PATRICK REUSSE
There was celebration from Vikings followers and approval from much of the local sports media when Norv Turner was pushed aside as the offensive coordinator on Nov. 2.
The claim at Winter Park remains that coach Mike Zimmer and the organization were "shocked'' by Turner's resignation.
You're telling Norv that his offensive philosophy doesn't work, and assistant Pat Shurmur has better ideas, and then it's a shock when a veteran football man decides to move along?
You betcha.
The most hilarious conversation I heard was on a popular FM sports station, where the host and a former player were trying to pin the 22-16 home loss to Detroit on Turner.
They found it unconscionable Norv had quit in midweek and left the Vikings hanging, while also praising the quick throws of Air Shurmur.
They weren't alone in trying to have it both ways: Some reporters lobbying for Norv's playbook to be trashed later offered his departure as an excuse for a bad November.
The Vikings were 5-2 and on a two-game losing streak when Norv was nudged aside. They are 1-3 with Shurmur's offensive approach, which on Thursday appeared to be this: