Archive for August, 2007

Could the Vikings be in the market for a new starting RT?  Earlier today, it was revealed that the team will be cutting both their back-up centers, Norm Katnik and Kyle Cook.  Unless the team plans on rolling with nothing behind Matt Birk – a guy who’s had injury problems in the past – they will likely be shifting current starting RT Ryan Cook to the back-up center spot.  That leaves Marcus Johnson as our starting RT – and the word “shaky” doesn’t even begin to describe the way Johnson has performed there in the past. Therefore, it seems likely [...]

The Vikings wrapped up the preseason in mind-numbing fashion last night by defeating the Dallas Cowboys 23-14.  The starting offense played only the first series and did nothing.  The starting D also got one series, without the Williamses, E.J. Henderson or Antoine Winfield.  Probably the biggest news coming out of the game was that Brooks Bollinger played well enough to save his job as the third-stringer.  Also, it appears Greg Blue may have beaten out the injured Tank Williams for the fourth safety spot – but we won’t know until the final cuts are made. The most irksome development last [...]

The preseason ends for the Vikings tonight against Dallas. The starters are only expected to play one series, so we’ll be getting a nice, long, boring look at our reserves. There’s only one really significant position battle going on – Artis Hicks v. Anthony Herrera for the RG spot; that’s a toss-up if you ask me. There’s also a little intrigue over who will end up the kick returner – Aundrae Allison is currently the front-runner, but I’m hoping to see more of Chandler Williams, who seemed to show a little spark of something in the Seattle game. I suppose [...]

What would Viking fans think about adding Dolphin Chris Chambers to our receiver corps?  Or Michael Clayton of Tampa Bay?  Or maybe the Jaguars’ Reggie Williams?  According to Adam Schefter of NFL Network, all three are currently on the trading block (via ProFootballTalk). Granted, none of those guys is exactly Cris Carter – but Chambers did have an 1100 yard, 11 TD year in 2005, plus he has a Brad Childress connection, having played at Wisconsin while Chilly was offensive coordinator (Chambers’s freshman season was Chilly’s last year there).  Michael Clayton, a first-round pick in 2004, put up 1193 yards [...]

TE Braden Jones has been waived/injured.  He looked like a promising prospect early in camp, and did end up catching a couple balls in preseason, but apparently the Vikings are happy with the tight ends they have.  Either that or, like last year, they simply don’t plan on using tight ends in the offense at all.

The Vikings pared their roster down to the required 75 today by cutting three more players – WR Justin Surrency, CB Mike Hawkins and LB Cameron Siskowic. Hawkins and Siskowic were both injured in preseason action, hence their placement on the injured/waived list. — There are more trade rumors swirling around the team, though these are of the dubious, highly-speculative variety. They got started mainly because Tank Williams and Darrion Scott, two guys who are considered expendable by some, were held out of practice yesterday. I’m not sure exactly what the Vikings would be looking for in return for those [...]

The Vikings brass can blow any smoke they want to – they were mortified by the way Brooks Bollinger played in the 3rd preseason game against Seattle. Hence their quick action in acquiring a new back-up quarterback to take his place behind Tarvaris Jackson. Today, the Vikings sent what’s reported to be a 2009 sixth-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for Kelly Holcomb. At the same time he announced the trade, coach Brad Childress made the smart move of declaring Jackson his starter – assuaging any fears Jackson might have that Holcomb, who’s already familiar with the offense, could come [...]

The Vikings have announced their first cuts.  The biggest name on the list is Drew Henson, who was competing with rookie Tyler Thigpen for the no. 3 QB spot.  It would be hard to see another team giving Henson a shot, meaning his NFL career is probably, mercifully, over. The big punting competition has come to an end too – Chris Kluwe is your man, and Alex Reyes is on the street.  No, Kluwe has not been impressive this preseason, except for his one nice coffin corner kick against Seattle – but Reyes was supposed to win the job based [...]

The Philadelphia Inquirer says the Eagles are shopping QB Kelly Holcomb, who has dropped to fourth on their depth-chart behind Donovan McNabb, A.J. Feeley and newly-drafted Kevin Kolb. The article mentions the Vikings and Falcons as Holcomb’s two main suitors, and says the Eagles are asking for a sixth-round pick in exchange but will likely have to settle for a seventh. Most of us are in agreement that, after his dismal performance in the Seattle game, Brooks Bollinger can’t be trusted as the number two QB, especially not behind someone as inexperienced as Tarvaris Jackson, who could very easily implode. [...]

The Vikings fell to 1-2 in the preseason by losing to the Seahawks at Qwest Field 30-13. For the Vikes, it was a game marked by offensive mistakes and, at times, shaky quarterback play – especially by alleged number 2 Brooks Bollinger, who may have finally demonstrated enough ineptitude to convince the organization that more help is needed at the position. The game got off to a bad start for first-string QB Tarvaris Jackson too – he fumbled the first snap from Matt Birk and the Seahawks recovered, deep in Viking territory. The defense manned-up though and held Seattle to [...]