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NFC North Round-Up: Alshon Jeffery, Nick Perry, Ndamukong Suh

Dan Zinski — Sat, 12 May 2012 16:33:58 +0000

Jan 1, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) warms up prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

Let’s take a quick spin around the rest of the NFC North and see what the Vikings’ divisional rivals have been up to while we’ve been celebrating the passage of the stadium bill:

The Bears have been busy locking up their draft picks. #19 overall pick Shea McClellin signed on Friday for $7.2 million in guaranteed money and is now expected to compete for a spot at defensive end. In other Bears-related happenings, ESPN Chicago reports that new receiver Alshon Jeffery – a guy many Viking fans had their eyes on during the lead-up to the draft – will play in the slot at least initially, with Brandon Marshall and Devin Hester lining up as the primary outside receivers. Speaking of Hester, new OC Mike Tice says he wants to use the speedy receiver “creatively.” We know Mike Tice is very creative, especially when it comes to getting rid of excess Super Bowl tickets.

Like the Bears, the Packers have been busily engaged signing their 2012 rookies. OLB Nick Perry, a guy the Packers hope will become a beast of a pass rusher, was inked to a four year deal with a team-held fifth year option. The Packers also signed cornerback Casey Hayward to a four year deal and will now hope Hayward develops enough to allow aging Charles Woodson to shift to safety.

As for the Lions…it appears Ndamukong Suh will be starring on a new Fox reality dating show called “The Choice.” Other male “contestants” on the show include Warren Sapp, Rob Gronkowski and The Situation. You know how everyone in Detroit is always saying Suh is very mild-mannered and soft-spoken and shy? Obviously, that’s true.

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Everything Goes Wrong For Vikings As They Lose to the Bears

Dan Zinski — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:43:29 +0000

The Vikings didn’t wait for the second half to begin their collapse Sunday night at Soldier Field – this time they started it right at the beginning. Three plays into the Bears’ first series the Vikes surrendered a 48-yard TD pass from Jay Cutler to Devin Hester, and it only got worse from there. By halftime they were down 26-3, and in the third quarter, after a little glimmer of hope broke through courtesy of Jared Allen and Adrian Peterson, they sealed their own fate by kicking straight down the middle to Devin Hester who housed one from 98 yards.

The decision to kick to Hester was only one of a multitude of questionable coaching moves that compounded what was already a frustrating night. Someone needs to clamp Bill Musgrave in a torture device and get him to explain in detail what he was thinking when he elected to kill the Vikings’ offensive rhythm not once but twice in the first half by switching over to the Blazer package. There also needs to be an investigation into why the Vikings needed to burn a time out right after the two minute warning in the first half while deciding whether to kick a field goal or go for it on 4th down.

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Bears Hammer Vikings 40-14

Dan Zinski — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 05:51:47 +0000

Most of our worst expectations for tonight’s game came true: The field was hard and slippery. Brett Favre did not make it through the game. The Bears’ defense was dominating. Devin Hester did burn us in the return game. And, oh yeah, Joe Webb did end up looking like the rookie quarterback he is. Take everything together and what do you get? A 40-14 drubbing at the hands of a clearly superior opponent. It was a night of big plays for the Bears, the biggest being a 67-yard Johnny Knox touchdown pass from Jay Cutler, with an assist to Madieu Williams who was once again dreadful, and a Devin Hester 64-yard punt return to seal the deal in the third quarter. The Vikings made life easier for Chicago by turning it over 5 times. Brett Favre did manage to orchestrate one good touchdown drive before leaving the game with a head injury. After that Joe Webb entered, to mixed results. It was not a statistically dominating game for the Bears: They were only 2-10 on third down, had only one more first down than the Vikings and did not blow the Vikings’ doors off yards-wise. But, it was the big plays. It was the special teams and the turnovers. It was the Vikings’ inability to get any kind of running game going with Adrian Peterson out. It was Joe Webb’s woeful inexperience. It was the Bears’ ability to capitalize on opportunities. Congrats to the Bears for winning the NFC North. And as for the Vikings…well, there’s always next season.

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