Opinion
Cutler is all the Vikings need
March 26, 2009
Throughout my life, the Minnesota Vikings have played musical quarterbacks. Since my birth in 1986 the Vikings have used Tommy Kramer, Wade Wilson, Rich Gannon, Jim McMahon, Warren Moon, Brad Johnson, Jeff George, Daunte Culpepper, Brad Johnson again, Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte with special guest appearances by the likes of Spergeon Wynn and Todd Bouman.
It’s apparent that the Vikings have not had a franchise quarterback since Fran Tarkenton was scrambling around the field in the ‘70s. However, the clouds may have parted, the heavens may have opened, and Jay Cutler may be there for the taking. Dear Rick Speilman, MAKE THIS MOVE!
Just showing that previous list makes it painfully obvious that the Vikings have had one philosophy over the past 22 years: find a quarterback who won’t lose the game. The Vikings have had enough weapons around the quarterback over the years such as Cris Carter, Randy Moss, Robert Smith and most recently Adrian Peterson, where they could rely on that strategy.
After all, before Culpepper took the starting job in 2000, then Vikings coach Dennis Green famously told Daunte that he was handing him the keys to a bus and all Daunte had to do was drive the bus. However, recently that strategy is the one that’s holding the Vikings back from what the fans want: a Super Bowl championship.
That’s where Jay Cutler comes in. Cutler is a quarterback with a very promising future. He threw for 4,500 yards last season with 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Yeah, the interceptions are high, but this is only his third season in the league. Besides, Cutler’s most valuable asset to the Vikings may be his mentality.
I may be right with a bunch of Vikings fans when I say that I want to see a quarterback come on to the field late in a game with his weapons struggling and go into “I’m going to win this game and raise holy hell in the process” mode (It’s a mode that coincidentally Adrian Peterson also has).
Yes, Cutler has not won a playoff game, and yes, he blew a three-game division lead with three games to go last season. However, he’s the quarterback the Vikings need.
Do you want further proof? Cutler ran a version of the West Coast offense in Denver under Mike Shanahan. This is an offense that is very similar to Brad Childress’ Kick Ass Offense. The KAO is a perfect fit for Cutler and we have weapons that are good enough to propel Cutler to the next level. Peterson in the backfield, Bernard Berrian and a healthy Sidney Rice (and maybe even Tory Holt too) catching his passes and “The Flash” Visthante Shiancoe at tight end. The stars are aligning for his arrival.
So with all of that, I want Rick Spielman to give up the farm if he has to for Cutler. This is going to be the difference between 10-6 and a one and done playoff situation and 13-3 with a conference championship appearance.
I hope that one day, like I alluded to earlier, some Packer fan will get down on his knees and say a little prayer and at that moment the clouds will part, the heavens will open and as fear runs through his body, tears roll down his cheeks and piss rolls down his legs, he will see this across the ticker: “Vikings trade for quarterback Jay Cutler.”
Chris Schad is a student at UW-River Falls.