So Bud Grant had to call down to Atlanta to get Grumpy Old Fran to agree to come up to Minnesota for the events celebrating the 50 greatest Vikings. Now what happens when someone with some common sense steps in and orders the game be sent down to Atlanta? Does Grumpy Old Fran call the other 49 guys and ask them to come on down to Atlanta?
Anyhoo, here are today's Four Downs ...
FIRST DOWN:
Bears coach Lovie Smith downplayed the site of the game. But he does have someone from the Bears' organization in town to inspect the playing surface and report back to him and the Bears' front office.
"Every week that we go on the road, we have to trust that the proper authorities have deemed the field safe for the players," Smith said during a conference call with reporters in Minnesota. "We assume that to be the case. I know this is a little different situation. From what we've heard down here, things are going along as planned. We should be good to go."
Smith also said the site is "a big story because [reporters in Minnesota] are making it a big story because you never play outside. We play outside always."
He also said, "You're going to have two teams that are going to play under the same environment and conditions. I don't see that as being an issue in the end. We're not from Florida, so it's not going to be a factor for us."
SECOND DOWN: