As many some a few of you know, I do a weekly radio spot with Paul Allen of KFAN. Paul also is the voice of the Vikings, and he’s excellent at what he does. (Please don’t tell him I said that.)
All year, I’ve been warning Paul that, given the Vikings’ history, they ultimately will fail in a critical game, and in a new and spectacular way.
Frankly, it doesn’t get much more new or spectacular than it was last night.
For a brief slice of the fourth quarter, Vikings fans were able to persuade themselves that, indeed, a long-awaited return to the Super Bowl would happen, as the offense drove methodically down the field after a couple of early running plays in which coach Brad Childress seemed to be content to play for overtime, like Dennis Green had done 11 years earlier.
But then came one of the most confusing brain farts in NFL history, with 12 men in the huddle after a time out.
And then came the play that could define the latter days of Brett Favre’s career, called with brutal -- and accurate -- honesty by Paul Allen.
Paul Allen, you are my new hero.