Archive for April, 2011

Our very own Jon Merckle will be appearing tonight on Backfield Radio.com around about 8 PM central. The main topic will be Vikings draft needs. Think the quarterback situation will come up? I’m guessing yes. Don’t forget to tune in and hear Merckle’s sexy voice. That’s Backfield Radio.com. They taught us at blogging school to always get that link in twice. Update: If you missed Merckle live on Backfield Radio.com Monday, you can hear him by hitting up the Listen anytime widget at the bottom of the show’s website. He comes on about an hour in, and talks about everything [...]

As we scrape the plate for NFL news in these days of a lockout and still prep for the draft, there was an interesting interview this past week on NFL Network. While their crew was discussing the Vikings over their “State of the Franchise” segment tight end Visanthe Shiancoe called in. Shiancoe was charming, witty and let his feelings be known that at least one veteran on the team prefers a veteran signal caller to a rookie. When asked on the position, Shiancoe said… “The quarterback, that’s a dilemma right there. Being as the CBA is kind of cutting up [...]

Is it a smokescreen or isn’t it? That’s the question everyone’s asking today, after a report saying the Vikings were impressed by quarterback Jake Locker‘s workout. A Vikings source went so far as to say Locker is “in the mix” for the team with their #12 pick. The consensus among draft wonks, however, is that drafting Locker at 12 would be a reach. And remember that Rick Spielman promised the Vikings won’t reach for a quarterback, no matter how badly they may need one. Adding to the Locker buzz, a Seahawks source said the QB performed well both on the [...]

Dan covered the key points mentioned by VP of Player Personnel Rick Spielman and Head Coach Leslie Frazier earlier today at a charity event in Winter Park, but there was one other interesting tidbit to pass along that is worthy of a blog entry… The Vikings are vocal about wanting to get younger at Tight End. As to if this means they’ll be targeting one as early as the 2nd round or spending a late round pick there… well the official draft board is under lock and key. But it’s still very rare that a team comes out and says [...]

Any halfway-attentive Viking fan could tell you the five positions the team should and probably will consider while determining what to do with their first round pick. Quarterback. Offensive line. Defensive line. Cornerback. Wide receiver. That’s not only based on need, it’s also based on what might be available. You could add tight end and safety to that list but it’s unlikely a tight end or safety will be there at 12 who is worth taking at 12. I’m no math major, but by my count, that makes five positions for the Vikings to potentially target. Rick Spielman isn’t ready [...]

Nothing makes a sports blogger’s day like a national columnist mentioning a potentially available big-name player in connection with their team. Finally, some meaty speculation to sink my teeth into! Today is now a good day thanks to Peter King. This morning in his Ten Things I Think I Think column, King connected the Vikings and Donovan McNabb in a way that is already sparking tons of conversation on Twitter and the like. “I think the team that makes the most sense for Donovan McNabb is Minnesota,” King writes. “The compensation that makes the most sense is a conditional fourth-round [...]

A Vikings stadium bill will be formally introduced in the Minnesota state legislature some time next week. A brief outline of that bill has been released to the world, giving us a glimpse of what lawmakers have in mind for a potential new Vikings home. To briefly summarize the summary: Minnesota lawmakers want the new stadium to have a roof. And they want the Vikings to pay for 1/3 of the construction (or, in their fancy money-language, $1 for every $2 kicked in by the state and whatever local government ends up landing the venue). And there are going to [...]