The Minnesota Vikings have once again placed their short-term fortunes into the acquisition of a quarterback long in NFL experience.

The latest in quarterbacks the Vikings hope to get mileage out of in the twilight of a career, Donovan McNabb, had succeeded Randall Cunningham several years ago in Philadelphia.

McNabb comes off a less than wonderful one year at Washington, where he headed for a significant chunk of change, but then became expendable after being benched late in the 2010 season.

Cunningham also lined up behind center for the Vikings in the late 1990s when they made it to the NFC championship game, which has gone down in Vikings infamy for a field goal kick that wasn’t made late in the game to clinch a trip to Super Bowl XXXIII.

Brett Favre, known mostly for his many years with the Green Bay Packers and his indecision in recent years on whether to return for another season, quarterbacked the Vikings two seasons ago in the NFC championship, where an untimely interception late in the game thwarted an appearance in Super Bowl XLIV.

The Vikings now have to “Ponder,” an already overused pun, the ramifications of what McNabb’s arrival at training camp will have on the future of the quarterback position, for which the Vikings used their top pick in the 2011 NFL draft. It remains to be seen if McNabb can fill that role in the short term to be able to help the Vikings return to the NFC championship game like his two above-mentioned predecessors.

Favre developed a reputation over the years for his ability to throw a pass that could both win and lose a game.

While a star quarterback has the potential to “make or break” a season, a team’s success is also dependent upon the “supporting cast.” On offense, that includes the blockers, receivers and rushers.

What shouldn’t be lost amid all the media hype surrounding McNabb at training camp this week is who the other 10 players could be when he takes the field and the 11 when he is on the sidelines. His former team twice removed, Philadelphia, has made a number of free agent acquisitions as of late, improving the Eagles’ chances in the eyes of oddsmakers.

As players come and go over the next month leading up to the start of the regular season, it will be the responsibility of the Vikings organization to concoct the team chemistry that could bring the team to new heights, i.e. win a Super Bowl, or puncture hopes for a successful season like the Metrodome roof collapsing last year.

Boneske may be reached via e-mail at kevin@ifallsjournal.com