I am thrilled the Minnesota Vikings have added Brandon Bostick to our team. If you are unfamiliar with Brandon Bostick’s work, I simply refer you to the NFC Championship game this past January. You don’t need to watch the whole game; just the last few minutes. Brandon Bostick made a massive mistake that cost his team the game and a trip to the Super Bowl. It was a rookie mistake; completely preventable and avoidable.

Not surprisingly, his coaches and the team organization were not happy. While I expected it would be a long off-season for him, I really should have expected the eventual result: he was cut from the team. He was essentially fired for poor performance. To be fair, part of the decision was simple mathematics. The Green Bay Packers had three tight ends on a team that only needed two. Still, the incident in the championship game made the team’s decision much easier.

All most people know about Brandon Bostick is that he is the guy who went for the ball and flubbed it. Not a great headline for a resume.

So why I am thrilled the Vikings added this potential liability to our team?

I want him to get a second chance.

I don’t want him to be known only by his last game. Judging a person by their last play is an absolutely deadly syndrome in the NFL and in our culture. It is pure poison, for both the person and those who are evaluating the person.

Mr. Bostick, I doubt you will ever read this, but if you come across my blog, please know that I have been in your situation. There was a time in my life when I made a massive mistake. It was a rookie mistake and it was completely avoidable. It was public for the whole world to see and I couldn’t do a thing to fix it. I can only imagine what you are going through, but please know that I have walked a similar road.

I am really glad Brandon Bostick is going to get a fresh start and I hope the change is healthy for him. Perhaps he will never redeem himself on the field and in the spotlight, but he deserves a chance to be remembered for something other than that last game.

How was your last game?

Monday morning quarterbacking: a favorite pastime in Minnesota, Chicago, Philadelphia, and now apparently, Seattle.

Many people have questioned the wisdom of the final play for the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl last night.

Don’t.

Don’t do it.

The playcalling wasn’t the issue. If the Seahawks had run the ball and failed to get the touchdown, the very same people who are so shocked and appalled that the Seahawks threw a pass on the goal line would be lining up to suggest the perfect pass that would have won the game instead of running the ball.

People are human and imperfect. There were imperfections all over the game. No one is talking about Tom Brady’s two interceptions today. No one is criticizing Bill Belichick’s delay in changing the coverage on Chris Matthews. No one is talking about the imperfections of the officials (although one call in particular I hope will be reviewed since it could have led to a very serious injury for a player). No one is perfect.

I think the most important thing to remember about the Super Bowl XLIX is that it was a great game. Two excellent teams met for the championship. The coaches (and their assistants) were some of the best in the NFL. The players didn’t leave anything in the locker room; they performed at the highest levels on the field. Except for one moment in the final seconds of the game, no one who participated has anything to be ashamed about.

Many people will claim to know how to do it better, but the reality is there are only 32 people in the world that are NFL head coaches.

There is a reason for that.