Disbelief in Small-Town America
Why Did the Vikings Sit on the Ball?
Posted: Thursday January 21, 1999 02:56 PM
Click here to send your NFL and Super
Bowl questions and comments to Peter King.
APPLETON, Wis. -- In this all-American town for the midwest's biggest
sports banquet of the year, I chuckled at Vikings fan Paul Molitor
's remarks about Atlanta's win over Minnesota Sunday at the Metrodome.
Minnesotan Molitor was clearly still feeling some heartbreak.
"My throat's still a little bit red," Molitor told 1,700
banqueteers. (Is there such a word?) "Residual side effect of that
choking on Sunday."
Molitor was just kidding, I think. It was the kind of line you think up for
the rubber-chicken circuit. The Packer nuts in the house loved it, of
course. But all references to choking aside, I still can't figure it out,
and neither can all of Appleton from what I heard. Everybody who talked
about that game with me asked the same thing: Why'd the most prolific
offense in NFL history -- with the score tied at 27, with a third-and-three
at their own 30, with two timeouts left and 30 seconds to play -- sit on a
tie and play for overtime?
I've got to say that it was one of the worst coaching decisions I've ever
seen. Minnesota coach Dennis Green did a great job this year, but
if he doesn't wake up and stare at the ceiling in the next few days and say
out loud: "Boy, I screwed that one up," then he's not being
honest with himself.
It would be one thing if the Vikings had been at some risk by attacking at
that point. But the Falcons were out of timeouts. Minnesota could have
thrown a short one for the first down and called time with 24 seconds left.
Then they would have had three sideline plays -- or two sideline throws and
one in-bounds to get the 30 yards necessary to get Gary Anderson into
field-goal position so that he could redeem himself.
Incredible. You're the best offense in the world. You're on the home
carpet. You have Randy
Moss. You have the crowd. And you sit on it, hoping to win a coin flip
in overtime. And in 26 percent of all overtime games played in NFL history,
the team that won the toss scored on the first possession and the team that
lost the toss never got a sniff at the ball. This is strategy?
I'm incredulous, as is Appleton.
Now for your questions:
In your Monday Morning QB, you said you are already sick of
Reeves-Elway stories. Okay, what are the less apparent/more compelling
story lines we should be looking out for over the next two weeks?
-- Don Lambritten, Boulder, Colo.
The two I like:
1. We keep looking for Atlanta to implode. But the Falcons are 22-4
over their last 26 games, and no one wins at an 85 percent clip in the NFL
unless they're really good. Who are the front seven guys making it happen
on defense?
2. Why does Chris
Chandler look better than John Elway right now? Elway
looked 53 Sunday in beating the Jets. Chandler's supposed to be made of
papier-mache, but he looks pretty mentally steely to me.
This is more of a comment and observation: I look forward to reading
your MMQB column every week, but for you to give the Falcons a courtesy
mention in your column, yet spew the accolades on a Denver team that was
expected to win their game with Offensive AND Defensive Player of the Week
honors, well....it rings of "Terrell, please be my friend." Chris
Chandler had to put up with the loudest NFL stadium there is, and not only
did the Falcons not false start or use any timeouts because of the noise,
he drew the Vikings offside four times. Oh, yeah, he also threw for 340
yards, three touchdowns and NO interceptions in an incredibly hostile
environment. Sounds like a performance of a lifetime, but hey, Terrell Davis broke a 100
yards and you think his Chunky Soup commercial is a hoot. GIVE THE FALCONS
THEIR DUE, MMQB!!!!!!!
-- Kyle C. Romeo, Atlanta Ga.
Why do I think if you weren't a Falcons fan you wouldn't have cared who the
MMQB players of the week were?
I agree with you that Chandler was spectacular Sunday, against all odds.
He's proven to me and to America that he's a big-timer, and the Falcons
would have lost that game without him, as sure as we're arguing here. My
thought process, simply, was this: The Jets are pretty good. Elway was a
lost sheep for 90 percent of Sunday's game. Terrell Davis has now rushed
for 199 and 167 yards in the two playoff games, the second of which they'd
have lost by two scores without him, in my opinion. He now has as many
100-yard rushing games in playoff history as any back who's ever played.
Your argument for Chandler is a loyal and valid one. I just liked Davis'
performance better Sunday.
What are your thoughts about combined coach/general manager positions,
given that so many new hires are looking to do both and yet many recently
fired coaches were axed because of their bad personnel decisions?
-- Patrick Lawrence, Waterloo, Ontario
Look at the NFL Final Four this year. Dan Reeves coaches and
acts as general manager, for all intents and purposes. Bill Parcells
and Mike Shanahan do, too. And Dennis Green is the
master of his domain, even though technically he's not making every
decision. This is a cyclical issue. A few years ago, owners frothed over
Ron Wolf and Bobby Beathard , and the tide will turn again
when the new crop of maturing GM-types start drafting winners.
What's the latest on the Bears' coaching situation?
--
Circle Glen, Chicago
It could be decided by the time you read this. I hear Mike McCaskey
really likes Sherm Lewis , the Packers offensive coordinator.
I think it'll come down to Lewis, Arizona defensive coordinator Dave
McGinnis or Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Pendry .
Looking to next year, will the Broncos start Bubby Brister or Brian Griese at
quarterback?
-- Joe Danville, Athens, Ga.
I asked Mike Shanahan that very same question the other day in Denver. He
told me that Bubby will be his man, but that Griese would get time during
the year. One thing's for sure: Shanahan's not looking for a quarterback
this offseason.
Why do you think Ron Wolf hired a defensive coach in Ray Rhodes instead
of an offensive-minded one like Brian Billick ?
-- Frank
Conoscenti, Wilson, N.C.
One of the most underrated things about coaching (and it keeps rearing its
head in places like New England, Baltimore and Washington) is that players
must have some fear of the man who coaches them. The players must feel, in
some way, that the head coach will fire them if they screw up too often,
and that the head coach will stop at nothing to win games. And when Wolf
went looking for a coach, he thought that element was very important. If Brett Favre gets out of
line and needs some verbal slapping, Wolf knows Rhodes is up for the job. I
think he was the best man for the Packers. And at this banquet in Appleton,
I was impressed to hear Rhodes soothe the masses thusly: "I assure
everyone that I will not tinker with what's not broke." But, he told
me before the dinner, he will tinker with what needs tinkering. He knows he
needs corner help, and more consistent play from the two lines, and some
healthy receivers.
Will New Orleans look to sign Kerry Collins during the
offseason, or go quarterback shopping?
-- Earl West, Abita
Springs, La.
Collins likes Mike Ditka and could end up back in New Orleans. But
I think he'll play the field and see if anyone gives him a better deal.
It'll be interesting to see if any other team gives him the chance to come
to camp with a promise to compete for the starting job. I mean real
competition. I don't think he's earned the luxury of getting a job handed
to him. And remember, if he stays in New Orleans, he's got Billy Joe Tolliver and Billy Joe Hobert to beat
out, and both have turned over new leaves from their formerly wild days. On
a level field I'm not sure that Collins can beat them out.
Which players were you surprised were left unprotected for the
expansion draft?
-- Jim Phipps, Edmonton
Two guys: Chicago tackle Andy Heck, who two years
ago surrendered zero sacks, and New England guard Todd Rucci, a solid NFL
starter. Most of the rest is flotsam.
Who are the jewels of the expansion draft?
-- Marlon
Emanuel, Columbus, Ohio
Who are the most underrated players in the Browns' expansion draft?
-- Chris Letter, Cleveland
I will answer these in tandem, with a top 10 list of candidates after
speaking with a couple of pro personnel men in the league last week:
1. T Andy Heck, Chicago.
2. G Todd Rucci, New England.
3. DT Antonio
Anderson, Dallas.
4. DT Marcus Jones,
Tampa Bay. Anderson and Jones, a former first-rounder who never played well
for Tony Dungy, would be effective in a tackle rotation.
5. C-G Jim Pyne,
Detroit.
6. QB Gus Frerotte,
Washington.
7. CB Antonio
Langham, San Francisco. Pricey and toasted, but corners of any quality
are hard to find.
8. KR-WR Desmond
Howard. Hometown hero.
9. RB-KR Chuck
Levy, San Francisco. But the 49ers could pull him back if Langham is
chosen first.
10. WR Willie
Davis, Tennessee.
Sleepers: St. Louis RB Jerald Moore, Tennessee G
Erik Norgard, New
Orleans WR Qadry
Ismail, Chicago LB Jim
Schwantz, Indianapolis G Tom Myslinski.
What are the Chiefs looking for in their next head coach?
-- Ben Prell, Platte City, MO
I talked to Kansas City president and GM Carl Peterson the other
night, and it sounded like toughness was high on his agenda. "I need a
guy, quite frankly, to get these guys' attention," said Peterson.
"We didn't have the control of this team that we've had in the
past." My gut tells me if Dom Capers can prove to Peterson
he's got a tough edge, he'll be the choice. If not, it'll be current Chiefs
defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham .
What is your opinion on Jimmy Johnson's resignation and return?
-- Tommy, Miami
It's legit. Johnson told me after his mother's funeral that he was
melancholy -- I never knew that word was in his dictionary -- and I got the
impression he was questioning how much he'd ignored his family over the
years. I talked to one of his best friends the night this all came down,
and the guy said: "It's legit. Jimmy's had it." And as I wrote in
Scorecard of Sports Illustrated this week, Wayne Huizenga
and Dan Marino
quasi-nagged it out of him the next morning.
What exactly is Dave Wannstedt's role with the Dolphins? He's not the
offensive coordinator, he's not the defensive coordinator? What's the deal?
-- Jerry Mallon, Winnetka, Ill.
I don't think anyone knows yet. Wannstedt will take on some of the tasks
that Jimmy is tired of doing, like scouting at the Senior Bowl this week.
Johnson will groom him to be his successor, whatever that involves.
Has Warren Moon
retired? If not, which team will he play for in 1999? What's his status in
Mike Holmgren's book?
-- Wallace Nelson, Kingston, Jamaica
Moon wants to play one more year, and he'll meet with Mike Holmgren in the
next few days to determine his status with the team. I think he'll have to
take a salary hit to stay with the Seahawks, and he'll balk, so he'll have
to find another home. My guess is San Diego, where Ryan Leaf still badly
needs a mentor.
Loved your review of Life is Beautiful, and I went to go see it
on your recommendation. You were right. It was great. I love Peter King,
Movie Reviewer. What's your early favorite for Best Picture, and to make
this question just a little bit football related, what do you think is the
best football movie ever?
-- Paul Barber, Minneapolis,
Minn.
Pictures of the Year:
1. Life is Beautiful
2. Saving Private Ryan
3. Buffalo 66
I think North Dallas Forty is the alltime best football movie, but
it's a very, very weak crop. Best sports movie ever: Hoosiers,
followed closely by Bang The Drum Slowly.
See you at the Super Bowl.
Click here to send your NFL and Super
Bowl questions and comments to Peter King.
| Related information |
| Multimedia |
 Click here for the latest audio and video
|
| Search our site |
Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day |
|
|
Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI. |
| 
