Well, it's getting to be that time of year again, and since we know there are a lot of Viking fans out there, over the course of the next couple of weeks, yours truly will be looking at a few items that either you can either a) look into getting your fellow Viking fan, or b) drag your spousal unit to the computer and hint to them about getting for you.

Just another of the many services that I provide for you, the people.

Couple of other tidbits to take a look at. . .

-Apparently, the wonderful folks from Green Bay have decided that it would be a good idea to pay players incentives based on the performance of opposing players.  Makes you wonder how much Al Harris had in his locker on Monday after the Vikings game because of his cowardly "tackle" on Adrian Peterson.  Ah, well, it doesn't surprise me. . .they've pretty much been coached that way for as long as I can remember.

-Michael Vick has decided that he'd report to jail three weeks before he's even supposed to be sentenced.  I'm not sure how much it's going to help. . .in the words of the immortal Michael Bolton, "He's not going to some white-collar resort.  He's going to federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison."

(If you thought I meant Michael Bolton, the singer, and are now totally confused, do yourself a favor and rent this over the holiday and thank me on Monday morning.)

-The New England Patriots are still ridiculously good.  And in case you're wondering, there is no such thing as "running up the score" in the National Football League, so everyone whining about the Pats doing it really needs to just sit down or something.

Not incidentally, the point spread between the Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles is the largest point spread ever for an NFL game not involving an expansion team.  Right now, the Patriots are 23 1/2 point favorites.

And you know what's even more sad?  The Patriots will cover.  They'll cover with room to spare.

-In our own conference, the Dallas Cowboys are still easily the best team in the NFC.  Really, it's not all that close.

And that's all for tonight, folks. . .tomorrow we'll probably take a look at some "out of the ordinary" type of stats that will show us that the era of bad offense in Minnesota just might be coming to an end.  We can only hope.

Have a good one, everybody!