Minnesota Vikings fans, if Doug Chapman and Michael Bennett speak the truth, your long years of suffering may be over.
The two running backs visited West Fargo Thursday as part of the 2003 Vikings Caravan and had some confident words heading into this season.
"I am looking at the record and I think we are legitimate 12-4 with playoffs," said Bennett, the Pro Bowl running back. "And we will push the team for the Super Bowl."
"I guarantee double digits," Chapman said, to the applause of the fans gathered at the Speedway Event Center. "I can say that right now."
The Vikings' preseason assessment is aided by the fact that Bennett, and to a lesser extent Chapman, will both be healthy and back for the Vikings' regular-season opener Sept. 7 at Green Bay.
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Bennett, who rushed for 1,296 yards last season and made his first appearance in the Pro Bowl, suffered a stress fracture in his foot while running on a treadmill during the off-season. He said he is 80 percent healed.
"It should be 100 percent by the time I get to training camp," Bennett said. "I should be ready. It's just a foot injury. I will be running strong till I get about 50."
Chapman, special teams star and backup running back, was sidelined Oct. 20 when he suffered an abdominal tear against the Jets.
Add in that Mike Tice has a full season as head coach under his belt, Daunte Culpepper has a new contract and Randy Moss is getting more focused, the two running backs could be right.
"I know for a fact that we are going to be a lot stronger on defense," Chapman said. "Our offense is going to be explosive running the ball. Randy Moss and Daunte are going to get a lot more touchdowns this year. ... We are going to shock a lot of teams. It is going to be a fun year for Vikings fans. I see us deep into the playoffs."
After losing five of their first six games, the Vikings
(6-10) surprised some teams by winning their last three, which both Chapman and Bennett say proves they are a better team than fans and media say.
"We see ourselves on a three-game winning streak," Chapman said. "We finished the season strong. A lot of teams finished the season weak. We didn't make the playoffs, but we feel in our minds we can look at those last three games and build off of them."
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The two discussed other issues Thursday, including:
E Chapman said there is no bad blood between he and Bennett competing for the starting job. The two are roommates on the road and in training camp.
"We compete with each other because we are athletes," he said. "But at the same time we are competing for our team. We both know that we can help our team when we are healthy. ... It is friendly competition."
E Bennett said the key to his breakout season last year was getting "back to the classroom."
"You want to be the quarterback of the team," he said. The quarterback has to know where everyone has to be at all times. For me to be in that situation where I can dictate what the defense can do, it really helped me emerge as of last season."
E Chapman and Bennett both respect Tice as a coach, but Bennett said he may need to calm down.
"He has a pencil in his ear and he will go through 50 pencils in a game. He is a great guy, a great coach, and I think it is one of the things that he needs to calm down a little bit and take everything as it comes to him."
Readers can reach Forum reporter Michael Klinski at (701) 241-5549
