What Do We Do Now, Vikings Fans?
- wadE
Unless you've been living under a rock, or don't live in Minnesota, you've probably heard the
reports that Randy Moss will be traded. If it weren't for his agent saying it (not that agents
are a bastion of truth) I wouldn't believe it.
I've been quoted as saying that I wouldn't renew my season tickets if the team traded Moss. And,
at this point, I haven't given the Vikings a dime...yet. I'm sure it's no coincidence that the
date my first payment is due, is the same date that the Vikings could actually make this trade
real.
At any rate, much of Viking-dom is in shock, denial, and anger. There are great arguments to
both sides.
Point-Counterpoint: The Randy Moss Trade
How could they trade Moss, he is the best WR in the game?!? Hell, he's on pace to become the
best WR EVER! And he might be already. Look at those numbers... look at the catches he makes,
look at the way defenses change their game plan to face him. Outside of that, look at the butts
he puts in the seats. When you go to a game, whose jersey do you see over all others 2-1? It's
Moss. He may not be the leader in the locker room, or on the field, but he is (was) the face of
this team here in Minnesota, and the rest of the country. Look how the offense performed when
Moss was hurt this year. They went into the toilet. He opens up the game for everyone else.
While it may not appear be quite as bad as the Herschel Walker trade, I'm not convinced 5 years
from now it won't be looked upon the same, if not worse.
wadE, you ignorant slut. Sure Randy has put up some gaudy numbers, but what's that gotten
the Vikings over the past seven years? I don't see any championship banners in the Metrodome.
Look at a "team" like the New England Patriots. How many of those guys are setting records?
Tom Brady might go to the Hall of Fame, but not for his stats. Many people truly underestimate
the importance of chemistry in the locker room. Think about your own work. How much better do
you perform when you like to go to work, when you have fun at work (assuming you've ever had a job
that you liked), when you like the people you work with. Now imagine those jobs where you've
hated to go to work, where you don't like the people you work with, how do you perform then?
If Randy was causing more harm than good *cough cough* Cris Carter *cough cough* it was time
for him to go. As much talent as he has, he never backed it up with leadership, which
he needed to do whether he wanted to or not. To paraphrase Uncle Ben (not the guy who makes rice),
with great talent, comes great responsbility.
Verdict: PUSH
Just like in Fantasy Football, wide receivers don't make or break your team. A wide receiver
doesn't make a great team. Moss doesn't matter as much as the other needs of the team. If the
Vikings actually spend some of the $37 million of cap space they have on some good free agents (and
not factory rejects like Derrick Alexander) on both sides of the ball and have a healthy year,
there's no reason to believe that they won't win the division and make some noise in the playoffs.
What do you think? Drop us a line at webmaster@simpleprop.com and give us some
feedback. Maybe we'll even run your letters in future Gambits. 'The Daily Gambit' is updated every weekday.
