Minnesota Vikings Part with Gus Frerotte: City Should Still Be Thankful

In the dictionary, it says that the word "thanks" means "to express gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment to."

Could any other word better define what Minnesotans should be thinking of or saying to a certain Mr. Gus Frerotte right now?

Gus has come a long way from a seventh-round Washington Redskins pick in the 1994 draft. Even though he never broke through as an elite QB, he was no pushover or irrelevant pansy.

Frerotte played for seven different teams over the course of 15 seasons and went 1,699-for-3,106 with 114 touchdowns and 106 interceptions. He also withstood 206 sacks. He played for the team that drafted him, the Lions, the Broncos, and the Bengals before signing for the first time with Minnesota in 2003.

After that two-year stint with the Vikings ended, Frerotte went to the disaster that was Miami in '05, then made his way to St. Louis.

In '07 with the Rams, starter Trent Green was injured, leaving Gus to manage eight games. Unfortunately, his play was a disappointment, and Gus became a free agent.

With his family established in St. Louis, Gus did not want to uproot them, and opted for the much closer Minnesota Vikings for his '08 season. Thus began the second coming of Gus in the Purple.

Within three weeks of the start of the season, Gus' prospects started looking up. After an 0-2 stumble by incumbent starter Tarvaris Jackson, Frerotte took the reins of a team with high hopes of making the Playoffs but without the motivational leader they had long desired.

Gus would start for the team through 11 games, until a back injury sidelined him. Tarvaris Jackson came in against the Detroit Lions in Week 14 and didn't relinquish the job again, showing skills that had eluded him 12 weeks prior.

Gus had displayed his skill for the Vikings staff in his playing time, but Jackson remained too hot to bench.

The Vikings would capture their first division title since the NFC Central became the NFC North division, and went on to face the Philadelphia Eagles in the postseason's wild-card round.

Jackson started the game, and Frerotte watched helplessly as the team he had led for a majority of the season failed to defeat an Eagles team they were fully capable of beating. The Vikings lost the game against Philadelphia, 26-14, as Tarvaris Jackson put on a horrible show that no one could have imagined based on his past three performances.

Now's it's the next offseason. The Vikings have traded for Sage Rosenfels from the Houston Texans and released the 15-year vet Frerotte to free agency.

His second tenure having come to a sudden halt, we look back on his two periods in Minnesota, which amounted to three seasons of service to the Purple. There's good, bad, and qualities not expressed on the stats sheet.

Well, let's start with the good.

Remember his 2003 season accomplishments, when Dante Culpepper went down with an injury midseason? Gus came in for the injured Culpepper for three weeks until the bye week; later, after resting up, Culpepper returned.

In that span, Frerotte amassed 690 yards, seven touchdowns, only two picks, and led the team to three wins with the help of the talented Randy Moss.

The Vikings also went 8-3 with Frerotte at the helm this past season, as he passed for 2,157 yards and 12 TD. Frerotte also launched the eleventh 99-yard pass in NFL history (to Bernard Berrian) against the Chicago Bears in Week 13, placing his name in the elite company of quarterbacks that have chucked such a bomb.

Alas, Frerotte's 8-3  2008 record didn't come without its blemishes. Frerotte threw 15 interceptions, fourth-most in the NFL. He also took the most sacks (29) of his career in a single season.

In addition, he had slowed down significantly in recent years, and that didn't mesh well with Minnesota's run-heavy offense.

Frerotte also showed displeasure and a semi-immature attitude to the Vikings' benching of him in Week 16. Looking back, I can't blame the coaching staff, since Childress was just going with the hot hand, and as a bubble team with the Bears on their tails, the Vikings needed to win. Enough said.

Gus' image obviously took a hit in those moments as many criticized the 15-year vet for being a crybaby. Of course, one must admit it's understandable that after 15 years of searching for a solid, consistent starting job, one in Frerotte's position would be a bit irritated at the act. Even though he led the team successfully, he was removed from the position just as he was about to reap the reward of a successful season and lead "his" team into the Playoffs.

The release of Gus after the '08 season came without much reason other than his advanced age,. The Vikes had encouraged a competition for the job in training camp, making their decision in this matter a bit puzzling.

Obviously frustrated, Gus is now a free agent with little hope for a future in the NFL after 15 years. Backup jobs are available, but Frerotte wants to start.

But onto the things about the Gus' stay in Minnesota that aren't quantifiable.

When he started in Week 3 of the most recently completed campaign, the Vikings were demoralized after their two opening losses against teams that they should have handily won. They entered a crucial game at home against the soon-to-be second seed of the NFC Carolina Panthers.

Frerotte came in and didn't wow people, didn't break the game open, or really make a critical play. He just came, played, and was consistent. He led by example, making the statement that victory doesn't come off just making big plays, but by preventing the other team from doing so.

That's not to say he didn't make mistakes, but when the heat was on, he didn't fold. He played through the game, which is what Tarvaris Jackson still struggles with.

The fact of the matter is that Gus came in and led a faltering team to the NFC North title and the third seed in the Playoffs, something neither of his potential replacements as Viking QB can claim.

He led Minnesota. Whether or not we want a bigger name as our leader, the fact is Frerotte came in and did it right. Not exactly the way fans or critics would have done it, but he did it his way, leading a blind team to the Playoffs for the first time since 2005. And that kind of feat is not be ignored; no, it should be commended.

Gus Frerotte wasn't the one that Minnesota wanted, but he was the one it needed.

And for that, the Minnesota Purple are thankful.