Vikings' Allen: 'We expect to go to the Super Bowl'

Considering the financial investment that the Vikings made to upgrade their roster this offseason, it should come as no surprise that owner Zygi Wilf and Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen have grand expectations.

Wilf, attending the team's weekend minicamp, talked about the "tremendous amount of talent" the Vikings possess and that "every position that we felt we needed to get better at, we've brought the players in." Allen, the biggest name among the newcomers, was even more direct. "We expect to go to the Super Bowl," he said.

These thoughts of grandeur might be good news for a fan base that has seen the team go 14-18 and fail to make the playoffs in Brad Childress' first two seasons as coach, but it doesn't necessarily mirror the reality around Winter Park.

The Vikings took significant steps to improve themselves with the addition of Allen, receiver Bernard Berrian and safety Madieu Williams -- those three alone have been guaranteed $60 million -- but the fact remains that it's June 9 and the most strenuous activity this team has gone through was the just-completed minicamp.

Veteran safety Darren Sharper said if anything can be taken from the offseason workouts, it's what he has observed off the field. "The thing that I see as a difference is the attitude of the guys that are here," he said. "We have an attitude this year like we're working toward a goal. We're always working toward a goal, but this year you can definitely sense the guys have a little bit of extra pep in their step because we know we have a good team."

If Sharper's words attempt to temper the enthusiasm a bit, Childress takes it another step. The Vikings have five practices remaining over the next two weeks as part of their Organized Team Activities before players get a break before reporting to training camp July 23.

It will be Childress' job to make sure a confident but not cocky bunch shows up in Mankato.

"Things always build this time of year," he said when asked about the mood of his players. "Our guys are able to look around and know that the team continues to get better. That's our job -- to continue to put good players on the field.

"Competition continues to grow, and that's what you want to try to do to be a good football team. Yeah, I see it. You've got to be a pretty confident guy outright in this business, first of all, to play it. As a unit -- offense, defense, special teams -- I think our confidence continues to build."

This includes starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, whose demeanor during the minicamp was far superior to a year ago, when he was so easily rattled. But Jackson still remains the X-factor in this equation. He went 8-4 as a starter last season, but that record certainly couldn't overshadow the fact he threw three more interceptions than touchdowns and his 70.8 rating was 28th among 33 quarterbacks listed in NFL statistics.

Jackson's spot atop the depth chart is probably the biggest reason that at least three NFL preview magazines are picking the Packers and first-year starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers to win the NFC North.

Childress probably doesn't see this as a bad thing.

"I think he's more comfortable with understanding the mantle being a starting quarterback entails," he said of Jackson. "It's kind of neat when you've got a chance to be the starter. But then there's a lot that goes along with that, not just the preparation but obviously the production. With that said, he understands the production business. I see him a year more comfortable."

He is going to have to be that and more if the Vikings are to get where Wilf and Allen expect them to be.

"Every team comes in with high expectations, every team talks about playoffs, every team talks about winning the Super Bowl, but very few teams have a true belief in that opportunity and understanding their chances," receiver Bobby Wade said. "But I think this team and its veterans, players that are on this team, are really excited about how far we can really go this year."

Just remember: It's only June.