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Vikings may steal another quarterback

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Posted: Saturday April 03, 1999 10:11 AM

Could the Minnesota Vikings be getting the steal of the free-agency season? They could. And very soon.

Within two weeks, the NFL's millenium leper, quarterback Jeff George, will meet with Vikings coach Dennis Green, and if everything goes well, George -- last with Oakland -- should back up Randall Cunningham this fall.

Just look what Green did with his last reclamation project: Cunningham was some folks' MVP last season and George could be a carbon copy. He's still plenty young, at 31. He's still got the fastest gun in the west, when healthy. He's staring his football mortality in the face. And he has three other things in common with the Cunningham of 1996: NFL coaches and GMs think he can't win, he's selfish and, most importantly, he'll work for something near the NFL minimum. The Vikings, and George, have nothing to lose.

Look out, you may catch a draft

Circle two dates on your pre-draft calendar. They're the only two that count. Next Wednesday, April 7, Texas running back Ricky Williams works out for NFL scouts in San Diego. If he runs around a 4.4 40 and if he's near his playing weight of 225 pounds, he could shake up the top of the draft. Some team might be in the mood -- Arizona, most likely, or New Orleans -- to move heaven and earth to move up to get Williams. Then on Sunday, April 11, quarterback Tim Couch works out for the Browns -- for a second time. If he throws more bullets than he did at his NFL workout a month ago, he could solidify his number one standing with Cleveland. As of now, Couch is still in a down-the-stretch horserace with Oregon quarterback Akili Smith.

Quite a gem

There's far too much emphasis these days placed on personal workouts before the draft, but this week Arizona State cornerback Chris McAlister dispelled questions about his cover ability by running the 40 in 4.38 seconds. Tall corners with speed are the rarest of NFL secondary jewels, and that one sprint should ensure his place in the top dozen picks two weeks from now.

Times have changed

Finally, Jerry Jones' 10-year anniversary as owner of the Cowboys is upon us. And if you want a sign of the NFL times since Jones bought into the league, it is this: When Jones took over the Cowboys, you could buy a ticket to a Dallas game for $25. Now you can buy a nice parking space, per game, for $25.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL and appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN's NFL Preview.

 

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