Archive for October, 2011

It’s one day until the big showdown with the Green Bay Packers and the Vikings are dealing with a huge distraction. According to reports, cornerback Chris Cook is currently being held in Hennepin County Jail on a pair of misdemeanor domestic violence charges. KFAN (via PFT) reports that Cook was arrested early in the morning on Saturday by Eden Prairie police after neighbors called 911 on him. This is not Cook’s first run-in with the law since joining the Vikings. Earlier this year he was involved in a weird incident in his native Virginia where a man accused him of [...]

I’ll keep this one brief; I think we’re all familiar with the recent history between the Vikings and Packers. Series: Packers lead 51-48-1 Last Meeting(s): The Packers swept the Vikings in 2010, winning 28-24 in Week 7 and 31-3 in Week 11. The Vikings still had Brad Childress, Brett Favre, and Randy Moss for the first game, and Minnesota had the ball at the Packers’ 20 yard line with 28 seconds left. On fourth and 15, Favre fell down, got up, and threw the ball over Moss’ head in the back of the end zone and that was that. Favre’s [...]

I recently sat down with Ray Rivard from the popular Packers blog Lombardi Ave. I asked Ray 5 Questions about the upcoming Vikings/Packers tilt and this is what he had to say: Clint: What will it take to slow down the Packers? Is it even possible? Ray: The only way to slow down the Packers’ offense is to first shut down the run and then put pressure on Aaron Rodgers. With Jared Allen and Brian Robison combining for 14 sacks already this season, it would appear that the Vikings have the tools to control the edges. Throw in the fact [...]

Leslie Frazier is known as a players’ coach, but at least one Vikings player isn’t happy with the man in charge after some critical comments aimed at the defensive line. On Monday Frazier went after his entire D-line for not being physical enough in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Bears. On Friday, defensive tackle Kevin Williams took issue with Frazier’s lump-everyone-together approach, saying “If you want to call somebody out, call who you’re talking about out.” Williams continued, “Don’t say the whole group got out-physicaled. I don’t believe that at all. I saw that on the news and I was [...]

The Vikings are not just a struggling squad, they are now a struggling and banged-up squad. This rash of injuries couldn’t possibly be more badly-timed given the Vikes’ opponent on Sunday. As if the 6-0 Packers needed more advantages in their match-up against the 1-5 Purple. The injury report hasn’t officially been released yet, but when it is the Vikings are expected to list John Sullivan, Antoine Winfield and Jamarca Sanford as doubtful for Sunday. Sullivan and Sanford both suffered concussions in the Bears game, while Winfield has spent the last three weeks battling a strained neck. Joe Berger and [...]

Over before it starts Now Purples Nurples, you know, that I am the Grand Pooba of the Purple Church of Optimism. I predicted that the Purple and Gold would go 10-6 in the preseason. You know that it took me a little while to participate in the “everyone dog pile Donovan” game. You know that I have yet to call for Leslie head. Admittedly I am down on Musgrave, but even then, I concede that he must be given some time. So a Gargamel I am not. What I’m about to share with you is not a reversal of my [...]

Christian Ponder is in and Donovan McNabb is out. So far the good Viking soldiers have all acted like they’re totally down with Leslie Frazier’s decision, and Adrian Peterson is no exception. Although, to be honest, Peterson’s comments Thursday on the QB switch did have a slight ring of disgruntlement to them. In the locker room on Thursday Peterson was asked if he thought McNabb received “a fair shake” with the Vikings, a fair enough question given the atrocious offensive line, bad receiver corps and shaky playcalling he was forced to deal with. Peterson replied, “Do I think he got [...]

Can the Vikings beat the Packers on Sunday? Olof: Heck yes they can! Did God suddenly touch the Packers on their special bits and make them indestructible? Any team can be beaten. Need I remind you this game is at the Metrodome? And who do the Packers have playing left tackle for them Sunday? It ain’t that Chad Clifton, it’s…some guy whose name I don’t remember. Needless to say, Jared Allen is going to have a field day against this no-name sub. And his buddy Brian Robison is going to kill the other guy and they’re both going to be [...]

During head coach Leslie Frazier’s press conference today he confirmed what everyone already knew. Christian Ponder has been named the starting quarterback and will remain there for the remainder of the season. But one interesting comment Frazier made during the presser stuck out. He stated that the decision to start Ponder over Donovan McNabb was made by him, not front office or owner Zygi Wilf. With all due respect to Frazier for displaying such professionalism this afternoon — that’s a bunch of malarkey. As everyone knows the Vikings do not have a GM, but this quasi Triangle of Authority in [...]

OK, I’ve had it. The media and fans of the NFL have a skewed perspective of the quarterback position. No, that’s not news to anybody. The quarterback often gets more than his share of credit and blame. That’s always been true and, to an extent, it makes sense. The quarterback touches the ball on every play and is in charge of running an entire half of the team. But this year has been too much. I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!