not a big deal but cassell didn’t lead the patriots to the postseason, just an 11-5 record

1. T-Jack
2. Carson Palmer

As good as McNabb and Garcia both looked this year, I am fearful of how much tread is left on those tires. Minnesota should find a guy that is young but isn’t a complete unknown in the arena of professional football. I would love to see Derrik Anderson or Matt Cassel come to Minnesota.

His name was brought up a while back and I like the idea of him in purple. He’s more proven than a Matt Cassell or a Derek Anderson. He’s 33 years old coming off an injury filled 2008 season. If he can come back after those injuries, he could be the perfect QB for the Vikings. I bet he’d be really good at handing the ball off to Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor — he had an MVP running back in Shaun Alexander a few years back. I could see him throwing it deep to Bernard and Sidney (hoping for a better 2009 from the kid) and dumping it off over the middle to Bobby Wade and Visanthe "Shiancoe. He seems to be a good leader on the field and wouldn’t mind taking a back seat to Purple Jesus.
He’s not a free agent, but it’s up in the air whether or not he’ll be back with the Seahawks for 2009. The trade history between the Vikings and the Seahawks might make it a little harder for us to get him, but I could us getting him for a 2nd round draft pick — much less than what we’d have to dish out for Matt Cassell.

He is a free agent, coming off surgery and Baltimore will almost certainly release him now that they have Flacco and Smith.

He may not be the answer, but it since he could be had for almost nothing, it is worth bringing him in to work out and complete with TJ.

I haven’t heard Kurt Warner’s name thrown into this discussion yet. He’s younger than Favre (barely) and will be a free agent if the Cards don’t resign him (which would be crazy stupid if you ask me). If the time is now then shouldn’t his name be in the mix?

It’s just a matter of Childress admitting that we need help, and the front office pulling the trigger on a deal. Teams out there that have a QB to spare such as Cleveland, New England, and Houston among others, are in need of other pieces to complete their championship puzzle. That’s where the extra draft pick we trade for their backup QB comes in. They need something, we need something, a deal is made.

I don’t understand this ongoing faithfulness to Jackson and the broken record that is “given more time and another offseason of ‘learning’ and he’ll be ready”. This is a dangerously trusting attitude to have given Jackson’s results have been tipping heavily toward the poor side. And how much time is going to be enough anyway?

AustinVike even says the following in his paragraph on Jackson as our starting option: “On the other hand, he has made some brilliant plays on the field, albeit sparingly at times”.

What brilliant plays has he ever made? Isn’t it more like we see so many boneheaded plays that when we see an adequate one, we may be forced to view it as “brilliant” by comparison?

Part of the support some people have for Jackson as our starter is to make an excuse that given Childress’ conservative playcalling, Jackson doesn’t get enough opportunities to show what he’s got. Now, I’m far from a Childress defender when it comes to the offense he claims is kick-ass. But lets open ourselves up to the possibility that Childress is giving Jackson all he thinks he can handle…and he still can’t handle it.

And can it all be the fault of the offense and none of the blame go to the man who is executing it? Really, is Childress making call after call for Jackson to throw the ball in front of the first down marker on third and 8 or is it that Jackson only sees that man open because it’s the easier read?

And another defense for Jackson is the strong finish he had to this season, which proves how he has turned things around. Sure it’s possible that he has turned it around when you look at his numbers in the Atlanta, Arizona, and Giants games, but remember the situations in which he put up those stats:

Arizona: Often regarded as Jackson’s strongest game, I would have to also add that it was our defenses’ finest hour as well. They allowed the dangerous Cardinals offense to score a single offensive TD, and gave the ball to our offense with a short field. So Jackson was able to take a short field against a defense that #1 wasn’t very good that day, and #2 was geared up to stop Peterson (which they didn’t since he had 165 yards anyway). It’s great that he had 4 tds but was it his stellar play that won that game? And answer this: would Frerotte have had any worse of a game if he were healthy and in the same situation that the defense had given Jackson? Sure, there is something to be said for not screwing up in that nice situation the defense set you up in, but if that’s the yardstick we’re measuring our QB by, we’re really setting the bar pretty low.

Atlanta: Peterson and Jackson turned the ball over so many times (6 if I remember correctly) and gave Atlanta an early lead, making it very difficult to post a comeback. All the Falcons defense had to do was stop Peterson (and AP did a lot of that himself) and play deep coverage to keep us from going downfield. So then, with coverage backed off, Jackson threw the ball 36 times for 233 yards and 2 TDs. Nice numbers, but who couldn’t do that against such a defense? And we did lose the game when we needed a win.

New York: In a game in which many Giants starters were on the bench for the best part of three quarters, our offense sputtered worse than it had most of the latter part of the season. Jackson put up 239 yards and threw a 54 yard TD to Berrian to go along with an interception. Peterson was once again the target of the defense, going for 103 yards and a TD on 21 carries, but take away his 67 yard TD and he rushed for for 36 yards and an average of 1.8 yds/carry. In other words, the defense did shut him down and Jackson kind-of took advantage. That’s good, and it’s what he should be doing with the best RB in the NFL behind him, but how often does he take advantage? And considering the Giants scored only 19 points (4 FGs and a TD), couldn’t we credit the defense with this win too?

Philadelphia: Not much to say here. He looked lost all game and telegraphed the interception Samuel took back for a TD like he was a rookie making his first start. Yes, the Eagles defense is good (but not great) and yes, Jackson is still technically a “young” QB. But he’s started 14 games and played in 23 games, yet he’s still doing the same things he did and in the same way that he did them in his first games. After all of the practice and game experience, shouldn’t that stuff be showing up a lot less now?

I liked this article until you actually said that you like Tavaris Jackson! You said that you liked his ability to run the football. well I guess then we should get rid of Adrian Peterson and put Tavaris at runningback. Last I heard Quarterbacks aren’t known for running the football! I would sacrifice his running ability for him actually being able to make multiple reads and run an offense under pressure. Wow, your probably the guy who keeps advocating Vince Young and Mike Vick. This isn’t college football. We don’t need a scrambler. Ask the Arizona Cardinals if they think Kurt Warner should lose his job cause he cannot make things happen with his feet.

P.S. Matt Cassel did not make the playoffs.

David Carr is hidden away and forgotten behind Eli. I think he was an unfortunate #1 pick who had to play behind a horrendous O-line for too many years. At times he’s looked great and at other times he’s been horrible.

Dennis Dixon. Steelers #3 QB who’s aching to get his shot. Would have been a top 10 pick and was a Heisman candidate until the late season knee injury.

Gems or glass???

Lots of good stuff to mull over. With that thought in mind I have to say (again) That the most practical options for the Vikes would be -

1. Jackson
2. Carson Palmer
   I know that Cincy has Palmer locked up but in the NFL as in life everything is for sale. For the right price. I just don’t see the logic in making a run at another teams backup in hopes that we will somehow be able to turn him into something that almost assuredly will never happen. Sage Rosenfels? Isn’t he backing up Matt Schaub? What has Shaub done? Derrick Anderson? How about this . Brady Quinn sits atop this guy. Lets see who else. Oh yeah. Matt Cassell. Sure.
   Our other option is to pursue a vet with a year or two left in them. Reminds me of the whole Montana to KC thing. Yuck. This team is being built for the long haul. We need someone that will lead in unison with the younger talent we have now. Going after a short timer feels panicky and desperate of which I feel that we are neither. In fact I’m of the thought that we have a bit more luxury at the QB position than most may think. I’m with austinvike. I think the kid can play. I started to see what Jackson could do in the Denver game back in 07’ Of course he came out this past year and stunk it up badly and yes I was miserable. But my misery was as much a product of my distorted expectations as Jackson’s play. ( he did pretty much suck though). Any way, after that AZ game this year I was ready to go out and buy a #7 jersey. Confidence restored.
   If we bag the entire Jackson thing than make a run at a proven that will be around for years to come. Pay up and be done with it. Either way it’ll cost pretty much the same. Although extracting Palmer from Cincy and signing him in minny (and he would come) is at best very remote it’s the only option other than TJack that intrigues me.

Bring in someone just in case, and to compete, but Tarvaris has improved, and is playing at a higher level then last year. granted he’s prone to make some mistakes, but look at the draft class he’s in. The heralded Matt Leinart and Vince Young can’t say that they’ve been throwing better, and Jay Cutler is the clear cut best. Give him the entire playbook, one whole year, and another playmaker and he can be what we need.

Why does everyone believe we should give up on the draft. What if Mark Sanchez drops? He could grow under the tutelage of Brad Childress:eyeroll: and T-Jack for a few seasons.

Palmer is the best option although it’s not realistic… I have been wanting Carson in Minny for the last 2 seasons. Especially knowing how good his character is along with his level of talent and leadership. He does not fit with the termoil and goofyness of the bengals other players and orginization. Their like us under Mike Tice a few years back. You know Carson is dying to get out of their but realistically it’s tooo much compensation and how credible is the rumor regarding his name surfacing in all of this mess surrounding Vikes. You need the 2 back system in the NFL. I would hate to see Taylor used as bait but if were gonna gamble then I second that we better pick up Hightower or Sproles. Cassel is a good option although risky but I agree he is one of the better possabilities out there than all the other junk available. I think the one thing we are missing is the fact that no matter who the QB or RB’s, etc. the Vikes need to bring in a solid posession #1 calibur reciever to go along with Berrien as a deep threat otherwise we still may fall short of our ultimate goal. Berrien is just that and the rest of our recievers our roll players at best. Maybe give away Wade or Allison or one of the other recievers along with picks and possibly Taylor to nab Palmer if this is true and remotely possible. Add Tjack as part of the package. I have lost all faith in him. I like Booty’s upside alot. I guess it depends on were the team thinks he’s at in his development. Lot of possibilities all around. Hope the team makes the wisest decision for the long term.