Archive for May, 2011

As we wait for news of yet more legal maneuvers in the on-going NFL vs. NFLPA dispute, a report has come down that adds a further layer of uncertainty to this already painfully confusing situation. Just what we needed: less clarity! The frustrating new report, via Sports Business Daily, touches on the NFL’s free agency rules. All along we’ve been led to believe that, if and when the lockout is lifted and the league year begins, the NFL would go forward under the 2010 rules. But now it appears that assumption was a little hasty. The new report says the [...]

Jared Allen has a message for in-coming draft picks: Dial down the jewelry boys! Don’t you know we’re in a lockout? In an interview with KTAR in Phoenix, Jared talked about watching the Draft, and what struck him about the whole crazy spectacle. I don’t like anybody who was drafted ahead of me [Jared himself was a fourth round pick]. Kind of pisses me off. You know it did. I honestly think it would’ve been cool to see none or all of the players elect to not show up. I think that would’ve given a really big sign to the [...]

The Vikings offense is sure to be a very different animal in 2011 than the one we saw, and mostly disliked, in 2010. Gone are Brad Childress and Darrell Bevell, the masterminds behind Chillyball, a super-predictable run-heavy variation on the vaunted West Coast Offense. In their place is a new would-be offensive guru, Bill Musgrave, late of the Atlanta Falcons. Since the moment of Musgrave’s hiring fans have been speculating on what approach the new coordinator will bring to the Vikings. Going by Musgrave’s own statements, the new offense will be heavily influenced by the one he helped run in [...]

Here is a list of each of the picks and my grades on them. I personally was surprised at Christian Ponder at 12, but you know what, if we couldn’t trade down and still get our guy, I don’t really care where we took him. Everything you see, read, and hear on this guy is positive. He was injured a few times, but you know what, our job is to learn to protect him from certain teams that suddenly upgraded their pass rush (I’m looking at you Detroit). Actually, I’m really looking at every member of our offensive line (side note, they were offensive last year , get it, ring ding ding.) I took the picks from the Strib (http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/blogs/121180934.html) which also has the number they will wear this year.

The three QBs on the Vikings’ roster have thrown a combined total of 89 NFL passes in their lives. And all 89 have been thrown by Joe Webb. This is why, most people agree, the Vikings have to add a veteran at some point during this off-season. The debate is over which kind of veteran the Vikings should pursue. Do they go after Donovan McNabb, a borderline Hall-of-Famer who may have no interest in the bridge/mentor role most have in mind for whoever the Vikings pick up? Or should they set their sights lower, and get a guy who will [...]

We’ve heard Donovan McNabb’s name mentioned in connection to the Vikings numerous times in recent weeks as a potential veteran presence at the quarterback position.  A player like McNabb or Matt Hasselbeck, who have both started in the Super Bowl, would be among the small handful of veteran mentors that the Vikings would consider ideal for rookie Christian Ponder.  The problem is Coach Frasier doesn’t want Ponder to rot on the bench all season and both of these players think they have enough in the tank to start for another 1-3 years.  For McNabb, the Vikings situation can’t be viewed [...]

Ray Edwards has always had the propensity to say something really stupid. Everything from saying that Commissioner Goodell makes to much money to profanity laced tirades every time he’s fined for an illegal hit to now this. On May 20th at Grand Casino Hinckley Ray is making his boxing debut. Now while Ray should be commended for staying busy during the lockout, he goes so far as to proclaim himself a Former MN Viking. Really Ray? Perhaps you know something we don’t. Because the last time I checked you received a 1st round tender. Now there’s no guarantees these tenders [...]

Tarvaris Jackson will not be back with the Vikings in 2011 (thank goodness). But don’t shed too many tears for good old T-Jack. There’s a good chance the one-time Brad Childress protege already has a landing spot lined up. And no, the landing spot is not on the back of a lawn tractor making circuits around Chilly’s front yard. Forgive me for doing this, but I now have to cite Trent Dilfer as a source. Yes I realize Dilfer is persona non grata in Viking Nation after the stuff he said about Christian Ponder, but try to bear with me. According [...]