Vikings Fans and Locals (1 Viewer)

[Joe Bryant]

Hey Guys,

What was the local mood and feeling there when you guys cut Robinson?

Was it more a "this guy is done legally so might as well get rid of him"?

Or was it a "statement" thing after the Love Boat?

Are Vikings fans surprised at all to see how this went down with a 90 sentence that looks like it might be served way late or even just partially with a work release?

Of course there is always the NFL to worry about in addition to the legal system.

But wondering what the feel was there.

J

 

[Colin Dowling]

Not a viking fan, but I would have been shocked if he'd ended up in jail during the season. It just doesn't seem to happen to these guys. Jamal Lewis was looking at a federal drug charge and managed to avoid the Big House during the season. Robinson violating probation is definitely bad behavior and could get him an NFL suspension, but the fact that he probably won't go to jail during the season doesn't surprise me in the least.

I suspect that the Vikings brass was making a statement in an effort to try and win back fanshare after a :X 2005.

 

[BeTheMatch]

I think it was both practical and philosophical. Everyone knew once the latest drunk driving happened that a year-long suspension is imminent. The guess here is that the only reason he's currently allowed to play is because he's appealing that suspension.

But, of course, they had no choice but to let him go after the very public stance they had taken regarding personal conduct. A lot of people knew it was a mistake to sign this guy in the first place given his track record of continued "transgressions." Most were surprised it took a whole year to blow up in the Vikings' faces.

But they did cover themselves on the contract. There were clauses in there voiding most of it if he got busted again. So they were fine on that front.

Ultimately, I think this was viewed as another in a long line of embarrassments for the Vikings organization, and everyone was happy to move on.

 

[snogger]

Don't forget. This 90 day sentence was just for the probation violation.

He still has a court date for Speeding, DUI, Driving without a license, resisting arrest, etc..

I'm still trying to come to grips on how he is still playing, when just last week another player who was on a 4 game suspension was suspended for the rest of the year, before he even went to court.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I think the feeling was "We have four or five other similarly talented recievers on the roster, we can cut him and make a statement without really losing much."

I'd forgotten about him completely myself.

 

[The Rook]

I'm not a diehard Vikings fan, but as a transplant to Minnesota a few years ago I root for now. I found the move to cut Robinson refreshing. I like what the Wilfs have done so far along with Brad Childress in having their actions back up their words.

I think it was Dwight Smith who they quietly deactivated for one game in response to Smith's transgressions in a public stairwell with a fine young lady. Childress has shown he is going to follow through on the accountability, but isn't going to make a lot of fanfare about it in an attempt to "set an example" of anyone.

 

[Bull Dozier]

I think the feeling was "We have four or five other similarly talented recievers on the roster, we can cut him and make a statement without really losing much."I'd forgotten about him completely myself.

Agreed. Just another weak attempt by the Wilf/new coaching regime to make it look like things have changed, when really they have not. Wilf promised to clean house after the love boat scandal. Four players were fingered (rightly or wrongly) as the ring leaders. The two expenable ones (Moe Williams as he was old and slow, and Culpepper because he was an injury risk) were sent packing, and the two that could still help the team win (McKinnie and Smoot) miraculously are still around with no consequences.Robinson screwed up, but while good, not out of this worldly, he got sent packing.What I hate is the Vikings fan who are now mocking the Packers as a franchise in shambles because they stooped to the level of signing Robinson. A quick google search shows that Koren has previously been cited for going 100+ mph (not sure if he was drunk), but it was a reckless act regardless, as well as being cited for 20+ different incidents since 1998, but for some reason our taking a chance on Koren was more valid than the Packers? What a joke. We were desperate for a playmaker, took a chance and it didn't work out. The Packers have the right to take the same chance. Koren is just as likely to clean up his act tomorrow as he was the day we signed him.

 

[Wilbur Wood]

Can someone explain to me the difference in the NFL's enforcement policies between Odell Thurman on Cincy and K-Rob?

Both guys were already in the NFL Abuse Program and have had related suspensions. Odell gets another DUI and very quickly has his 4 game suspenison (Strike 2) converted into a year-long suspension (Strike 3).

K-Rob has previously served a 4 game suspension (Strike 2) and then gets a DUI (while going 100+ mph) which one would think would be Strike 3, yet the NFL seems to waiting for K-Rob to have his day in court on the most recent DUI before declaring it at Strike 3.

Odell's latest DUI hasn't been adjudicated in the courts, yet he's already been given a Strike 3 penalty.

Am I missing something?

 

[shamrock84]

Personally I feel happy to be rid of him after the incident. He was talented but just not worth the headache. Claims that he had turned his life around and was on the right track were obviously shown to be false. Who wants a player around that you can't trust to be there for you week-to-week? I don't think it was a statement by Wilf to show he was cleaning things up as much as it was cutting ties with a player that couldn't be trusted.

 

[Steve in Minneapolis]

Here's my 2 cents...

The only thing I will add beyond your answers is that I am sure the Vikings front office was THRILLED when the Packers signed KRob. Now, whenever these news stories come out, the media doesn't lead off with 'Former Viking Koren Robinson..."

Hey Guys,

What was the local mood and feeling there when you guys cut Robinson?

I would say the the mood here when we cut him was this:

Dissappointment that the promising turnaround KRob had shown last year had come to a close

Frustration that we had another public embarassment

Intrigue that Childress was 'walking the walk' about accountability

Empathy for a talented guy that just can't get his act together.

Was it more a "this guy is done legally so might as well get rid of him"?

I think we all expected that he would have a one year suspension handed down immediately. I think most of us are a little surprised he is on the field, but we all know it's just a matter of time before he is done.

Or was it a "statement" thing after the Love Boat?

I am sure it was a statement thing based on the Love Boat, plus the fact that this was the first major transgression that Childress has had to deal with this year.

Are Vikings fans surprised at all to see how this went down with a 90 sentence that looks like it might be served way late or even just partially with a work release?

As earlier posters have mentioned. This is not over. That was just the probation violation. And the real punishment will be the 1 year suspension.

Of course there is always the NFL to worry about in addition to the legal system.

But wondering what the feel was there.

J

 

[BigJim®]

Based on PR problems with the team and the sensitive pursuit of a new stadium, the team didn't really have a choice and most Viking fans understand that. He'd have probably been cut just for a DUI based on his history and the fact the team positioned its relationship with Koren all along as "one mess up and he's gone" to justify the risk of signing him to those who questioned it. But putting lives in jeopardy by driving over 100 MPH through towns near training camp? There's just no way he could be kept, and this team really, really needed him given the WR situation post-Burleson. And that's really just the PR side to it. I'm certain there were those in the front office who no longer looked at his contract extension as a good idea when he messed up so soon after signing it, realizing they could be on the hook for guaranteed money due a suspended player. They reportedly had language in the contract protecting them upon relapse.

 

[Vikes Fan]

Don't forget. This 90 day sentence was just for the probation violation.

He still has a court date for Speeding, DUI, Driving without a license, resisting arrest, etc..

I'm still trying to come to grips on how he is still playing, when just last week another player who was on a 4 game suspension was suspended for the rest of the year, before he even went to court.

It is also my understanding that his 90 day sentence has to be completed by March 1. That means he might have to miss some time late in this season, right?

I like the way the Vikings handled this. The Love Boat last year was a joke, and we were the laughingstock of the NFL. Now we need to restore some of the tradition that we were once known for.

 

[Britney Spears]

As a Vikings fan who lives in Seattle, when they signed him, I was dissapointed.

Then he seemed to stay in line, and worked hard, etc. He did his thing on special teams and really helped the team out.

I started to think I was wrong.

Then when the news in the offseason came out, I remembered that I was right all along.

Good riddance, for whatever reason.

 

[Bull Dozier]

I like the way the Vikings handled this. The Love Boat last year was a joke, and we were the laughingstock of the NFL. Now we need to restore some of the tradition that we were once known for.

As a long time Viking fan, they won't restore anything from the Love Boat Scandal as long as McKinnie and Smoot are still on the roster. Sure, Tice was the coach then, so Childress is off the hook for that, but Wilf was the owner and promised a house cleaning. He didn't deliver.

 

[Britney Spears]

Sidetrack story that I have to tell every time I talk about Koren Robinson.

A few years ago, I was at Cheesecake factory in Bellevue, on a Saturday night, getting food for takeout with my GF. I look over and sure enough, there is Koren Robinson waiting for takeout as well.

Being the friendly guy I am, I spark up a conversation of small talk. Hi, how you doing, etc.

Eventually, the food comes and he still doesn't have his. So we are leaving and I make sure to shake his hand (tiny hands, BTW, and he's much shorter and skinnier than I thought) and tell him something like:

"Good luck tomorrow. I hope you get like 10 catches!"

I think nothing of it, since they play tomorrow, seemed like the right thing to say.

On the way home, I remember that the team has an away game (I think they were playing the Jets). So I'm like, WTH? Why isn't he on a plane or in a hotel in another city?

Then it strikes me that he's suspended.

Oops.