Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Well, How exciting is this! A game against the hated Green Bay Packers, a rushing record that’s stood for the better part of 3 decades is in jeopardy, and if the Vikings win they will be the most unlikely team to make it to the NFL playoffs in 2012.

But we all know about these stories, I’d like to give some credit to a  player who is a key component of the Vikings unexpected success on the field this season, yet for the most part, has flown under the radar so far. Lets talk a little bit about the fullback, Jerome Felton. Adrian Peterson has said many times that he prefers running out of single back formations rather than with a fullback, but i bet he has changed his tune this year. This man has been just pummeling his way through the front seven of opposing defenses all year and has been absolutely key to the success Adrian is having on the field. Without Felton I don’t believe we would be talking about any rushing record, or for that matter a 9-6 record with a win-and-in playoff scenario.

Felton signed with the team this year as a free agent and is by far the best value the team acquired through free agency. Although I hear they also signed a guy named John Carlson who is supposed to be a tight end with a lot of upside, and a wide out from the Bengals named Jerome Simpson who is a legitimate deep threat, and can do front flips, so they should really open up things in the pass game for Ponder this year,  if they ever decide to make it to a game.

But in all seriousness, to get a glimpse of the way Felton is punching holes for the Beast to run through you need not look farther than the 82 yard touchdown run against the Rams. Adrian almost missed the block by starting to cut the wrong way, but had time to scan the field and change direction to bust loose, and there was no way that defender was going to shake Feltons block.

This is Jerome’s 5th season in the NFL. His first 3 were with the Detroit Lions, and last year he played for both the Texans and the Colts. He played his college ball at school called Furman, which i believe is an online community college or something, and now he is the NFC’s only fullback selected to the Pro Bowl, which he will obviously have to miss due to the Superbowl obligation he and his teamates will have.

Congratulations to Jerome on his sensational season. Who do you think is a Vikings unsung hero? Would love to hear your thoughts. Please comment with your answers here or find me on Twitter @disko37

as always, (and a little extra this week!) The Packers SUCK!

SKOL Vikings!

-Jordan Nadel

Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

See folks, this is that special brand of hard-hitting sports journalism that lets you know that I did absolutely no research at all before writing this. The fact is, no amount of research can help predict what’s going to happen with this Viking team. I mean if you were talking about ANY other team in the league over the last 20 years and said “well, i predict that the quarterback will throw for under 75 yards and at least one interception, but the running back will run for over 200 yards, the kicker will boot 5 field goals from over fifty yards, a defensive lineman will most likely return an interception for a touchdown and the team will win 30-28 after nearly blowing a 25 point 4th quarter lead” People would look at you like you were a maniac. But not Vikings fans this year. We just think to ourselves, “yup…that sounds about right.”
So I say we just sit back and enjoy the ride. Adrian is on the brink of making history and has already cemented his place in Vikings fans hearts with the comeback he’s made. Let’s not forget the unsung hero in this explosive run game, Jerome Felton. If he doesn’t play in Hawaii this year, it will be a crime. We have a kicker that in any other season would be a candidate for rookie of the year, and let’s not forget that we have a player that often goes overlooked even though he currently leads the NFL in tackles, LB Chad Greenway is having another pro-bowl caliber season. So I’m just going to kick my feet up and scream wildly at my TV this Sunday. Whatever happens I just hope Adrian has another big game. I think every true football fan in the country wants to see this man break that record. So enjoy the game this weekend Viking fans. SKOL!

Oct 23, 2011; London, ENGLAND; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell attends the NFL International Series game between the Chicago Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

A recent rash of drunk driving arrests, including one for Viking fullback Jerome Felton, has prompted a memo from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. That memo, obtained by CBSSports.com, is essentially a stern lecture about the need for guys to behave responsibly, and a reminder to teams about the PR damage that can result from these incidents.

There have been several negative law enforcement incidents in recent months involving both players and non-player employees. These incidents primarily have involved alcohol or drug-related offenses, specifically driving while impaired. Clearly, operating a vehicle under the influence of any substance poses a significant risk of injury to the driver and others. These risks are underscored by well-known tragedies within the NFL family.

The Personal Conduct Policy makes clear that we must all conduct ourselves in a manner that is “responsible, that promotes the values upon which the league is based, and is lawful.” Every negative incident undermines the respect we have earned from our fans, erodes the confidence of our business partners and threatens the continued success of the league.

As your club concludes its mini-camp, it is essential that you take time to reinforce this message with your staff and players. In particular, the following points are suggested:

Be responsible. If you choose to go out for drinks, make arrangements for a designated driver or “safe ride” service. Remember that law enforcement is aggressively protecting the public from the dangers of impaired driving. DON’T TAKE CHANCES.

Know the environment. Avoid trouble spots and places that don’t provide adequate security. Don’t try to provide your own “security” by carrying a weapon.

Use available resources. A variety of resources are available to help you. Contact your Director of Player Engagement, Security Director, the NFLPA at (800) xxx-xxxx, or the NFL Security Department at (800) xxx-xxxx for assistance.

Note Goodell’s specific mention of “safe ride” services. Mike Freeman reported recently that the original NFL safe ride service, which was started several years ago, was shut down because it was too slow and wasn’t available in all cities (and because some in the union feared the league might use it to spy on players). A new service was set up by the NFLPA in partnership with a private investigation firm and charges players $85 for its use. 85 bucks seems like a small price to pay to avoid a big NFL fine or even a suspension, not to mention jail time.

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