What if the Vikings still had…

By Krupka  |   Thursday, September 21, 2006  |  Comments( 6 )

Minnesota Vikings
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
After two games of the 2006 NFL regular season, the Minnesota Vikings are 2-0. The front office seems to have made all the right decisions in the offseason. But, if things went different, would the team still be undefeated? For example:

What if...


Daunte Culpepper was still a Viking

-The Vikings would not be 2-0; in fact, they probably would be 0-2, based purely on Culpepper's play thus far in Miami. He has been his turnover-prone self, and still seems lost without All-Pro receiver Randy Moss. Vikings head coach Brad Childress' offense seems to be tailored to Brad Johnson's strengths anyway. More than likely, Culpepper would be frustrated, and the team chemistry wouldn't be as good as it is now. That's not to say the Dolphins' signal caller is a cancer, but he was so blatantly unhappy at the end of his tenure with the Vikings, one can only imagine how he'd be acting if he was still in Minnesota.

Mike Tice didn't get fired

-It's safe to say the Vikings would probably be 0-2, and Culpepper would also likely still be a Viking. Ted Cottrell would be running an inept defense, instead of Mike Tomlin guiding a formidable unit. Culpepper's bad attitude came in full force when his "buddy" Tice was fired, and it was obvious he wanted out. The former head coach, frankly, wasn't ready to be the man in charge. He ran the team too loosely, trying to be best friends with all his players, rather than being a coach. There was no discipline, no accountability and, for the most part, poor results on the field. Once upon a time, when the team had nothing to lose, Tice was at his best. A perfect example was against the New Orleans Saints at the end of the 2002 season, when he went for a two-point conversion at the end of the game to try and go for the win, rather than the tie and a subsequent overtime period. The Vikings converted, won the game 32-31, and proceeded to rattle off nine consecutive wins, starting the next season 6-0. However, they'd go on to crumble and miss the playoffs entirely.

The Vikings didn't sign Chester Taylor

-The 5-foot-11, 220-pound running back has been a workhorse and, up to this point, has been the offensive MVP. Taylor is on pace for an astonishing 440 carries, which would be an NFL record. He also is a threat out of the backfield in the passing game. The ex-Baltimore Raven is the perfect fit in Minnesota. Even with all the touches, his body should hold up well, since he was underutilized in a backup role in Baltimore, not taking many hits. It is safe to say he has been instrumental in both victories. Without Taylor, the Vikings would not be 2-0.

Ryan Longwell was still a Packer

-Paul Edinger would likely still be in Minnesota. While Edinger did make a huge kick against the Packers last season (56-yard field goal as time expired to win), he also missed plenty, and was quite inconsistent. Even if Edinger was gone, the position would probably still be unstable. Bringing in the nine-year veteran away from the rival Packers is proving to be the best move the mean made in the offseason, aside from firing Tice and hiring Childress. Longwell, one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, has already booted two game-winning field goals and accounted for all 16 points in the Vikings' three point overtime victory over the Carolina Panthers Sunday. Up to this point, some might argue Longwell is the team MVP. Without him, Minnesota would have certainly lost to the Panthers, and may have lost to the Redskins, too.

After two games, everything seems to be looking up for the Vikings. As evidenced by the performances thus far into the season, the additions and subtractions were the correct moves. The difference between the old and new coaching staff is probably the biggest ex-negative turned positive for the team.

You have to wonder where the Vikings would be without Childress guiding the ship -- no pun intended. Then again, why not just let the good times roll?

So far, Minnesota is.

Eric Krupka can be reached at ekrupka@realfootball365.com

RealFootball365 brings you Minnesota Vikings insights everyday.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (6)

Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report
CommentsComments: 6  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
nitch		09:53 AM
09/21/2006
this is a good article. it is true things like this usually shape teams. sometines a "bad move" can really turn out to be a great...
No.2
J-Dub		04:17 PM
09/21/2006
as a packer fan i wish daunte was still with the vikcins to throw interception after interception and fumble all the time
No.3
dale		06:40 PM
09/21/2006
wow, lets all sit around and make-up what-ifs that can't be proven or disproved and then act like they are immutable...
Team News  |  View All Vikings Content
Trade Heard Round the (Sport...
It’s inevitable that the Randy Moss to Minnesota trade executed by th...
1 year, 4 months ago   |   Trade Heard Round the (Sports) World ( 0 )
What’s Right is Wrong
When the NFL first rose above baseball as the most popular sport in Am...
1 year, 5 months ago   |   What’s Right is Wrong ( 0 )
Focused and Determined
A trip to Mankato State last week to watch the Vikings practice in she...
1 year, 6 months ago   |   Focused and Determined ( 1 )
The Return of the Attention...
Brett Favre will be back to play this year. Just thought I’d put that...
1 year, 6 months ago   |   The Return of the Attention 4 ( 6 )
Ray Edwards Passes His Unhap...
Ray Edwards, the other Minnesota Vikings’ defensive end, railed agains...
1 year, 11 months ago   |   Ray Edwards Passes His Unhappiness on to Others ( 0 )