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Tuesday, Oct. 19, 1999
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By George: Are Vikings’ problems solved?
By Robert Neely, Associate editor
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| We all love a scapegoat. It makes us feel better about
ourselves to have someone to blame — specifically, someone who isn’t us. Fantasy
football owners who hold stock in Randy Moss, Cris Carter, Jake Reed, Andrew Glover and
any other Vikings receiver have had no shortage of scapegoats this season. Offensive
coordinator Ray Sherman (he of the Kordell Stewart fiasco of ’98) filled that role
nicely in the early weeks of the season. He has now been replaced by deposed QB Randall
Cunningham.
The wisest of those who took Cunningham in the high rounds also took Jeff George later
on. That move has proved to be prudent, since George is now replacing Cunningham in the
starting lineup. But were the Vikings’ struggles all Cunningham’s fault?
No. Cunningham has struggled this season, but you can’t blame Minnesota’s
sudden sputtering solely on him. This was bound to happen.
(A side note here to fellow associate editor Jeff Agrest, who in Pro Football
Weekly’s Fantasy Football Guide ’99 opined that Cunningham should be the No.
1-rated quarterback. I chose Brett Favre in that "Difference of Opinion."
I’m not one to declare victory prematurely, but let’s put it this way: I’m
sticking with my pick, Agrest. How ’bout you?)
There was no way the Vikings’ offense could be as productive as it was last
season, when every little thing went right. This year there have been, well, issues.
Carter is banged up. Defenses have figured out a way to slow Moss, at least a little bit,
and the second-year wideout hasn’t refined his game enough to completely overcome
those adjustments. RB Robert Smith’s annual injury has come along (the ’99
version is a hernia).
Cunningham was not sharp in the first six games of the season. George looked good in
his first action as a Viking last Sunday vs. the Lions. Our desire for a scapegoat wants
to blame Cunningham and believe everything will be all right now.
Don’t fall victim to such simpleton thinking. The problems that exist are still
there. George may help things a bit, but he’s not the cure. Don’t overreact to
the move. |
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The Archives
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