vikes wanted manziel

[PacificNorseWest]

I liked that question Zimmer asked Manziel and I like, what I can only imagine, was a sharp and confident "yes." I guess it's more about the feel Zimmer got when he interviewed him because that's the only answer Manziel or others would say. This game is all about instincts, even during a Q & A.

[Purple Domination]

Hopefully this is a scenario where both QB's end up being big time names. The new Brees / Brady, I think that'd be a fun dynamic over the next 10 years.

Interesting how much focus has been put on Teddy and Manziel, it almost doesn't even feel like Bortles was the first QB off the board.

[King James]

The Vikings may have wanted Manziel but later you will found out that the Vikings needed Bridgewater.

[majorm]

Good thing. Noodle armed midget with a Napoleon complex and a me first spoiled brat personality.

Yep. I didn't really care who the Vikings drafted at QB as long as it wasn't Manziel. I was luke warm on Teddy but he's our guy now so I hope he's amazing.

Football showed even more what he's all about with the "money" sign when he walked onstage after he was picked. My perception of that guy is that he's all about being a sports celebrity rather than a dedicated to winning team first leader. Good luck Cleveland.

[Mothman]

So we made an offer but were never realistically going to get the pick. Even if Philly doesn't clean out the Browns another team would have beat our offer as well. But like I said before, I'd rather have Teddy at #32 only giving up a 4th than the boat load it would have taken to get Manziel at #22.

I know this will drive Moth crazy too but I think that is also a good picture of their value, if you ask me "you want Manziel at #22?" I'd say YEP! ask me if I want Bridgewater at #32 and I'd say "is Manziel gone? Okay yep!" haha. Simply because both guys to me have the potential to be the answer at QB so getting either of them at those picks is awesome.

That doesn't drive me crazy at all. I grasp the concept of draft value and believe it has merit. I just think the choices the Vikings made in the first round speak to their skepticism about these QBs. At the most important position in football, they didn't feel strongly enough about Bridgewater or Manziel to invest a top 10 pick in one of them. They settled for their second choice and risked not getting either player and that speaks volumes. It may also mean that Spielman doesn't believe, as so many fans and reporters seem to, that his future as Vikings GM hinges on his choice of QBs, that he gets this one last shot with Bridgewater and if it doesn't work out, he's gone. He may be more secure than that (or at least he may believe he's more secure than that).

[Webbfann]

That doesn't drive me crazy at all. I grasp the concept of draft value and believe it has merit. I just think the choices the Vikings made in the first round speak to their skepticism about these QBs. At the most important position in football, they didn't feel strongly enough about Bridgewater or Manziel to invest a top 10 pick in one of them. They settled for their second choice and risked not getting either player and that speaks volumes. It may also mean that Spielman doesn't believe, as so many fans and reporters seem to, that his future as Vikings GM hinges on his choice of QBs, that he gets this one last shot with Bridgewater and if it doesn't work out, he's gone. He may be more secure than that (or at least he may believe he's more secure than that).

Or it may speak to their confidence that you were right when you said over and over last year that defense was our most pressing need. Or both.

[Webbfann]

Yeap! That's exactly how I seem him also.

I was sooooo glad we didn't get him when I saw that. Its all about Johnny.

[Texas Vike]

That doesn't drive me crazy at all. I grasp the concept of draft value and believe it has merit. I just think the choices the Vikings made in the first round speak to their skepticism about these QBs. At the most important position in football, they didn't feel strongly enough about Bridgewater or Manziel to invest a top 10 pick in one of them. They settled for their second choice and risked not getting either player and that speaks volumes. It may also mean that Spielman doesn't believe, as so many fans and reporters seem to, that his future as Vikings GM hinges on his choice of QBs, that he gets this one last shot with Bridgewater and if it doesn't work out, he's gone. He may be more secure than that (or at least he may believe he's more secure than that).

I see it a bit differently, Jim. I think Spielman is aware of the precariousness of his job and just how important getting the right QB is to maintaining it. He's aware, too, that WHERE you take that QB in the draft plays a central role in the public/media perception of his performance as GM. It is widely thought that he took Ponder way too early, and that's a major knock on his reputation. I think he understands that one of the most important duties of a GM is to always maximize value of all of his teams assets, and draft picks are some of the most valuable assets a team has. You may be right that he's more secure than most think, but even so I think Spielman's the kind of guy that learns from his mistakes; he also learns (a lot) from his success--as we've seen him repeat certain draft tendencies now on an annual basis.

Actually, after re-reading your post a couple of times, I don't know that we see it that much differently. I agree that passing on both QBs at 8/9 indicates how the Vikings valued them as prospects--that's actually quite obvious--but I don't see that as problematic, especially since it IS such an important position.

[Mothman]

I see it a bit differently, Jim. I think Spielman is aware of the precariousness of his job and just how important getting the right QB is to maintaining it. He's aware, too, that WHERE you take that QB in the draft plays a central role in the public/media perception of his performance as GM. It is widely thought that he took Ponder way too early, and that's a major knock on his reputation. I think he understands that one of the most important duties of a GM is to always maximize value of all of his teams assets, and draft picks are some of the most valuable assets a team has. You may be right that he's more secure than most think, but even so I think Spielman's the kind of guy that learns from his mistakes; he also learns (a lot) from his success--as we've seen him repeat certain draft tendencies now on an annual basis.

Actually, after re-reading your post a couple of times, I don't know that we see it that much differently. I agree that passing on both QBs at 8/9 indicates how the Vikings valued them as prospects--that's actually quite obvious--but I don't see that as problematic, especially since it IS such an important position.

I don't see it as problematic either, just intriguing because of what it says about how the Vikings viewed those quarterbacks, how they viewed Barr and possibly how secure Spielman feels in his position. Based on your post, I think we're actually seeing this the same way, or very close to it.

The whole situation is interesting to me. In the end, I think Spielman what he had to do and drafted based on what he thought would be best for the team. How it all plays out is anybody's guess. If Manziel becomes a star, Barr doesn't pan out and Bridgewater is mediocre, how would Spielman's reputation be affected? By drafting Bridgewater at the end of the first round, does that mean Spielman gets cut some slack if the pick doesn't work out or is he still "held accountable" (fanspeak for "fired") because another first round QB was a disappointment? What if Bridgewater disappoints but these last 3 drafts still end up being the foundation for a very good team that just needs a QB as the final piece of the puzzle? Would the Wilfs fire Spielman or give him a 3rd chance to find the right QB? How long will Bridgewater get to prove himself? Will the Vikings be patient with him or would they go back to the QB well in a year or two if they felt there was a better prospect available?

Then, of course, there's the scenario in which Manziel bombs but Barr and Bridgewater work out great. How will Spielman be perceived then?

As I said, it all interests me because having a first round QB who wasn't the team's first choice in the round and perhaps wasn't their first choice at the position seems like a somewhat unusual situation. I'm eager to see how all of this will play out and I hope it plays out well for the Vikings.

[mansquatch]

Manziel's intangibles were likeable to me, but you cannot discount that he was throwing to Mike Evans either.

I like guys like Bridgewater better than guys like Manziel in terms of character, but that doesn't mean either will be successful or not...

Time will tell, IMO this is just water over the dam.

[Texas Vike]

I don't see it as problematic either, just intriguing because of what it says about how the Vikings viewed those quarterbacks, how they viewed Barr and possibly how secure Spielman feels in his position. Based on your post, I think we're actually seeing this the same way, or very close to it.

The whole situation is interesting to me. In the end, I think Spielman what he had to do and drafted based on what he thought would be best for the team. How it all plays out is anybody's guess. If Manziel becomes a star, Barr doesn't pan out and Bridgewater is mediocre, how would Spielman's reputation be affected? By drafting Bridgewater at the end of the first round, does that mean Spielman gets cut some slack if the pick doesn't work out or is he still "held accountable" (fanspeak for "fired") because another first round QB was a disappointment? What if Bridgewater disappoints but these last 3 drafts still end up being the foundation for a very good team that just needs a QB as the final piece of the puzzle? Would the Wilfs fire Spielman or give him a 3rd chance to find the right QB? How long will Bridgewater get to prove himself? Will the Vikings be patient with him or would they go back to the QB well in a year or two if they felt there was a better prospect available?

Then, of course, there's the scenario in which Manziel bombs but Barr and Bridgewater work out great. How will Spielman be perceived then?

As I said, it all interests me because having a first round QB who wasn't the team's first choice in the round and perhaps wasn't their first choice at the position seems like a somewhat unusual situation. I'm eager to see how all of this will play out and I hope it plays out well for the Vikings.

Those are all great questions and obviously only time will tell. The narrative thread that I find most interesting is the one involving Manziel at pick #22. If Manziel takes the league by storm and vaults CLE from the toilet bowl to the Super Bowl, Spielman will forever be criticized for not upping the ante for that pick or for simply not taking him at 8. Unless, of course, Bridgewater also finds big success or at least is on par with Manziel's success. You're right that Barr's results will also factor in to the overall "equation" of evaluating Spielman's performance as GM.

I hope that the Wilfs are measured and deliberate in evaluating Spielman. I think it is important to look at the bigger picture, not just how well he's done with the QB position. It seems to me that he's done a solid job in acquiring talent, especially through the draft. What I like best is that he seems to learn and improve each year. I like his hire of Zimmer and Turner and as of right now they seem to have the kind of relationship and mutual respect that is conducive to success. The flame of adversity is what tests an individual's mettle, however, so again, time will tell.

[dkoby]

Well, this thing is already getting weird in Cleveland. Who in their right mind would tell your 1st round rookie QB to "start acting like a back up"

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10921 ... uarterback

Already getting tired of his schtick?

[Purple bruise]

I wanted Manziel too but they got Teddy and the more I read, watch and hear the more I like him. My biggest concern with JFB is that he definately will be seriously injured if he takes his college type game (helter/skelter) to the pros. I do love how dam competitive he is though.
Now that Teddy is the QB I wish him only great success.

[KSViking]

Well, this thing is already getting weird in Cleveland. Who in their right mind would tell your 1st round rookie QB to "start acting like a back up"

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10921 ... uarterback

Already getting tired of his schtick?

I just think from the Upper Management perspective, they want JFB to stop with the media interviews and hype, and realize he isn't even a starter on the team yet. Maybe when he has accomplished something, he can go back to that. At least thats the feeling I get from the articles.

[Purple bruise]

I just think from the Upper Management perspective, they want JFB to stop with the media interviews and hype, and realize he isn't even a starter on the team yet. Maybe when he has accomplished something, he can go back to that. At least thats the feeling I get from the articles.

He plays in a very physical division. The Bengals, Ravens and Steelers can really "bring it". He would be wise to keep his mouth shut and watch out for cheap shots.