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This franchise will just be spinning its wheels as long as Spielman is calling the shots. They're no better off now than they were with the ill-conceived TOA pulling in three different directions.

Any one could disect the choices of any GM in the league and tear them a new one for the failed ones. How about the good choices and decisions? Spielman reached for Ponder Yep, I guess that you could say that now that Ponder has not progressed and has been cast aside. What choices were there? They were desperate for a "franchise QB" and it did not worl out. How about the A grade he got in this last years draft? His handling of the Harvin fiasco was brilliant to say the least. Harrison Smith, Kalil, Walsh, Patterson, Rudolph, Griffin, Jarius
Wright, bringing Felton on board, Fusco and Bishop (too bad he got injured). Simpson has done a great job (on the field anyway), Jennings (very solid signing) . Chase Ford, Ellison, both flash good potential. Asiata looks like a pretty good signing to me.
Yes you could list the negatives too and rightlfully so but I like what he has done so far and most importantly the owners of the team must too. He is well spoken, seems energetic and is a seemingly good judge of talent. I am willing to see which HC is chosen, who is resigned or let go, what trades are made and very importantly how the draft plays out.

Purple bruise wrote:Any one could disect the choices of any GM in the league and tear them a new one for the failed ones. How about the good choices and decisions? Spielman reached for Ponder Yep, I guess that you could say that now that Ponder has not progressed and has been cast aside. What choices were there? They were desperate for a "franchise QB" and it did not worl out. How about the A grade he got in this last years draft? His handling of the Harvin fiasco was brilliant to say the least. Harrison Smith, Kalil, Walsh, Patterson, Rudolph, Griffin, Jarius
Wright, bringing Felton on board, Fusco and Bishop (too bad he got injured). Simpson has done a great job (on the field anyway), Jennings (very solid signing) . Chase Ford, Ellison, both flash good potential. Asiata looks like a pretty good signing to me.
Yes you could list the negatives too and rightlfully so but I like what he has done so far and most importantly the owners of the team must too. He is well spoken, seems energetic and is a seemingly good judge of talent. I am willing to see which HC is chosen, who is resigned or let go, what trades are made and very importantly how the draft plays out.

After hearing him today, I agree. I don't think I've ever heard him speak before. I've been pretty neutral on whether he is a good GM or bad GM overall. I do think he has gotten us some good talent on offense, and obviously has made some poor choices on both sides. My interest in football generally stops at head coach, so I don't have super strong opinions about personnel above that. So I didn't have any real bias going into his presser. IRL, I'm the kind of guy who rarely cares much for management types.

Maybe it was just the contrast he poses to Leslie Frazier's rather soft and uncertain personality and presence, but I thought he was clear, decisive, intelligent and direct. He took the blame for his mistakes and the credit for his good moves. He didn't stomp on anyone, but he called it like it is and I came away thinking he is the least of our problems. It seemed to me he has the qualities you have to have in that position, some of the same qualities our coach was sorely lacking. He seems to know what he wants and he is going to go get it. He just made sense, and it was such a nice contrast to waiting...and waiting...and waiting...for Leslie Frazier to say something substantive like he really meant it and believed it.

Valhalla wrote:
Good post. Vikings might be hampered from getting a top coach if we have a GM and Ownership that insists on certain players being on the field as many think playing Ponder was a higherup decision.

Well Spielman pretty much nixed that notion. He stated very clearly that it's the coaches job to decide who starts and that he does not and would not interfere. I don't know if that's true but I do know he was more believable than Frazier ever was. Apparently Leslie has said that he consulted with management on those decisions, but maybe he didn't realize it was HIS decision to make. Leslie being a nice guy and all probably liked to try to get a consensus, but it was still his decision.

Webbfann wrote: Well Spielman pretty much nixed that notion. He stated very clearly that it's the coaches job to decide who starts and that he does not and would not interfere. I don't know if that's true but I do know he was more believable than Frazier ever was. Apparently Leslie has said that he consulted with management on those decisions, but maybe he didn't realize it was HIS decision to make. Leslie being a nice guy and all probably liked to try to get a consensus, but it was still his decision.

After listening to both of them, I think it's safe to assume it was a collective decision as they all wanted to give Ponder a chance to sink or swim one last time. But ultimately the decision falls on Frazier's lap because whether Spielman or the Wilfs influenced his decision, he has final say on the matter.

Eli wrote:This franchise will just be spinning its wheels as long as Spielman is calling the shots.

And your justification behind that statement is???? As I said before, his job is to provide the talent for this team and the coaches are suppose to utilize it properly and that didn't happen. Hence, why Frazier was fired. I mean it's pretty obvious Spielman has done a solid job in the last two drafts since being promoted to GM and I am VERY confident he will do it again this year.

Pondering Her Percy wrote: And your justification behind that statement is???? As I said before, his job is to provide the talent for this team and the coaches are suppose to utilize it properly and that didn't happen. Hence, why Frazier was fired. I mean it's pretty obvious Spielman has done a solid job in the last two drafts since being promoted to GM and I am VERY confident he will do it again this year.

Yep, just look at all of our pro bowl players we have.

PurpleKoolaid wrote:
Yep, just look at all of our pro bowl players we have.

Not many players in a soft cover 2 shell make the probowl sadly... I wonder why that is!

On offense the only one who could get the ball from Ponder at a high success rate was Peterson and he made it LOL.

Maybe Patterson could make it? Nope, just a special teams guy for half the year.

Rhodes? Stuck behind Josh Robinson and Chris Cook!

Harrison Smith would have made it but got hurt

Matt Asiata came up just a few short on votes.

PurpleKoolaid wrote: Yep, just look at all of our pro bowl players we have.

We had a good amount last year that were all on the team this year. Regardless, when does the pro-bowl have any meaning to it whatsoever.

PurpleKoolaid wrote: Yep, just look at all of our pro bowl players we have.

more than the NFC North champs

saint33 wrote:Yep, just look at all of our pro bowl players we have.

more than the NFC North champs[/quote]

haha yes!! Exactly why the pro-bowl means NOTHING