has the Love Boat finally sunk?

[vike daddy]

Zygi Wilf installed, as a new owner, what he called a Culture of Accountability. but several times since then, accountability among players to the team's ethics was tested and came up short. in that, players committed offenses but seemed to not be held accountable, at least to the highest degree (loss of job.)

have we seen a shift now to actually holding the team and coaches to high standards? are we at least seeing it via the drafting of high character, low trouble-making young men?

if so, what has happened with the Vikings to finally make this shift? is it Frazier as coach? is it Spielman as GM?

when did the shift start to take place, the sudden shipping off of McKinnie perhaps?
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[PrplChilPill]

Hmmmm, I with you, their actions did not match their words.....

I think as they've slowly sent guys packing, they have not added guys that have had issues. I think it is likely they have just been lucky lastely. Let's see what happens the next time someone allegedly does something really stupid/bad/wrong, but it does appear something has changed.

I'd guess it is Frazier/Spielman, but that's a total guess.
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Wins are a team stat, not a QB stat

[vike daddy]

[PrplChilPill]

[eman9416]

Remember when Jerome Felton, a no-named possible FB, got a DUI? I thought they would cut him instantly. I like what they are doing, giving people a little slack. Sometimes they just make one mistak
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[vikings209]

^^^ Jerome Felton's DUI. I think that's pretty stupid but the team hung on to him. I just think its as case by case type of thing. But it does seem like we have been drafting better character people.
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[CriminalMind]

Not saying that I necessarily disagree/agree.

Was it b/c of offenses committed or because of on feild play?
McKinnie was primarily cut due to his play.
Harvin is not that relevant as he didnt committ any offenses.

We do have Cook, Simpson, Everson, Felton on the team.
They are on the team b/c of talent.

I dont think its a clear on way or another.
By Rick did preach high character alot in his 2012 draftees
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[Eastern Walrus]

We're all human, I'm not paying these guys the couple million dollars to play a game... so I guess sometimes you just have to say 'is it worth the risk'?
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2013 Adopt a Minnesota Viking - Xavier Rhodes - CB - #29

XBL - Eastern Walrus

[Klomp]

We aren't investing major resources in the guys with the major issues. That to me is the biggest change.

None of those guys are core pieces of our future 5-10 years down the road. We have high character guys in positions of leadership, which allows you to take chances on guys for cheap once you got that core structure in place.
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[vike daddy]

[disaacs]

When you think of guys who some considered to not have a great work ethic or character coming out of college, but seem to have turned the corner now, this is one of them. So, it appears that they've done a good job thus far at evaluating the character of some "risky" players.

http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/videos/Everson-Griffen-Leads-MiNi-Vikings-Combine/a4af4e8e-4465-4654-95c3-7de59cfb6df1
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Thx to Uncle Buck!

[vikingsrule]

the Vikes really dont have any problem children. Chris Cook may be the closest, but it seems he may be turning a corner.

Everyone once in awhile there is a random incident, but those type of issues cant be avoided as a team. its the continuous issues with teh same group of players that character becomes a concern.
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[Uncle Buck]

I wonder if getting the new stadium bill passed had anything to do with it. Could it be that before getting the stadium approved, maybe Zygi felt a lot more pressure to "win now" and this caused him to overlook some of the character issues for the short term? Maybe now that he has his stadium in the bag he can implement his true strategy - one that will take longer to build a team with.
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Bring Tim Tebow to Minnesota!!!

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[ArcticNorseman]

I'm a firm believer that every sports team has its "issues" that could warrant public scrutiny, whether it be player character/conduct, coaches, or ownership actions.

In case of the Love Boat, all of the starring cast members have been cast-off and most are out of the NFL. The culture at Vikings HQ has filtered down over time, and it took longer than one could suspect the Wilfs wanted due to the triangle of authority.

Childress did not handle many things well and kept the negative spotlight firmly on the Vikings (i.e. fining Williamson for taking off to funeral), which of course imploded with the 2nd year of the Bret Favre experience and Randy Moss' short return.

Now, it appears the Wilf's have a GM and HC in place that work well together and exhibit cool-headed, calm demeanors. The reports are the players genuinely love playing for Frazier; however, the recent handling of Percy and Antione can allow one to wonder how ruthless Frazier and Spielman are. These two moves are considerably different, and it would've been more respectable for the Antione cut to be handled more professionally (if Windfield was working out in the facility, call him up to the office and talk with him face to face). Percy, on the otherhand, apparently had Frazier down-playing the severity of the problems to excess. Then, boom - Seattle offered a trade ya couldn't refuse, and wooohooo, the Vikes are brilliant . . . tell me there wasn't posturing going on there for months. . . . lol.

In the end, the next generation of Love Boaters might just be around the corner -- but I'd be willing to bet the public won't find out if it exists!

[Klomp]