PFT Power rankings

[Rastak]

As resident troll I felt it my duty to report PFT.com has ranked the Pack at 31. Not that Florio is a guy I'd use as my cheif scout. I know Harvey respects this site.... :wink:


================================================\\ \The Green Bay Packers.

Before a few thousand cheeseheads descend on PFT's world headquarters with pitchforks, torches, and those toothpicks with the plastic tail feathers that hold together the cubes of baby Swiss, hear us out. This is a ranking of where we view the team to be right now. By January, the Packers could be wearing the NFC North crown for the fourth time in the division's five-year existence. (Of course, that's only because the rest of the division is so damn dreadful.)

The biggest part of the problem, in our view, is the continued presence of the man whom we've lovingly come to know as Lord Favre. The combination of new coach and new offensive system with an aging quarterback more stubborn than an overweight mule on a humid day in Duluth is a recipe for deeeee-zaster.

That's why we're certain that G.M. Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy publicly paid homage to the future Hall of Famer but privately wished that he'd pack it in so that they then could find out what they have in Aaron Rodgers. Before either Thompson or McCarthy get, you know, fired.

Instead, Favre is coming back for at least one more "go". Recently, there have been stories about how he's learning new terminology for the first time in 15 years.

Yeah, this is gonna work. About as well as a grandpa who thinks "Bluetooth" is what happens after drinking too much berry Kool Aid.

Making matters worse is that the team has otherwise made only modest upgrades on offense. Running backs Ahman Green and Najeh "Dookie" Davenport, neither of whom could muster any interest elsewhere in free agency, took one-year deals after suffering through injury-shortened seasons in 2005. Despite having more cap room than Abe Lincoln with a crew cut, the Packers made no effort to bring in someone like Edgerrin James to give the running game a spark.

But they did find a way to outbid the Vikings for the services of 30-something fullback William Henderson, yet another guy who'll be learning a new offense from scratch after years in the West Coast attack first installed by Mike Holmgren in 1992.

At receiver, a bad position got worse when Javon Walker finally forced his way out of town. The only holdovers of note are Donald Driver and Robert Ferguson. Late 2005 arrival Rod Gardner helps, but not much. The only newcomer of note is Marc Boerigter, who once looked to be a promising impact player in Kansas City. But if the wideout-hungry Chiefs let Boerigter walk, then that means his best days are boehind him.

The offensive line is generally a mess, thanks to bad deals done by former G.M. Mike Sherman and lackluster efforts by current G.M. Ted Thompson to keep the guys who can play around. The Pack managed to keep Kevin Berry, but made no effort at all to lure big-names like LeCharles Bentley and Steve Hutchinson. Though Thompson justified his offseason tightfistedness by explaining that he's not going to spend on guys with name recognition just for the sake of spending on guys with name recognition, he needs to remember that the new CBA will push the cap floor to $95 million in 2007 -- so either the money gets spent on guys who have shown that they can play elsewhere, or it gets spent on guys who have yet to get it done in Green Bay.

On the other side of the ball, the Packers initially avoided making a strong financial investment, getting safety Marquand Manuel (or is it Manuel Marquand?) for $2 million to sign. They also dropped $5 million up front for defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, who showed his appreciation by skipping out on the team's voluntary offseason workouts.

The Pack kept defensive end Aaron Kampman, who snared a surprising $12 million in guaranteed money.

Then, after Lord Favre publicly lobbied for a Reggie White-style acquisition nearly a month after the big free agency money stopped flowing, the Pack made a run at linebacker LaVar Arrington. But assuming that the all-hype, low-pay deal he signed with the Giants was better than the offer the Packers made, the guys in Green Bay really didn't try to hard to get him.

Instead, they took a crowbar to the safe for overrated cover man Charles Woodson, who showed his appreciation by skipping out on the team's voluntary offseason workouts.

Meanwhile, cornerback Al Harris stayed away from voluntary offseason drills as well because he doesn't like the contract to which he signed his name a couple of years ago.

The draft brought in 12 new players, with No. 5 overall selection linebacker A.J. Hawk the most likely to make an impact in 2006. If the rest of the defense plays well enough to let him.

Indeed, the biggest question mark on defense is whether the interior of the line can stuff the run and/or bottle up enough blockers so that Hawk and/or middle linebacker Nick Barnett can get to the ball. The other serious issue is whether Harris and Woodson can play catch up after missing so much of the offseason routine.

On offense, the questions are pretty much everywhere. Can the line keep Lord Favre alive? Can the running backs loosen up the defense to allow Lord Favre to find receivers? Can the receivers get open and, if so, hold the ball? And can Lord Favre learn a new system or will he revert to the chuck-and-duck ways that got him within shooting distance of the all-time interception record?

If McCarthy can bring the team together and if they can hit the bye week at 3-2 or better, they've got a chance to let Lord Favre ride off into the sunset by winning the division.

It's not quite the way John Elway left, but it's a lot better than anyone would expect starting into the season.

Now for the fantasy grades:

Quarterback: Sorry, but we wouldn't touch Lord Favre with a ten-foot tractor. D-.

Running back: Ahman Green has been a stud in the past, but with a quad that got separated from the bone and no clear answer as to when he'll be healthy, we can't give him more than a C- for now. On draft day, it might be a good idea to take a flyer on Dookie, since he might end up getting the bulk of the touches.

Wide receiver: Donald Driver has had a couple of good years, and he held his own last year without Walker, who tore his ACL in the first game of the season. Driver scored only five touchdowns, but was eighth in the league in both receptions and receiving yards. We'll give him a B+ for now, but if the wheels come off early for the team, his production surely will drop. Robert Ferguson has largely been a disappointment for the Packers. He scored seven touchdowns in 2003 and eight in 2004, but his catches and yards have never been as good as they need to be. He gets a C-. If Gardner or Boerigter manage to win the starting job across from Driver before the draft, give either one a C.

Tight End: Bubba Franks has the name recognition, but he's caught 50 or more balls only once, and he never has had double-digit touchdowns. Find a third receiver if you can.

Defense: Pick the Packers defense only if the other ones left are the Saints, Cardinals, Raiders, and Bills.

Kicker: The Packers let Ryan Longwell leave for Minnesota, and couldn't close the deal with Adam Vinatieri. Billy Cundiff has the job for now, but it wouldn't surprise us if someone else has the gig come September 10. Billy won't be a hero for the Pack, and he gets a D from PFT.

Again, there's a chance that the Packers could put it together. They lost plenty of close games in 2005; with a little luck, things could have been very different. Still, things just have a more tenuous feel for the Packers this time around -- and team won't begin to improve significantly until Lord Favre finally retires and the team begins life without him.

[Rastak]

By the way, I don't agree with alot of what he says here. Favre isn't going to be a major problem, at least I don't think so and Green Bay did NOT outbid Minnesota for Henderson, the Vikings offered more money I believe. He went back to Green Bay for less out of loyalty. A nice thing these days.

[MJZiggy]

Alright everyone!!! Grab yer pitchforks!!! :evil:

[The Shadow]

This was better, I thought

1. Colledge & Spitz will be the starting guards, but we will sign a veteran - Costen, another inexperienced player, is not enough backup (I also worry about those below zero games or mudfests when we need to pull back on the fancy finesse cut blocking & need to hunker down...).
2. The backbone of the team this year will be the defense, which will be surprisingly good. The offense will struggle early on, mostly due to the line adjusting, but by the 2nd half things will run smoother. Our offensive line will be set for the years to come.
3. Hawk's defensive presence will be even greater than most imagined. Barnett's play will improve, while Taylor will be a steady influence.
4. Greg Jennings will become the starter opposite Driver at least by week 6.
5. Ferguson & Gardner will not be sure things on the roster. Gardner, in particular (Ferguson has great special teams value) had better step it up in training camp.
6. Our defensive tackle situation will be better than most are figuring. Pickett, Allen, & Cole will be a strong run-stuffing rotation, while Williams & Jenkins will be a fine disruptive tackle presence.
7. The secondary, instead of being a liablity it has been for several seasons, will now be a strength. Upgrading the CB & safety spots was an obvious step up, but Carroll's coming of age will be a factor. Blackmon & Hawkins will provide fine depth.
8. Brett Favre will fall short of the records he covets & will miraculously announce he will return in 07. Many fans on this forum will honestly react as if it's a huge surprise.
9. Our backfield-by-committee will turn out to be a good thing (provided Green is healthy). Three backs sharing te load would keep everyone fresh.
10. Overall, there will be growing pains in the short term, but Thompson's foresight has seen to it that the foundation is being laid for a quality team that will remain competitive over the long haul.

[MJZiggy]

This was better, I thought

1. Colledge & Spitz will be the starting guards, but we will sign a veteran - Costen, another inexperienced player, is not enough backup (I also worry about those below zero games or mudfests when we need to pull back on the fancy finesse cut blocking & need to hunker down...).
2. The backbone of the team this year will be the defense, which will be surprisingly good. The offense will struggle early on, mostly due to the line adjusting, but by the 2nd half things will run smoother. Our offensive line will be set for the years to come.
3. Hawk's defensive presence will be even greater than most imagined. Barnett's play will improve, while Taylor will be a steady influence.
4. Greg Jennings will become the starter opposite Driver at least by week 6.
5. Ferguson & Gardner will not be sure things on the roster. Gardner, in particular (Ferguson has great special teams value) had better step it up in training camp.
6. Our defensive tackle situation will be better than most are figuring. Pickett, Allen, & Cole will be a strong run-stuffing rotation, while Williams & Jenkins will be a fine disruptive tackle presence.
7. The secondary, instead of being a liablity it has been for several seasons, will now be a strength. Upgrading the CB & safety spots was an obvious step up, but Carroll's coming of age will be a factor. Blackmon & Hawkins will provide fine depth.
8. Brett Favre will fall short of the records he covets & will miraculously announce he will return in 07. Many fans on this forum will honestly react as if it's a huge surprise.
9. Our backfield-by-committee will turn out to be a good thing (provided Green is healthy). Three backs sharing te load would keep everyone fresh.
10. Overall, there will be growing pains in the short term, but Thompson's foresight has seen to it that the foundation is being laid for a quality team that will remain competitive over the long haul.

Homer. But I'll take it! :mrgreen:

[GrnBay007]

I esp. like #4 above, I can't wait to see Jennings play.



-

[Bretsky]

THAT ARTICLE WAS TERRIBLE and any knowledgeable fan has to question several of his points which hurt any credibility the guy has.

He points out that Green Bay outbid Minnesota; it's been widely reported we did not.

Then he refers to an already weak WR core WITH Javon Walker AND Donald Driver. Gosh, with those two at WR our starters are among the NFL's best.

And that crap about "Lord" Favre. What a bunch of obnoxious arrogant pricks. A no nothing reporter disrespecting Green Bay and a legend . As the infamous Tex would say, this guy is a No Nothing Anti Packer idiotic Moron.

Cheers,
B

[4and12to12and4]

Well said, Bretsky. Actually, and correct me if I'm wrong, I heard that one of the guys who started this site is a huge Vikings fan.

There isn't a respectable soul on this planet that would talk about Favre that way without a grudge. I mean, D- for the QB position, are you kidding me? PFT is the place to go for a good laugh, and that's about it. Their whole campaign is to try making predictions that others don't have the balls to in hopes that if they get lucky, they will earn some respect. Morons, the lot of 'em. :cool:

[MadtownPacker]

an aging quarterback more stubborn than an overweight mule on a humid day in Duluth is a recipe for deeeee-zaster.

Hahaha gotta admit that made you laugh. The whole thing was hilarious. Especially how he kept leaving the widow open in case the Packers make it to the playoffs. Then he can say "i told you so".

[MadtownPacker]

A nice thing these days.

A nice thing would be if you post the other 3 North teams. Dont go changing the rank on your team either.

[packrulz]

All teams have question marks this time of year. This guy is a poor Norman Chad imitation and I wonder if he's serious or just trying to be a comedian. The networks must think the Packers will be pretty good since they gave them 4 nationally televised games.

[MadtownPacker]

The networks must think the Packers will be pretty good since they gave them 4 nationally televised games.

Good point. pft.con doesnt want to give Lord Favre credit for that one.

[MJZiggy]

I trust Rats more than PFT. Local rats, you've seen practice, OTAs. Is Brett stubborn and uncoachable? What have you seen watching practice and past years' training camps?

[Rastak]

Well said, Bretsky. Actually, and correct me if I'm wrong, I heard that one of the guys who started this site is a huge Vikings fan.

There isn't a respectable soul on this planet that would talk about Favre that way without a grudge. I mean, D- for the QB position, are you kidding me? PFT is the place to go for a good laugh, and that's about it. Their whole campaign is to try making predictions that others don't have the balls to in hopes that if they get lucky, they will earn some respect. Morons, the lot of 'em. :cool:

Acutally I think it's either Steelers or Eagles...he claims he somewhat likes the Vikes then he rips them endlessly. Actually, he rips everybody. He comes up with some very funny lines.

[Rastak]

A nice thing these days.

A nice thing would be if you post the other 3 North teams. Dont go changing the rank on your team either.


I will, he's releasing them 1 a day and counting down from 32.

[woodbuck27]

"And that crap about "Lord" Favre. What a bunch of obnoxious arrogant pricks. A no nothing reporter disrespecting Green Bay and a legend . As the infamous Tex would say, this guy is a No Nothing Anti Packer idiotic Moron. " Bretsky

Yup!

WTF is up with all this PFT - Mike Florio - Brett Favre bashing anyway? What is the reason for his clear negativity and overly obsessive rhetoric, that's generally degrading to all Packer fans?

He's acting like an idiot most of the time ( for the ratings I'm assuming) but his 'Lord Favre' references really smell on him.

[KYPack]

Alright everyone!!! Grab yer pitchforks!!! :evil:

ZIG!

I'm with ya!

I'll bring the toothpicks with the plastic tail feathers that hold together the cubes of baby Swiss.

Guess where I'll place "em?

[MadtownPacker]

A nice thing these days.

A nice thing would be if you post the other 3 North teams. Dont go changing the rank on your team either.


I will, he's releasing them 1 a day and counting down from 32.Well what happened to #32? Was it your purples and you decided to skip it?

[Rastak]

A nice thing these days.

A nice thing would be if you post the other 3 North teams. Dont go changing the rank on your team either.


I will, he's releasing them 1 a day and counting down from 32.Well what happened to #32? Was it your purples and you decided to skip it?

LOL, no I think they'll at least make it out of the thirties....per Florio only the Bills suck worse.....

[MJZiggy]

What about the Texans and Niners? Surely we can't have fallen as far as the 49ers did...!

[Rastak]

What about the Texans and Niners? Surely we can't have fallen as far as the 49ers did...!

As much as I like Florio for breaking strories and writing very funny articles, I'd never take his power rankings to heart....and yes, he has Bills at 32 and GB at 31. I don't agree but then again I really don't know what to expect out of the new Packers staff.....same with the Vikings. I have no clue how the North will shake out.

[FavreChild]

I have no clue how the North will shake out.

And neither do any of the damn experts. The difference is...at least our troll-lite admits it.

I loathe power rankings. :evil:

Such a shoddy, lazy excuse for horserace journalism.

But, we are creatures of order and organization; hence, the appeal of making a list (even if it makes absolutely no sense).

[GrnBay007]

I have no clue how the North will shake out.

And neither do any of the damn experts. The difference is...at least our troll-lite admits it.

I loathe power rankings. :evil:

Such a shoddy, lazy excuse for horserace journalism.

But, we are creatures of order and organization; hence, the appeal of making a list (even if it makes absolutely no sense).

I agree FC, but having the power rankings around used to so much fun for me w/ the Bear fan co-worker......lol Not so much last year though.

It's still kinda fun to follow them and makes for some conversation.

[Harlan Huckleby]

"Who knows? The SHADOW knows!"



This was better, I thought

1. Colledge & Spitz will be the starting guards, but we will sign a veteran - Costen, another inexperienced player, is not enough backup (I also worry about those below zero games or mudfests when we need to pull back on the fancy finesse cut blocking & need to hunker down...).
2. The backbone of the team this year will be the defense, which will be surprisingly good. The offense will struggle early on, mostly due to the line adjusting, but by the 2nd half things will run smoother. Our offensive line will be set for the years to come.
3. Hawk's defensive presence will be even greater than most imagined. Barnett's play will improve, while Taylor will be a steady influence.
4. Greg Jennings will become the starter opposite Driver at least by week 6.
5. Ferguson & Gardner will not be sure things on the roster. Gardner, in particular (Ferguson has great special teams value) had better step it up in training camp.
6. Our defensive tackle situation will be better than most are figuring. Pickett, Allen, & Cole will be a strong run-stuffing rotation, while Williams & Jenkins will be a fine disruptive tackle presence.
7. The secondary, instead of being a liablity it has been for several seasons, will now be a strength. Upgrading the CB & safety spots was an obvious step up, but Carroll's coming of age will be a factor. Blackmon & Hawkins will provide fine depth.
8. Brett Favre will fall short of the records he covets & will miraculously announce he will return in 07. Many fans on this forum will honestly react as if it's a huge surprise.
9. Our backfield-by-committee will turn out to be a good thing (provided Green is healthy). Three backs sharing te load would keep everyone fresh.
10. Overall, there will be growing pains in the short term, but Thompson's foresight has seen to it that the foundation is being laid for a quality team that will remain competitive over the long haul.

[Rastak]

Here's the Lions at 24


PFT PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS: NO. 24

Slowly but surely, we're getting there. One by one, the bad teams are fading into the rear-view mirror of our one-a-day preseason look-see at the NFL's 32 franchises.

But there are more. Oh yes. There are more.

And let's start with No. 24.

The Detroit Lions.

We're torn regarding the potential impact of new head coach Rod Marinelli. On one hand, we believe that if the militaristic Marinelli were destined to be such a great head coach someone would have at least interviewed the long-time Tampa defensive line coach for a top job before 2006. Indeed, the Lions had two prior opportunities during the Matt Millen regime to hire Marinelli, but never even gave him a sniff.

On the other hand, everyone who has played for the guy loves his ability to get players properly motivated and prepared.

But with only so much of the roster than can be turned over in any given year, Marinelli's results will be less like Lombardi and more like Les Steckel in year one. There are too many guys on the team who have grown too accustomed to Steve Mariucci's "player-friendly" approach, which often is code for "the inmates are running the asylum, and I'm staying out of the way so they won't try to make me their bitch." And only so many of the guys who don't want to work hard can be booted out the door in only one offseason without screwing up the salary cap.

The real question is whether Marinelli will get a fair chance to rectify the problems of seasons past, which in turn will depend on whether the Ford family can continue to resist mounting calls to "Fire Millen!" -- which won't go away if the Lions don't contend for the division title in 2006. The key, in our view, to Marinelli getting a full chance to make his message take will be for the guy who's running the show in the front office to keep his job, since if there's a change at the top the new G.M. will want to hire his own coach, sooner before later.

And the more we hear about Millen, the less we think he's totally responsible for the mess in Motown. Word is that the Fords forced on him both of the two prior head coaches that were hired on his watch, and that the Fords insisted on drafting major quarterback bust Joey Harrington. With that said, Millen's performance has been poor, and we would have gotten rid of him after 2005, if not earlier. But now that he's still there, he needs a couple of years in order to ensure that the new coach will get a couple of years, too.

Still, this much is clear to us. If the Lions aren't back in the playoffs or damn close to it by the end of the 2007 season, especially when they play in one of the weakest divisions in the league, it'll be time for the Fords to clean house completely and start over from scratch.

Helping Marinelli turn the thing around will be a former head coach and a former short-list head coaching candidate -- Mike Martz and Donnie Henderson. The Lions' on-again, off-again courtship of Martz had the same indicia of goofiness that his time in St. Louis demonstrated, and we have a feeling that Martz could be a problem if he doesn't have free and complete reign over the offense. But based on his performance in that same position with the Rams, it makes sense to get out of his way and let him do his thing.

The hard-nosed Henderson could be a nice complement to Marinelli, but as we explained after Marinelli got the job it'll be important for someone to play good cop if/when Marinelli goes meshugena on the practice field or in the locker room.

Yeah, this thing could be messier than Michael Strahan's divorce proceedings -- but if these three coaches can start to manufacture wins it could finally turn the Lions into a legitimate force.

And if that ever happens, the success will likely be short-lived, since both Martz and Henderson would ride the team's success into head coaching jobs elsewhere.

Leading the way on offense this season will be a new quarterback, presumably former Bengals starter Jon Kitna, a solid but unspectacular performer during his NFL career. Kitna's arrival resulted in the departure of Harrington, who was the third overall pick in the 2002 draft.

At running back, Kevin Jones was supposed to be a breakout performer in 2005. If the Lions are lucky, he'll be merely overdue in lieu of overrated.

At receiver, the Lions currently have 12 players under contract -- including three former first-round draft picks, two of whom (Charles Rogers and Mike Williams) might be in danger of getting the boot, if for no reason other than to make it easier for Marinelli and Martz to get everyone else's attention.

Free agent additions on offense include tight end Dan Campbell, receiver Corey Bradford, receiver Mike Furrey, quarterback Josh McCown, tackle Barry Stokes, tackle Courtney Van Buren, and guard Ross Verba.

On defense, the team bid farewell to defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson and signed various free agents, including defensive tackle Tyoka Jackson, safety Idrees Bashir, and cornerback Jamar Fletcher.

The draft brought linebacker Ernie Sims in round one, safety Daniel Bullocks in round two, and running back Brian Calhoun in round three.

Transition will be the key word in Motown this year, with Marinelli, Martz, and Henderson trying to figure out who'll be the best candidates to fit the offensive and defensive systems and -- more importantly -- the type of hard-nosed, high-motor mindset that Marinelli surely will try to impress upon them all.

We don't rule out a surprising improvement given the low level of competition in the NFC North, but the team will have a better chance of making some noise in 2007 -- if they don't do so well in 2006 that Martz and/or Henderson win tickets out of town.

Now, for the fantasy grades:

Quarterback: Kitna was solid in his last stint as a starter. But with a couple of years on the bench and a 34th birthday coming in September, can he put up big numbers? In Mike Martz's Silver Ball offense, he can. We'll go out on a limb and give Kitna a B+.

Running back: He went from rookie stud to second-year dud, but he'll get plenty of chances to redeem himself in 2006. Especially if he continues to develop into a pass-catcher out of the backfield. We're not ready to label him the next Marshall Faulk or Priest Holmes, but those guys didn't really become Marshall Faulk or Priest Holmes until they got hooked up with the Vermeil-Martz attack.

Wide receiver: Roy Williams' production slipped a bit in 2005, and he's been slowed by nagging injuries. But someone has to catch the passes in the Martz offense, and Williams likely will be the first option. He gets a B. Beyond the No. 1 wideout, however, it's hard at this point to figure out who'll get the reps, and the catches. Martz apparently loves Eddie Drummond, who could be No. 3 or higher when the season starts. Mike Williams and Charles Rogers have the pedigree but not the production, and former Martz pupil Mike Furrey could be a factor, too. For now, the best bet for any fantasy owner is to monitor the news coming out of Lions' camp carefully in order to figure out who the main guy across from Roy Williams will be.

Tight end: Marcus Pollard was one of the few guys on offense last year who refused to tolerate the team's ineptitude. But his numbers, even in Martz's offense, don't put him back among the league's elite tight ends. Go with another receiver.

Defense: The Lions were the 20th overall defense statistically in 2005, and Marinelli and Henderson could push those numbers higher. Though not an elite unit yet, we'd keep an eye on them if the Bucs, Steelers, Bears, Eagles, and Pats are gone when it comes time to pick one. We'll give them a B-.

Kicker: Jason Hanson has been kicking for the Lions since 1992. Last year, he put up only 84 points. If the Martz offense takes root in 2006, he'll possibly score a lot more. He gets a B-.

[Rastak]

Here ya go Mad........



PFT PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS: NO. 23

Okay, time to shake things up. In honor of the fact we're often accused by Packers fans of being Vikings fans, and that we're often accused by Vikings fans of being assholes, we've decided to give both demographics a treat by installing in position No. 23 the franchise that has for most of the past four decades combined above-average performances on the field with close-but-no-cigar outcomes when it matters most and all-too-embarrassing off-field incidents.

The Minnesota Vikings.

Last year at this time, the Vikes were on the short list of Super Bowl contenders. And for good reason. We thought. Sure, receiver Randy Moss was gone, but quarterback Daunte Culpepper had put together an MVP-caliber season in 2004, which featured several impressive performances while Moss was nursing a hamstring injury.

In addition to trading Moss, the Vikes continued to upgrade a traditionally porous defense by adding guys like cornerback Fred Smoot, safety Darren Sharper, and defensive tackle Pat Williams.

But the team inexplicably limped to a 2-5 start, fueled by an anything-but-limp Love Boat cruise and capped by a nightmare before Halloween in Charlotte, during which Culpepper's right knee got transformed into a bowl of soggy corn flakes.

And then, just as the team had the inside track on the rights to Reggie Bush, the Vikings turned it around, winning six in a row.

Of course, it was all too good to last. The Vikes got banged around at home by the Steelers and lost on the road to the Ravens before thumping the Bears' second-stringers on New Year's Day.

About 15 minutes after the final gun, the real fun began. The team parted ways with head coach Mike Tice via a terse statement circulated by hand through the locker room. Archie Bunker's son-in-law was replaced not long thereafter by Brad Childress, former Eagles offensive coordinator who didn't fully coordinate the offense because, well, he never actually called the plays. Then after Philly convinced personnel guru Tom Heckert to stay put and guys like Pats director of college scouting Tom Dimitroff said "no thanks," the Vikes named Fran Foley the V.P. of Player Personnel, coining along the way the term "Triangle of Authority," a phrase rivaled in team history only by the ill-advised "Randy Ratio."

Foley lasted all of three months before a string of resume inaccuracies -- and a reputation for being too hard on the help -- resulted in his extremely premature departure.

Eventually, Foley was replaced by former Miami G.M. Rick Spielman, who has the personality to build consensus . . . and the incentive to make folks forget about the personnel moves that preceded his departure from the Fins.

If possible, the game of musical chairs that played out in the front office was overshadowed by an ugly divorce with quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who made a surprise turn for the turdish after trying to make a play for more money despite a horrendous 2005 season. He fired his agent and then decided to communicate directly with the media by e-mail. Eventually, the Vikings put him on the trading block, lied to him about the fact that he was on the trading block, and then of course proceeded to trade him.

After Culpepper left, Brad Childress spent nearly as much time talking publicly about his former quarterback in Minny as T.O. has spent talking about their mutual former quarterback in Philly.

To help make the fans quit thinking about the guy whom Childress couldn't seem to forget, the Vikings plunked down huge money for Seahawks guard Steve Hutchinson, using a contentious poison-pill provision to back Seattle into a corner. The Vikes also added linebacker Ben Leber, running back Chester Taylor, and kicker Ryan Longwell in the early days of free agency. Later came quarterback Mike McMahon, safety Tank Williams, and fullback Tony Richardson.

Other key departures include cornerback Brian Williams, safety Corey Chavous, defensive end Lance Johnstone, linebacker Keith Newman, running back Michael Bennett, and receiver Nate Burleson, who signed with Seattle a tit-for-tat offer sheet that pushed the poison-pill concept to a new level, using features such as the number of games played in Minnesota as a trigger for guaranteeing the full amount of the seven-year, $49 million deal.

In the draft, the Vikings added linebacker Chad Greenway, cornerback Cedric Griffin, center Ryan Cook, and quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.

So why have we put this team so much lower than its finish in 2005 might merit? Put simply, there's been too much upheaval in just one offseason. A first-time head coach. A first-time offensive coordinator installing a new offense. A first-time defensive coordinator installing a new defense. A loud-mouthed goofball (in our opinion) running the personnel department during free agency and the draft, the most important stages of the offseason. Criminal cases resulting from the Love Boat fiasco. The Culpepper saga. The lingering stink of giving up on Randy Moss at a time when perhaps the real doofis was Daunte.

Eventually, this team could step forward. But before it happens we sense a major step backward in 2006.

Now for the fantasy grades:

Quarterback: Brad Johnson generated a solid passer rating in nine-plus games last season, but threw only 12 touchdown passes. He's not likely to generate a ton of fantasy points. On the bright side, his four picks shows that he knows how to take care of the ball. Given his age, though, we'll give him a C+.

Running back: There have been whispers that the team isn't pleased with Chester Taylor, which could mean that Mewelde Moore will eat into Taylor's touches. We'd stay away from either until there's an indication during training camp as to whether either one of them will get the bulk of the carries. There's even a chance, in our view, that Ciatrick Fason steals the starting job.

Wide receiver: Who's No. 1 on the depth chart? Who knows. Between Travis Taylor, Koren Robinson, Marcus Robinson, and Troy Williamson, the ball got spread around too much in 2005, with none of them putting up great numbers. Taylor had the most catches (50) and yards (604), but not enough to warrant even a C. We'd avoid all of them, perhaps taking a flier on Williamson in the event that he lives up to his top-ten draft status or Robinson, for pretty much the same reason.

Tight end: Jermaine Wiggins hauled in 69 passes, good for fifth among all tight ends. He has been one of the few consistent factors on the Vikings offense over the past few years, and he's one of the few tight ends we'd take in lieu of a third wideout. He gets a B.

Defense: If new coordinator Mike Tomlin can get the Tampa 2 to take quickly, the Vikings could have a solid defense. But that's a big "if," especially since the linebackers (key players in the Cover 2 scheme) have been the team's biggest weakness for the past few years, and since defensive tackle Kevin Williams seemed to regress significantly in 2005. Then there's cornerback Fred Smoot in run support -- even with an extra 15 pounds of upper body weight the notion of Smoot making tackles near the line of scrimmage as part of the Tampa 2 is almost as ridiculous as the accounts of his Love Boat activities.

Kicker: Ryan Longwell is a seasoned veteran who was stuck in a bad offense last season with the Packers. His chances won't be much more numerous in 2006. He gets a C-.