Seattle Vikings?

It's often difficult to watch a Seattle Seahawks game. It's been difficult to watch head coach Pete Carroll on any football sideline since his USC days but it's more than that. The Seahawks simply have too many former Minnesota Vikings players on their roster. Too many Cal players too but that's another story. After the 2010 season the Vikings went through many changes. That football season was a disaster and it cost Brad Childress his coaching job. Several of the offensive coaches left as well. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell was one of those coaches but he wasn't out of work for long. Pete Carroll hired Bevell pretty much as soon he left the Vikings' facilities. The Seattle Viking importation started there. Well, not right away. That was the ridiculous offseason of the NFL lockout. Free agency, as we've come to know it, didn't start until July. The Seahawks signed quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, receiver Sidney Rice and linebacker Heath Farwell. All had spent their entire careers up until that July in Minnesota. Rice leaving hurt the most. Still does. The Vikings have missed his downfield playmaking ability ever since. Jackson only played the 2011 in Seattle as he was traded to Buffalo when Russell Wilson won the quarterback job this past summer. Two players and a coach really doesn't sound like a strong Vikings presence but as a Vikings fan that presence is felt. Especially when Sidney Rice is one of those players. Even more now that those players and the Seahawks are moving on in the playoffs and the Vikings are at home.

The Seattle Vikings team grew this week when kicker Ryan Longwell and defensive end Patrick Chukwurah were signed to replace injured Seahawks. The Vikings released Longwell this past offseason. Chukwurah hasn't played in Minnesota for a decade but he was a 4th round pick of the Vikings in 2001. Actually, Chukwurah hasn't played for any NFL team since 2008. I'm more than a little puzzled by that signing. Now with four former Vikings players helping Seattle move along in the playoffs I can't help but think of the Vikings not being in the playoffs as I watch the Seattle Seahawks play in the playoffs. Despite the presence of Pete Carroll on the sidelines I find myself hoping that the Seahawks do well. I'm very conflicted.