Fans of the Minnesota Vikings have gotten a lot of punches in the gut over the past couple of years, culminating with yesterday's serious knee injury to running back Adrian Peterson. However, on this Christmas Day, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel that is actually not connected to an oncoming train.

Peter King of Sports Illustrated reported earlier this evening on NBC's Football Night In America that the Vikings and the state of Minnesota are close to a deal that would keep the team in Minnesota, and that such a deal is no longer a matter of "if," but a matter of "when."

King did not specify whether or not the stadium would be at the Vikings' preferred location in Arden Hills, on the site of the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant, or if it would be in Minneapolis somewhere. My guess is that if you were to ask most Viking fans, the overwhelming majority would respond with something along the lines of, "Who cares? Just get the darn thing built already!"

The Vikings could, potentially, become free agents at the conclusion of their season finale against the Chicago Bears at the Metrodome on New Year's Day, but it appears that, after months of wrangling in public, in the media, in the halls of the legislature, and in smoke-filled back rooms, a deal to give the Minnesota Vikings a new home is imminent.