On a Quiet Offseason

It should neither surprise nor dismay that in the 2009 offseason, the Vikings have acquired no significant veteran starter other than Sage Rosenfels (and as a career backup, many would consider him a marginal acquisition; given the position he plays, I believe he'll be significant).  Last offseason, the Vikings acquired a starting veteran defensive end (currently 26 years old), a starting veteran wide receiver (currently 28 years old), and a veteran starting safety (currently 28 years old).  A team probably shouldn't add veteran starters offseason after offseason, especially if it is successful and prudent with its acquisitions (if a team does repeatedly acquire new veteran starters, it may be because those acquisitions frequently bust and sputter and there are more needs to be filled the next year).  Last season the Vikings went 10-6 with struggling quarterbacks and a difficult schedule.  They have solid, good, and great starters at many positions.  They have a plethora of young talent.  They don't need to fill a whole lot of needs with veteran starters.

Though I don't think the Vikings need to sign significant veteran starters this offseason, I'm not trying to be a management apologist here.  The treatment of the quarterback position during the Childress era is borderline obscene.  In three seasons, Brad Johnson, Tarvaris Jackson, Kelly Holcomb, Brooks Bollinger, and Gus Frerotte have started games.  This is a team with an actual good defense, and it keeps sending out marginal to bad quarterbacks.  Unless Sage Rosenfels is a competent starter (I think it is possible he will be), then Rosenfels will get added to the list of atrocious quarterback decisions during the Childress era.  It is the most important position on the team, and it has been managed terribly.

The Vikings should retain the players they want to (and extend Antoine Winfield's contract) and add starters and depth through the draft.  But they should also keep all options open at the quarterback position.