Vike's Carter playing last season

[Marc]

With a fragile defense broken up in the offseason with stars like John Randle leaving and the offense losing RB Robert Smith, the Vikes got more bad news recently.

Long-time Pro Bowl WR Cris Carter is going to retire after the 2001 season: http://espn.go.com/nfl/s/2001/0504/1191641.html

Thoughts? I think the Vikings are in for a long, long season.

[lmanchur.]

..I don't like it when people say it's their last year before the season even starts. I mean, look at Hasek of the NHL who said he'd retire.. what?.. THREE years ago!?..

..or MJ in basketball or Lemieux in the NHL... I mean, at least, Jordan retired in good physical shape, and if he comes back, it would just ruin his legacy... same with Lemieux... if he came back this past year and played bad, it would have ruined everything.

Carter, barring any injuries this year, will retire healthy.. I'm hoping he doesn't decide to come back a few years later. It just makes me mad... if you're retired, STAY THAT WAY!!! :)

[PeterDewar]

Now everything will be "...the last time he plays here" or something like that every week. "Could that have been the last TD for Carter?" Just wait til after the season to call it quits.

[iFroggy]

First of all, if MJ comes back IT DOES NOTHING TO HIS LEGACY. Good gosh, its not your life, leave the man alone and don't talk about HIS legacy. His "legacy" will be just as great if he comes back.

Ok, back on subject. I haven't really liked Carter as a person, that he's had tremendous talent and has been a top WR in the NFL. Looks like they will need to get another great WR to draw some guys off Moss now with Carter going.

[Dre2g]

I'm glad he's going to retire. He has nothing left to prove, besides getting a ring.

[lmanchur.]

Originally posted by iFroggy
First of all, if MJ comes back IT DOES NOTHING TO HIS LEGACY. Good gosh, its not your life, leave the man alone and don't talk about HIS legacy. His "legacy" will be just as great if he comes back.All I was saying is that he went out like Elway went out... like every athlete would LOVE to retire -- winning the championship in your final game... and not only that, but with the winning shot. I mean, that was the first ever basketball game I had ever watched from minute one to the final buzzer... I'll never forget that. MJ will always be great, but I just say, "once you retire, you're done!... THAT'S IT!" :)

Hopefully Carter & the Vikings (one of my fav. teams 'cuz they are geographically the closest to me!) can go out good for Carter's sake.

[Wedge231]

I think they will struggle this year. They should start the rebuilding process now, maybe sign some young talent.

[iFroggy]

I don't think they need to be rebuild anything. I mean they already have possibly the best young duo in the NFL in Culpepper/Moss. They just need a decent RB, they have Carter for this year, I think they can make a serious run.

[Marc]

Originally posted by iFroggy
I don't think they need to be rebuild anything. I mean they already have possibly the best young duo in the NFL in Culpepper/Moss. They just need a decent RB, they have Carter for this year, I think they can make a serious run.
No way they can make a serious run.

Teams will double Moss, they will have no running game and no defense. That doesn't equal a Super Bowl ring.

[iFroggy]

You seem to underestimate Daunte Culpepper. As soon as they double Moss, he takes off running and if not he'll dump off to a secondary reciever that they will acquire. They don't need to rebuild, just fill gaps.

[NickHammy]

That's true but it will be very hard for them to do that. They might make the playoffs this year, but they won't go far.

[Marc]

Originally posted by iFroggy
You seem to underestimate Daunte Culpepper. As soon as they double Moss, he takes off running and if not he'll dump off to a secondary reciever that they will acquire. They don't need to rebuild, just fill gaps.
Again, I disagree. Having virtually no running game and no defense is more than a "gap".

[Jackson]

I would like to see how Micheal Bennett does before I declare the Vikings to have "no running game".

[Marc]

Originally posted by Oxford American
I would like to see how Micheal Bennett does before I declare the Vikings to have "no running game".
Regardless, he is a rookie and I doubt he will immediently provide a consistent RB to go to. We'll see.

[iFroggy]

Well, last year people had the Dolphins pegged no higher then 3rd and also said that we didn't have a running game. Lamar Smith emerged and ran for 1200+ yards. All it takes is one guy to emerge to fill a "gap." Thats all it takes.