Injuries, infighting create more problems for the Minnesota Vikings

On paper, things aren’t *that* bad in Minnesota where the team has opened the season with two close losses to good teams. Beneath the surface, however, the Vikings appear to be headed for disaster based on political infighting and injuries. The day after Tarvaris Jackson lost his starting QB job to Gus Frerotte, the team’s best player—running back Adrian Peterson—missed practice due to a hamstring injury and there are whispers that it might be much worse than originally expected. Two games into the season and the Vikings are already becoming that which successful NFL teams seldom are: a running soap opera.

In the 24 hours since coach Brad Childress announced that the team’s QB of the future, Tarvaris Jackson, was being replaced as the starter by well travelled vet Gus Frerotte more details have emerged regarding the situation. Childress has been very patient with the development of his talented young QB who, like many talented young QBs is having “growing pains” learning to play at the NFL level. Jackson hasn’t played that badly this year, though has appeared somewhat tentative in situations where he’s been called upon to make plays with the game on the line. Indeed, Childress cited a perceived “lack of aggressiveness” when announcing his decision to make the starting QB switch.

Had the story ended there it would have been a “by the book” event in every NFL season, but the plot thickens: Childress, apparently, had his hand forced by ownership and a management team under a lot of pressure from their fanbase to win now after spending $60 million on player salaries in the off-season. The Vikings head coach, who has been Jackson’s most steadfast supporter and is known for his ability to mold young QB’s, was opposed to the change and has started to grumble about his inability to run the football team as he sees fit. The thinking of the higher-ups, presumably, was that the team is more likely to win now with the steady and experienced backup under center. While that’s certainly a valid position—though debatable as to whether it’s in the best interest of the team longterm—overruling a head coach on football personnel decisions seldom turns out well.

Childress’ problems mounted on Thursday as star running back Adrian Peterson was unable to practice due to a hamstring injury sustained late in last Sunday’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Peterson, known for his toughness, suggests that he’s going to try to play this weekend against Carolina but the setback in his recovery has raised concern that the injury is worse than originally anticipated. Peterson has been the brightest spot in the team’s anemic offense, and he holds the NFL rushing lead with 283 yards in two games.

Clearly one of the primary tasks of a NFL head coach is to deal with situations like this. However with Childress still smarting from what he perceives as a “vote of no confidence” over the starting QB situation, his primary motivation could quickly turn to looking for other job opportunities should the Vikings continue to struggle.