Vikings cut Tapeh
October 16th, 2008 – 3:44 PM by Chip ScogginsVikings coach Brad Childress just announced that the team cut fullback Thomas Tapeh this morning.
“Toughest part of the job, particularly with a long-standing relationship,” Childress said, referring to the fact that Tapeh played in Philadelphia when Childress was offensive coordinator.
Childress, however, declined to talk about how much Tapeh’s failure to disclose a medical procedure performed on his knee before signing as a free agent affected the decision.
“I’m not really going to get into all that,” he said. “Thomas and I had a conversation. It was hard enough as it was.”
Asked how Tapeh handled the news, Childress said: “Like a man. It wasn’t easy for him or I. I’m sure tougher on him. Like I said it’s a tough part of the business.”
Childress said Tapeh, who was inactive the past four games, was healthy enough to play but that Naufahu Tahi performed better and gives the team more in special teams.
“Good football teams have competition and it just turned out that Fahu did more things than him to make himself valuable,” Childress said. ”I would have to commend Fahu and not take anything away from Thomas.”
Childress also declined to say whether the team either has or will try to reach a settlement with Tapeh to recoup some of the bonus money they gave him. His five-year contract included $1.25 million in guarantees.
“You know what, that’s an internal thing and you’ll probably have to ask somebody else how those wheels turn,” Childress said.
51 Responses to "Vikings cut Tapeh"
Most Watchable Team With Non-Winning Record
Minnesota Vikings. We did the math on this like 10 times because we simply couldn’t accept the fact a team quarterbacked by Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte could be the second most watchable team in the league. But upon a closer look, it made some sense. Four of their six games have been decided by less than a touchdown. Adrian Peterson might be the most exciting player in the league. And big things were expected by their defense, foreshadowing close games. But still, Gus Frerotte? Really? Let’s see how this shakes out the rest of the season
I agree. Win or lose, Vikes definately most exciting!
Kenny, we can reach a settlement on this you know.
I was so damn excited back in ‘98. It was a done deal. I remember wanting to get my jollys off over my Vikes team that I would browse the every so much smaller internet for Vikings news and whatnot and I came across my very first Power Rankings. It was at TheSportingNews.com and the first one I saw for the Vikes said “I have seen so many bombs since CBS”, right after that Monday Night Massacre on the Green Bay defenese. Cunningham threw for like 40+ yards and 4 TDs. TSN use to have the best power rankings. Now I dont think they even do it.
We Vikings fans are without a doubt the Cubs of the NFL. I am 28. I only have 50 or so years left to see a Vikings NFL Championship. Why do I worry it wont happen???????
Back in the 80’s, the very IDEA that the lowly Bucs would win a SB before the Vikes was laughable…so much for that laugh.
It is definitely a cross to bear, being a Vikes fan. The NFL’s martyrs.
oops.. I meant 400+ yards.. hehe.
Teams not to win a Super Bowl:
1. Minnesota Vikings 0-4
2. Buffalo Bills 0-4
3. Cincinnati Bengals 0-2
4. Cleveland Browns (never made it)
5. Jacksonville Jaquars (never made it)
6. Houston Texans (never made it)
7. Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers 0-1
8. San Diego Chargers 0-1
9. Philadelphia Eagles 0-2
10. Detroit Lions (never made it)
11. Atlanta Falcons 0-1
13. Carolina Panthers 0-1
14. New Orleans Saints (never made it)
15. Arizona Cardinals (never made it)
16. Seattle Seahawks 0-1
Damn, only half the teams have won 42 Superbowls.
Lots of teams not even going, but anyone will tell you the Vikes and Bills had it the worst. The Bills lost 4 straight, but the thing about the Vikes is that they have one of the highest winning PCT in the NFL in history. But nothing to show for it.
Just for clarification: that first comment from Lost Viking is an article from si.com. That adds a little more weight to the comment I think.
I thought the Bills were 0-5?
Just wondering if we Viking fans can take a little credit for the Dallas SB Champions from the early 90’s? I mean, since we gave them that team in a trade for that one running back. You know, that back who’s name I won’t mention who turned out to be so totally awesome.
Purple, that credit is a dagger in the heart..
Ok, time to call out the Strib writers…
Why is it that when the fans call out Childress (god knows the local media won’t), we are morons with no knowledge of football, or people who have had too much to drink at the game, or whatever (Mark Craig, Sid, & Reusse articles from the past two weeks). The fact is, most of the fans probably have a better understanding of football than you do, noone has more passion for the team than the fans do, and we follow the team religiously. Fans pay alot of their hard earned money to go watch this team every week, but yet we aren’t allowed to criticize a coach who for 2-1/2 years has not shown us anything to even give us a little hope that he gets it? Do you media guys even know how much it costs for someone to go to a game anymore? We don’t all get free passes and pressbox seating, and all the amenities. The fans have to pay for their tickets, and $6.00 hotdogs and $8.00 beers, and do it because WE ARE FANS. Yet its wrong for us to expect to see a quality product put on the field, especially with all the preseason hype of “SuperBowl Bound” and whatever else was in the Purple Kool-Aid? For someone who was supposed to be such an offensive guru (who never called plays when he was in Philly), the offense we have installed here has been nothing short of pathetic. The only excitement for the most part on offense has been Adrian Peterson. It friggin took us two years to have a WR go for more than 100 yards in a game for crying out loud? Can you honestly say that the offensive product that has been put on the field is acceptable? The blind homerism displayed by certain members of the local media is laughable, we could end up with 50 yards of total offense for a game, and I still don’t think some of you would be critical of the bonehead we have wearing the coach’s headset. Yet mark my words, the day after we are finally rid of Childress, you homers will be painting him as the antichrist…
But what do I know? I’m just one of those idiot fans that doesn’t understand football.
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW!!!!!
Out here in the west coast, I’m giving you a standing ovation, Fargo…
Wow! FargoVikesFan, it’s not even 5 in the evening and you’re totally wasted and pissed off. Put down the beer and learn football. Sid is totally right, no sports fans that criticize the head coach in the midst of a win can have a coherent thought. Please tell me you’re picking up the sarcasm, because I’m laying it on pretty thick. Sid, you should be ashamed of yourself!
Fargo is wise
Watching or listening to Sid ask questions to the local teams makes me want to puke. He proclaims E.J. Henderson the best linebacker in football? C’mon, take off the Purple glasses and retire already!
Fargo, standing ovation from Alaska too.
Man you nailed it.
Hope Zygi reads it.
[…] If he wanted to play hardball, Thomas Tapeh could have walked away from the Minnesota Vikings with $1.855 million — for two game’s worth of work. It’s likely he agreed to a settlement before the Vikings waived him Thursday, but the figure represents how tough of a spot the Vikings landed in this botched transaction. […]
How much would you say your interest in the Vikings has waned from the glory days of Culpepper to Moss circa 2004 to where the franchise is today? I find myself rather disinterested in the team these days…
I’m not disinterested, Bones…Zygi has opened the pocketbook, and shows a willingness to spend for a winning team. With that in mind, no way Childress lasts after this year.
Childress may strive for mediocrity, but Zygi has a lot of money invested. Change will happen, just not as quick as us true fans hope for.
I think we have a lot of talent, and with a few key plug-ins, such as decent coach, decent OC, decent QB, decent CB to bookend with Winfield, we could be contenders.
That’s not purple kool aid, that’s realistic, as nobody else in the NFL is that damn good.
Hell, we’re not the Lions, or the Raiders.
I haven’t posted here in a long time, because I have been too frustrated to collect my thoughts, and too disappointed to remain professional. This franchise has been a perpetual disappointment. However, with Zygi Wilf buying the team from Red McCombs, and appearing willing to invest his own cash into shoring up the talent, I was actually excited to become a new season ticket owner a few years ago. Childress seemed a little stiff, but I chalked that up to new coach syndrome and decided to give him a few years to mold the team into a winning franchise. What I currently see is:
1) Penalties before and after the snap, on both sides of the ball and on special teams (lack of discipline and poor coaching)
2) Inability to capitalize on our talent pool (poor execution and poor coaching)
3) Anemic offense that doesn’t seem to be able to score its’ way out of a paper bag, even against the weakest of rivals (poor execution, schemes, and coaching)
4) Lack of originality on play calling (poor coaching)
A very frustrating thing I noticed during the Vikings-Lions game was the way Bryant McKinnie broadcasts the play with his stance. When a run is called he gets down on a 4 point stance, but when a pass play is called he remains upright to avoid getting beat around the end to the quarterback (bacause he’s too slow and uncoordinated). If my 67 year old father-in-law and I can notice this (watch him during the upcoming Chicago game if you doubt me), how much more are opponents’ players and defensive coaches who study film keying off this to change their plays at the line of scrimmage and even more effectively stuff the run or hassle our quarterback? I think Bryant McKinnie is a downgrade from Artis Hicks at left tackle. He’s a big, expensive, inconsistent rubber pylon who takes up a lot of space, but gets beat consistently and hurts his team with his off-field antics.
We need help. As fans and consumers we deserve better. Many of the problems seem to be primarily related to coaching. You can draw your own conclusions from this, but I think that we need a change (probably best at the end of the season).
How many of us watched the Detroit game openly hoping that they would lose so the coach would get fired . . . how sad is that?
I’ll never look at a rubber pylon quite the same way VG . . .
I was hoping for a loss. Wayup: I almost gotcha on Monday night! You’ve got a helluva team…
any athlete of a Minnesota team is the best to Sid,especially after they FINALLY have a good game or one of the local teams produces a win…I don’t really know why he is still around…he can’t pronounce any names correctly and his takes/views are so homer-ish that it’s unbearable to listen to or read anything he writes …Fargo you summed things up pretty good …hopefully some of these media members will see that
Bryant McKinnie’s contract extension was a horrible and terrible move. If you factor in that Birk is likely gone if Chili gets year four, our once high & mighty offensive line could be a mess. Herrera is solid, but Ryan Cook ain’t gonna make it in the NFL. Time to cut our losses with the 2006 second-round draft class…
Yeah - that one was pretty close Bones. Funny how those 1 and 2 point TE performances that seem so meaningless can come back to save the day . . . I had one game last year with 2MT where I was ahead by one point, Leinert was my QB and as time expired he throws a hail mary for an INT . . . 2 point deduction, I lose . . . arrggghhhh . . . that one still gets me!
they don’t cut any draft picks so then it makes it look like they drafted well and know what they are doing
I was getting so frustrated because the Giants kept giving the ball to Ward. That doesn’t help me any Coughlin!
Those kind of games are the best. A couple years ago the championship game came down to a Monday night game featuring the Patriots playing some team that had awful run defense. My opponent had Corey Dillon (back when he was good) and the game went right down to the wire. One of the years where Larry Johnson was a fantasy point factory…
Fargo
Amen from MT via HI
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Nobody is going to mention that with Tapeh playing the first two games our rushing game was much better than with Tahi playing? Tahi must be a hell of a practice player, because for those one yard outs that he catches I’m not seeing what he’s doing on Sunday’s Chili. Did anybody doubt that the arrogant pr&*# Childress would cut Tapeh once the off season injury was disclosed? If Tapeh is healthy, why are we cutting him outright? Just pray for Bill Cowher everybody. It’s our only chance.
ESPN experts pick Chicago across the board.
My personal opinion is Childress’ main goal is to try and look smarter than everybody by going against the grain, or trying to produce his own methods rather than going with what actually works. Of course, none of his original ideas work, so Childress only comes off looking like an idiot. Instead of interviewing his current players, ask his former players or other coaches and GM’s around the league what they think of this genius and his “zone blocking”, and his QB Jackson. It even goes back to last year when he refused to name Peterson the starter even though the world realized AP was the best back in the entire league. I said it once, I’ll say it again, it’s the arrogance of Denny Green all over again, only without the regular season wins. Even if Wilf likes him Childress personally, and all the fans are idiots, with an 8% approval rating, the business man Wilf will make the right decision at the end of the year and fire this clown.
Sorry media homers, but the only writer here who tends to call things out is Jim Souhan. He even writes back to e-mail questions (perish the thought).
I am now on watching Vikings year 36, since I cannot clearly remember much before my 5th birthday. So, in the vast years of my own watching the Vikings, the past teams played much much better win or lose. Sure, I would be disappointed in a loss, but no where near as the disappointment and outright frustration at the stubborn, less than high school, Twilight Zone Head Coaching Mentality (TZHCM, copyrighted 2008, All Rights Reserved). I frankly do not care if the Twilight Zone Head Coach likes what I say or not. Sooner or later, with his continued insistence on stubborn, bone head, crap, two page play book, no audible calling, play calling, he is out the door. The LAO, Lame Asss Offense, will be packed back into the box it originated from with no return address. It is so highly unlikely that Mark Craig is even close to being right that Colonel Klink will find himself coaching any other NFL team, ever. All other 31 teams love to play the Vikings now, with the LAO coming to the field.
Even with so called poor player execution, McKinnie’s telegraph is fatal to the whole offense, even with crap coaching. The offensive line coach, offensive coordinator, and Twilight Zone Head Coach, have to be worried for their jobs, assuming they are all paying attention. Frankly the way the offense and special teams operate, it makes me wonder if Klink and crew and simply milking ownership for every possible penny before they get booted. A football coach told me and the whole team way back in junior high school that it only takes one guy out of 11 to blow a play on offense. One, that is all it takes. Unfortunately, it was proven to me first hand, when I was playing my heart out and not telegraphing the called play. McKinnie is constantly blown over by his defender. I hope Gus lives through this season. If I were Gus, I would demand line blocking improvement or all plays are being changed at the line of scrimmage like it or not Twilight Zone Head Coach (TZHC). What will you do TZHC, replace me with TJ or Booty, and cost the push for a new stadium with no more wins? Good luck with that!!!!!
The final thing that is always reminding to the whole press is this: if you guys want to have the next high profile seat in the new Vikings stadium, you better start doing your jobs, and addressing this crap offensive juggernaut. When is the last time any NFL team has over 400 yards total offense and less than 20 points to show for it? If not for the weird safety, the Vikings would have at best tied the game, let alone won it. I should be excited about being tied for first with the chance to beat da Bares in Chicago. Today, I am neutral because of the TZHC. So thank you so much for the continued mediocre coaching and total lack of imaginative offense. Good luck with making it work Sunday. You will need all you can to have a better than even chance at it, even with da Bares defensive backfield ailing.
ESPN is reporting that Cowher wants to return to coaching next year. His two caveats are good defense and a good QB. Well, I say we fly Cowher in on Zigi’s private jet, open up the checkbook, tell Cowher to hire all of his own assistants and pick a QB he wants, and we will do whatever he wants. Where is the negative to this?
How do you let him pick a QB he wants? Are you expecting a lot to be available this offseason? The last marquee FA QB was Brees, everybody else is keeping players that are any good…
Let’s see, our offensive line is generally considered one of the best in the league for several years. Now it appears to be regressing. What has changed? Did everybody get too old and lose their skills? Nope. Did our running backs get worse? Nope. Did our
WR’s or QB take a major down grade? Nope. Oh ya. Childress instituted his zone blocking scheme, conservative offense play calls, and no audibles by the QB.
Did anybody else notice the play last week where the slot receiver was pointing to Ferrotte that the d-back was going to come off his coverage and blitz? So, did Ferrotte audible and throw a quick pass to the receiver for a gain of 10? Nope. No audibles here gentlemen. We stuck with the draw play for a gain of zero. Thanks again Childress!
I should have been more clear. When I say pick a QB that Cowher wants, I mean go on the market, with Cowher’s input, and find the best available guy there is, or try and trade for the best available guy. Meaning, you don’t just stay with an unproven athlete (read: not unproven QB) such as Jackson. Of course you aren’t going to get the likes of Brees, or a Manning type QB, but you will have something much better than what you have now. And, with that QB in place, don’t rule out drafting a QB in the 1st round to groom that person for 3 years. And I mean a high quality college QB from a top level school. My point is, tell Cowher you will do whatever it takes to give him the kind of team he can take to the Superbowl.
No comments on bringing Harris back?
I myself am very happy to see Harris back with the vikes. He is not as good as Henderson, who was having a all pro season before he got hurt, but Harris is still a very good ML. Former first round pick by Oakland, part of the Moss trade, and last year led the chiefs in tackles. The year before he played very well for the Vikes. A smart coach would keep this guy around, for a few years.
The ultimate in stubborn bone head coaching, aka Colonel Klink, does not allow any audibles, no matter how experienced the QB is at knowing the defense that is coming.
Hot Reads? Who needs them? We have the LAO to make up for all deficiencies, no matter what the defense does with the ultimate in two page play book execution………..
It is highly likely that the deep ball plays seen in the last couple games were not exactly the throws Colonel Klink wanted. I wonder how you punish a guy who has the guts to play, even with his left side vulnerable from the rubber pylon supposedly protecting him.
By the way, you notice that yet another player is cut at potentially strange times to send a message to the rest of the players? Nice way to make another roster spot open for plugging up the linebacker holes. Does this mean Kleinsasser will be playing more???? Stay tuned for more news at the next meeting of the LAO on Sunday. I am sure the best ones in practice will play every down on offense. The question is best ones in whose mind?
Coach should have let Tapeh work it out on the field. The real truth would have come out. Instead Tapeh will sign with a playoff team and look in his rear view mirror at what he left behind.
C’mon Ben, Napo hasn’t seen the field yet playing for the CHIEFS!!!
At least Harris passed the physical. But then so did Tapeh…….
Fargo, your post from well a while ago, was something I want to print off and frame on the wall. I said something a couple days ago about Judd questioning the fans. This is after some others wanted Judd to question Chilli for his decision making. Didnt happen, but Judd didnt hesitate to ask us.
I dont go to Vikes games (live in Missouri) but I have been a fan now since 1988 when I was 7. I have adamentally watched football, reviewed and designed playbooks, coached it, loved it, bled it, cried it, laughed about it, dreamt it, but hey, I dont know anything about it. But what I do do is I sit down, have a few beers while watching the game so I can join the ranks of the other drunkards on here who just dont know a damn thing about the game so we shouldnt question it.
But here is what I do know. High powered offenses with an above average running game and stand up defenses win games (1998 Vikes, 2000 Vikes, the Vikes of the ’70s) and at one time the Vikes historical winning PCT was ranked 2nd ever. Thats what we were about. Now Chilli comes in with this KAO and we see pitiful, pathetic, boring football PROVEN that is not the winning strategy, but we have a coach who tries to shove it down our throats that it is the way the win. The Stribe needs to look at their own education of the game, because when the f*cking announcers start predicting our plays, there is a problem.
Judd, I think you are good at your job and give us lots to talk about here, but who the hell are you to question us on our conduct towards the team. Sid, kiss my a$$. Chip, well your in the clear for now….
This is yet another personnel move made by Chili and Co. that is shrouded in mystery. The release of Marcus Robinson. The drafting of T-Joke AND Ryan Cook. The lack of interest in giving a perennial Pro Bowl center a contract extension while having no hesitation in throwing money towards a saloon door trying to play left tackle.
Is it just “I”, or does anyone else find Chiller’s grammatical mistakes to be especially irksome. e.g., “It wasn’t easy for him or I”; to wit: The objective case of pronoun (i.e. me) is used as the object of a preposition.
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What I do notice most is that Wilf is staying behind the scenes. I have yet to read an article where Wilf praises Childress and state that Childress is the man. I honestly feel that Childress will go quietly into that good night at the end of this season.
I Prayed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That the Vikings will not hire Chilly.I’am an eagles fan and he sucked!
excuse me!But my best team are the Vikings.(that is why I prayed!!!!!.Iam for all who are agianst chilly.we have to hire a real coach.(not no names!)
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