Jim Souhan: Thinking big has worked out for Vikings

The Vikings have set a new standard for Twin Cities sports teams pursuing free agents. The motto they adopted last winter should be etched in neon in the front offices of the Twins, Wolves and Wild.

The motto: Go big or don't bother.

The Twins have become one of the most respected organizations in pro sports because of their lean and hungry operation, their ability to draft and develop talent and squeeze victories out of average players. In free agency, their self-image as transformers of water into wine leaves them tactically inebriated.

They figured Mike Lamb, Adam Everett and Livan Hernandez were bargains; turns out they were dollar-store remainders. Their biggest move this winter has been to sign Nick Punto to be their starting shortstop. Even if you like Punto, that's hardly transformative.

The days of your second choices in free agency -- such as Jack Morris and Chili Davis -- winning you a championship are long gone. These days, you've got to spend a lot of money to find someone better than the guy sitting at the end of your bench. Last season, it turned out Punto, the guy the Twins were trying to bench, was better than Everett or Lamb, the guys they thought were upgrades.

The Wolves have become one of the least respected organizations in pro sports because of their lean and hungry operation, their inability to draft and develop talent and squeeze victories out of average players. In free agency, their self-image as people who are much smarter than they really are leaves them tactically handcuffed.

Even when they had Kevin Garnett, their attempts to surround him with talent backfired, with the exception of the 2003-2004 season, when Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell helped KG to the Western Conference finals. Even then, the Wolves' long-term strategy backfired because they were unprepared for the inevitable contract demands from Cassell and Sprewell.

The Wild, despite its growing reputation for penuriousness, has actually fared better than the Twins or Wolves in recent years. By that modest standard, it has succeeded by signing standout Brian Rolston to a bargain contract, and bringing in lesser contributors such as Kim Johnsson, Antti Miettinen and Andrew Brunette.

Meanwhile, the Vikings are 8-5 precisely because of their aggressiveness and expertise in signing free agents.

Last offseason, they signed quarterback Gus Frerotte, receiver Bernard Berrian, fullback Thomas Tapeh and safety Madieu Williams. They also traded for defensive end Jared Allen, something of a free-agent deal because it was spurred by Allen's contract dispute with the Chiefs.

Frerotte is 8-3 as a starter. Berrian leads the team in receiving yards, with almost twice as many as any other Viking. Williams, once recovered from a neck injury, has proved to be an upgrade over last year's starter, Dwight Smith, and this year's season-opening starter, rookie Tyrell Johnson.

Allen has proved both productive and inspirational, amassing 12.5 sacks while playing with a variety of injuries. Tapeh was the only bust, and he has been ably replaced by Naufahu Tahi.

There is a catch -- free agents tend to be older players with shorter shelf-lives. When your success is based on free agents, you'd better win soon, or you'll be starting all over soon.