I’ve always liked Don Banks from Sports Illustrated, partially because the guy was on the Vikings’ beat for a number of years, and partially because the guy is just a damn good football writer that knows his stuff. Sure, he drops the Minnesota Vikings two notches in his Power Rankings this week, from number 19 to number 21, but check out what he has to say about the team in his commentary.
The Vikings playing outdoors again in Minnesota is probably going to look and feel even stranger than seeing them play the role of faux home team in Detroit’s Ford Field. But given that the franchise is naming its 50th anniversary team this weekend, what better way to celebrate its Super Bowl glory era than in a cold-weather game against the Bears, where everyone can see their breath?
No mention of Brett Favre or Tarvaris Jackson or Joe Webb or even Patrick Ramsey. Banks managed to actually find something positive about the Vikings and talk about it instead of just coming out and saying “the Vikings suck at quarterback, so let’s ignore everything else.”
Thank you very much, Mr. Banks.