Carter's Final Season

We all knew the time was coming for the most prolific receiver in Viking history to hang up his cleats and the announcement has been made. All he did was catch touchdowns. Chris Carter has announced that this would be his final season in the NFL. At a banquet in his home town of Middletown, OH, Carter said this was to be his last season. During the speech he said, "my dream is realized it's come true. I don't want to play one extra day and deny another man from wearing the #80 jersey and keep him from enjoying the kind of opportunities that I've had". If there is any justice in this world no other player will ever wear a #80 jersey for the Vikings again.

Carter has solidified his place in both the Vikings record books as well as the NFL record books. He is currently #2 all time in receptions (1,020) and touchdowns (123). He holds the Vikings all time records in touchdown receptions with 104 and receiving yards with 11,512. Carter has 12,962 yds and has played in 213 games over his stellar career along with eight consecutive Pro Bowl selections. His next football stop will certainly be enshrinement in Canton.

Now the question is raised...Does Moss stay in Minnesota? Moss certainly has the talent to break all of Carter's record with the Vikes and will certainly break Rice's records if he stays healthy. Does he want to stay in Minnesota without Carter? Can he excel without a star receiver on the other side of the ball from him? When Carter and Moss are both on the field the defense is stumped. Who do you spend the most energy on trying to stop? Now with the possibility of just Moss in the line-up the defense can just worry about him and not have the threat of another Pro Bowl receiver. It will be interesting to see if Moss signs a long term deal now.

(Food for thought! Jan)

-- Jan Zumbo (dvt99@aol.com), May 11, 2001