Draft Hilarity

ESPN had too much fun at the Minnesota Vikings expense during the 2002 and 2003 drafts. It was all lost on me, of course, but ESPN yukster Chris Berman couldn't get enough.

Let the deeply troubled Flea Flicker refresh the scene. In 2002 the Vikings were beginning their search for a defensive tackle to pair with Chris Hovan. They also desperately needed an offensive tackle to protect Daunte Culpepper. The big QB was finally taking more punishment than he was dishing. Dallas was picking one spot ahead of Minnesota at 6. As the Cowboys' 15 minutes elapsed the Vikings rushed to the podium with their first choice, North Carolina defensive tackle Ryan Sims. Kansas City was up there too with their pick, North Carolina defensive tackle Ryan Sims. Apparently, Kansas City had made a last second trade with Dallas moving under, around and over the Vikings. Fortunately, Kansas City was stuck with Sims, who never lived up to the demand that he created on draft day. The Vikings selected my first choice, their second choice, Miami offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie. Although McKinnie has never lived up to his enormous potential, he has been a very good lineman with one Pro Bowl appearance. I have never understood what exactly the Vikings did here that was so hilarious. It sure gave ESPN the platform for the events of 2003.

The following year, the Vikings were again picking at 7. They had only one player in mind. They felt that they could trade back a bit, add a later pick and still get their man. Baltimore had their eyes on Marshall QB Byron Leftwich and agreed to a trade with Minnesota to move up to 7 and draft the QB. At least that was what the Vikings people thought. The Vikings sent their trade notification in to the league, but Baltimore, for some reason never did. The Vikings time ran out and ignited one of the more bizarre sequences that I have ever seen at the draft. Teams were racing to the podium trying to get their picks in. The Vikings got their pick in at what turned out to be #9. They still got their player in all-everything defensive tackle Kevin Williams and even saved a few million in draft spots. Berman and has band of yahoos were full of good humor at the Vikings expense. They were still laughing about it years later. My biggest puzzle was how could Ravens coach Brian Billick screw the Vikings like that. He was hired as coach because of his work as the Vikings offensive coordinator. That was no way for him to act.

The Vikings had the last laugh. The apparent draft blunders brought Kevin Williams and Bryant McKinnie to the team. If they had drafted Sims, they likely would not have picked either Pro Bowl player. ESPN is crying now. NFL Network has introduced a better production and better talent with Rich Eisen, Mike Mayock, Charles Davis, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Kara Henderson, etc. Berman might still be joking but no one is listening now.