The Vikings 2009 season was dynamite. Since the 1970's, which were damn near Valhalla-like, only 1998 rivaled the thrills and smiles of the '09 season. Unfortunately, like every Vikings season before, it ended too soon. I can go on about how the Vikings outplayed the Saints in the NFC Championship game. They did. The Vikings, however, neglected one very important rule of successful football. Do not give the ball to the other team. This post isn't about the '09 season. It's about the next one.
2010 was supposed to be so great that 2009 would be a bad dream. All 22 starters were returning. Of course, that is assuming Brett Favre was one of them. I always assumed that he would be back, gimpy ankle and all. From the beginning, training camp never felt right. Favre wasn't there. Which bothered me, but didn't seem to bother the players. They knew better than me, so I didn't think much more of it. The surprise of camp was EJ Henderson. His leg was bent all kinds of wrong ways against the Cardinals the previous season. He wasn't supposed to ever play again. He was ready to go. Unfortunately, it would be the first and last good news of the season. Cedric Griffen's torn ACL was in good shape, but they would take it slow. He played in 2 games and tore the ACL in the other knee. Sidney Rice surprised everyone with a hip injury that would keep him out most of the season. Percy Harvin's grandmother passed away. He left camp to be with his family. This seemed to trigger a migraine that kept him out most of camp. I have to say, Harvin is one of the most electric football players that I have ever seen. I dearly hope that he has a long and healthy career with the Vikings. Top draft pick, CB Chris Cook, was dynamite from the first day until he tore the meniscus in his knee. He would get healthy and tear the meniscus in the other knee. Oh yeah, Favre skipped camp. I never really thought too much of Jared Allen, Steve Hutchinson and Ryan Longwell jetting down to Mississippi to pick up Favre. It never seemed like that big of a deal. The media sure loved it. They still bring it up. I guess I try to forget how big the circus is when Favre and the media meet. Just before Favre was kidnapped is when a very curious thing occurred. Reports of Favre's fancy little sexting adventure popped up. It was news for a couple of days and then suddenly disappeared. It would, conveniently, pop up again just days before the Jets game, and follow the team the rest of the season. It was really bizarre. At the time, I thought that it would be enough to keep Favre on his tractor. Then it disappeared and Favre was on his way to Minnesota. The Vikings started the season in crappy fashion, got desperate and traded for Randy Moss. Vikings fans were out of their little minds with glee. Moss back in purple. Favre and Moss together. Oh my. I was pretty happy too, I must admit. The offense seriously missed Rice's downfield abilities. Moss could help, and when Rice returned the Vikings would be unstoppable. What actually happened was just a bit different. Moss didn't feel the love from Childress and got pissy. Childress dropped Moss on his own, and basically alienated himself from everybody. A couple of weeks later, Childress is fired. Leslie Frazier took over. The Vikings won a couple of games, and before you know it they were in the playoff hunt. A lot of things had to go their way, but they must have been due for some good things by now. Instead, snow caved in the Metrodome roof. This forced the Vikings to play a home game against the Giants in Detroit. Lost that one. Then they played an outdoor home at the University of Minnesota against the Bears. Lost that one too, although it was a treat to see them play an outdoor game in Minnesota again. There was even snow. The next week the Eagles decided that they didn't want to play in the snow, and moved the game to Tuesday night. With an incredible debut from rookie QB Joe Webb and a tremendous defense, the Vikings shocked the Eagles. This game might have insured Frazier's job status. The Vikings closed the season with a loss to the Lions.
I have seen worse Vikings seasons. Not many, as the Vikings have consistently been a competitive team. I have never seen a season with so much outside crap: Favre waffling, Favre sexting, the Moss trade disaster, Childress firing, and the roof collapse. It was nuts. I can't wait for 2011. The CBA better not hack it up.
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