[OneVike]

(Real Vikings, who were not afraid of cold, mud, or frozen turf.
Notice that Joe Kapp is wearing a short sleeve jersey)

Watching the accompanying video made me mad to begin with because the friggin reporters were making excuses for these overpaid useless jokes of the grid iron. I am registered as chicovike with the Star Tribune, and below is the comment I left about this story. I formatted my comment here, I did for the paper also but when it was posted it wasn't formatted.

I am getting real tired of a bunch of multimillionaire pansy's, constantly complaining about having to play a game they chose to play. When I am told by my boss that I need to do something that is well withing the parameters of my job description, I do it without complaining.

Millions of Americans wish they had any job to go to, and you guys want to bitch about a little cold you have to deal with for less then 3 hours. What about the fans who pay your salary? I don't hear them complaining about the cold, but all I hear anymore is you lazy multimillionaires complaining about everything. Think about the men who laid everything on the line for pennys compared to you as they built this league. Now you guys get to live the life of kings while complaining about a sore toe. Tell that to the original Purple People eaters who played in short sleeve shirts without bench warmers.

I'll tell you what you pampered pansys need to do. When your sitting inside the warm locker room and hearing the fans over the loud speakers cheering the old men who played the game the way it was invented to play, I would advise you wimps to take off your helmets and bow your head in shame. You have not proved to this old Viking fan that you men deserve to be called Vikings yet, let alone be associated with the men I watched play when I was younger.

You guys are just a bunch of wanna-be Vikings. Any Viking player that is afraid to play the game outside in the snow on frozen dirt, makes me sick and ashamed to be a Viking fan! Stop your sniveling and keep your disappointment to your self like a real man would. Then, when the game is over, win or lose, I expect you guys to cheer the fans who have paid with their hearts as they watched and waited for over a quarter of a century to see their team play a game outside at home again.

[OneVike]

I guess they didn’t like my comment because it is not posted anymore. Interesting, it seems they dislike the truth. Not that I am surprised though.

[B Knotts]

This is just another example of why I haven’t watched NFL football for years.

Guys used to play with broken arms. Now, they fret about a frozen field. It’s a disgrace.

[21twelve]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUk16I4Vg5w

Here’s a good video (or part of one) recalling the 1969 season and playing in the snow. (Bud Grant, no heaters, shoveling snow off the hash marks, etc.)

[AU72]

Bud Grant cannot be pleased. He didn’t even allow heat blowers on the sidelines.

[A message]

That was one heck of a good rant that I completely agree.

My first thought was, “ suck it up boys, you’re football players and the greats before you played on frozen fields in the winter. Deal with it.”

[liberty or death]

It really doesn’t matter if they play anymore this year. I’m OK if they want to play in the plastic balls at Chucky Cheese. No need to film it. Call the Lions and keep them warm too.

[taxtruth]

The Patriots,Bears and Packers play in those conditions all the time.What’s the problem?

[jessduntno]

[beethovenfan]

Zygi Wilf?????????

[montag813]

These wimps! Did the Viking ships have air conditioning? MAN UP Shiancoe!

[calex59]

I agree with you. Back in the day(when I was young)they played all football games out doors and in any weather. The wimps they have playing ball today are really a bunch of over paid pussies.

[Delphster]

I watched the Division 2 Semifinals Saturday night played at night in Duluth. University of Minnesota Duluth beat Northwest Missouri in 2 degree temp with about a 30 mile wind. They did it because they love the game and these guys are worried. although they make a ton of money tired of their compaining.

[BIGLOOK]

Heating coils?

[Mr. Mojo]

Great rant. ...and photo.

Notice Merlin Olsen (RIP) #74 of the Rams.

[Right_Wing_Madman]

Granted, the Star-Tribute only quotes three Vikings in this article (including the wimpy kicker who partipates in about eight plays and spends the rest of the game on a heated seat), I can’t help but think this lot of Vikings are so much softer than the old Bud Grant teams. When the Vikings played home games outdoors, they went to four Super Bowls. Since they moved to the Metrodome, they’ve been to none.

[matt04]

Freezing conditions, in winter. Where is Algore. I need to ask him some questions.

[VeniVidiVici]

"I just hope it's a safe environment to play in," tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said. "That it's not going to be hazardous to the players when it comes to field conditions."

Effing pussies. Take that as a broad brush against the entire NFL, not just the Vikings.

I'm beginning to hope there is a strike next year.

[VeniVidiVici]

[IOWAfan]

boy, how football has changed...

[Average Al]

"The National Weather Service calls for a high of 17 on Monday with a slight chance of snow and then a low around 5 degrees at night. Another forecast calls for the low to be zero."

A Monday Night game outside in MN? No thanks!