I would be interested in knowing how each of you grades Red (and why) as an owner since buying the team

-- Mark (Karch 222@aol.com), March 09, 2001

Answers

Hmmm. While thinking about how I would grade Red, I asked myself what factors would I consider important in an owner...

First and foremost I would evaluate the owner's attitude towards spending the money necessary to build a championship team. My impression so far is that Red will rate well in this area. He may not be a Snyder or a Jones but he's surely going to be more generous than a Bidwell or a -gasp- "gang o' ten". At the same time, considering the salary cap hole the Vikings have dug themselves into, this may be a difficult category to evaluate.

Next I'd ask if he's done any "harm" since taking over the team. An argument could be made that the restructuring of management, including Green's dual role, has hurt. I don't believe that argument could convince me a truly harmful mistake was made by Red, however. I think the question to ask here is whether or not we feel the team is better off than it was under the previous ownership. I think we'd all agree that it is.

Finally I'd have to look at an owner's "enthusiasm" towards his team. It can be said that a Jerry Jones or an Al Davis are enthusiastic but with their micro-management styles I don't think I'd consider them to be "good" owners. At the same time, Red is obviously excited about his team (witness his purple pride campaign) yet seems to be savvy enough not to "interfere" in the running of the team when it's not appropriate. I also think his excitement has been contagious and has brought a renewed "spirit" back to those Minnesota fans who previously would have just as soon stayed home rather than watch the game in the dome. (Witness the increase in season ticket sales.)

With all that said, I guess I'd have to give Red a grade of B+ to this point. I may not agree with all of his decisions so far but after suffering through the last owners regime it's hard not to rate him high.

-- Clark (cdvike@mindspring.com), March 09, 2001.

I couldn't agree more Clark! Red has been a blessing to the team allowing the Vikings to post the best record in the NFL over the last 3 seasons! Now how can you argue with success? As in any business the bottom line is winning and despite the Vikings lack of supreme talent, witness the last 10 years of pitiful drafts, I'd say that the Vikings are still one of the elite teams in the NFL and will continue to be one as long as they can find a way to win! Now all they need to do is find a way to win the Super Bowl! Sure hope I can witness that while I'm still alive! -Peace, Kron

-- Chris (krondor105@aol.com), March 11, 2001.

I am in accord with Clark's line of analysis. I think the future will prove Red to be a better than average owner. Right now, the only problem I have with him is his seemingly blind faith in Green as an administrator. I think it will take about two to three years for the cap and stadium issues to clear; then, we will be better able to grade Both Green and Red.

-- John (Maccody@aol.com), March 11, 2001.

So Mark... Being that you posed the question, what are your thoughts on the subject? What grade would you give Red so far?

-- Clark (cdvike@mindspring.com), March 13, 2001.

I would give Red a D-. Regardless of last seasons jaunt into the NFC Championship game, this team has taken major strides backwards in each of Red's seasons with the team. Sure record wise last year would be an improvement, but if you think the Vikings of last year were anything near the level of the previous two years, you need to quit shooting up Mr. Brownstone. Red, and Denny, have consistently asked our Free Agents to make a choice between giving up money and being cut then they cry poverty and blame the stadium situation. I know the media spins it that they don't actually have to take a pay cut, just a redistribution, but look at the way they treat veterans. They cut their asses, so I guess it's more or less a take what you can get now because who knows what they are going to do later. The stadium situation was fully understood when Red bought this team for pennies on the dollar. He knew full well that the climate for a new crib was colder then a Minneapolis winter, yet now he claims that the team can not operate under these conditions. No one held a gun to his head to purchase this team. I still firmly believe that Red wants nothing more then to move this franchise. The unexpected success of the team on the field has hindered his plans, but by allowing the most unpopular man in the state to have free reign in its operations and likewise allowing him to chase off all of the talent, he will get what he wants in the end. I seriously look for Moss to balk at the table when it comes to an extension, and when he leaves town it will give Red exactly what he needs, a highly visible and unpopular example of why he needs a new dome. A lot of this can be called speculation, but I see nothing to lead me to believe that Red is trying to improve this team. We have done nothing more then stand pat in the FA market since he took over, in most cases allowing our top guns to leave town. We have released the 2 Vikings that most endeared themselves to the fans in McDaniel and Randle, and we have kept Richard Solomon employed despite everyone and their brother knowing how worthless he is. Red is a used car salesman, remember that always when you see shots of him yucking it up with his purple pride campaign. He would love to see a stadium built so that he can turn a fast buck, but he wouldn't cry over the opportunity to move the team to San Antonio or Los Angeles either.

IZ

-- Iz (izmorrow@aol.com), March 13, 2001.

Clark wrote>>>>So Mark... Being that you posed the question, what are your thoughts on the subject? What grade would you give Red so far?<<

Well, I was about to write a long opinion on Red. However, after reading IZ's post, I don't have much left to say. Well said, IZ. I have to give Red a "D" so far.

Soon after Red bought the team in the summer of '98, he gave Carter a big extension, following that up by spending big bucks on Stringer and RC. During the '99 offseason, he did what he had to do to re-sign the Vikes' key free agents. However, since then he hasn't spent squat on re-signing Viking free agents and he has yet to sign his first big money free agent from another team.

Look at the mass exodus of good players over the last two offseasons, including the current one. Our best DL could be journeyman Fernando Smith, while our best CB is a WR. At LB, McDaniel is on the downside and the rest aren't much to get excited about. On offense, we don't have a proven RB, and if Steussie is released, our once-strong OL becomes mediocre. Do we have a TE on the roster?

Red's recent edict of spending equal amounts of cash and cap is not good news and means the Vikes won't be spending much money anytime soon. Purple Pride? Yeah, right. Red is a carvival barker.

He not only keeps Denny around, despite the fact that he has proven he can't win the big one, but gives the guy a three year extension for big bucks. And for some unknown reason, he allows Denny to keep pimp Solomon around. In addition, let's not forget that he forced Executive of the Year Jeff Diamiond out.

Compared to the gang of 10, even a "D" grade looks good. However,

-- Mark (Karch 222@aol.com), March 14, 2001.

I see that my post was cut off. The last sentence should read: However, I expected more

-- Mark (Karch 222@aol.com), March 14, 2001.

Enlighten me, IZ and Mark.

In relation to the cap (as of February), only the Jaguars and the Chiefs were in worse shape than the Vikings as far as committed salaries for the 2001 season. The way I read it is the Vikes needed to cut $15 million in order for them to fit under the $67.4 mil cap.

Each of you are upset at Red over the Vikes recent failure to re-sign key [expensive] free agents. You are also upset because he has yet to sign his first big money free agent from another team. I'm curious how these things can be accomplished while managing to stay below the cap and without mortgaging the future? Seems to me the Vikes have already dug themselves into a hole. I don't see the options that you apparently see. What am I missing?

-- Clark (cdvike@mindspring.com), March 14, 2001.

Clark wrote>>>>Enlighten me, IZ and Mark. In relation to the cap (as of February), only the Jaguars and the Chiefs were in worse shape than the Vikings as far as committed salaries for the 2001 season. The way I read it is the Vikes needed to cut $15 million in order for them to fit under the $67.4 mil cap. Each of you are upset at Red over the Vikes recent failure to re-sign key [expensive] free agents. You are also upset because he has yet to sign his first big money free agent from another team. I'm curious how these things can be accomplished while managing to stay below the cap and without mortgaging the future? Seems to me the Vikes have already dug themselves into a hole. I don't see the options that you apparently see. What am I missing? <<<

Yes, the Vikes were well over the cap back in February. However, now only a few teams have MORE cap space than the Vikings.

Look at the Jaguars. They were $35 million over the cap, far more than the Vikes. Now, they are below the cap and the only key player they lost was Searcy. Meanwhile, the Vikes roster has faced another purge of key talent.

Restructure, restructure, restructure. That's how most of the Super Bowl winning teams have worked their cap magic in the salary cap era.

I didn't have a problem with Red from a financial standpoint until his recent edict of spending equal amounts of cap and cash. Sounds like the Bengals to me.

Then I also recently discovered that good old Red borrowed virtually all the money he used to purchase the Vikings from Chase Manhattan bank in NY at an interest rate of 12.5%. I understand that the loan will be paid back from team revenue. Hmmmm. Sound familiar?

And let's not forget that Red is a hypocrite.

When Randall McDaniel wanted the Vikes to live up to their promise of adjusting his contract, Red stated, "He has two years left on his contract and we would hope that he would respect that." He also brought up the Vikings new policy of not renegotiating contracts prior to their final year.

Denny chimed in by adding, "Randall has a contract and we expect him to live up to it."

However, then Red and Denny had the nerve to turn around and offer Randle, Steussie, and Cunningham pay cuts via renegotiated contracts. When these players preferred to play under the terms of their contracts and follow team policy by not renegotiating their contracts prior to their final year, they were cut.

Other players, including O. Thomas, E. McDaniel and Brad Badger, recently accepted paycuts. A paycut is a renegotiation. McDaniel and Thomas were not in the final years of their contracts.

In other words, this policy only seems to be in effect when it's to Red's benefit. In addition, Red expects players to live up to the full legnth of their contracts, but then has no problem cutting players before their contracts expire.

And let's not forget that Red likes to tell tall tales. Some may even call him a liar. He insisted Brad Johnson would not be traded. A couple of weeks later, he was traded. Shortly after buying the team he stated that he wouldn't even discuss and extension with Denny until the contract was in it's final year. Shortly after, Green was granted an extension. Red insisted he would not hire a GM. About a month later he did.

Last year, Red insisted the Vikes were $24 million over the cap. However, when the official numbers were released, they weren't even close. Viking Update, the home of the homers, accused Red of doing the same thing with this year's salary cap numbers. BTW, Headrick used to do this every year.

As a result, I wouldn't trust Re

-- Mark (Karch 222@aol.com), March 15, 2001.

I can't figure out why my posts keep getting cut off. That last sentence should read "As a result, I wouldn't trust Red when it comes to anything he says about not trying to move the team."

-- Mark (Karch 222@aol.com), March 15, 2001.

Also don't forget Red's quote after his initial bid to get the Vikings failed. It was something very close to "I am disappointed, but I will continue to try to get a team for San Antonio." You can of course read it different ways, but in my mind it was clear that his attempt to buy the Vikings was motivated by his want to bring a team to San Antonio. I still think he would rather get a stadium to increase the value of the team and turn a hefty profit, but I have no doubt that moving to San Antonio would not cause him to blink. I also think Dennis Green would love to move the team out of Minneapolis to spite the media that he despises. I think one can infer as to what these two have in mind when they talk about building for the future of this team. Viking Update reported today that when Steussie and his agent met with Green in a last effort to get something done, Green had actually reduced his offer. They also cited some info that Moss had said he would never play with Steussie again. Gee, I wonder who is running this mess? Either Green is an idiot, or Moss has him by the short hairs or both, which is my vote.

IZ

-- Iz (izmorrow@aol.com), March 15, 2001.

Mark wrote: << Yes, the Vikes were well over the cap back in February. However, now only a few teams have MORE cap space than the Vikings. Look at the Jaguars. They were $35 million over the cap, far more than the Vikes. Now, they are below the cap and the only key player they lost was Searcy. Restructure, restructure, restructure. That's how most of the Super Bowl winning teams have worked their cap magic in the salary cap era. <<

From jaguarsnfl.com [See article with Tom Donahoe's comments: Jaguars not only team facing cap recovery]

The Jaguars had to cut 15 players in 48 hours, and re-structure the contracts of their entire veteran roster, to extinguish $38 million of salary cap bulge by March 2. They did it and, just maybe, they learned their lesson. "We're still not in good position because we only have 45 players under contract.

(Any idea how many players the Vikes have under contract?)

"The difficulty I see anywhere that re-structures contracts is that all you're doing is pushing money into the future," he said. - cut- "There are so many teams in the league in (cap) trouble that (free agency) has become pretty watered down. The only big deal is Marcellus Wiley," Donahoe said. "Teams are trying to be more sensible with their spending. There are some teams that kind of mortgaged their futures and they learned from that."

It seems to me that the Vikings can be included in that list of teams who have mortgaged their future and learned from it. This from the Pioneer press article about Steussie...

http://www.pioneerplanet.com/vikingsnow/vik_docs/036608.htm

The Vikings continue to clear their salary cap of a glut of expensive deals from 1998, meaning they shouldn't have to make such drastic cuts in the coming offseasons. In an effort to make another championship run in 1999, the Vikings re-signed a handful of veterans such as Randle, Steussie, Smith, receiver Cris Carter and quarterback Randall Cunningham to costly deals that included sizable signing bonuses. Except for Carter, the rest of the players no longer are with the team, yet they'll still count more than $17 million against this season's salary cap.

I still don't see how the Vikes are in a position to keep their key high priced free agents and/or pick up high priced free agents from another team. Restructuring (as Mark suggests) appears to have been a major factor in the current cap mess and doesn't seem to be a satisfactory solution at this time. I get the impression McCombs/Green are using this season to repair their cap woes.

-- Clark (cdvike@mindspring.com), March 16, 2001.

Clark wrote>>>>

Mark wrote: << Yes, the Vikes were well over the cap back in February. However, now only a few teams have MORE cap space than the Vikings. Look at the Jaguars. They were $35 million over the cap, far more than the Vikes. Now, they are below the cap and the only key player they lost was Searcy. Restructure, restructure, restructure. That's how most of the Super Bowl winning teams have worked their cap magic in the salary cap era. << From jaguarsnfl.com [See article with Tom Donahoe's comments: Jaguars not only team facing cap recovery] The Jaguars had to cut 15 players in 48 hours, and re-structure the contracts of their entire veteran roster, to extinguish $38 million of salary cap bulge by March 2. They did it and, just maybe, they learned their lesson. "We're still not in good position because we only have 45 players under contract. (Any idea how many players the Vikes have under contract?) "The difficulty I see anywhere that re-structures contracts is that all you're doing is pushing money into the future," he said. - cut- "There are so many teams in the league in (cap) trouble that (free agency) has become pretty watered down. The only big deal is Marcellus Wiley," Donahoe said. "Teams are trying to be more sensible with their spending. There are some teams that kind of mortgaged their futures and they learned from that." It seems to me that the Vikings can be included in that list of teams who have mortgaged their future and learned from it. This from the Pioneer press article about Steussie... http://www.pioneerplanet.com/vikingsnow/vik_docs/036608.htm The Vikings continue to clear their salary cap of a glut of expensive deals from 1998, meaning they shouldn't have to make such drastic cuts in the coming offseasons. In an effort to make another championship run in 1999, the Vikings re-signed a handful of veterans such as Randle, Steussie, Smith, receiver Cris Carter and quarterback Randall Cunningham to costly deals that included sizable signing bonuses. Except for Carter, the rest of the players no longer are with the team, yet they'll still count more than $17 million against this season's salary cap. I still don't see how the Vikes are in a position to keep their key high priced free agents and/or pick up high priced free agents from another team. Restructuring (as Mark suggests) appears to have been a major factor in the current cap mess and doesn't seem to be a satisfactory solution at this time. I get the impression McCombs/Green are using this season to repair their cap woes.<<<<

Of the 15 players the Jaguars reportedly cut, how many were starters or key players? The only one I see is Searcy.

There are basically two primary ways to create cap space:

#1: Restructure contracts.

#2: Cut Players.

Option #1 is generally used by those teams wishing to push the cap problems further into the future and keeping the window of opportunity open. Most of the teams that have won Super Bowls during the free agency era have chosen this option, including the Broncos, 49ers, Cowboys and Packers.

Do the salary cap bills eventually come due when you restructure contracts? For the most part, yes. However, most would consider that a small price to

-- Mark (Karch 222@aol.com), March 19, 2001.