Vikings need to go all in

It's been a long process. It started before Brad Childress was coaching. Before Brett Favre even considered retirement.

This Vikings team took a long time to assemble. During the Mike Tice era there was a piece added here, another there. Minnesota fans could tell which players would stick around — the quality ones.

You could argue that it started when the Vikings drafted Bryant McKinnie in the first round in 2002. Then other pieces were added with the infamous passed pick in 2003 when Minnesota took Kevin Williams and then with the selection of E.J. Henderson in the second round.

Their talent shined through on those mediocre Vikings teams.

Then there's the stealing of Antoine Winfield from the Jets. That happened in the 2004 offseason. The Vikings picked up three cornerstones of their franchise in the matter of three years. The list goes on.

In 2005, Minnesota paid Pat Williams — a defensive tackle who was over 30 years old — and the move gave the Vikings defense its identity as a run stuffing defense. Pat Williams' presence alone, shifted the League's perception of the Minnesota defense. The Vikings had created the Williams Wall.

The drafting of Chad Greenway. The underrated free agent signing of Ben Leber. Even the unthinkable happened: six teams passed on Adrian Peterson, and he fell right into the Vikings' lap.

The trade for Jared Allen in 2008 just put the Vikings over the top. Minnesota then had a pass rush specialist to complement the Williams Wall. And it's certainly possible that Allen's presence helped push Ray Edwards to a whole new level — thus creating one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.

These are just the pieces that come to mind. The best part is that young, quality players are filling the gaps between these key players: Percy Harvin, Asher Allen, John Sullivan, Brian Robison, and Phil Loadholt.

Do you see how long it took to create this team? A slow process filled with 6-10, 9-7, 8-8, 9-7, 6-10, and 8-8 seasons. Average.

Now the Vikings are above average. They have their quarterback, who says this is his last year in the League. Beyond 2010, Minnesota's goal should to avoid this 8-year process it took to get to the top of the NFC.

But obviously we all age with time. Pat Williams will probably retire at season's end. Antoine Winfield could be on his last legs. Steve Hutchinson, while still a mammoth of a man, has shown in recent years that he isn't a robot. E.J. Henderson's injury bug might not go away, even though he's healthy now.

And McKinnie has shown us repeatedly that it's hard for a mountain to move.

Time is of the essence.

Whatever the Wilfs, Childress and Rick Spielman need to do whatever it takes to win this year. Whether that's trading for Vincent Jackson or another player, remains to be seen.

Because, as slow of a process it was building this team, it can all quickly slip away — like sand through your fingers.

Sure, the younger players Spielman and Childress have brought in seem to have bright futures. But the mix of proven veterans right now with those young players is a hard combination to capture. This team is built to win now. The Vikings aren't guaranteed to get back to the NFC Championship again this year, either. This veteran group can't afford to wait.