Thumper
Act 4 has gracefully come to its conclusion and what a drama it truly was.
We pay for entertainment and that's exactly what we got. Now its back to
the business of the NFL.
In no
disrespect to the William's, Allen's, Greenway's, etc., the toughest players on
the field are what I consider the daggers within the bull fight. To put
this in perspective, Winfield's body is nothing more than a remarkable blood
letting machine. Each has his role where the fore-mentioned get to gaze
upon it in true amazement.
In a blink of an eye I saw Griffin get knocked senseless followed by the
sacrifice of the largest bone in any mans body of one of the toughest players in
the league ... all taken out by this kid Jamarca Sanford. This just
doesn't happen on film ... but I recall that it did for a player named Ronnie
Lott. It is the daggers that have a way of changing the outcome of any
game. Note to NFL ... Jamarca liked and respected Griffin and EJ ...
imagine what he's might have in store for you. Let's just remember .... it
just doesn't show up on cellulose by happenstance.
Brilliance
always moves on
Today, we don't remember Tony Dungy as the defensive coordinator in Minnesota
that was passed up year after year.
Today we hear comparisons with both active coaches and coaching prospects to
what is now one of the most respected individuals in this game. Leslie
Frazier, this quiet unassuming man, with the eyes that reveal a cauldron of
restrained intense pressurized liquid magma, will not be known as the next Tony
Dungy. His brilliance is destined to carve out his own unique epitaph of
fame. At first, I didn't know him, and simply rejected the notions, but in
time I've learned a great deal about him through his actions.
Tony was a by product of the great Steelers of the 70's ... a bygone era where
players had the luxury of evolving within one organization. LF, on the
other hand, is a disciple of Buddy Ryan ... a man who's brilliance reaches
deeply back into the New York Jets of Super Bowl III, the Minnesota Vikings of
the 1970's, the immortal Bears of the 80's, as well as the Green Machine of
Reggie Whites days in Philadelphia and beyond. Take a good look at the NFL
today and Buddy Ryan's influence on this game is unmistakable. Of every
Vikings that awaits his entrance to the hall of fame, there is one that is more
deserving and that is Buddy Ryan.
Cris Carter maybe our next inductee, but to put it all in perspective, just gaze
back upon Cris's reverence to a simple man that is Buddy within that interview
where Cris gets to tell him thank you for without Buddy, there would be no Cris
Carter awaiting his induction. In all of Mike Ditka's pomp and
circumstance, combined within the turmoil of the 85 season, see how he feels
about Buddy Ryan. These words alone are enough to make any hall of fame
selector think twice about the NFL's most influential innovator ... maybe the
greatest defensive mind ... of all time. Never be fooled by his poker face
demeanor, where he deflected all controversy to himself rather to allow his
players to be preyed upon. This man was beyond brilliant, where we just couldn't
see it for what it really was and that was because Buddy protected his players
at all cost, regardless of what it might cost him.
As for this Frazier guy, what
sealed his fate was in losing EJ early in 2008. Frazier utilized the two
linebacker set of Greeway and Leber, which became a thing of elegance.
To be direct, when EJ came back, my first thought was great, we have one of the
greatest linebackers in the league back within the fold. My very next
thought was a selfish one indeed. You see, once I was exposed to Leslie
Frazier's brilliance of his two linebacker set upon the field ... I became a
slave to it. My hunger for it became insatiable. My question became
... with EJ on the field, how do we get back to where I once belonged. For
this thought alone, I apologize to EJ for even thinking such a thought but I
hope he understands it. As long as the William's wall stands, the hand of
Leslie Frazier becomes unmistakable.
These may very well be the last three games of Leslie Frazier and a great Viking
defense. So tell me ... what role will evolve from thumper.
The Viking Ghost
Writer
MyVikingBlood.com
Date: January 6, 2010
