What Does a 'Norseman' Know Anyway?

by LoveHate on Nov 30, 2009 9:13 AM CST

"A very specific visual passed through my head Thursday night as I considered the Jay Cutler trade from a NFC North-wide perspective. I thought of a man grappling for stability on the rough side of a mountain, slipping ever so slightly while creating 10 vertical lines in the direction of his descent.

The man wore a Helga hat and Viking horns. A bear clawed at his feet." - Kevin Seifert, ESPN NFC North Blogger on the Bears acquisition of Jay Cutler 04/03/09.

No one said you have to know anything to be a blogger, but C'mon Man!

However, our site's lead writer Gonzo was nearly prescient in an article examining the myth behind Cutler being a top tier quarterback and what his presence in the division meant, while basically predicting the struggles that Cutler has realized since his arrival in the Windy City. Despite the reassurances from Gonzo to keep our cool regarding team trajectory and divisional supremacy, it appears many a Norseman were caught up in the drama that surrounded Cutler. It might have been interesting to see how many Norsemen thought the Cutler acquisition catapulted the Bears to NFC North supremacy. History will only reflect that nearly two-thirds of poll respondents believed there would be just one or two games separating the division foes when it was all said and done.

Poll

As it stand now the Minnesota, 5-0 in the division, leads the North dvision by three games, with Chicago six games out with no chance of winning the division. How sweet it is!

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.

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Comments

In the beginning

when Crybaby Cutler demanded his trade, I thought, why not? The kid has talent, but so did Ryan Leaf. After a few weeks and hearing from a few Broncos fans here in N.M., I started looking into him a little more, and realized he was more like Leaf then just physical possibilities. He also had just a wee bit anger issues and the pouty face. After seing his attitude steadily degrading before he got shipped to Chi-town, my attitude on him turned a full 180. His physical skills were not worth the hassle of his “me”, Where is Mommy and Daddy attitude. And that is something the Bears fans are finding out. And the bad part of that is, they are stuck with him unless they can find a taker in a trade or cut him out right which will count against the cap. While that wont be this year obviously, I wouldnt be suprised to see that in 3 years.

"If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk."
"That is the craziest sonofabitch I ever saw, how many more like him do you think are up there?"
"We have clearance Clearance. Roger Rodger, what's our vector Victor?"

by VikesFaninNM on Nov 30, 2009 9:58 AM CST reply actions

Cutler trade OUCH!

Not only is Crybaby not performing but 2 1st round draft choices. Man, Chicago might be next years cellar dweller in the NFC Norris. I’m sure the Lions will be glad to give it up to the Bears.

by iowaron on Nov 30, 2009 10:57 AM CST up reply actions

+1

and maybe the year after that also.

by midnightwonder on Nov 30, 2009 11:43 AM CST up reply actions

In Fairness

to Seifert, if you actually read his column/post, he does not say that the Bears’ acquisition of Cutler necessarily meant that the Bears would win the Division. Instead, he says basically nothing, other than that the trade would prove to be a watershed moment for the future of the NFC North — a thesis that I believe we would all agree with. Seifert pointed out that if it didn’t work, the Bears would be stuck without draft picks for awhile, sealing their fate.

As for Gonzo’s prognosis, it appears to have been dead-on. But, things could change in a few years (or maybe next year if Favre and Pat Williams retire, and Winfield and Kevin Williams and McKinnie start to show their age).

I am all for holding people accountable for their rants. But those who want to do so should be held accountable as well.

TiggerSr

by TiggerSr on Nov 30, 2009 12:58 PM CST reply actions

“I’ve been on record suggesting the Vikings should pursue Cutler with the same aggression with which they’ve built the rest of their roster.” K. Seifert

Pseudo journalism aside, the intent of the article should have been missed. From the title to the initial quote to the Viking living with two institutional ramifications to the quote above it is pretty clear Seifert was on the Cutler to Bears bandwagon. Noting the cost and future ramifications doesn’t let him off the hook, its baseline.

by LoveHate on Nov 30, 2009 2:01 PM CST up reply actions

the intent should NOT have been missed!

by LoveHate on Nov 30, 2009 4:50 PM CST up reply actions

Cutler trade is a Viking warning

Viking fans wanted a new quarterback last year. They probably will want another when Farve retires, or gets injured. Then the talk will start as to moving up in the draft and spending High draft choices for the right guy. All Q.B.s come with a risk. Chicago tried to lower the risk by picking a chosen player ( like we did with Jared Allen).
Lets keep this is mine when we analyze how our team approaches solving the future QB problem.

by lifelongvike on Nov 30, 2009 1:19 PM CST reply actions

I agree

with the fact that trying to move up in the draft doesnt mean squat in the QB department. Look at all the 1st overall pick bust’s. JaMarcus Russell, Alex Smith, Tim Couch, David Carr and dishonorable mention to Ryan “Meltdown” Leaf who was 2nd pick over all but many said was worthy of #1. My thought is it’s not a bad idea to see what falls through the cracks as well. In that I mean there have been some very familiar faces that have been drafted towards the end of the 1st round all the way towards the final round as below. (Round then overall)

Aaron Rodgers, 1st, #24
Kyle Orton 4th, #106
Drew Brees 2nd, #32
Doug Flutie (I will always include him out of pure respect) 11th, #285
Matt Hasselbeck 6th #187
Tom Brady 6th, #199 and finally…….

Brett Favre 2nd, #33

I’m also giving honorable mention to Tyler Thigpen 7th, 217 as he should never had been let go by the Vikings. So yes, I would not hesitate the draft route, but would hesitate trading to draft top of the 1st, over pay someone only to have them bust. Also, I wouldnt mind trading for a prospect, like Thigpen, who has a couple of years watching from the sidelines and who could still be acquired relatively cheap. As for a veteran, I would be really suprised we could get someone close to Favre’s career calibur with out giving up alot of picks or players or both. And something tells me alot of folks in here would would rather not do that out of fear for the “Walker effect”.

by VikesFaninNM on Nov 30, 2009 2:43 PM CST up reply actions

The Ever-Present QB Question

The QB question is never far from my thoughts. I love having a solid, good vet behind the center again, but I know that as well as Favre is holding up now, it can’t last forever. We’ll be fortunate to get that second year out of him, and anything beyond that is pure butter.

I was in the same head-space as VikeFaninNM on the Cutler situation earlier this year, he really looked like the perfect answer. He was the one we thought the Vikings were going to draft, in Denver he looked solid and proven. Giving up a #1 pick for a #1 pick is a wash, so giving up 2 #1s didn’t seem excessive for a ‘guaranteed’ franchise QB for the next 15 years.

I didn’t consider the intangibles on him, though. I thought those were within the acceptable range since he had performed well in Denver…. I was wrong.

Jackson is ever the question mark… I think he’s readier now than he was last year, he’s constantly improving; I’d hate to let him go without a serious chance to step up. Nothing more frustrating than watching the Vikings let a guy go who then turns out to be a future HoF’er… for someone else. Seen too much of that, I’d rather they play this more cautiously.

Rosenfels…. I just don’t know. He’s had his flashes with the Texans, he might be ok, but back in the pre-season he was a mess. If they had to let a QB go, I think it needs to be Rosey.

The draft is such a crap-shoot… you try to minimize the risks, but as noted above, there’s another Ryan Leaf waiting out there to bite some team in the arse. We have a rich QB crop this year so we ought to be able to find a good prospect in there, somewhere….

I have a suggestion for the Vikings this year; ask Favre whom he thinks are the best prospects, sit him down in front of a week’s worth of film on the top 10 prospects and have him rank them for the qualities he thinks are most important for NFL success, AND with the understanding that he may be picking his future understudy. The Vikings have done pretty good with their drafting and acquisition, in every category except QB. At least Favre knows what he’s talking about, and with his background, you don’t want him to feel like anyone’s dealing behind his back or trying to supplant him. Make him part of the process.

Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!
SKOL!

by DCPurple on Nov 30, 2009 9:16 PM CST up reply actions

Well said

Lets not forget that when drafted coach Childress said he drafted a QB that had never had QB coaching before. T-Jax came from a Division ll school. He was a blank slate with great potential. Since Sage can’t beat him out of 2nd spot I suspect Childress likes his development. I’m not giving up on T-Jax just yet.

by lifelongvike on Dec 1, 2009 6:52 AM CST up reply actions