Quick: Who was the Vikings starting QB first game in 1998?

I knew it was Brad. And dang Moss was a skinny kid.

Randall Cunningham

StickierBuns wrote:
Wentz isn't going to do much in this starting stint, mostly because the team is decimated with injuries.

Probably not, but at wk3 I'm looking for slivers of hope

Insert dumb/dumber got a chance GIF here "   "

BigAl99 wrote:
Randall Cunningham

WRONG!

Brad Johnson played two games and got hurt, replaced by Cunningham, who really caught fire with Randy Moss. 

I think I'm the only one on the planet, though, who wanted Brad Johnson to go back in once he was healthy. It's hard to find fault with Green's decision to stay with Cunningham given how he was playing. But for some reason I didn't trust him, and he kind of showed why in the NFCC. Robert Smith and Gary Anderson catch a lot of shit for that game, but Cunningham fumbled three times and didn't play his best game. 

And I REALLY was not a fan of the decision to trade Johnson instead of Cunningham. That decision will always haunt me. I know hindsight is 2020, but RC was 36 years old at the time, Johnson was 30. RC was benched after 6 games in 1999. Brad Johnson had a Pro Bowl season in Tampa, and then won a Super Bowl a couple years later.

MaroonBells wrote:
Brad Johnson played two games and got hurt, replaced by Cunningham, who really caught fire with Randy Moss. 

I think I'm the only one on the planet, though, who wanted Brad Johnson to go back in once he was healthy. It's hard to find fault with Green's decision to stay with Cunningham given how he was playing. But for some reason I didn't trust him, and he kind of showed why in the NFCC. Robert Smith and Gary Anderson catch a lot of shit for that game, but Cunningham fumbled three times and didn't play his best game. 

And I REALLY was not a fan of the decision to trade Johnson instead of Cunningham. That decision will always haunt me. I know hindsight is 2020, but RC was 36 years old at the time, Johnson was 30. RC was benched after 6 games in 1999. Brad Johnson had a Pro Bowl season in Tampa, and then won a Super Bowl a couple years later.

Brad Johnson had great accuracy except when he had the neck injury and his arm was weak. He also had it between the ears. He was a good QB for the Vikings and I was sad to see him go. But I don't know how Denny could have benched Cunningham. He was amazing and didn't really cost the Vikings the championship game. Denny's conservative play calling with the lead in the second half allowed the birds to get back in the game. Should never go conservative with the best offense in the history of the NFL at your disposal!

hogjowlsjohnny wrote:

Brad Johnson had great accuracy except when he had the neck injury and his arm was weak. He also had it between the ears. He was a good QB for the Vikings and I was sad to see him go. But I don't know how Denny could have benched Cunningham. He was amazing and didn't really cost the Vikings the championship game. Denny's conservative play calling with the lead in the second half allowed the birds to get back in the game. Should never go conservative with the best offense in the history of the NFL at your disposal!

I don't disagree with any of this. Like I said, you can't find much fault in sticking with Cunningham for that season. But trading the wrong guy is the one that really bothered me.

It does make you wonder if they would have still drafted Pepp in 99 if they kept Johnson.

We'll never know - RC in 99 was just disappointing, kaput and finished.

purplefaithful wrote:
It does make you wonder if they would have still drafted Pepp in 99 if they kept Johnson.

We'll never know - RC in 99 was just disappointing, kaput and finished.

Probably not. I don't think the Vikings would've gotten a 1st rounder for Cunningham who was 36 years old.

MaroonBells wrote:
Brad Johnson played two games and got hurt, replaced by Cunningham, who really caught fire with Randy Moss. 

I think I'm the only one on the planet, though, who wanted Brad Johnson to go back in once he was healthy. It's hard to find fault with Green's decision to stay with Cunningham given how he was playing.

Johnson did make an appearance in Week 10 against New Orleans after Cunningham was injured on a sack; however, he broke the thumb on his throwing hand on the first play of the third quarter.

purplefaithful wrote:
It does make you wonder if they would have still drafted Pepp in 99 if they kept Johnson.

We'll never know - RC in 99 was just disappointing, kaput and finished.

But we still got to see this for a stretch in 99

kmillard wrote:

But we still got to see this for a stretch in 99

That arm of George throwing to Randy Moss was pretty for a while

supafreak84 wrote:

That arm of George throwing to Randy Moss was pretty for a while

Man, it sure was...

That SOB had a cannon and probably the prettiest long-ball since Moon.

MaroonBells wrote:
Brad Johnson played two games and got hurt, replaced by Cunningham, who really caught fire with Randy Moss. 

I think I'm the only one on the planet, though, who wanted Brad Johnson to go back in once he was healthy. It's hard to find fault with Green's decision to stay with Cunningham given how he was playing. But for some reason I didn't trust him, and he kind of showed why in the NFCC. Robert Smith and Gary Anderson catch a lot of shit for that game, but Cunningham fumbled three times and didn't play his best game. 

And I REALLY was not a fan of the decision to trade Johnson instead of Cunningham. That decision will always haunt me. I know hindsight is 2020, but RC was 36 years old at the time, Johnson was 30. RC was benched after 6 games in 1999. Brad Johnson had a Pro Bowl season in Tampa, and then won a Super Bowl a couple years later.

Wrong.  I wanted Brad back as well.  RC had a big arm, but wasn't a good QB.  I think Billick had to read defenses for him.

Losing Brad was a huge downer for me. It was GB on Monday night if I recall, I was hyped.  Had Brad as my QB in fantasy league.  And he got hit on a dead ball, false start I think.

George Shaw....oh wait....I'm not old, you're old.