Posted: December 26, 2010, 5:05 p.m. CT
Just when you thought the Vikings' season couldn't get any stranger, their third straight December game is dramatically affected by winter weather.
First, the Dec. 11-12 snowstorm that collapsed the Metrodome roof forced the team to move its game against the New York Giants to Detroit. The next week, the Vikings hosted the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium because the Metrodome was not ready for play.
Now, Sunday's Vikings-Eagles game in Philadelphia has been postponed due to a blizzard socking the eastern seaboard. The game will be played on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. CT, giving the Vikings an unexpected layover in Philadelphia and writing one more chapter in the Purple's long, strange 2010 season.
The Vikings' players and coaches reacted to the latest bizarre news on Sunday afternoon:
Jared Allen: "What else can you say? Just add this to the list for the 2010 season. But you know what, we have to remain together as a team and keep a positive mind frame. It's important to be a professional and be ready to play on Tuesday night."
Heath Farwell: "We're just going to roll with it; that's what we have to do. We've had a lot of adversity this year and this is another example of it. We are professionals and we have to adapt to what's given to us."
Chad Greenway: "It's just another interesting twist to our season. It's been tough to deal with all the distractions and this just adds to it. We'll be staying here for a couple nights, so we'll treat it like a (college) bowl game. In a bowl game you're typically there for about a week and we'll be here for about three days. But it has that feel. Everybody is here together; we'll be hanging out. I'll probably go get a cheese steak tonight and just hang out.
"At this point, there is so much time. We have to take some time just to relax, watch a couple movies and hang out. When it comes down to it, tomorrow we'll get back into our game planning. We'll watch some more film and keep interested in what's going on instead of getting lost in the craziness."
Percy Harvin: "Football is football, no matter what day you play it. They're accommodating us very well at the hotel. We get to wash our clothes, there are movies to watch and we can eat. It's just like being at home; we've just got to stay here, relax and then be ready when it's time to play."
Ryan Longwell: "It's tough, especially in a season that you didn't think any more curve balls could happen. This is a rough one being away from our families during Christmas and being stuck in Philly. At the same time you realize that you've got to reconfigure the mind for Tuesday night and show up ready to play.
On what the leadership committee discussed with Interim Head Coach Leslie Frazier: "A couple different angles. One is the logistics of being stuck in a hotel. Usually we're in a hotel for one night so guys bring one change of clothes and that's it. Now we'll be here for three days and we have to figure out how to take care of guys. So the logistics is one thing. Two is keeping your mind right. We have every reason, because of the season, to say, 'This is the last straw and I'm checking out.' But this is the NFL and you can't do that. You have to show up ready to play Tuesday night and that's what we're trying to get the young guys and everybody to understand."
Adrian Peterson: "Hey, at least it's another couple of days to heal. We just have to handle this like we have everything else that has gone on this season. Coach Frazier told us to continue to stick together, to stay focused, and that's what we'll do. This is just another bump in the road."
Visanthe Shiancoe: "As a professional athlete, as coach (Leslie Frazier) said, you can only control your attitude and your approach to it. So we have to have a positive approach to it. We get a little extra time to rest, a little extra time to be in the playbook and we're still going to be on a national stage. We still have a chance to showcase the Vikings. We need to stay ready, no matter the circumstances."
Joe Webb: "It's another situation you can't control. The only thing we can control is keeping our focus and staying composed. We need to fight through this adversity. It's important to not check out mentally and stay in the playbook studying so we are prepared for the game."
Interim head coach Leslie Frazier: "I sense that the guys wanted information. They wanted to know what was going on, what was happening. Once that information was conveyed, it seemed as if they understood the situation. They knew exactly what we needed to do to stay focused on what we came up here to do, and that's to get a win against the Eagles. I didn't sense discouragement, I didn't sense disappointment. I sensed relief in knowing (when and where) the game was going to be played.
"One of the good things about the Minnesota Vikings is we have great people working within our organization. As I've tried to make decisions, I've been able to rely on a lot of competent people within our organization for support and advice. I haven't had to make all decisions alone; I've had people giving me input who are sound in their responsibilities. It's helped me to hopefully make the right decisions. We've got great people working for our organization and they've been a great support.
"You'd like to be able to pick up the phone and ask someone, 'Hey, how did you handle this when your roof collapsed?' There aren't very many, if any, that have experienced what we've experienced, or at the level that we've experienced it. Or dealing with some of the injuries; some situations we've had to face during this period. But I know for me, I've learned a lot through it. Things I think will help me in the future. I think we'll look back at it one day and say 'That's one of the reasons we're playing as well or doing as well as an organization as we are now because of that experience in 2010.'"
