Editorial shorts: Are you ready for some football? In April?

Trade and draft puts the game front and center.

Last update: April 25, 2008 - 6:00 PM

It's a big week for pro football in Minnesota, with the Vikings trading for talented but previously troubled defensive end Jared Allen, and the NFL kicking off its two-day college draft on Saturday. For those who don't live and breathe the sport, all of this spring football talk might be a little confusing.

As a service to those readers, we offer the following Q&A:

Q While playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, Allen was suspended for the first two games of 2007 after being arrested twice for drunken driving. He says he's quit drinking, but if he has another offense he'd face a lengthy suspension from the league. Isn't that a big risk for the Vikings?

A Absolutely. But NFL teams take these risks all the time. Just spend a few minutes watching the NFL draft Saturday or Sunday. More than one player will be described as a "character risk,'' but, in pro sports, talent and performance on the field always trumps character.

Q After the "Love Boat" scandal, didn't Vikings owner Zygi Wilf produce a 77-page "code of conduct'' for the organization?

A He sure did. And coach Brad Childress vowed to create "a culture of accountability'' when he was hired. What we've learned since then is that if a talented player runs afoul of the law, the Vikings are a very forgiving organization. For Allen, the second-chance approach translated into a six-year, $74 million contract.

Q Do other NFL teams have these problems?

A It's hard to think of any team that hasn't dealt with drunken driving, assaults, gun incidents or bar brawls -- sometimes all in the same year. And many have the same culture of forgiveness as the Vikings. The same day the home team celebrated the arrival of Allen, the Dallas Cowboys traded for Adam (Pacman) Jones. His claim to fame, in addition to being a really skilled defensive back, is an incident in Las Vegas in which police said Jones incited a strip club fight that led to a triple shooting, leaving one man paralyzed.

Q Why doesn't the NFL do something about all of this?

A Commissioner Roger Goodell also talks about accountability, and it's safe to assume he spends a good chunk of his office hours on player suspensions. But the NFL is a very successful business, and its popularity is growing. Fans don't really seem all that concerned about character either.

Q So was the Allen trade was a mistake?

A It's up to Allen and the Vikings. If he can harass quarterbacks on game days and stay out of trouble off the field, all will be well. For the Vikings and their fans, that's the $74 million question.

Comment on this story | Be the first to comment | Hide reader comments

New ideas for the public sector

THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME to create a more efficient Minnesota. Facing large budget deficits at the state, county and local levels, Minnesotans are seeing with new clarity that the public sector must adapt to new economic realities. Only the smartest, most strategic reinvention will ensure that our tax dollars are spent on the best programs and services. Read more

About Opinion Exchange

Opinion Exchange is produced by the Editorial Department, which is dedicated to hosting the discussion on a range of issues of interest to Star Tribune readers online and in print. In its new format, it's our hope that Opinion Exhange will create a more dynamic dialogue between Star Tribune readers and the Editorial Board. Many individual posts will be written and signed by members of the Editorial Board and will reflect their own opinions. Daily editorials will continue to represent the institutional voice of the newspaper and be researched and written by the Editorial Department, which is independent of the newsroom.

Subscribe to RSS|Learn more about RSS