When PFT Live launched on January 4, 2011, the first guest was newly-hired Vikings coach Leslie Frazier. When PFT Live celebrated its one-year anniversary on January 4, 2012, the first guest was newly-appointed Vikings G.M. Rick Spielman.
Spielman joined the show to discuss the reason for the change from the former “triangle of authority” to the more conventional strong-G.M. structure, with Spielman overseeing the entire football operations. He’ll make the call on free agents and the draft; however, Frazier will be responsible for the coaching staff.
Giving Spielman the power also saddles him with the accountability, something he said he’ll gladly accept if things don’t improve. And even though he’ll be running the show, it will be important for Spielman to work cooperatively with Frazier. Otherwise, there could be rifts and disagreements and players who are signed by Spielman and never used by Frazier.
Based on their respective personalities, that likely won’t be an issue. Spielman will try to give Frazier what he needs to be successful, since that will help Spielman be successful, too.
Regardless, some Vikings fans will be skeptical that the arrangement will be successful, given that the changes could be viewed merely as a reshuffling of a king-high poker hand. For now, we’ll regard the efforts as 20 percent of a Royal Flush.