Suspensions Are Just Latest In Long Line of Bad News For Vikings' Fans

Apparently, this is the story of the average Vikings fan's life. Just when things start going well, you get hit in the head by a two-by-four.

Two days after the Vikings took control of the NFC North with a dominating win over the Bears, the NFL tied one arm behind the Vikings back by announcing that Pat and Kevin Williams, the team's two stud defensive tackles, will be suspended for four games.

Now Minnesota has to try to win the NFC North with Fred Evans and Ellis Wyms starting at defensive tackle--that might be enough to beat the Lions, but it's going to be very tough to beat the Cardinals, the Falcons or the Giants with an absolute lack of talent or depth at DT.

It's not like this is a new experience for the Vikings. It's just added whacks in the head for fans who have had to live through plenty of pain, like:
• A 15-1 team with one of the best offenses of all time failing to make the Super Bowl because it's all-world kicker missed his first field goal of the year.

• The team's young star quarterback suffering a devastating knee injury that ends up derailing his career.

• The team's star tailback retiring suddenly on the heels of a Pro Bowl 1,500+ yard season.

• Four Super Bowl losses in four tries.

There is one other piece of bad news. The Bears have a game left against the Saints, the other team hit hard by the Star Caps suspensions. So what was going to be a difficult game for Chicago just got easier.

But maybe the worst news of this suspension is that it means the Vikings' fans may get the worst of both worlds. They may see the team fail to make the playoffs, but head coach Brad Childress will still keep his job because it will be viewed to be out of his hands.