Mayock Says the "W" Word Again

It astounds me how hard it is to get some people to give up their fantasies.  Take, for instance, Mike Mayock of NFL Network.  The draft guru and Vikings preseason TV analyst is quoted on Access Vikings talking about the draft and what the Vikes should look for – namely, a big-time playmaker who can help open up their offense.  He throws out the name Percy Harvin, then admits his off-season issues could make him too much of a risk.  Then Mayock throws out the real curveball:  the Vikings, he says, should draft Pat White and use him in the backfield.  Actually, that’s not much of a curveball – in fact it’s something that’s been suggested a lot before.  And always when someone suggests it, they bring up the word “Wildcat.”  Mayock did it too, saying:

"[I would] line [White] up as a Wildcat with Adrian Peterson.  I think that would give defensive coordinators nightmares."

Maybe so Mike.  Unfortunately, the Vikings are presently coached by Brad Childress, a man noted for his stubborn refusal to budge an inch from what he believes is the proper path to offensive kick-assery.  Given this supreme obstinacy, suggesting Chilly should implement the Wildcat would be like kindly telling Rosie O’Donnell to mix in a salad.  Ain’t gonna happen.  Ever.  And Mayock, given his experience with the team, should know this.  So why does he insist on bringing it up?  Probably for the same reason certain radio personalities (Dan Barreiro, Mike Morris) insisted on throwing out the name Jeff Garcia every day even though they knew good-and-well Chilly was not going to bring the former Buccaneer in.  It’s what they wanted to happen, so, they kept hammering away at it as if it were a realistic possibility.  I find tenacious clinging to one’s favored pipe-dreams a little tiresome and more than a teeny bit sad.  Remembering of course that I was probably guilty of the same thing when I kept mentioning Jay Cutler.  But at least I admit I’m an ass.

(By the way…why not draft Pat White and give him a shot at playing quarterback?  It’s no dumber than thinking Tarvaris Jackson can do the job.)