Vikings' draft is all celebration

Zygi Wilf wore a perpetual grin Saturday as he shuffled through the Vikings' 2008 draft party/pep rally at Winter Park. He shook hands with fans -- well, high-fived most of them -- pumped his fists like a conquering hero and even tried his hand at play-by-play, announcing his newest player by intoning a broadcaster's voice and saying, "Sack by Jaaaaaaaaaared Allen!"

Upon spotting a group of reporters, Wilf pointed at his grin -- and then transformed it to a full-on chortle by tugging on his cheeks. Consider it the personification of the Vikings' offseason theme: We're thinking big.

A quiet opening day of the NFL draft was as good a time as any to reflect on the Vikings' historic offseason, one they hope will lift them into Super Bowl contention. At each turn, always with Wilf's blessing and occasionally at his urging, the Vikings shot for the moon and usually landed.

"It just sends the message that this organization is going to walk the walk," linebacker Ben Leber said after a draft-party autograph session. "You see a lot of new owners come in, and a lot of new personnel guys come in, and say, 'Oh yeah, we want to win now. We're going to do whatever it takes.' Those are the clichés that you hear.

"But these guys are actually proving it. They saying, 'We're going to go out and we're going to get the guys we're talking about and we're going to pay whatever it takes to get them.' It's a great message to send to players and a great message to send to the fans."

It started on Day 1 of free agency, when Wilf sent his private plane to Fresno, Calif., to collect receiver Bernard Berrian. The Vikings had decided that receiver and defensive end were their top priorities, and Berrian was widely considered the best pass-catcher available.

While the Vikings had Berrian on lockdown at the 601 Graves Hotel, several other teams -- Oakland and Tennessee among them -- tried persuading Berrian to leave town. The Vikings? They kept increasing their offer until Berrian agreed to terms on a deal that included him $16 million in guaranteed money.

Oakland ended up signing free-agent receiver Javon Walker, a riskier move considering Walker's history of knee injuries, while Tennessee was left with no choice but to re-sign journeyman Justin McCareins.

"They sold me on the fact that they're trying to get to that championship game," Berrian said. "They told me that they needed a couple pieces to try to get there. And the actual thing is, their two top priorities that they went for this offseason, they got them both. That was impressive."

Yes, Kansas City All-Pro defensive end Jared Allen remained on the Vikings' radar even as they expressed interest in free agents Justin Smith, Antwan Odom and Jevon Kearse.

"But if you ask me," said nose tackle Pat Williams, "I didn't want none of those guys. I wanted an impact guy. And Jared Allen? He'll make an impact."

Wilf sent a clear message throughout the organization: It was OK to pursue the best available player at all of their targeted positions. Even a year ago, that approach did not seem clear.

Coach Brad Childress wanted a pass-catching tight end, but the Vikings focused on Visanthe Shiancoe as their target. Shiancoe had been a four-year backup for the New York Giants and proved a disappointing signing, catching 27 passes -- and dropping three TDs -- while earning $8.2 million in 2007.

The Vikings also focused on receivers, but they ended up with their third-rated player; Bobby Wade signed only after the Vikings struck out on free agents Kevin Curtis and Wes Welker.

So rather than sell out for Smith or even Odom, the Vikings kept their sights set on Allen.

"It wasn't a matter of us just going after him," Wilf said. "He became available, and when you see somebody of his caliber available ... you go out and you get him. Because it's an opportunity that doesn't come around very often. It was only the second time a franchise player had been traded. So when we saw that he was available, everything lined up the right way.

"Our goal is to win the championship, and I think we're moving in the right direction."

Wilf, in fact, issued a capital call to his investment partners, asking for nearly $20 million in extra cash to fund Allen's budget-busting contract. The message -- that the Vikings suddenly were thinking big -- has been heard loud and clear in the locker room.

"It feels like everyone is on the same page," Williams said. "It's nice to know that all anyone here wants to do is win. Zygi and the people in the front office are making everything happen for us. Zygi told them, 'Go find the best players,' and that's what they're trying to do. Now there is serious excitement here."

Certainly enough to grin about.