There's Always Next Year (Or: How to Be a Vikings Fan)

When Blair Walsh sailed his kick wide left to end the 2015 season on a desperately cold January night, Vikings fans sighed and muttered the eternal motto of mediocre sports teams.

There's always next year. 

Also: let it go, Ed. 

What that last part means? I'll get to that. 

Image Credit: Joe Bielawa at Flickr. Licensed under CC.

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The Walsh kick was an unfortunate ending to a season with so, so much promise. A defense that kept improving under coach Mike Zimmer. A breakthrough for a young receiver named Diggs. 

And a young quarterback taking the next step. Telling us with each throw that next year might be special.

As Peyton Manning finally conquers his second ring and rides in to the sunset, the short but sweet NFL season is over.

Life goes back to normal. Sundays means dinner with family instead of shouting at the TV in a purple sweater. 

The offseason comes, the draft passes, training camp starts and suddenly we're reminded that hey, this team that I love is back, and this time their promise is even greater. 

We've drafted and signed all kinds of guys, our rookies from last year have improved and those linebackers sure do look fierce.

Could it be?

Could this be the year when we finally say: no, not next year, THIS year, this is finally the moment we step forward and realize all of those promises, all of that potential, and become the team we were supposed to become? 

Could this be the Super Bowl year?

As it turns out – no. Yesterday, our young quarterback fell to the ground in training without being tackled, and tore his ACL. A season ending injury, most likely. And not just for him.

I'm not saying the ghost of Ed Thorp had anything to do with it, but if it did: Ed -- let it go.

Don't know who he is?

He was a referee and rules expert in the early NFL. He died in 1934, and they named the Championship trophy after him, one that was passed to each winning team at the end of the season. 

Until 1969, that is, when the Vikings won the Championship and, um, kind of lost it.

Oops. 

So it is said that the spirit of Ed Thorp, angry that we lost the cup named after him, cursed the Vikings never to win another trophy. 

It was just a joke, of course. 

Until the Vikings reached a Super Bowl, and lost.

Four times.

Well, there's always next year, I guess.

So is it a sure thing that the Vikings season is over without Teddy Bridgewater? No. Our defense is still looking like it might be historically great, for one thing. But looking at Shaun Hill's performance last year, I'm holding on to my money.

I would go so far as to say that if the Vikings can't trade for another, decent veteran Quarterback, we are looking at a 8-8 run at best.

In the Passover Seder, the ritual that start the Jewish Pesach, they end the service with saying: "Next Year in Jerusalem."

Now, I'm not Jewish. But you know what? I think I get it anyway.