Vikings: Tice back for 2005

[kaitykaity]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/510/5156510.html

Last update: December 27, 2004 at 11:44 PM
Vikings: Tice back for 2005
Kevin Seifert, Star Tribune
December 28, 2004 VIKE1228

Mike Tice made plans Monday to spend the evening in his office, awaiting the outcome of a game that could have clinched a playoff berth for his team. For karmic purposes, the office was an auspicious place to be.

The Vikings coach was sitting there Monday morning when owner Red McCombs called. At the end of a conversation centered on Friday's 34-31 loss to Green Bay, McCombs informed Tice he had exercised the 2005 option on his contract -- ending a year of public discussion about Tice's immediate future.

In an interview later, McCombs said he had no plans to extend the contract beyond next season. He said he was "disappointed" when the Vikings failed to win the NFC North Division title but praised the overall work of Tice and his staff. "If we didn't think they had done a good job," McCombs said, "we wouldn't have picked up the option year."

Mike TiceJerry HoltStar TribuneTice, 45, has a 23-25 record since replacing Dennis Green with one game remaining in the 2001 season. Even after losing six of nine games, the Vikings are poised to clinch a playoff berth Sunday if they defeat Washington. They missed an opportunity to clinch Monday night when St. Louis beat Philadelphia 20-7, but even if they lose to the Redskins, the Vikings will make the postseason if either the Rams or Carolina lose Sunday.

... more

[Forkboy]

1. doesn't matter one way or the other

[kaitykaity]

2. Gee, a word of explanation would be helpful.

I only follow Tice because he used to play tight end
for the Seahawks.

[Forkboy]

3. Tice is a good guy

but the Vikings and playoffs dont seem to mix.

Team Record In Playoff Games: 16-23 .410

1983: The Vikings get off to a solid start winning 7 of their first 9 games. However, the Vikings would lose their next 6 games as their playoff hopes fizzled under a rash of injuries. The Vikings would win their final game against Cincinnati Bengals 20-14 at the Metrodome. Following the season Coach Bud grant would retire, he would be replaced by Les Setckel.

1984: New Coach Les Steckel ends up being a bust right away as the Vikings lose 11 of their last 12 games to finish with a franchise worst 3-13 record.

1985: The Vikings seem recharged by the return of Bud Grant as they win 3 of their first 4 games. However, the Vikings would only play mediocre football over the next 9 weeks as they stood on the fringe of the Playoff chase with a 7-6 record. However, the Vikings would run out of gas losing their final 3 games including a 37-35 shootout to the Philadelphia Eagles at the Metrodome in their final game. Following the season Coach Bud Grant would retire again, this time it would be permanently.

1986: To replace Bud Grant the Vikings tabbed long time assistant Jerry Burns, who had served as Offensive Cooridnator since 1968. Under Bruns the Vikings get off to a solid start winning 5 of tehir first 7 games. However, the Vikings playoff hopes are spoiled by a stretch in which they won just once in 5 games.

Great season in 87',losing in the NFC Championship Game to Washington!

Make the playoffs again in '88 and '89,but exit quickly.

1990: Injuries to the defense and a lackluster season from Herschel Walker contribute to a terrible 1-6 start. The Vikings would bounce back and make a run by winning 5 straight games to even their record at 6-6. However, the Vikings early season struggles would pop up again in a devastating season ending 4-game losing streak that dropped them into last place with a disappointing 6-10 record.

1992: Now led by Dennis Green the Vikings get off to a furious start winning 5 of their first 6 games on the way to winning the NFC Central with a 10-6 record. Helping to pace the Vikings was RB Terry Allen who rushed 1,201 yards while scoring 15 TDs. Playing without a first round bye the Vikings faced the 6th seeded Washington Redskins in the Wild Card round at the Metrodome. The Vikings never even seemed in the game losing by a score of 24-7 to the defending Super Bowl Champions.

1993: After playing mediocre football all season the Vikings win their final 3 games to qualify for the playoffs with a 9-7 record. However, their season would end quickly with a 17-10 loss to the Giants in New York.

1994: Newly acquired QB Warren Moon provides an instant spark as the Vikings win 7 of their first 9 games. However, a midseason 3-game losing streak threatened to derail their playoff hopes. The Vikings would recover to win 3 of their final 4 games to clinch the NFC Central with a 10-6 record, as Moon passes for 4,264 yards. Failing to earn a bye the Vikings are forced to play the Wild Card Round against the Chicago Bears. Once again the Vikings would fail in the postseason losing right away for the 3rd year in a row by a score of 35-18 at the Metrodome.

1995: Despite another stellar season from Warren Moon who passes for 4,228 yards the Vikings only manage to play mediocre football all season finishing with a disappointing 8-8 record.

1996: With Warren Moon injured the Vikings get off to a 4-0 start under backup Brad Johnson. However, Johnson too would get hurt and the Vikings would struggle even after the return of Moon. However, by winning 3 of their final 4 games the Vikings would sneak into the playoffs with a 9-7 record. In the Wild Card Game the Vikings would be slaughtered losing the Cowboys by a score of 40-15 in Dallas.

1997: With the departure of Warren Moon, Brad Johnson becomes the full time QB and leads the Vikings off to a terrific 8-2 start. However, a 5-game losing streak would put their playoff hopes in jeopardy as rumors of Coach Dennis Green's firing began to fly around. Despite the slump the Vikings would still make the playoffs by beating the Indianapolis Colts in the final game of the season at the Metrodome. In the Wild Card Round the Vikings faced another first round exit trailing the Giants late in the 4th Quarter by a score 22-13 on a snowy day at the Meadowlands. Facing 4th and long the Vikings appeared to be giving up when the punted. However, the Vikings defense would get the ball back quickly and would take advantage of a poor punt by the Giants to score on a Johnson to Jake Reed TD pass. With hope still dwindling the Vikings recovered an on-side kick, and would connect on Eddie Murray FG to stun the Giants by a score of 23-22. However a week later the Vikings season would end with a 38-22 loss to the 49ers in San Francisco. (a lucky win followed by....a loss)

1998: The Vikings start a new era as the team is sold to Red McCombs. In the draft the Vikings would select troubled WR Randy Moss, after several teams passed on him. Moss would combine with established star Cris Carter and become the most potent 1-2 receiving combo in the NFL. Even with a season ending injury to QB Brad Johnson, the Vikings score a NFL record 556 points under back up Randall Cunningham. Moss would become an instant sensation winning the Offensive Rookie f the year while racking up 1,313 yards and 17 TDs, as the Vikings won the NFC Central by posting a franchise best record of 15-1. In the Divisional Playoffs the Vikings would easily beat the Arizona Cardinals by a score of 41-21. In the NFC Championship the Vikings dominated the Atlanta Falcons all game but could not pull away at the Metrodome. Leading 27-20 late in the 4th Quarter the Vikings seemed set to seal the game, but PK Gary Anderson missed his first kick al year, as the Falcons forced overtime. In OT the Falcons would stun the Vikings 30-27 when Morten Andersen nailed a game winning FG. (DOH....a GREAT year though for them)

decent years in '99 and 2000

2001: 5-11....nuff said

2002: 6-10....nuff said

2003: The Vikings started the season with a renewed purpose winning their first 6 games which included an impressive 30-25 win in Week 1 over the Green Bay Packers on the road. However the Vikings season hit rough waters as they lost to the New York Giants at home 29-17. The loss to the Giants, who would end up with a league worst 4-12 record would trigger a 4-game losing streak which included losses to the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders who would also post a 4-12 record. After ending their losing streak with 24-14 win at home over the Detroit Lions the Vikings were humiliated by the St. Louis Rams 48-17, as they saw their once seemingly insurmountable lead for first place completely vanish at 7-5. After beating the playoff bound Seattle Seahawks in Week 14 the Vikings suffered another costly loss as they were stunned by the Chicago Bears 13-10. Despite the struggles all the Vikings needed to do was win their final 2 games to win the NFC North. The Vikings got it started in style with an impressive 45-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at home, which left them needing just to beat the lowly 3-12 Arizona Cardinals in the final game of the season to sew up the division title. After a shaky first half, which saw the Vikings trailing 6-0 the Vikings appeared driving for the playoffs as they seemingly broke the game open with 10 points in the 4th Quarter to hold a 17-6 lead in the final minutes. With 2 minutes left the Cardinals cut the lead to 17-12 missing a 2-point conversion attempt, but with just 1 timeout all the Vikings had to do was recover the onside kick to run out the clock. However the Vikings special teams failed to come up with the ball as the Vikings season stood on the brink. Down the field the Cardinals drove getting to the Vikings 9-yard line. There the Vikings defense toughened up sacking Cardinals QB on two straight plays turning a 2nd and 6 from the 9 to a 4th and 25 form the 28 with just seconds left. On the final snap of the season McNown was not pressured as he threw up a prayer to Nathanial Poole in the endzone some how the ball got past Denard Walker and Brian Russell, as Poole was able to maintain possession before being pushed out of bounds for a touchdown a stunning, that brought instant heartbreak to the Vikings ending their season at 9-7 without the playoffs. (losses to 4-12 NY,4-12 Oakland,4-12 San Diego,7-9 Chicago,and the final humiliation,the loss to the Cards in fantastic choking fashion)

---------------------------

Ok,I've elaborated ;-)

[kaitykaity]

4. "They're snake-bit in the playoffs" would have been enough

but what you gave is good too.

They're like the Buffalo Bills, only the Bills finally
won one, didn't they?

Hey, my Seahawks haven't made it out of the first round
in 20 years, and your Vikes have at least been to the big
dance.

:hi:

[Forkboy]

5. LOL

I hate the Vikings...I live in New England,another team that sucked for ages until Kraft took over.I remember the 1-15 and 2-14 years we had with Tony "Happy Feet" Eason all too well. :)

PS-I used to love watching the Seahawks when Zorn played.Win or lose he was exciting as can be!

[kaitykaity]

7. Zorn is a little before my time.

I moved to the Northwest when Dave Krieg was getting all
fumble happy and Steve Largent was finishing up -- the
Ground Chuck days of run Warner right, run the other one
left, throw on third, punt, repeat.

Oh fun.

You hate the Vikings? Gee, I couldn't tell.

:evilgrin:

[WilliamPitt]

11. LOL

And don't forget Grogan. They had to wind him up with a big key in his back before games.

[trotsky]

6. McCombs cares about only one thing: money.

Tice is the cheapest head coach in the league, meaning that when Red finally sells he'll end up with more in his pocket.

That's why Tice is being brought back, plain and simple.

I like Tice, he was a great player and is a really good guy. But this year the Vikes should have gotten over the hump and really dominated. We only have a shot at the playoffs because the NFC is so weak this year.

[KitchenWitch]

8. Exactly

Can't expect to go far in the playoffs when you shop the bargain basement for the coaching staff.

For the last 3 years the Vikings have drafted mainly defensive players, yet our defense has not improved, sounds to me like a coaching problem. Sure wish we had Tony Dungy as our defensive coordinator again.

[DrGonzoLives]

9. Good

They can keep losing out to the Packers, then, that's fine with me.

[iwantmycountryback]

10. Are they out of their minds?

This team has tons of talent, at least on offense. They need a real coach. BTW, as Jets fan, I see Teddy Cottrell as D-Coordinator has worked out real well. :-)

[MrSlayer]

12. That's good news for the rest of the conference.

Tice sucks, he's the only NFC coach that makes Martz look sane.

[democracyindanger]

13. Speaking of the Vikes, is it true what Moss did

last game? When they were lining up to try for an onside kick, Moss already had his helmet off and was walking off the field.

What a putz.