Vikings Stadium Update

March 20, 2011

Despite hopes for a stadium bill to go through last week, we still wait. And wait. And wait. We have now seen the process of replacing Metrodome roof start, a proposal for a universal stadium deal for the Wild, St. Paul Saints, Vikings and Wolves gain traction and find rejection a few days later, and “futuristic” stadium plans surface. We have heard that the old Army Ammunition Plant and Arden Hills and a location near the Target Field will all be the homes for the new stadium. We have been told Minneapolis doesn’t have the money to fund a new stadium, but that whatever city becomes the new home of the Vikings needs to carry the brunt of the financial burden. Despite all this, despite hopes for a bill in February and then again in the beginning of March, it seems there has not been any considerable progress. Unfortunately, the stadium update is more of the same and everyone continues to worry if the Minnesota Vikings will soon be the L.A. Vikings.

While all this uncertainty about the stadium looms, uncertainly about NFL labor negotiations looms larger nationally. Everyone is well aware now of the comment Adrian Peterson made about playing in NFL begin like “modern day slavery.” Most people disagreed with AP’s comments and may have even been offended. Some thought they will hurt the players during these negotiation. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers Rashard Medenhall supported AP’s comment saying, “Anyone with knowledge of the slave trade and the NFL could say that these two parallel each other.” Hmmmm…really? That’s the public negotiating tactic the players want to go with?

Chris Kluwe Mocks Roger Goodell's letter on the Vikings' white board

All the negotiating isn’t about money, though. Some of it is about player safety and, without even a touch of exaggeration, life and death. A lot of it, however, is about money, and the Vikings’ Ben Leber and Brian Robinson have joined an antitrust lawsuit with Brees, Manning and Brady (among others) claiming that the NFL has been conspired against them to deny them the ability to market their services. Chris Kluwe has also entered the ring, mocking Roger Goodell’s most recent letter.

On to a few quick odds and ends…

While the potential labor lockout has been looming, Vikings owner Zygi Wilf has put part of his focus on keeping both season ticket holders and Vikings’ employees happy.

If you think the fans are the only ones hoping to be done with these negotiations, the players have to be getting tired too. With only labor negotiations in NFL news right now, very mundane things are becoming headline stories, much to Sidney Rice’s nuisance.

After former Viking Randy Moss was released by the Tennessee Titans, he came out and said he wants to return to the Patriots. If Bellichick could get him back for cheap, we actually wouldn’t be surprised to see Moss back in a Patriots jersey.

It appears that the Vikings organizational culture is already changing under new coach Leslie Frazier. This is good news, although it can’t be that hard to change the culture of a stale, smelly old folks home.

Everyone knows that the Vikings need to address the QB position this off season, but Tom Pelissero looks at what four other positions they could address with their number 12 pick as well.

What we do this off-season and who we take in the upcoming draft should say a lot about where the Vikings are projected to finish in the 2011-12 standings. That hasn’t stopped some people, however, from saying the Vikings are a team to look out for in 2011, and others to say more struggles are to come.

Former Minnesota Gophers QB Adam Weber and fullback Jon Hoese impressed scouts during their proday last week. Probably the first time they impressed someone in nearly a year.

Finally, in more serious news, the son of former Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green plead guilty to one count of child pornography and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Sad news for anyone to take. With the struggles here and with both Andy Reid and Minnesota graduate Tony Dungy’s sons, there is clearly a trend occurring for NFL coaches and their families.