Maybe Dave Wannstedt should write a book, Paul Tagliabue should put a gag order on the Bears, Raymont Harris should sit out and Michael McCaskey should put the franchise up for sale, then trash Soldier Field again.
It worked for the Minnesota Vikings, who turned an incredible week of turmoil into a convincing 23-18 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday.
The victory was the fifth straight for the 7-2 Vikings. The defeat was the third straight and fourth in five weeks for the floundering 5-4 Patriots.
When Brad Johnson’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Cris Carter on third down with 2 minutes 39 seconds left gave the Vikings a 23-12 lead, Carter flipped the ball to embattled coach Dennis Green as 62,917 Metrodome fans cheered in spite of themselves.
A moment before, the crowd had been doing the wave, oblivious to pleas for quiet from the home team, confirming the indifference that threatens the future of pro football and baseball in the Twin Cities.
A week ago, Green was defending a suggestion in his just-published autobiography, “No Room for Crybabies,” that he could force the 10-person Vikings board of directors to sell the team to him. Before NFL commissioner Tagliabue could issue his gag order Friday on discussion of ugly lawsuits and the sale scenario, it was discovered the Vikings have been up for sale for some time and have rejected at least one bid.
Then Friday, team President Roger Headrick said a refurbished Metrodome, only 16 years old, would not meet future financial needs. This was seen as a roadblock to efforts by baseball’s Twins, who share the Metrodome, to get their own stadium. The Vikings have been told by politicians to stand in line, and Headrick hears echoes of what happened between the city of Cleveland and former Browns owner Art Modell.
“We don’t see an answer,” Headrick said.
But on the field, Green and his players had answers galore. Without star running back Robert Smith and backup Leroy Hoard, third-stringer Moe Williams returned the opening kickoff 74 yards to set up a field goal and the Patriots never recovered.
Behind 16-3 late in the third period, Patriots coach Pete Carroll raised a few questions when he passed up a 28-yard field-goal attempt and failed on fourth and 1. Had he kicked it, the Patriots would have been playing for a tie after Carter’s touchdown instead of playing for respectability.
“I was surprised,” Green admitted.
“They’ve got to meet the challenge and make the first down,” Carroll explained.
Johnson’s touchdown pass to Carter beat a blitz that left safety Willie Clay awkwardly trying to stop Carter’s post-corner route man-to-man, a poor matchup that sealed the outcome.
It was Johnson’s only touchdown pass on a day when it was more important to be careful and let the Vikings’ quick defense harass Drew Bledsoe and Curtis Martin. Bledsoe threw for 313 yards and Martin rushed for 104, but neither did damage when it counted. Williams and ex-Bear Robert Green rushed for only 62 yards, but they kept the Patriots honest. Smith’s ankle is likely to sideline him against the Bears next week. Hoard is expected to play despite sore ribs.
Coach Green said his team’s preparation was not affected by news of a possible sale because it wasn’t really news.
“I told them, `It was in the book, so is anybody surprised?’ ” Green said.
Carter lobbied for the touchdown play on third and 2. When nickel back Larry Whigham lined up over him and looked at the ground, Carter knew he was blitzing instead of covering. Beating safety Clay was easy, although hauling in Johnson’s slightly underthrown pass only looked easy.
“He’s got a lot of touchdowns that way, breaking to the corner and putting the ball up high. That’s his thing,” Green said.
It was the 84th touchdown catch of Carter’s career, only one behind the company of Paul Warfield and Lance Alworth.
“In a crucial situation, I wanted to let him (Green) know he can depend on me,” Carter said. “That’s what sports are all about. That’s why I gave the ball to him.”
