Wednesday (bold moves) edition: Wha’ Happened?
Posted on April 23rd, 2008 – 8:51 AMBy Michael Rand
The local sports teams have been doing some very un-Minnesotan things lately. That is to say, instead of being satisfied with being passively average or above-average, they are starting to swing for the fences. In roughly the past year: the Gophers men’s basketball team hired Tubby Smith, the Twins traded for Delmon Young and now, of course, the Vikings have landed pass-rushing stud Jared Allen in exchange for a No. 1 pick and two No. 3s. That’s a steep price, one sure to spark debate. It’s also a move that signifies a “let’s win this thing” attitude because, let’s face it, that front four is going to be something else. It feels good to swing for the fences, doesn’t it? There hasn’t been enough of that here in the last, oh, 25 years (also known as about as far back as our memory allows us to go). Sure, the Twins kept some of their own free agents (Kirby Puckett, Justin Morneau), and sure the Vikings have landed some huge players who had some risks in the draft (Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson), but those aren’t in the same category as moves such as Tubby, Delmon and Jared Allen, which went so much against the grain of what we’ve come to expect from not just the specific teams that pulled them off but Minnesota sports as a whole. Outside of Steve Hutchinson, name one bona fide superstar brought in as a free agent in the past couple of decades by any Minnesota team. It’s hard, isn’t it? Name one blockbuster trade (since the trade for the running back about 20 years ago of which we do not speak, a repeat of which we would not condone even for the best player in football) that was a do-or-die move. We sure can’t. The Allen move is particularly significant because, in a reversal of a more recent trend, Minnesota is getting the star instead of giving up the star (or need you be reminded of Kevin Garnett, Johan Santana, Randy Moss and others). Maybe Minnesota teams are finally shedding their collective image and waking up to the reality that risk can lead to reward — and even if it doesn’t, it’s pretty fun trying.
What else? The Twins are back to 10-10 thanks to Jason Kubel and Craig Monroe. If Monroe keeps hitting, the Twins are going to have some nightly quandaries once Michael Cuddyer comes back. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a suddenly struggling Go-Go get occasional nights off. … San Jose and Philly claimed the NHL’s Game 7s last night, denying us another round of Ovechkin and Iginla. That’s not so good. … Shaun Alexander: cut. … The Cubs are hanging out with Marissa Miller. … Erin Andrews talks about what she likes in a man (from jama).
Fasola-link! Rowing in OKC. We actually wrote about this same thing (sort of) for the WWL a while back.
Later: Your four-headed COW entries (minus AZGG, unless she gets her act together soon).
18 Responses to "Wednesday (bold moves) edition: Wha’ Happened?"
RE: risk/reward. You forgot Chris Simon.
Jon: please let me know if that reference was relevant and/or humorous.
This is pretty much the exact opposite of the Johan Santana trade. Players plus a large sum of money.
It is pretty obvious that I will never win the prize for being the #1 Viking fan. So let’s play Devil’s advocate.
1.Jared Allen is one too many drinks and getting behind the wheel away from getting suspended for at least half a season.
2. The Vikes are giving up 2 3rd round picks(along with the 1st round pick). Jared Allen was a 4th round pick. Are 2 3rd round picks worth less than the 2nd round pick?
3. Not only did they give up the picks but they then signed him to the largest contract ever for a defender. He will eat up at least 10% of their cap for the next 3 or 4 years.
4. Could this be another Herschel Walker trade? It sure would make me happy.
Great picture by the way, the Vikings are kind of on the outside looking in aren’t they.
Has anyone posted the exact details of the signing/roster bonus? Is this one of them that’s spread out over years, or one that is front loaded, like they did with Antoine Winfield and a handful of others, so they can take a big cap hit this year when they have the room, and not worry about it so much later on? I’m assuming given that it was $31,000,069 that at least some of it is pro-rated…
I like the trade. If you ignore the gigantic elephant in the room named Tavarius Jackson, the Vikings have a built a solid team for the next couple of years. Swing for the fences while Adrian Peterson still has his legs.
I am against any trade that may lead the Access Vikings commenters to find their way to Randball. Dumb move, Wilf!
Craig Monroe has responded wonderfully to my challenge of a few days ago. Well played, Mr. Monroe. Well played.
What Clarence said. If they get anything out of Jackson and stay relatively healthy, they’re set up to be a playoff team for the next 2-3 years, minimum.
A good day to be an AV commenter: the Vikes got Allen, the weather’s supposed to be nice, your parole officer isn’t being such a douche these days…
I like the trade. The chances of the Vikes getting a DE that could give them 10-12 sacks for the next 4-5 years were slim. Question: How many #69 jerseys will be sold next year? Sub-question: How many will be sold in Anoka County alone?
Memorandum
To: Every bar in Minnesota
From: C. Swamptown
Cc: Z. Wilf
Please find the enclosed picture of Jared Allen. Please do not serve this man. Thank you.
$5 says he’s busted on 494 before the season opener.
Stu - I give you a 7.5/10 for both relevance and humor.
My great fear is that Allen will go up against Bryant McKinnie in practice, get a contact buzz, and then end up off the wagon.
Clarence
You forget that Hudson is just across the river. You better expand that mailing.
I love this trade. Allen is roughly 394839 times better than the 4th or 5th best defensive end in this draft, which is what they would end up getting at 17. Now they just need to dump McKinnie.
And if anyone’s worried about losing the two third round picks (in a weak draft this year), here’s what the Vikings have done in the 3rd round since 2001:
2007 - Marcus McCauley, CB
2006 - Nobody (three 2nd rounders)
2005 - Dustin Fox, CB
2004 - Darrion Scott, DE
2003 - Nate Burleson, WR
2002 - Willie Offord, SS
2001 - Eric Kelly, CB
Going even further back, you’d find great names like Stalin Colinet and Doug Chapman. Uh, not exactly murderer’s row.
To be fair, though, all but Fox have at least made decent contributions to NFL rosters. Burleson and McCauley are the best of the bunch. That said, third-rounders aren’t generally superstars. Even No. 17 picks are crapshoots. It’s a gamble, to be sure, but a risk worth taking.
Here’s the final trade, as reported by Fox News:
KC gets the Vike’s first-rounder, two third-rounders, swap of the sixth-rounder, Rashad McCants, the Wolves’ two second-rounders, Marko Jaric’s girlfriend, free dining at Matty B’s during training camp and Lynx season tickets.
The Vikes receive Jared Allen, ten cases of Arthur Bryant’s BBQ pork ribs and the chance to replay Super Bowl IV.
