Major buzzkill...not the NFC Championship game (although it certainly was), but free agency. Thanks to restrictions placed on the Vikings (and the other three "final four" teams) the rest of the league is getting better while the Vikings are getting worse. That's not the position you want to be in.
To make matters worse, the Bears are the biggest benefactors of this uncapped year landing three big free agents. To make matters worser...er...even more worse, one of those big free agents was Minnesota's own Chester Taylor. Now all his talent and whatever insider tips on the Vikings he can give belong to the Chicago Bears.
I decided to check out Kevin Seifert's blog just to see if the Vikings had done anything. Instead, Isaw that the Minnesota legislaturewere the ones doing nothing . In this case, though, it's regarding the stadium issue. Way to make me feel better, Seifert.
But I guess the big question is, under their current restrictions, what should the Vikings do? Here are three things I think the Vikings should have done (but didn't):
Franchise Chester Taylor: I realize I'm spending someone else's money and that spending a lot of money for a backup isn't prudent. But Chester Taylor was very valuable to the Vikings last year and with the free agent restrictions on the Vikings they don't havemuch ability to spend the money elsewhere. Beyond that, the championship window for theVikings is closing fast. So why not throw caution (and money) to the wind and keep Chester Taylor for one more year and let him go after that. (At that point you're probably rebuilding.)
Also, I can't get the NFC Championship game out of my head. The running back most responsible for losing that game? Adrian Peterson. The running back most responsible for nearly winning that game? Chester Taylor. What else can I say?
Trade for Antonio Cromartie: Sure he's got some personality issues, but for a 2011 second round pick? I think he's worth the risk especially since cornerback is a position of need for the Vikings.
Trade for Anquan Boldin: Alright, I know wide receiver isn't a position of need for the Vikings. But it only cost a third and fourth round pick and I can't see how having a proven veteran to help out the Vikings' relatively young receiving core is a bad thing. And it would further entice Favre to come back for another year.