The wild WILD west and more thoughts from the edge with Odin

The wild wild west? Well that's what we've come to expect with each off season of Viking football. With the very painful injury to All Day, the Christian Ponder experience getting it's first taste of life in the NFL (and concussion #1), and the way our favorite team finished the 2011 season, there is some hope for the future, but where will it be? Will it be in Minnesota? Who will the Defensive Coordinator be? Can you change coaches like underwear and expect a different result? Thus, we have the wild wild west.

Let's start with the stadium issue. WTF?! Let's get something straight right now. Our elected officials do not care for the “public good”. They are only interested in re-election. So, what ever benefits their political futures, is the way they vote and the way they govern. How often do you have an elected official of yours only run for one term? They never do because they get caught up in the same thing that athletes do. Money and fame are an addiction. Simple as that. These “brain wizards” at the capitol are not interested in the public good. They never are. If they were, they wouldn't be arguing over public good issues such as feeding, clothing and housing the homeless, work training programs, public transit, street and highway repairs, bridge repairs, J-O-B-S and how best to get them into the local economy. And by the way, WTF is Shakopee doing tossing their name in the hat at the last minute!? This whole thing is awesome. I will make one prediction right now. The Vikes will eventually get fed up with the delays, bickering and in-action and leave Minnesota. The state (brain wizards), will look around with a stunned look and say things like, “we never saw this coming”, “we were being held hostage” and the obligatory “we would never allow for the expansion of gambling as a funding source”. HA! I hope you all enjoyed the last season of Viking football in Minnesota. I know it's a long shot they will move (see Jacksonville and San Diego), but I have zero faith in the politicians of Minnesota and their backward thinking. Of course, we'd sue the team to keep the team name and colors in Minnesota, then wait for the NFL to expand (might as well play the lottery as you'd have better odds), then we'd finally get a stadium built at a MUCH HIGHER COST and we'd all have to get sued to watching the Packers. Sounds grand doesn't it?

Onto All Day. What a turn around. See what happens when you make someone the highest paid at their position? He gets the big payday and we're happy for him because he deserves it. But then we saw in DC how quickly it can all be taken away. I have total faith that he'll return both large and in charge. And he'll be angry again to prove everyone wrong. Hopefully, he'll have a offensive line that will allow him to bust loose again.

The Christian Ponder Experience saw it's first extended action and had some moments that may inspire people to think that we finally have a long term answer at QB. We did see some things that raised questions. Like our offensive line. At times we looked really good and both really bad in the same drives. I know that Leslie Frazier has his work cut out for him. Hopefully our new GM Spielman can see eye to eye with Frazier and are both on the same page. Like who's in charge of the defense?

So many questions to answer, so much uncertainty. Ah the joys of the off season. As I sit and watch the divisional playoffs, I wonder how long it will be for the Vikes to once again reach the final 8 teams. Well, it must be a pipe dream as they are so FAR away right now.

More thoughts from the edge with Odin soon.

Predictions for this weekend:

49'ers over Saints

Pats over Broncos

Packers over Giants

Ravens over Texans