Rand: Are the Vikings better off than they were a year ago?

[DK Sweets]

I guess I'm still young enough to have a bit of recklessness to my optimism. I truly believe that despite our many QB failures, Teddy is going to be the answer. I think we're going to win a Super Bowl with him. I'm not sure when it will be...but I wouldn't be shocked if it happened sooner than later. I wouldn't be shocked if it happened more than once.

I may be a homer, and I may be building myself up for a big let down, but I think I'll enjoy following this team more if I never let myself become jaded, even if they never win a Super Bowl. I started following this team because of the pure euphoria that filled me when they were on the field, and when I lose that feeling of excitement, it's time for me to find another way to spend my time. I spend an awful lot of time and money on the Vikings to not be happy more often than I'm upset. I also understand that last sentence is the reason so many people can't get as excited as they used to...because they ARE upset more than they're happy with this team. I understand their point of view. I also feel like we choose our own emotions more often than not, so I can CHOOSE to be excited about the Vikings every day, and even if they lose every game they play, I'll only be upset 16 out of every 365 days. I still will have managed to be excited for 95% of the year, and that's not a bad percentage.

You know what is a bad percentage? 12%. That's how often the Steelers, the franchise that has won the most Super Bowls, have been happy if they only value championships.

To put it in a different way, I would hate to go through an improbable journey to the Super Bowl and realize while my team was lifting up that trophy that I didn't enjoy the season the way I wish I would have. I feel like there are many posters who would feel that way. To many people, a Super Bowl would be like a sigh of relief, but I want my emotions to be higher than that. I want to be running around laughing and yelling and I want to be filled with that joy. I don't think I can experience that if I don't always believe that the team can rise above their current circumstances.

I started this post of by saying that I might be reckless with my optimism, but I would like to change that statement. I know exactly what I'm doing with my optimism. So win, lose, or draw...I'm happy where I'm at.

[84BreaksAnkles]

I would hate to go through an improbable journey to the Super Bowl and realize while my team was lifting up that trophy that I didn't enjoy the season the way I wish I would have. I feel like there are many posters who would feel that way. To many people, a Super Bowl would be like a sigh of relief, but I want my emotions to be higher than that. I want to be running around laughing and yelling and I want to be filled with that joy. I don't think I can experience that if I don't always believe that the team can rise above their current circumstances.

Well met, indeed.
Well said

[Mothman]

I guess I'm still young enough to have a bit of recklessness to my optimism. I truly believe that despite our many QB failures, Teddy is going to be the answer. I think we're going to win a Super Bowl with him. I'm not sure when it will be...but I wouldn't be shocked if it happened sooner than later. I wouldn't be shocked if it happened more than once.

I may be a homer, and I may be building myself up for a big let down, but I think I'll enjoy following this team more if I never let myself become jaded, even if they never win a Super Bowl. I started following this team because of the pure euphoria that filled me when they were on the field, and when I lose that feeling of excitement, it's time for me to find another way to spend my time. I spend an awful lot of time and money on the Vikings to not be happy more often than I'm upset. I also understand that last sentence is the reason so many people can't get as excited as they used to...because they ARE upset more than they're happy with this team. I understand their point of view. I also feel like we choose our own emotions more often than not, so I can CHOOSE to be excited about the Vikings every day, and even if they lose every game they play, I'll only be upset 16 out of every 365 days. I still will have managed to be excited for 95% of the year, and that's not a bad percentage.

I understand but there's a vast range of emotions beyond happy and upset and the ways in which people enjoy following a team vary and change. I retain the same enthusiasm for Vikings football I had when I was just a wee lad. What I don't have for them is the joy and hope of a 6 year old. I now have the perspective of a fan who has watched 4.5 decades of Vikings football and it's not a perspective I'd want to lose. It's a hard-earned viewpoint, as anyone familiar with Vikings history should understand, and if I'm fortunate enough to see them win a Super Bowl, that will enrich the experience, not diminish it.

I'm not upset with the Vikings but I don't have blind faith in them either (and I'm not judging anyone who does). When someone writes, "We know that THIS TEAM has what it takes to become something special. Just admit it, don't let the wise old Viking's fan in you take over" ... well, I'm sorry, but this "wise old Vikings fan" just doesn't see it. If I did, I'd probably feel the way I did in '98, when that team rekindled the joy and hope I felt as a boy, when the Vikings were actually reaching Super Bowls and I believed they would win each time. "This team" hasn't shown me they can be special at all. Call that the jaded the view of a long-time fan, a realistic perspective or something else but the Vikings have been an NFL mediocrity for most of the last 14 years. I enjoy following them and supporting them but I'm not deluding myself about what they've become. This is the worst 14 year stretch in Vikings history and, having seen most of that history, it's difficult to muster unbridled enthusiasm for it, much less believe the team is special when they look anything but special.

I believe the team is capable of rising above their current circumstances but I'm waiting for them to do that. Meanwhile, I have no problem enjoying the journey and if it unexpectedly leads to a Super Bowl, I'll have no problem enjoying that either.

[PurpleMustReign]

After 1998,i learned that, especially with the Vikings, nothing is a sure thing. And Murphy's Law should be called Minnesota Vikings Law.

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[Mothman]

After 1998,i learned that, especially with the Vikings, nothing is a sure thing. And Murphy's Law should be called Minnesota Vikings Law.

It's hard to believe that was 16 seasons ago. It still stings.

[PurpleMustReign]

It's hard to believe that was 16 seasons ago. It still stings.

Great, now I feel old too. Way to kick me when I am down...
[emoji1]

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[mmvikes]

I understand but there's a vast range of emotions beyond happy and upset and the ways in which people enjoy following a team vary and change. I retain the same enthusiasm for Vikings football I had when I was just a wee lad. What I don't have for them is the joy and hope of a 6 year old. I now have the perspective of a fan who has watched 4.5 decades of Vikings football and it's not a perspective I'd want to lose. It's a hard-earned viewpoint, as anyone familiar with Vikings history should understand, and if I'm fortunate enough to see them win a Super Bowl, that will enrich the experience, not diminish it.

I'm not upset with the Vikings but I don't have blind faith in them either (and I'm not judging anyone who does). When someone writes, "We know that THIS TEAM has what it takes to become something special. Just admit it, don't let the wise old Viking's fan in you take over" ... well, I'm sorry, but this "wise old Vikings fan" just doesn't see it. If I did, I'd probably feel the way I did in '98, when that team rekindled the joy and hope I felt as a boy, when the Vikings were actually reaching Super Bowls and I believed they would win each time. "This team" hasn't shown me they can be special at all. Call that the jaded the view of a long-time fan, a realistic perspective or something else but the Vikings have been an NFL mediocrity for most of the last 14 years. I enjoy following them and supporting them but I'm not deluding myself about what they've become. This is the worst 14 year stretch in Vikings history and, having seen most of that history, it's difficult to muster unbridled enthusiasm for it, much less believe the team is special when they look anything but special.

I believe the team is capable of rising above their current circumstances but I'm waiting for them to do that. Meanwhile, I have no problem enjoying the journey and if it unexpectedly leads to a Super Bowl, I'll have no problem enjoying that either.

I have been following them for 45 years also. Been through more heartbreak than any fan should go through. I can say this. When the Vikings win the Super Bowl, I will feel both euphoria and huge relief. I am also pretty sure I will be crying and slobbering like a 10 year old girl.

[mmvikes]

After 1998,i learned that, especially with the Vikings, nothing is a sure thing. And Murphy's Law should be called Minnesota Vikings Law.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I remember a quote from NFL films many many years ago. "Any Viking fan will tell you, the road to Perdition leads through Minnesota."

[Mothman]

I have been following them for 45 years also. Been through more heartbreak than any fan should go through. I can say this. When the Vikings win the Super Bowl, I will feel both euphoria and huge relief. I am also pretty sure I will be crying and slobbering like a 10 year old girl.

LOL! I probably will too. I will definitely feel that combination of euphoria and relief.

[Mothman]

Whether the Vikings are better off than they were a year ago or not, while watching the Patriots/Ravens game today, I couldn't help thinking the Vikings really look a long way from that elite level of NFL competition.

[The Breeze]

Whether the Vikings are better off than they were a year ago or not, while watching the Patriots/Ravens game today, I couldn't help thinking the Vikings really look a long way from that elite level of NFL competition.

yep....and what's interesting to me is both of those teams really established themselves through defense first.

[Mothman]

yep....and what's interesting to me is both of those teams really established themselves through defense first.

Good point. They're also both really well-run organizations.

[The Breeze]

Good point. They're also both really well-run organizations.

I read a long article at espn on Bill and Brady this week. Kraft was quoted saying that he feels organizational consistency is the key....mainly the guys holding the philosophical tenets on either side of the ball....Brady/Belichek........keep those guys together as long as possible.

I guess for the Ravens it's the Lewis/Reed era passing it on to Suggs and co. And once they got Harbaugh and Flacco the offense really took off. Newsome has done a great job there.

[Mothman]

I read a long article at espn on Bill and Brady this week. Kraft was quoted saying that he feels organizational consistency is the key....mainly the guys holding the philosophical tenets on either side of the ball....Brady/Belichek........keep those guys together as long as possible.

I guess for the Ravens it's the Lewis/Reed era passing it on to Suggs and co. And once they got Harbaugh and Flacco the offense really took off. Newsome has done a great job there.

Indeed. Newsome has been a terrific GM for the Ravens and they seem to have found the right coach/QB combo in Harbaugh and Flacco.

I think Kraft is right about organizational consistency being the key to success. Obviously, the first step in achieving that is finding the right people in the first place but it seems clear that one of the bigger problems for the Vikings over the years has been a lack of organizational consistency.

[The Breeze]

Indeed. Newsome has been a terrific GM for the Ravens and they seem to have found the right coach/QB combo in Harbaugh and Flacco.

I think Kraft is right about organizational consistency being the key to success. Obviously, the first step in achieving that is finding the right people in the first place but it seems clear that one of the bigger problems for the Vikings over the years has been a lack of organizational consistency.

I think/hope things are moving forward in that direction. Between McCombs' attitude and the learning curve for the Wilfs, it's been a rough stretch for the Vikings.