Vikings

Is Boredom a Good Enough Reason For a Change?

Photo Credit: Raj Mehta (USA TODAY Sports)

Boredom got a new best friend, and his name is Mike Zimmer. Let’s be honest with ourselves here: As a Vikings fan, do you really expect our purple pals to compete for a Super Bowl in 2021? Me neither. Unless your name is JP, and you played a supporting role alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s pre-teen character in the 1997 certified classic, Angels in the Outfield, welp, more power to ya.

While I’m sure we’ll touch on expectations and how they relate to the Minnesota Vikings at a later date during this offseason, today’s piece is going to be built around the sheer boredom that most of us are experiencing right now for the hometown Skols. After three years of the Zimmer and Kirk Cousins experience, it’s no secret that this is a marriage filled with discontent and an obligation to simply tolerate each other. Now, I’ll get ahold of myself before I turn this piece into a Joey Mulinaro/Colin Cowherd ridiculous sports analogy satire, but I’m pretty sure you get the gist.

I understand that we’re less than a month into the NFL offseason, but do you find yourself sitting in your man cave X-ing out your Vikings calendar with each passing day chomping at the bit for Week 1 of the 2021 season? I’m sure as hell not, and I’m fairly certain you should be on some kind of list if you are.

If you had to find the light at the end of the tunnel during February’s historic cold front by envisioning Dalvin Cook churning out 95 yards on approximately 54 touches, then maybe this piece isn’t exactly your cup of tea. That’s totally fine. I’m sure you and the rest of the Day One Skoldiers will share a good laugh at the North Branch bowling alley this coming weekend over the audacity of this piece.

But for the rest of us of sound football mind and body, is it really too much to ask for something different? While it’s obviously not in the cards this offseason (Or is it? Last I checked, Joe Brady is still without a head coaching job. Just sayin’…), is it really fair to force us to sit through another Vikings season where Zimmer will need every single bounce to go his exactly his way just so he can get blown out in the NFC Divisional round? And if he’s forced to overcome the occasional obstacle, will he fall back on his beloved injury excuse like we just saw a few months ago? Need I remind you that the Zimmster has only reached the postseason in three of his seven years as head coach of the Vikings. I’m no mathematician, but by my count, that’s more seasons of failure than success.

I can assure you, we’re not bringing the pitchforks out just yet. We’ve got a long way to go until the end of the 2021 NFL season. But the boredom that accompanies a sector of Vikings fans right about now can be directly attributed to the recurring shortcomings associated with the way this football team has decided to go about its business over the past decade.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not expecting the Vikings to change their Stone Age offensive philosophy now that Klint Kubiak is calling the plays since his old man retired (shocker — nepotism in the NFL coaching ranks strikes again). But let’s try the glass-half-full approach here for a change. Could Klint be the second coming of Kyle Shanahan, following his father’s footsteps, Mike, whose system groomed the elder Kubiak?

If we’re being honest, I’d feel a little more encouraged about Year 8 of the Mike Zimmer era as long as the Vikings bring in Milton Davis Jr. (you know, the actor who played JP in Angels in the Outfield) to sound the Gjallarhorn for Minnesota’s home opener at Spank Bank Stadium. But instead of leading the widely known, ripped-off Skol chant, the organization decides to pivot to the angel signal adopted by manager George Knox and Rodger, the one that helped push pitching legend and pack-a-day smoker Mel Clark over the hump, much to the dismay of Angels play-by-play broadcaster Ranch Wilder.

Now we’re talkin’.

Vikings
There’s Joy To Be Found In This Tumultuous Transition Period In Vikings History
By Tyler Haag - Mar 28, 2024
Vikings
Harrison Smith Has Become Minnesota’s Lone Survivor
By Kaleb Medhanie - Mar 27, 2024
Vikings

Andrew Van Ginkel Brings Versatility and Energy To Minnesota's Defense

Photo Credit: Raj Mehta (USA TODAY Sports)

When the NFL’s 2024 free-agency window opened, the Minnesota Vikings quickly attacked the defensive side of the ball, adding a trio of players, including Andrew Van Ginkel. […]

Continue Reading