Jul 27, 2012; Mankato, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) signs autographs for fans at training camp at Blakeslee Stadium at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-US PRESSWIRE

Wow. As one soldier allegedly said after a fiery pep talk from Ulysses S. Grant, “I’d charge the gates of hell for that old man.” Old “Blood and Guts” Leslie at it again. Damn Leslie, tone it down will you? That much animation could get a man killed.

Is this too much sarcasm or just enough?

On a serious note, I’m glad training camp is over and we can now get down to the business of enduring these three preseason games. Camp is always fun at first with the new guys reporting and those first electrifying practice reports, but it gets to be a bit dull after a time. Oh, Joe Webb looked shaky in 7-on-7 drills? Why don’t you tweet some more about that, sadly underpaid beat writer who hates having to do all this social media stuff but his bosses make him.

I do sort of feel sorry for the beat guys, having to stand there in the hot sun in their cargo shorts making shaky iPhone videos of goal-line drills while still watching out for random drunks who want to fight them over the bad stuff they said three years ago about E.J. Henderson. Meanwhile, Sid Hartman is off somewhere sipping vodka gimlets and getting a rubdown from a Taiwanese woman. And the old bastard won’t DIE already and open up a columnist slot. Tough life. Feel for you. Not really.

Anyway, goodbye Mankato, hello Metrodome. Viking football. It’s happening people.

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But it’s not yet certain that a retractable roof is even financially feasible for the Vikings, especially after the legislature made them kick in an extra $50 million to cover stadium costs. I can already hear a few people grumbling that if the Wilfs can kick in an extra $50 million they should surely be able to scrape together whatever it would cost to put a retractable roof on the stadium. Especially when you consider that they would be getting their own MLS team in the bargain.

I’m not going to speculate on how much money the Wilfs may or may not have in the bank. All I know is that they want a retractable roof and that the fans are behind the idea. Right now however, the Wilfs aren’t promising anything. They best they can say is that they’ll make an effort to get the retractable roof.

In describing the team’s plans for the new facility, Mark Wilf told Sid Hartman, “We’re going to have features that people are going to want to come to the game with their families and make it a full-day experience. We’ll work very hard at getting that done. Whether it has a retractable [roof] of some kind, that’s yet to be determined, but we’re going to try if we can.”

Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis continues to be thrown out as a model for what the Vikings are shooting at. Wilf said, “Certainly in terms of the types of amenities and the way it feels inside [it will be like Lucas Oil]. I think this past Super Bowl got rave reviews in terms of the people that attended from all over the world and all over the country. I think it’s the right sensibility.

“We want to have something exciting but also is going to fit the Minnesota market and be something that has a Minnesota flavor to it. That’s the sensibility that we’re going to shoot for, the type of features that Lucas Oil has — big screens, technology, comfortable seating, club areas, public plazas, the whole nine yards.”

And fireworks. Don’t forget the fireworks.

Whether the roof ends up being fixed or retractable, one thing is certain: the new stadium will not be a giant dump like the Metrodome. They should throw a parade the day that place gets imploded.

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Question: How would things have been different in 2011 had Spielman been the GM instead of just the personnel guy? Would he have nixed the Donovan McNabb trade against Frazier’s protestations? Would he have shown Bernard Berrian the door sooner? Would he have disciplined insubordinate players like those who ignored Fred Pagac’s play calls? We can only speculate. Hopefully Spielman will be up to the challenge of running the football operation. It’s fair to be skeptical at this point given Spielman’s lack of GM experience and Wilf’s own shaky track record in hiring.

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