition, Rosie should at least be given a chance to show his stuff ( who knows he may pan out better than expected). the one thing i wish would happen and would be the shot in the arm for the team: ZYGI REALIZES THE KLINK EXPERIMENT IS NOT WORKINGGGGGGGG!!!!...GOOD LUCK ROSIE AND GO VIKES!!!

[Al Coholic]

BeerBibleBullets wrote:

If somehow Kurt Warner comes available, maybe the Vikes would look his way??? I agree with you Tom, I think they are in a 3 year window to win a title, something that rarely happens. After that goodbye Kev and Pat, AP will be slowing down Hutch will be done too.

He is available, for 10 million a year. I might take that chance, but he would need some WR's and for that price we may not be able to sign one.

[LOSTALLFAITH]

Good bye vikings! What a waste of a good team. Chilly is an idiot and needs to be fired before our stadium chances are gone!

[Al Coholic]

Housh wants to come here? Are you kidding me? PLEASE GO GET HIM! This guy is awesome and would be the only way we can improve this offense with our QB situation. I'd put Rice, Housh and Berrian on the field together and/or replace Rice with Percy Harvin as a slot receiver (think wes welker).

[JG Eagan]

I agree with Tom. Why give up a draft choice when you could sign the same type of player as a free agent- Losman or Grossman.
The unknown is or was JD Booty. I don't think they would have made a trade if they thought he could be the man. Then again, this staff has not been a great judge of QB talent, so who knows.

[DD Austin]

Tom, with all your negative and sarcastic posts you do, and this is a classical example, why don't you quit your job here and move somewhere where you can be a positive sports writer and encourage sports fans, teams, and athletes! Get a life!
PS. With all kinds of people losing their jobs - you had better start doing a better job or when they start making cuts and ask the sports fans who should go first I have a feeling you'll be right at the top of the list. WHINER!!

[POST OF REASON]

T Jac threw 9 touchdown passes against 2 pics last season while completing almost 60 percent of his passes, and everyone keeps complaining about him. What am I missing? The Vikes O-line was full of holes on passing downs and he was usually running for his life back there. When Gus came in, we won, but it wasn't because of him, it was in spite of him. T Jac lost in the playoffs, but so did Ryan and just about every other QB who was lucky enough to make the post season. I remember when Dante was having a great year in 2000, and everyone kept saying anyone could throw to Moss and Carter. Then in 2004, he would throw for 320 yards and 4 TD, but all you would hear about was how he fumbled once and how his hands were too small. Now we have the T Jac situation, and the same idiots are spouting off about him. Wake up, Minnesota, before we lose a good QB in the making.

[Pat Remark]

Mr. Powers, I completely agree with this article. Despite what many people on this board are saying, its true. Sage is not some unknown/proven commodity, he has started in Houston, and was no good. Childress wants a guy who can manage the game and keeps mistakes to a minimum, and all I can think about when I hear that and Sage Rosenfels, is watching him commit three turnovers, and blowing a 17 pt. fourth quarter lead against Indianapolis. As a Vikings fan, we have the right to complain about poor team management such as this and I commend you for doing what a sports writer should do. Until Sage proves us wrong and is the savior some people think he will be, this was a poor personnel move.

[Buzz Aldrin]

Powers is mostly right on, but I take exception to this remark: "Vick will be walking on eggshells for the rest of his career. He wouldn't cause the slightest problem."

Sorry bud, but the same concept driving your column - that a mediocre qb isn't going to change his stripes - doesn't suddenly fly out the window when it's time to consider acquiring the poster boy for animal abuse, gang thuggery and flipping off the fans. Vick is what he is and isn't needed in Vikingland.

You write a good column on the reality of the Vikes mediocre aspirations at qb, but the answer is not to go bottom fishing and kid themselves even harder.

Sadly, they've had 3 years to acquire a decent vet and get something done now while TJack or whoever sits and develops, but instead their nutty professor coach decided he is a football genius and we see the results on offense every weekend during the season.

Right now they could go after Kurt Warner and be instant contenders if they managed to get him, but they are content to play pattycake with yet another nobody at qb. Sad.

[stilltim]

I agree with Mr. Powers. Rosenfels' numbers just aren't that impressive. I frankly don't understand it. With an owner who is not afraid to spend money, why can't the Vikings upgrade at Quarterback? The only possible answer is that there just are any FA prospects out there. I'm not convinced.

[MikeHo]

Get Kurt Warner