I was reading a CBS Sportsline website byline and they mentioned that it's likely that Curtis Enis will not be given a qualifying offer, thereby making him a free agent. Based on his lack of production, he may not be all that expensive, but based on his potential (he's just 24, and a big back) would we want to make a run at him to replace Viper? he might be a nice fit into our offense (and not cost us a lot). There is a consideration in my mind that we may not want to add another headcase to the offense, but he behaved last year... Thoughts?

-- manders (thewitts1@home.com), February 25, 2001

Answers

I wouldn't mind bringing in a guy like Enis to compete on the cheap. I think the combo of Moe Williams, Doug Chapman, Harold Morrow and Jim Kliensasser will make a pretty good stable of backs, similiar to the days when we shuffled Nelson, Dozier, Anderson, Rice and Fenney in and out of the lineup. However, the running back by numbers idea hasn't seemed to work in quite a long time in the NFL, and when last we tried it, our running game wasn't much of a threat on most Sundays. I would like to see the Vikes draft a Runner in the second round and then open up the season with Moe Williams as the starter until said back gets up to speed or Moe fails. I don't think much of Chapman as a franchise back, but I'd like to see that proven before I spent a whole ton of cash on another guy like Enis who is at this point about as likely to be a star. All that being said, He Hate Me is still our best bet.

IZ

-- Iz (izmorrow@aol.com), February 26, 2001.