From: rja@mahogany126.cray.com (Russ Anderson)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Vikes (Re: Worst/Best Trades)
Date: 11 Nov 92 18:05:19 GMT
Organization: The 1991 World Champion Minnesota Twins!
Originator: rja@mahogany126


In article <49508@shamash.cdc.com>, jblixt@neon.cdc.com (Jon Blixt) writes:
> Here are some trade items for the Vikings.
> 
> BEST:
> 
> I don't have alot of past experience but the Deal that got Mike Merriweather
> from the Stealers for a #1 draft choice was a good one.  Merriweather plays
> almost every down and has been a big play person on the defense.

* Chris Carter on ($100) wavers from Phily (thanks Buddy Ryan).

* Anthony Carter for LB Robin Sendlin (sp?) & 2nd R pick from Miami (Imagine AC &
  Marino teaming up for the past ~5 years)

* Gary Zimmerman for 2nd R pick from the Giants.

* Gannon for 4th R pick from NE.

* Roger Craig & Jack Del Rio via plan B.

* The Trade (see below)

> WORST:

* Many players lost via plan B that started for other teams (Wymon Henderson,
  Chris Martin, Terry Tauch, Mike Malarkey, Brad Baxter) while the Vikes 
  suffered with no depth.

Now for The Trade:

Obviously the terms of The Trade are the worst in NFL history, but the
results of The Trade *improved* the Vikes.  Namely, The Trade resulted
in the removal of GM Mike Lynn, under who the Vikes would *never* be
a great team.  In fareness to Lynn, he did do a good job of picking up
players after the USFL collapsed, but that does not make up for his
decisions that caused the decline of the Vikes in the late 70's, mediocre
play in the early/mid 80's, and unraveling of the good moves he made
after the USFL collapse.  A major reason plan B decimated the Vikes was
Make Lynn's inability to negotiate contracts in a semi-free market and 
fostering an atmosphere that cause players to want to leave (Lynn's
$1 million salary and plantation house did not help) and plan
B players not want to play here.

Since Lynn left, Dennis Green has turned the situation around to the 
point that players *want* to play here.

> Here is where I am fairly sure of myself.  The Vikings trade to get Hershell
> Walker has to one of the worst in NFL history not just the Vikes.  
> 
> First, Hershell plays extremely well his first game as a Viking.  In the 
> next two years, he comes close to repeating that performance less than five
> times.  The Vikings release him along with a few other veterans and become
> a Better team without him.(Yes, I'm saying had the Vikings dumped Hershell
> after his first year with them, they would have been better off)
> 
> Now, look at what the Vikings gave up.  At least four players: Isaac Holt,
> he is the Cowboys CB, Darrin Nelson - a useful also-ran, an outside linebacker
> who now plays for Tampa I beleive.  Remember the Cowboys traded him to
> Tampa even though the Vikings put a clause excluding them from trading him
> to an NFC Central team.  The Cowboys sent him to New England who immediately
> traded him to Tampa(coincidence- NOT).  I can't remember the other players.

The place that Lynn got screwed was the terms for the conditional draft picks.
The Trade was the 5 players & a #1 pick, with the Cowboys getting additional
picks if the players did not make the team the following season (ie if 
Darrin Nelson did not make the team, the Vikes would give them another #1 pick).
The problem was that the picks were worth more than the players.  Dallas 
quickly said they would release all 5 to get the picks.  Lynn balked, but
by that point Walker had already played for the Vikes, so it was too late to
call off the deal.

To add insult to injury, the Cowboys gave Walker a bonus to go to the Vikes
(writing it into his contract as part of his base pay).  When Walker's 
contract expired, the Vikes were obligated (by NFL rules) to offer the same
(or similar) amount (or release him), instead of his previous base salary.

Jerry Burns now says that Lynn asked if he wanted Walker and Burns said no
(prefering an all-purpose back, not a power I back).  Lynn make the trade anyway.

> Finally, the Vikings gave 7 count'em 7 draft choices.  THREEE #1 picks, THREE
> #2, and a third round choice.  Could someone tell me who these players
> turned out to be for Dallas.
> 
> Monty Hall never made such a bad or good deal.  I shudder to think how
> impressive this team could be with those picks and players.  Then again,
> without replacing Captain Ahab(I mean Jerry Burns) this team may have been
> average into the 21rst century.

That's my point.

-- 
Russ Anderson    |  Disclaimer: Any statements are my own and do not reflect
------------------              upon my employer or anyone else.  (c) 1992
EX-Twins' Jack Morris, 10 innings pitched, 0 runs (World Series MVP!)