Yesterday, that mealy-mouthed executive for the Minnesota Vikings used the phrase "get it right" 25 times in reference to the Adrian Peterson situation. As in, We're trying to get it right.

Get it right.

Get it right.

Get it right?

What does that sound like? It sounds like a grade-school kid shouting out guessed answers at a math problem that he does not understand. He does not hope to learn the formula; he only hopes to hit on the answer by chance, to get the heat off.

It sounds like that, because that's what it is.

You can't "get it right" when you don't know the problem. Is this a child abuse issue? Is it a political correctness controversy? Is it a due process question? Is it about employee loyalty? Is it a black/white cultural difference? Is it an NFL thing? Is it a PR problem? Is it a legal issue? Is it about winning and losing? Is it a financial thing?

The little boy in front of the Minnesota Vikings banner just didn't know. He didn't even have his own theory. He didn't even exist.

Most of the time, nonexistent leaders can cling like drunks to lampposts to established HR policy, risk-management strategy and PR crisis plans, and appear to "get it right."

But some situations are complex enough and open to a wide enough range of public opinion that the only "right" answer is the necessarily imperfect but genuine and heartfelt reaction of a real, grown-ass human being who leads the organization.

The Minnesota Vikings don't have such a human being running their organization.

They are not alone, as you and I well know.