Viking Update joined the blog party several months ago and its irregular blogger, Kevin Brown, produced this post last week revealing that Vikings left tackle/problem child Bryant McKinnie has finally realized (or maybe his agent has) that it's time to do some damage control.
McKinnie recently met with NFL commissioner Roger "The Hammer" Goodell to undoubtedly discuss Mount McKinnie's latest brush with the law – taking part in a brawl outside a Miami nightclub. Based on Goodell's response to similar NFL player misdeeds, the question is not if McKinnie will be suspended for a portion of the 2008 season but how much that suspension will be.
The guess here is McKinnie will get four games. But it could be more. And based on Brown's story, McKinnie has caught on that a little community involvement that takes place before 12 a.m. might do his cause some good.
I don't know if McKinnie's gunning for Citizen of the Year will help get what would have been a four-or-more game suspension reduced to two or even less than that. But it's high time McKinnie realizes that if he keeps on the road he's been going on, another off-field incident is only a matter of time and that next one will get him in Pacman Jones suspension territory. In other words, the entire season.
That's not good for McKinnie's pocketbook and it's not good for the Vikings. So along with trying to remake your image, here's some advice for you, Bryant. Ease off on the clubbing, lay off the hootch and the honies. I'm sure it isn't easy. But this is your career that's at stake. Don't blow it.
On Deck: Contract talk
Monday, June 23, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Pennywise and pound foolish? The case of Matty B
He's a hometown boy, a pillar of the community, a team leader and a six-time Pro Bowler. And if things don't change between now and whenever the Vikings 2008 season ends, he's also set to become a free agent.
As you're probably aware, Matt Birk, – the team's starting centre since 2000 – is in the final year of a contract he signed in 2001. The Vikings have yet to talk about extending that contract, which probably means Birk's an ex-Viking come 2009. But the Vikings inaction in this matter likely isn't an indictment of Birk's play last year (when he was selected to his sixth Pro Bowl), rather it's a calculated gamble by team management on Birk's worth in 2009 and beyond.
The Birk situation is one that's played out many, many times in the NFL's salary cap era. You've got a decorated veteran player, seemingly still productive, but on the wrong side of 30, seeking one last big payday. Usually, he doesn't get it – at least not from the team he's previously played for – because it's risky giving 30-something football players loads of cash and long-term contracts. The NFL is a young man's game.
Birk turns 32 on July 23 and there are only three projected starting centres (Canadian spelling alert!) in the NFL that are older than he is. Certainly he fits the model mentioned above. But is Birk really finished? And who do the Vikings turn to in 2009 when they show Matty B the door?
First let me state once again that my knowledge of offensive line play could be stored on a thumbtack. But take a look at these offensive line stats from the Football Outsiders website. They show that the Vikings were very effective when they ran between the centre and guards in 2007. Birk must have had something to do with that. Birk's also been very durable since missing the 2005 season due to hip surgery, starting every game in 2006 and 2007. And he's also been selected to the NFC's Pro Bowl team both of those years. If Birk's play is dropping off, it's hard to tell based on what's happening on the field.
However, let's assume Brad Childress and Rick Speilman are right, Birk's level of play is slipping and he's only got one, maybe two, good years left. Aren't those two years worth something, especially for a team with several veterans (Pat Williams, Antoine Winfield) at the tail end of their careers playing key positions on a team that should and must win now?
In an insanely profitable league where the salary cap is now $116-million (U.S.) per team, only teams not named the Washington Redskins lose players to free agency they don't want to lose. So it sure appears that the Vikings want to lose Birk. But why not sign him to that four or five-year deal (wink, wink, nudge, nudge), pay most of the money in the first two years of that deal (when Birk's still starting and productive) and then cut him in the third or fourth year of that deal when the team has somebody better to take his place?
I like that plan better than relying on Dan Mozes or John Sullivan ( downs played in a regular season NFL game: 0) or starting right tackle Ryan Cook (who played centre in college) to take over at centre in 2009 when Birk's playing elsewhere. Sure, the Vikings save themselves some money and maybe they spend it on somebody useful. But maybe they also weaken the team and cost themselves a playoff berth.
The Vikings played the same game with Jeff Christy after the 1999 season and won. But back then they had a rising star in Matt Birk ready to take over. Nearly 10 years later, the thought of the Vikings playing the exact same game with Matty B leaves me feeling a bit ill. And it will continue to as long as Mozes, Sullivan and Cook are the replacement options.
On Deck: Image is everything
As you're probably aware, Matt Birk, – the team's starting centre since 2000 – is in the final year of a contract he signed in 2001. The Vikings have yet to talk about extending that contract, which probably means Birk's an ex-Viking come 2009. But the Vikings inaction in this matter likely isn't an indictment of Birk's play last year (when he was selected to his sixth Pro Bowl), rather it's a calculated gamble by team management on Birk's worth in 2009 and beyond.
The Birk situation is one that's played out many, many times in the NFL's salary cap era. You've got a decorated veteran player, seemingly still productive, but on the wrong side of 30, seeking one last big payday. Usually, he doesn't get it – at least not from the team he's previously played for – because it's risky giving 30-something football players loads of cash and long-term contracts. The NFL is a young man's game.
Birk turns 32 on July 23 and there are only three projected starting centres (Canadian spelling alert!) in the NFL that are older than he is. Certainly he fits the model mentioned above. But is Birk really finished? And who do the Vikings turn to in 2009 when they show Matty B the door?
First let me state once again that my knowledge of offensive line play could be stored on a thumbtack. But take a look at these offensive line stats from the Football Outsiders website. They show that the Vikings were very effective when they ran between the centre and guards in 2007. Birk must have had something to do with that. Birk's also been very durable since missing the 2005 season due to hip surgery, starting every game in 2006 and 2007. And he's also been selected to the NFC's Pro Bowl team both of those years. If Birk's play is dropping off, it's hard to tell based on what's happening on the field.
However, let's assume Brad Childress and Rick Speilman are right, Birk's level of play is slipping and he's only got one, maybe two, good years left. Aren't those two years worth something, especially for a team with several veterans (Pat Williams, Antoine Winfield) at the tail end of their careers playing key positions on a team that should and must win now?
In an insanely profitable league where the salary cap is now $116-million (U.S.) per team, only teams not named the Washington Redskins lose players to free agency they don't want to lose. So it sure appears that the Vikings want to lose Birk. But why not sign him to that four or five-year deal (wink, wink, nudge, nudge), pay most of the money in the first two years of that deal (when Birk's still starting and productive) and then cut him in the third or fourth year of that deal when the team has somebody better to take his place?
I like that plan better than relying on Dan Mozes or John Sullivan ( downs played in a regular season NFL game: 0) or starting right tackle Ryan Cook (who played centre in college) to take over at centre in 2009 when Birk's playing elsewhere. Sure, the Vikings save themselves some money and maybe they spend it on somebody useful. But maybe they also weaken the team and cost themselves a playoff berth.
The Vikings played the same game with Jeff Christy after the 1999 season and won. But back then they had a rising star in Matt Birk ready to take over. Nearly 10 years later, the thought of the Vikings playing the exact same game with Matty B leaves me feeling a bit ill. And it will continue to as long as Mozes, Sullivan and Cook are the replacement options.
On Deck: Image is everything
Friday, June 20, 2008
Dr. Z likes the Vikings, so they must be good
Check out this link. Scary isn't it?
Frankly, these stories always frighten me and for long-time Vikes fans reading this post I probably don't have to explain why.
There's been too many games, transactions and seasons where much was expected but little was delivered by the Vikings. So in order to steel ourselves against the disappointment our team usually delivers, fans have learned to hope for the best but expect the worst (or something resembling it). They've also learned to wince when the national media predicts big things for the Vikings.
But Dr. Z is an expert and knows more than the average bear about the NFL and so his opinion carries more weight than Peter King's or Pete Prisco's, you'll argue. Well, I like Dr. Z too and he does know more about the game than King or Prisco. But what I don't like is his picking the Vikings to win the Super Bowl seems to be born more from a hunch than any in-depth analysis he's done on the team.
A couple of other things to note about this piece: He cites the Vikings ability to run the ball and stop the run as an aspect of the team that he really, really likes. Which would be fine, except the Vikings have done both things pretty well the past two seasons and haven't made the playoffs. He also quotes Vikings head coach Brad Childress as referring to Brian Robison as Brian Robinson. I'm pretty sure Chilly knows the names of his players, so this has to be Dr. Z's error, which brings me back to my point about Z not putting a whole lot of analysis into his pick.
But it's just one writers opinion. What's the harm? (Wince, wince)
The dog days of summer
Not many posts up here so far this month and I apologize for that. It might improve. Or it might not. Summer's arrived in the North and ball season (yes, we have that here in Yellowknife) is cutting into my evening writing regimen. I'll try to do better.
On Deck: The case of Matty B
Frankly, these stories always frighten me and for long-time Vikes fans reading this post I probably don't have to explain why.
There's been too many games, transactions and seasons where much was expected but little was delivered by the Vikings. So in order to steel ourselves against the disappointment our team usually delivers, fans have learned to hope for the best but expect the worst (or something resembling it). They've also learned to wince when the national media predicts big things for the Vikings.
But Dr. Z is an expert and knows more than the average bear about the NFL and so his opinion carries more weight than Peter King's or Pete Prisco's, you'll argue. Well, I like Dr. Z too and he does know more about the game than King or Prisco. But what I don't like is his picking the Vikings to win the Super Bowl seems to be born more from a hunch than any in-depth analysis he's done on the team.
A couple of other things to note about this piece: He cites the Vikings ability to run the ball and stop the run as an aspect of the team that he really, really likes. Which would be fine, except the Vikings have done both things pretty well the past two seasons and haven't made the playoffs. He also quotes Vikings head coach Brad Childress as referring to Brian Robison as Brian Robinson. I'm pretty sure Chilly knows the names of his players, so this has to be Dr. Z's error, which brings me back to my point about Z not putting a whole lot of analysis into his pick.
But it's just one writers opinion. What's the harm? (Wince, wince)
The dog days of summer
Not many posts up here so far this month and I apologize for that. It might improve. Or it might not. Summer's arrived in the North and ball season (yes, we have that here in Yellowknife) is cutting into my evening writing regimen. I'll try to do better.
On Deck: The case of Matty B
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Links? We got links
I’m not a big link guy. It’s not that I don’t think it’s a useful exercise but it’s done so often by other bloggers, I’m reluctant to copy something everyone else is doing.
However, as I research the “Big Plays and the Vikings” post I’ve been advertising on this site for months now, I decided to check out what other media outlets have been saying about some of the players picked in last April’s NFL draft. Specifically, I’m interested in what has been written about some of the players various mocks drafts had the Vikings taking with their first round pick before they made the trade for that guy from the Chiefs.
So here are some stories updating you on how a few of these draftees (Derrick Harvey, DeSean Jackson and Kenny Phillips) are making out as we inch closer to training camp season.
It’s way too early to make any definitive predictions on how the respective careers of these guys will turn out. But a few things stood out for me in each of the stories linked above. In the case of Harvey – a guy a lot of draftniks felt the Vikings would pick if he was still available at #17 – apparently he’s a wallflower. So I wonder if a shy kid like Harvey may have trouble dealing with fame and the expectations that come with being the number eight pick in the draft.
In the case of Jackson – a player some Vikings fans hoped would be selected by their team to improve the talent level at wide receiver – sounds like he’s not the hardest worker alive. It also sounds like he’s full of himself. That’s never a good combo in the NFL. This guy could be a bust in the making.
As for Phillips, the story linked here is about a month old but it appears like the former U of Miami safety is an impressive athlete. It’ll be interesting to track how Phillips turns out in comparison to the Vikings second round pick, Tyrell Johnson, a safety that the Vikes had rated higher than Phillips. One thing I am sure of after reading all these stories? I’m glad the Vikings pulled the trigger and traded away their number one pick (and more) to get that guy from the Chiefs.
All's well in Packerland
I also searched for recent stories on defensive end Phillip Merling and quarterback Brian Brohm. But I came up empty. Merling was a player I saw mentioned as the Vikings likely first round pick in several mock drafts. Miami ended up getting him in the second round. All I can tell you about Merling at this point is a) he’s unsigned and b) it’s unclear what his role will be in ’08. Miami hasn’t decided whether it will run a 3-4 or a 4-3 defence.
While there wasn’t much news on how Brohm has been doing in Packerland, I did read plenty of stories about Green Bay’s new number one quarterback Aaron Rodgers. You’ll be happy to learn that nobody seems all that worried in Wisconsin that the Great Satan has retired and his anointed successor has not started a regular season game in his career. But that matters little - Rodgers is a great team guy, happy to help out rookies looking to take his job and happy to host once-a-week team-bonding meals at his house. Because of this and much more, the Packers have fewer questions at QB than the Vikings.
After a surprise 13-3 season, arrogance reigns in the state of Wisconsin.
However, as I research the “Big Plays and the Vikings” post I’ve been advertising on this site for months now, I decided to check out what other media outlets have been saying about some of the players picked in last April’s NFL draft. Specifically, I’m interested in what has been written about some of the players various mocks drafts had the Vikings taking with their first round pick before they made the trade for that guy from the Chiefs.
So here are some stories updating you on how a few of these draftees (Derrick Harvey, DeSean Jackson and Kenny Phillips) are making out as we inch closer to training camp season.
It’s way too early to make any definitive predictions on how the respective careers of these guys will turn out. But a few things stood out for me in each of the stories linked above. In the case of Harvey – a guy a lot of draftniks felt the Vikings would pick if he was still available at #17 – apparently he’s a wallflower. So I wonder if a shy kid like Harvey may have trouble dealing with fame and the expectations that come with being the number eight pick in the draft.
In the case of Jackson – a player some Vikings fans hoped would be selected by their team to improve the talent level at wide receiver – sounds like he’s not the hardest worker alive. It also sounds like he’s full of himself. That’s never a good combo in the NFL. This guy could be a bust in the making.
As for Phillips, the story linked here is about a month old but it appears like the former U of Miami safety is an impressive athlete. It’ll be interesting to track how Phillips turns out in comparison to the Vikings second round pick, Tyrell Johnson, a safety that the Vikes had rated higher than Phillips. One thing I am sure of after reading all these stories? I’m glad the Vikings pulled the trigger and traded away their number one pick (and more) to get that guy from the Chiefs.
All's well in Packerland
I also searched for recent stories on defensive end Phillip Merling and quarterback Brian Brohm. But I came up empty. Merling was a player I saw mentioned as the Vikings likely first round pick in several mock drafts. Miami ended up getting him in the second round. All I can tell you about Merling at this point is a) he’s unsigned and b) it’s unclear what his role will be in ’08. Miami hasn’t decided whether it will run a 3-4 or a 4-3 defence.
While there wasn’t much news on how Brohm has been doing in Packerland, I did read plenty of stories about Green Bay’s new number one quarterback Aaron Rodgers. You’ll be happy to learn that nobody seems all that worried in Wisconsin that the Great Satan has retired and his anointed successor has not started a regular season game in his career. But that matters little - Rodgers is a great team guy, happy to help out rookies looking to take his job and happy to host once-a-week team-bonding meals at his house. Because of this and much more, the Packers have fewer questions at QB than the Vikings.
After a surprise 13-3 season, arrogance reigns in the state of Wisconsin.
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