Luft’s Locker Room

Brad Childress is obviously feeling the criticism and not liking it.  He is focusing his anger on writers and bloggers.  Usually most of those can be synonymous with fans like you and me, that care to peck out a word or two in discuss of the team we love.

There are pieces written in multiple spots this morning that highlight this.

Access Vikings / Vikings War Cry / Pro Football Talk

Arrogance in feeling that because we are not there with him, fighting the battles to be a head coach, we cannot judge.

Childress said, “I read a great quote the other day.  It was author unknown.  It read like this:  That editorialists and columnists are like men that come down from the mountains after the battle and shoot the wounded.  I thought there is a certain something to that.  I didn’t just make that up.  I didn’t just dream that up.  I’m not that deep.”

That was probably a time when gun technology was decades or centuries ahead of medical technology and it was thought of as a mercy killing, but I doubt Brad bothered to see what time period it originated from.

As Phil Mackey over at KFAN wrote,

OK, fair enough. But many of the “wounded” in this case are being paid seven figures to patch the bleeding, roll to their sides, and answer softball questions about the battle — the head coach included.

If Minnesota media members shoot the wounded, imagine what New York and Chicago reporters do to them.

Brad, If only I could talk with you, but you probably wouldn’t listen because I’m one of those men on your mountain…

People are asking why the best runningback in the league, who took the team to victory the week before was on the sidelines for most of the 4th quarter.  Chester Taylor is a good back, but Adrian Peterson is your star.  He wants the ball so that he can do what is necessary to win and the only carry he gets is on a kick return.  Fans are absolutely incredulous over the fact.  Do you want to win ball games or not?

In the Tennessee game you opted to punt hoping the defense would get the ball back when all the Titans had to do was kneel downs.  You throw your punter under the bus for failures on your coverage teams, along with a lot of other questionable calls on your part That could fill this blog for days, make us question your ability.  And you believe we shouldn’t criticize?  We are tied for first place in the NFC North for heaven’s sake, you say.  A mediocre 5-5.  With the talent on this team, you should be ashamed that the Vikings aren’t at least 8-2 at this point.  You promised Zygi Wilf a winning ball club and after time and his sweat and dollars to give you the opportunity, you want us to think 5-5 is good?  You have the same road winning percentage that Mike Tice was fired for (.333%) and you can do is attack your critics…

You are staring at the possibility that your three Pro Bowl defensive linemen will be suspended at the same time.  You are trying how to win the division (though that is starting to look questionable as your motive) and you blame us, the fan for caring.

Didn’t they teach you Brad, that being a coach opens you up to public criticism?  I don’t care if you are coaching Pop Warner or in the NFL, at every level there are folks that will dissect and analyze what you do.  You are on display for those that care about the game.  (If they didn’t care it wouldn’t matter.)  You learn to take valid criticism as lessons to be learned and grow from.  All other you let slide off your back, but when you think that none are valid, your ego has placed you on a pedestal that soon will have the legs blown out from under it.  Then, should the media poke at your wounds, get under your skin and fester like gang green?  You just might just want the man to come off the mountain to put you out of your misery.

At that time, you might be willing to learn but hopefully that will be long after Mr. Wilf notifies you that your services have been terminated.

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