The beginning of the end of the Tice era has now been officially cut by the Minnesota Vikings.

Most had assumed that once Smith was off suspension that he would not be welcomed back to the organization by Wilf or Childress. The no-nonsense type of organization we are running today has no room for such behavior.

He is without a doubt a player with some talent, but we cannot assume he is the superstar in the making many fans were pinning on him. He is simply another athlete who chose to throw it all away before he had anything.

He may get picked up by another desparate team. He may just stay home and smoke more dope. Hard to say. Either way, this should be instructive to younger players coming up that this kind of attitude is not acceptable nor does a winner behave this way. Ignore all the flashy music videos and the culture of pot that is portrayed as the bailiwick of the athlete: one does not mix well with the other.

Maybe that's why I never made it to the big leagues. Just smoked too much! I am happy that another whackjob is now off this team. I think Barriero mentioned this, but its dead on: the Vikings almost feel cleansed. A new start is truly upon us and the weight of some of the Green & Tice era boys is lifted.

Let 2006 begin.