I have two very different emotions whenever I watch the Vikings on offence and defence (Canadian spelling alert) during games. When the defence is on the field, I feel confident and at ease. I expect good things to happen. I know more often than not they’ll be better than their opponents. I know more often than not they will do things to help the Vikings win.
With the Vikings offence, it’s the opposite. If the game is at all close, I have butterflies. I don’t expect good things to happen and I’m not particularly confident they’ll be better than the defence they’re facing. A lot of times I’m just hoping they won’t screw up. Or that Adrian Peterson will break a long run, which, thankfully, he often does.
It’s incredibly hasty after just two-and-a-half quarters of play and 13 days with the team to say Brett Favre isn’t going to do anything to change my emotions when the Vikings offence takes the field. But that’s how I’m feeling after watching him play against the Houston Texans tonight.
The numbers (13-18, 142 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT) are fine, but the Vikings under Favre managed to score just 17 points against a first-team Texans defence that gave up 24.6 points per game (27th in the league.) Ten of those points came off a 75-yard touchdown run by Peterson on the first offensive play of the game and a Ben Leber interception that gave the Vikes the ball on the Texans 24-yard line. The Vikings got a field goal out of that.
Favre still doesn’t look comfortable out there – although it’s important to note he hasn’t had Bernard Berrian to throw to yet. So it’s understandable the offence doesn’t look very good.
However – and I know it’s only preseason – this Vikings offence doesn’t look a whole lot different than the one we’ve seen the past two seasons. And given Favre’s age and level of play the past few seasons, I see no reason to believe (yet) that the Vikes O will be any more explosive or competent than it has been at any other time during Brad Childress’ time here.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Should we be concerned?
Brett Favre thinks he has a cracked rib heading into tonight's exhibition game against Houston.
As Will Ferrell would say during his Harry Caray skits: Your thoughts?
I don't know how much I'm going to be able to watch this game tonight. It's a 6 p.m. start here in Yellowknife. With a not-quite-four-year-old daughter around, I'm usually watching The Backyardigans or Curious George at that hour (we only have one TV.)
During the regular season on a weekday, a Vikes game trumps The Backyardigans and Curious George if it's a 6 p.m. start. But I don't know if that still holds during the preseason. We're in uncharted territory here.
As Will Ferrell would say during his Harry Caray skits: Your thoughts?
I don't know how much I'm going to be able to watch this game tonight. It's a 6 p.m. start here in Yellowknife. With a not-quite-four-year-old daughter around, I'm usually watching The Backyardigans or Curious George at that hour (we only have one TV.)
During the regular season on a weekday, a Vikes game trumps The Backyardigans and Curious George if it's a 6 p.m. start. But I don't know if that still holds during the preseason. We're in uncharted territory here.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Scary good
In his three preseason appearances, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has posted the following passing statistics.
Game #1 (vs. Cleveland): 5-10, 102 passing yards, 1 TD, 119.6 QB rating
Game #2 (vs. Buffalo): 8-9, 98 passing yards, 2 TDs, 151.6 QB rating
Game #3 (vs. Arizona): 14-19, 258, 3 TDs, 155.2 QB rating
Count all that up. Rodgers has now completed 71 per cent of his passes for 458 yards and six touchdowns for a 142.1 quarterback rating. He also hasn’t thrown an interception, and at one point during the Arizona game, I read the Packers first team offence had scored seven touchdowns in nine possessions this preseason. That is very good.
The Packers went 6-10 last season in Rodgers' first year as a starter. But it wasn’t his fault. That was mostly on the defence. But now the Packers have brought in Dom Capers as defensive coordinator, they’ve switched to a 3-4 and the first team defence is actually giving teams mucho problems thus far.
The Packers defence might not be able to keep up that level of play throughout the regular season. However, they may not have to. As sharp as Rodgers looks right now, if the D can improve even slightly on what it did last year, the Packers will be very tough in 2009. (Note: Packers star wide receiver Greg Jennings did leave the Arizona game after a hard hit. If his injury is serious, that could alter things a bit for Green Bay.)
Anyway, the Vikings-Packers games – thanks to the Favre stuff and the play of Rodgers – should be the most hotly contested, entertaining games in the history of this rivalry. And we know every Vikings-Packers game is hotly contested, and with a few exceptions, always entertaining. It might even be the best rivalry in North American professional sports.
I can’t wait for those two games.
The Metrodome
KSTP reports that the Metrodome will undergo some cosmetic changes to make the place look more like a Vikings-only stadium now that the Gophers and Twins won’t be playing there anymore come October.
Is it too much to hope that this might be a sign Vikings owner Zygi Wilf is willing to look at ways of renovating the Metrodome to open up more revenue streams for him while he waits for the state to come around on the idea of partially funding a new stadium for the team?
Maybe 2011 – the year the Vikings lease at the Metrodome expires – isn’t going to be the year Wilf moves the team elsewhere. Maybe he will sign a lease extension, one long enough that he can anticipate the economy and the political climate improving to the point where state politicians will be more willing to consider his stadium proposal.
Late addition
The National Football Post's Matt Bowen writes about what he's seen in the preseason games he's watched this week. He's high on the Packers and he makes some nice observations about some other teams and players as well.
Game #1 (vs. Cleveland): 5-10, 102 passing yards, 1 TD, 119.6 QB rating
Game #2 (vs. Buffalo): 8-9, 98 passing yards, 2 TDs, 151.6 QB rating
Game #3 (vs. Arizona): 14-19, 258, 3 TDs, 155.2 QB rating
Count all that up. Rodgers has now completed 71 per cent of his passes for 458 yards and six touchdowns for a 142.1 quarterback rating. He also hasn’t thrown an interception, and at one point during the Arizona game, I read the Packers first team offence had scored seven touchdowns in nine possessions this preseason. That is very good.
The Packers went 6-10 last season in Rodgers' first year as a starter. But it wasn’t his fault. That was mostly on the defence. But now the Packers have brought in Dom Capers as defensive coordinator, they’ve switched to a 3-4 and the first team defence is actually giving teams mucho problems thus far.
The Packers defence might not be able to keep up that level of play throughout the regular season. However, they may not have to. As sharp as Rodgers looks right now, if the D can improve even slightly on what it did last year, the Packers will be very tough in 2009. (Note: Packers star wide receiver Greg Jennings did leave the Arizona game after a hard hit. If his injury is serious, that could alter things a bit for Green Bay.)
Anyway, the Vikings-Packers games – thanks to the Favre stuff and the play of Rodgers – should be the most hotly contested, entertaining games in the history of this rivalry. And we know every Vikings-Packers game is hotly contested, and with a few exceptions, always entertaining. It might even be the best rivalry in North American professional sports.
I can’t wait for those two games.
The Metrodome
KSTP reports that the Metrodome will undergo some cosmetic changes to make the place look more like a Vikings-only stadium now that the Gophers and Twins won’t be playing there anymore come October.
Is it too much to hope that this might be a sign Vikings owner Zygi Wilf is willing to look at ways of renovating the Metrodome to open up more revenue streams for him while he waits for the state to come around on the idea of partially funding a new stadium for the team?
Maybe 2011 – the year the Vikings lease at the Metrodome expires – isn’t going to be the year Wilf moves the team elsewhere. Maybe he will sign a lease extension, one long enough that he can anticipate the economy and the political climate improving to the point where state politicians will be more willing to consider his stadium proposal.
Late addition
The National Football Post's Matt Bowen writes about what he's seen in the preseason games he's watched this week. He's high on the Packers and he makes some nice observations about some other teams and players as well.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The schism thing
The Vikings players have spoken about the schism in the locker room. There seems to be a mixture of irritation and amusement among them about it.
I don’t know if they’re amused and irritated because they’ve been outed and there actually is a division within the team over who should be the quarterback. Or that they’re amused and irritated because there is no division and the ESPN story has forced them to answer a bunch of unnecessary questions.
Pacifist Viking’s blog presented some theories today on how this might affect the Vikings.
I was never all that keen on the Vikings signing Favre. But one area where I definitely thought the move would pay off was during the Vikings first four games of the season.
I could easily see Jackson or Rosenfels (who’s never been a starter anywhere) getting the yips, playing poorly and causing the Vikings to lose games they should win against the likes of Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis or San Francisco. But I would have felt good about having an experienced guy like Favre – sharp, in tune with his receivers and in shape with a full training camp behind him – starting those games.
But Favre hasn’t done any of that. He can’t possibly be in shape, he isn’t sharp and he’s still trying to learn the nuances of his offensive teammates. And in his first game he faces the Browns, coached by Eric Mangini, who got to watch Favre all last season. I think Mangini will have some idea how to attack a rusty Favre. I need Favre to play well against Houston so I can really believe in what the Vikings are doing here.
The Childress factor
And I might feel better about the move if not for Brad Childress. You'll recall he came to Minnesota with a reputation for knowing quarterbacks. But in three years as head coach of the Vikings, he’s been wrong thinking Brad Johnson had something left. Wrong that Mike McMahon could play. Wrong that Brooks Bollinger and Kelly Holcomb could play. Wrong about Tyler Thigpen. Wrong about Gus Frerotte. Looking wrong about Jackson and apparently now thinks he was wrong to acquire Rosenfels – after all, why else does Childress think bringing in a 39-year-old quarterback who skipped training camp to be the starter somehow makes the Vikings a better team?
The Favre signing could turn out well. But based on Childress’ track record in Minnesota with quarterbacks, what are the odds he's wrong again?
Brief thoughts on Tyler Thigpen
Mike Lombardi assesses the talents of Thigpen, who appears to be on his way out of Kansas City. With the Vikings debating whether to keep or cut loose Jackson or John David Booty, wouldn’t it be nice to have this guy around?
Non-Viking, non-football thought
Everytime I visit Pacifist Viking’s blog, I always notice the flashing PETA anti-seal hunt ad showing the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics official symbol – Ilanaaq – clubbing a cute little seal.
The seal hunt and seal ban are pretty big issues in Canada’s North, where I live. The seals aren't getting much sympathy.
I don’t know if they’re amused and irritated because they’ve been outed and there actually is a division within the team over who should be the quarterback. Or that they’re amused and irritated because there is no division and the ESPN story has forced them to answer a bunch of unnecessary questions.
Pacifist Viking’s blog presented some theories today on how this might affect the Vikings.
I was never all that keen on the Vikings signing Favre. But one area where I definitely thought the move would pay off was during the Vikings first four games of the season.
I could easily see Jackson or Rosenfels (who’s never been a starter anywhere) getting the yips, playing poorly and causing the Vikings to lose games they should win against the likes of Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis or San Francisco. But I would have felt good about having an experienced guy like Favre – sharp, in tune with his receivers and in shape with a full training camp behind him – starting those games.
But Favre hasn’t done any of that. He can’t possibly be in shape, he isn’t sharp and he’s still trying to learn the nuances of his offensive teammates. And in his first game he faces the Browns, coached by Eric Mangini, who got to watch Favre all last season. I think Mangini will have some idea how to attack a rusty Favre. I need Favre to play well against Houston so I can really believe in what the Vikings are doing here.
The Childress factor
And I might feel better about the move if not for Brad Childress. You'll recall he came to Minnesota with a reputation for knowing quarterbacks. But in three years as head coach of the Vikings, he’s been wrong thinking Brad Johnson had something left. Wrong that Mike McMahon could play. Wrong that Brooks Bollinger and Kelly Holcomb could play. Wrong about Tyler Thigpen. Wrong about Gus Frerotte. Looking wrong about Jackson and apparently now thinks he was wrong to acquire Rosenfels – after all, why else does Childress think bringing in a 39-year-old quarterback who skipped training camp to be the starter somehow makes the Vikings a better team?
The Favre signing could turn out well. But based on Childress’ track record in Minnesota with quarterbacks, what are the odds he's wrong again?
Brief thoughts on Tyler Thigpen
Mike Lombardi assesses the talents of Thigpen, who appears to be on his way out of Kansas City. With the Vikings debating whether to keep or cut loose Jackson or John David Booty, wouldn’t it be nice to have this guy around?
Non-Viking, non-football thought
Everytime I visit Pacifist Viking’s blog, I always notice the flashing PETA anti-seal hunt ad showing the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics official symbol – Ilanaaq – clubbing a cute little seal.
The seal hunt and seal ban are pretty big issues in Canada’s North, where I live. The seals aren't getting much sympathy.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
When an obsession goes a bit too far
Kevin Seifert writes that the Vikings don't have to keep four quarterbacks on the roster if they want to keep John David Booty around.
The Ragnarok and Vikes Geek have already taken stabs at this topic.
The state of the Vikings quarterback position has been so bad since 2004 that fans and bloggers have grown accustomed to worrying about it. It's like it's part of our DNA now. But whether the Vikings cut Booty, keep him or lose him while trying to stash him on the practice roster isn't an issue to fret about.
I haven't had the stamina to watch Booty take reps with the rest of the scrubs in the first two preseason games. But I suspect if Booty is the future of the Vikings quarterback situation, that future seems a ways off and will be one mired in mediocrity when it arrives.
The Vikings need to develop some other strategy for addressing how to capably fill the QB position after Favre packs it in again. Perhaps Sage Rosenfels is the answer. Maybe they have to make some dramatic Jared Allen-like trade. Or maybe they have to do what it takes to nab a potentially studly QB in the first round of next April's draft. But Booty isn't the answer, even if some of us would like him to be.
So cut Booty, or try to stash him on the practice roster and maybe lose him – or not. But let's not get stressed about it.
The Ragnarok and Vikes Geek have already taken stabs at this topic.
The state of the Vikings quarterback position has been so bad since 2004 that fans and bloggers have grown accustomed to worrying about it. It's like it's part of our DNA now. But whether the Vikings cut Booty, keep him or lose him while trying to stash him on the practice roster isn't an issue to fret about.
I haven't had the stamina to watch Booty take reps with the rest of the scrubs in the first two preseason games. But I suspect if Booty is the future of the Vikings quarterback situation, that future seems a ways off and will be one mired in mediocrity when it arrives.
The Vikings need to develop some other strategy for addressing how to capably fill the QB position after Favre packs it in again. Perhaps Sage Rosenfels is the answer. Maybe they have to make some dramatic Jared Allen-like trade. Or maybe they have to do what it takes to nab a potentially studly QB in the first round of next April's draft. But Booty isn't the answer, even if some of us would like him to be.
So cut Booty, or try to stash him on the practice roster and maybe lose him – or not. But let's not get stressed about it.
Monday, August 24, 2009
So much for that
Saturday, August 22, 2009
The unusual suspects – part two
A month ago I listed three offensive players – beyond the obvious guys – I thought had to have good seasons for the Vikings to make it back into the playoffs and hang around a while when they got there.
Here’s part two of this thing with a focus on three under-the-radar players on the defensive side of the ball.
Brian Robison: Against Kansas City, Robison showed he could be an important player for the Vikings in 2009. Starting in place of an injured Jared Allen, Robison displayed speed off the edge at defensive end. He frequently beat the tackle blocking him, helped flush Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel out of the pocket and forced Cassel to scramble and make difficult throws on the run.
Robison didn’t get any sacks and Cassel often escaped the Vikings pass rush and made positive plays, but that’s not the point. Putting constant heat on opposing QBs is the point. Do it often enough and quarterbacks get hit – especially ones that can’t scramble as well as Cassel – passes fall incomplete and drives stall.
When the New York Giants won the Super Bowl in ’07, Justin Tuck emerged as a pass rushing threat along with Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora. The Giants defensive line was deadly. I think Robison could play a similar role and have a similar impact for the Vikings in 2009 – with hopefully similar results for the club in the Super Bowl.
Asher Allen: What’s a 2009 third-round draft pick doing on this list? Well, we can expect the Vikings run defence to be strong again this year. That means opponents will often be in passing situations, using three and four receiver sets. The Vikings nickel back – whomever it is – is going to be playing a lot and will be thrown at a lot.
So someone has to win that job and play well. Charles Gordon performed capably as the nickel last year until he broke his ankle. He’s no longer on the team. I don’t have much confidence in the other candidates for the job – Benny Sapp, Marcus McCauley and Karl Paymah. That leaves Allen, who has shown thus far in preseason that he is physical and he can tackle. Now he has to show he can cover NFL wide receivers. If not, then we’ll be seeing teams complete a lot of passes on Sapp, or McCauley or Paymah.
Heath Farwell: I’m cheating a bit here. Farwell won’t make much of an impact on defence. I’m putting him on here because of his special teams play.
To say the Vikings punt and kick-off coverage units sucked last year is to badly misuse the word. Those units went below and beyond suck. I don’t think it’s unrelated that the Vikes coverage on kick-offs and punts in two preseason games has looked pretty good with Farwell’s playing on them again. Farwell is usually the first Viking downfield, either making tackles or taking on blockers so his teammates can make them. He’s made a huge difference in this area already.
The Vikings coverage units cost the Vikings a lot of points and precious field position in 2008. If Farwell knee is okay (and it appears to be) and he can remain healthy, he’ll be a big reason why the special teams is a lot better in 2009.
Here’s part two of this thing with a focus on three under-the-radar players on the defensive side of the ball.
Brian Robison: Against Kansas City, Robison showed he could be an important player for the Vikings in 2009. Starting in place of an injured Jared Allen, Robison displayed speed off the edge at defensive end. He frequently beat the tackle blocking him, helped flush Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel out of the pocket and forced Cassel to scramble and make difficult throws on the run.
Robison didn’t get any sacks and Cassel often escaped the Vikings pass rush and made positive plays, but that’s not the point. Putting constant heat on opposing QBs is the point. Do it often enough and quarterbacks get hit – especially ones that can’t scramble as well as Cassel – passes fall incomplete and drives stall.
When the New York Giants won the Super Bowl in ’07, Justin Tuck emerged as a pass rushing threat along with Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora. The Giants defensive line was deadly. I think Robison could play a similar role and have a similar impact for the Vikings in 2009 – with hopefully similar results for the club in the Super Bowl.
Asher Allen: What’s a 2009 third-round draft pick doing on this list? Well, we can expect the Vikings run defence to be strong again this year. That means opponents will often be in passing situations, using three and four receiver sets. The Vikings nickel back – whomever it is – is going to be playing a lot and will be thrown at a lot.
So someone has to win that job and play well. Charles Gordon performed capably as the nickel last year until he broke his ankle. He’s no longer on the team. I don’t have much confidence in the other candidates for the job – Benny Sapp, Marcus McCauley and Karl Paymah. That leaves Allen, who has shown thus far in preseason that he is physical and he can tackle. Now he has to show he can cover NFL wide receivers. If not, then we’ll be seeing teams complete a lot of passes on Sapp, or McCauley or Paymah.
Heath Farwell: I’m cheating a bit here. Farwell won’t make much of an impact on defence. I’m putting him on here because of his special teams play.
To say the Vikings punt and kick-off coverage units sucked last year is to badly misuse the word. Those units went below and beyond suck. I don’t think it’s unrelated that the Vikes coverage on kick-offs and punts in two preseason games has looked pretty good with Farwell’s playing on them again. Farwell is usually the first Viking downfield, either making tackles or taking on blockers so his teammates can make them. He’s made a huge difference in this area already.
The Vikings coverage units cost the Vikings a lot of points and precious field position in 2008. If Farwell knee is okay (and it appears to be) and he can remain healthy, he’ll be a big reason why the special teams is a lot better in 2009.
The rookie
When the Vikings played the Kansas City Chiefs Friday night, the point of interest for me was not Brett Favre, but Percy Harvin.
There’s not much to discover about Favre at this stage of his career. Harvin is another matter. He put up crazy numbers in college and if you’ve been reading the Access Vikings blog during training camp, you’ve heard he’s made some big plays against his teammates in practices. The Vikings might have another dynamite, game-changing player on their roster.
This was his first chance to make plays against an opponent in the NFL. It was also the first chance for Vikings fans to see Harvin make plays against an opponent.
So what did we learn?
Not much. Harvin returned a couple of kick-offs without incident. He lined up in the left and right slots the majority of the time. He was used as a decoy once on a fake reverse. He caught two passes for nine yards – one a heater from Favre that he plucked an inch off the turf with two Chiefs defenders closing in on him. But there was no wildcat. No triple reverses. No getting the ball to Harvin in space and seeing what he could do. Maybe we’ll see more of that next week against Houston. Maybe we won’t see it at all until the regular seasons starts. I’m not worried, but this was a ho-hum debut for Harvin. I was anticipating a bit more flash.
Other notable stuff
* I plan to pay closer attention to John Sullivan and Phil Loadholt next game to see if my novice football eyes can spot anything alarming or encouraging about their play. To my untrained eyes both guys seem to be holding up well. It’s time someone came up with a catchy nickname for Loadholt though. Anyone who is 6’8 and 330 pounds should have a nickname.
* I know it’s only two preseason games but the Vikings pass rush looks like it will be incredibly good this season. Peyton Manning was sacked three times in the first series by the first-team defence last week. This week the Chiefs Matt Cassel was under heavy pressure on almost every pass he threw while facing that first-team defence (a defence without Jared Allen.) I was pleased to see Brian Robison making plays all over the place. He could be an important situational pass rusher for the Vikings. I also find myself being pleasantly surprised by the work of Fred Evans. But again, it’s only the preseason.
* If Tarvaris Jackson played like this all the time (12-15, 202 yards, two touchdown passes), the Vikes wouldn’t have had to suckhole to Favre and drag him out of retirement. Jackson has always struggled with his accuracy and touch on any pass longer than 10 yards. But his 29-yard pass over the middle to Visanthe Shiancoe in the second quarter and his 64-yard touchdown pass to Darius Reynaud over the middle in the third quarter were both bullets and beautifully accurate. Maybe the Vikings can get a draft pick for him.
* Tonight’s brief look at Favre made me think about how sharp he’s going to be when the regular season starts. My worry is he won’t be sharp enough. He’s missed all the OTAs and training camp. He played two short series against Kansas City. He’ll probably play the first half against Houston and then maybe not at all against Dallas. And then the regular season starts.
I don’t see how Favre can possibly be in top form by then. The early schedule looks easy (Cleveland, Detroit and San Francisco) but one way bad teams can even things out against good teams is when the good team’s quarterback struggles. Favre has a lot of rust to wear off.
There’s not much to discover about Favre at this stage of his career. Harvin is another matter. He put up crazy numbers in college and if you’ve been reading the Access Vikings blog during training camp, you’ve heard he’s made some big plays against his teammates in practices. The Vikings might have another dynamite, game-changing player on their roster.
This was his first chance to make plays against an opponent in the NFL. It was also the first chance for Vikings fans to see Harvin make plays against an opponent.
So what did we learn?
Not much. Harvin returned a couple of kick-offs without incident. He lined up in the left and right slots the majority of the time. He was used as a decoy once on a fake reverse. He caught two passes for nine yards – one a heater from Favre that he plucked an inch off the turf with two Chiefs defenders closing in on him. But there was no wildcat. No triple reverses. No getting the ball to Harvin in space and seeing what he could do. Maybe we’ll see more of that next week against Houston. Maybe we won’t see it at all until the regular seasons starts. I’m not worried, but this was a ho-hum debut for Harvin. I was anticipating a bit more flash.
Other notable stuff
* I plan to pay closer attention to John Sullivan and Phil Loadholt next game to see if my novice football eyes can spot anything alarming or encouraging about their play. To my untrained eyes both guys seem to be holding up well. It’s time someone came up with a catchy nickname for Loadholt though. Anyone who is 6’8 and 330 pounds should have a nickname.
* I know it’s only two preseason games but the Vikings pass rush looks like it will be incredibly good this season. Peyton Manning was sacked three times in the first series by the first-team defence last week. This week the Chiefs Matt Cassel was under heavy pressure on almost every pass he threw while facing that first-team defence (a defence without Jared Allen.) I was pleased to see Brian Robison making plays all over the place. He could be an important situational pass rusher for the Vikings. I also find myself being pleasantly surprised by the work of Fred Evans. But again, it’s only the preseason.
* If Tarvaris Jackson played like this all the time (12-15, 202 yards, two touchdown passes), the Vikes wouldn’t have had to suckhole to Favre and drag him out of retirement. Jackson has always struggled with his accuracy and touch on any pass longer than 10 yards. But his 29-yard pass over the middle to Visanthe Shiancoe in the second quarter and his 64-yard touchdown pass to Darius Reynaud over the middle in the third quarter were both bullets and beautifully accurate. Maybe the Vikings can get a draft pick for him.
* Tonight’s brief look at Favre made me think about how sharp he’s going to be when the regular season starts. My worry is he won’t be sharp enough. He’s missed all the OTAs and training camp. He played two short series against Kansas City. He’ll probably play the first half against Houston and then maybe not at all against Dallas. And then the regular season starts.
I don’t see how Favre can possibly be in top form by then. The early schedule looks easy (Cleveland, Detroit and San Francisco) but one way bad teams can even things out against good teams is when the good team’s quarterback struggles. Favre has a lot of rust to wear off.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
The most interesting team in the world
If the Dallas Cowboys are America’s Team, what does this week’s development make the Vikings?
There’s so much star power, good times and potential intrigue with this team right now, the writers of Entourage should be working on a pilot for HBO about them.
Consider that the Vikings have:
* Arguably the most feared offensive player on the planet in Adrian Peterson.
* Two players - Pat and Kevin Williams – fighting an NFL suspension in court, a case that if they win, could disembowel the league's banned substances policy.
* A rookie – Percy Harvin – with a shady past whose immense and unique receiving and running talents make him a player whose position is undefined and whose potential may be unlimited.
* A fast-talking, armed forces-visiting, reformed alcoholic, Pro Bowl defensive end (Jared Allen) who wears cowboys hats and a mullet and is proud of it.
* A franchise with it's future in Minnesota in doubt because of long-standing stadium issues.
And now they've added the most extensively covered and most loved (and hated) player in NFL history.
There’s a lot of debate about what affect Brett Favre will have on the field for the Vikings. Off the field, the Favre affect is already clear to owner Zygi Wilf. Ticket and merchandise sales have shot up. Wilf won’t have to worry about those annoying threats of TV blackouts on Sundays. The Vikes are even in line to get more prime-time games this fall thanks to Favre.
With the signing of Favre, the Vikings brand is mighty prominent – with football fans, casual fans and even people who don’t like football, or even sports, all that much. Some will say it’s the Favre brand, not the Vikings brand; the public is being exposed to. There is truth in that. But thanks largely to the signing of Brett Favre, the Vikings will be a top story whenever they play (and even when they don’t) for the next six months.
I’m not sure how much that is worth, but I think Wilf has some idea.
Stay thirsty, my friends.
Favre phenomenon
For the past couple of days I’ve been trying to understand why Favre attracts as much attention as he does. I know he’s been a great player at the glamour position in the NFL, but he’s been no better than Dan Marino or John Elway or a few other quarterbacks I could name. So why all the attention? Why the helicopters and TV trucks and people standing in the middle of the road at Winter Park oblivious to being hit by traffic?
Is it because Favre brought a storied franchise back to relevance? Is it his “just having fun out there” style of play? Is it ESPN or John Madden?
I want to understand.
Worth a look (I think)
And I end this post by providing you Kissing Suzy Kolber’s initial reaction to the Vikings signing Favre.
Warning – if you don’t care for bad language and objectionable content, this post isn’t for you.
There’s so much star power, good times and potential intrigue with this team right now, the writers of Entourage should be working on a pilot for HBO about them.
Consider that the Vikings have:
* Arguably the most feared offensive player on the planet in Adrian Peterson.
* Two players - Pat and Kevin Williams – fighting an NFL suspension in court, a case that if they win, could disembowel the league's banned substances policy.
* A rookie – Percy Harvin – with a shady past whose immense and unique receiving and running talents make him a player whose position is undefined and whose potential may be unlimited.
* A fast-talking, armed forces-visiting, reformed alcoholic, Pro Bowl defensive end (Jared Allen) who wears cowboys hats and a mullet and is proud of it.
* A franchise with it's future in Minnesota in doubt because of long-standing stadium issues.
And now they've added the most extensively covered and most loved (and hated) player in NFL history.
There’s a lot of debate about what affect Brett Favre will have on the field for the Vikings. Off the field, the Favre affect is already clear to owner Zygi Wilf. Ticket and merchandise sales have shot up. Wilf won’t have to worry about those annoying threats of TV blackouts on Sundays. The Vikes are even in line to get more prime-time games this fall thanks to Favre.
With the signing of Favre, the Vikings brand is mighty prominent – with football fans, casual fans and even people who don’t like football, or even sports, all that much. Some will say it’s the Favre brand, not the Vikings brand; the public is being exposed to. There is truth in that. But thanks largely to the signing of Brett Favre, the Vikings will be a top story whenever they play (and even when they don’t) for the next six months.
I’m not sure how much that is worth, but I think Wilf has some idea.
Stay thirsty, my friends.
Favre phenomenon
For the past couple of days I’ve been trying to understand why Favre attracts as much attention as he does. I know he’s been a great player at the glamour position in the NFL, but he’s been no better than Dan Marino or John Elway or a few other quarterbacks I could name. So why all the attention? Why the helicopters and TV trucks and people standing in the middle of the road at Winter Park oblivious to being hit by traffic?
Is it because Favre brought a storied franchise back to relevance? Is it his “just having fun out there” style of play? Is it ESPN or John Madden?
I want to understand.
Worth a look (I think)
And I end this post by providing you Kissing Suzy Kolber’s initial reaction to the Vikings signing Favre.
Warning – if you don’t care for bad language and objectionable content, this post isn’t for you.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Beyond Favre
So it’s on. Brett Favre is going to quarterback the Vikings to a Super Bowl in 2009. Or maybe not.
Which still leaves the Vikings looking for a long-term answer at quarterback in 2010. You know this is true because whether Favre’s 2009 excellent Vikings adventure turns out well or not so well, he’ll retire once the season is over. And then what?
Well, I guess the Vikings could try to get Favre out of retirement again – we know he’ll at least listen. Failing that they’ve still got Sage Rosenfels (how pissed is he after this little charade?) under contract for another two seasons. They could try to draft a hot shot college quarterback in the first round – someone like Sam Bradford or Colt McCoy. Or they can hope some elite or potentially elite quarterback is available next offseason.
But elite quarterbacks aren’t available very often. Yes, Jay Cutler was, but the Vikings blew that one.
So whom am I focusing my quarterback fantasies on? Whom am I hoping will become available next offseason when Favre says he’s done for the third straight offseason?
Philip Rivers.
I’ve never been a Rivers guy. I think his funny throwing motion has always put me off. But then I look at his numbers. He’s completed 62.3 per cent of his passes over his short career. Last year he threw for 4,009 yards, 34 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions. He’s never thrown for less than 3,100 yards or 21 touchdowns in three seasons as a starter. His career interception rate is a very good 2.5 per cent. He’s done all this with receivers like Eric Parker, Chris Chambers, Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd to throw to. He’s 28 and he’s entering the final year of the rookie contract he signed in 2004.
Eli Manning, drafted three picks ahead of Rivers in ’04, recently signed a big contract extension. So Rivers will almost certainly be looking for as much money – if not more – than Manning got. I expect the San Diego Chargers want to sign their franchise quarterback to a lucrative extension. But then I also thought the Denver Broncos would never consider trading a 26-year-old quarterback coming off a Pro Bowl. Anything can happen.
And there are some similarities in the personalities of Rivers and Cutler that could make signing Rivers to an extension problematic. Both players strike me as cocky and emotional guys, easily angered and hurt, guys who take the business side of the game too personally. It’s not so hard to dream up a scenario where contract talks between Rivers and the Chargers go badly, Rivers blows a gasket and vows never to resign with San Diego. Then the Chargers and the Vikings work out a pre-draft trade where the Vikings send a bunch of draft picks to the Chargers (which they use to trade up and draft a Bradford or McCoy) and the Vikings get Rivers.
With our defence, Adrian Peterson to hand off to and Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin to throw to, the Vikings can win a lot of games with Philip Rivers as their quarterback.
It's a fantasy and terribly far-fetched. But wasn’t there a time when Brett Favre wearing a Viking uniform seemed far-fetched too?
Which still leaves the Vikings looking for a long-term answer at quarterback in 2010. You know this is true because whether Favre’s 2009 excellent Vikings adventure turns out well or not so well, he’ll retire once the season is over. And then what?
Well, I guess the Vikings could try to get Favre out of retirement again – we know he’ll at least listen. Failing that they’ve still got Sage Rosenfels (how pissed is he after this little charade?) under contract for another two seasons. They could try to draft a hot shot college quarterback in the first round – someone like Sam Bradford or Colt McCoy. Or they can hope some elite or potentially elite quarterback is available next offseason.
But elite quarterbacks aren’t available very often. Yes, Jay Cutler was, but the Vikings blew that one.
So whom am I focusing my quarterback fantasies on? Whom am I hoping will become available next offseason when Favre says he’s done for the third straight offseason?
Philip Rivers.
I’ve never been a Rivers guy. I think his funny throwing motion has always put me off. But then I look at his numbers. He’s completed 62.3 per cent of his passes over his short career. Last year he threw for 4,009 yards, 34 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions. He’s never thrown for less than 3,100 yards or 21 touchdowns in three seasons as a starter. His career interception rate is a very good 2.5 per cent. He’s done all this with receivers like Eric Parker, Chris Chambers, Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd to throw to. He’s 28 and he’s entering the final year of the rookie contract he signed in 2004.
Eli Manning, drafted three picks ahead of Rivers in ’04, recently signed a big contract extension. So Rivers will almost certainly be looking for as much money – if not more – than Manning got. I expect the San Diego Chargers want to sign their franchise quarterback to a lucrative extension. But then I also thought the Denver Broncos would never consider trading a 26-year-old quarterback coming off a Pro Bowl. Anything can happen.
And there are some similarities in the personalities of Rivers and Cutler that could make signing Rivers to an extension problematic. Both players strike me as cocky and emotional guys, easily angered and hurt, guys who take the business side of the game too personally. It’s not so hard to dream up a scenario where contract talks between Rivers and the Chargers go badly, Rivers blows a gasket and vows never to resign with San Diego. Then the Chargers and the Vikings work out a pre-draft trade where the Vikings send a bunch of draft picks to the Chargers (which they use to trade up and draft a Bradford or McCoy) and the Vikings get Rivers.
With our defence, Adrian Peterson to hand off to and Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin to throw to, the Vikings can win a lot of games with Philip Rivers as their quarterback.
It's a fantasy and terribly far-fetched. But wasn’t there a time when Brett Favre wearing a Viking uniform seemed far-fetched too?
Ah, what the hell
One day after Jay Glazer's story sparked more Brett Favre-to-the-Vikings speculation, here comes WCCO reporting on Favre and a plane with a Vikings logo in Mississippi and flight numbers being blocked from tracking systems.
Enjoy. And, hey, maybe it's even true.
Update
I guess it was true.
But I probably shouldn't write that before Favre actually says the words at this press conference and pulls on a Vikings jersey. Maybe he's just coming to announce he won't be playing for the Vikings in person – because he felt he owed it to the fans. I mean, is anything not possible with this guy?
More on this later. Perhaps late this evening after all the dust settles.
This does nothing to clear up the Vikings long-term need at quarterback, by the way. Favre will be playing one year and one year only for the Vikings.
Enjoy. And, hey, maybe it's even true.
Update
I guess it was true.
But I probably shouldn't write that before Favre actually says the words at this press conference and pulls on a Vikings jersey. Maybe he's just coming to announce he won't be playing for the Vikings in person – because he felt he owed it to the fans. I mean, is anything not possible with this guy?
More on this later. Perhaps late this evening after all the dust settles.
This does nothing to clear up the Vikings long-term need at quarterback, by the way. Favre will be playing one year and one year only for the Vikings.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Mildly stoked
I admit I stopped watching midway through the third quarter, but here are a few quick observations about the Vikes first preseason game from the two-plus quarters I did watch.
* Happy to see Sage Rosenfels look sharp – even if Indianapolis didn’t have any members of their starting secondary in the game. Rosenfels was accurate, completed a lot of passes and got rid of the ball quickly. He looked like a starting NFL quarterback. It's been a while since we've had one of those around here.
* Also happy to see Visanthe Shiancoe continue to show nice hands and continue being a big factor in the passing game. Offensively, a lot of the focus this offseason has been on the quarterback and Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin. But it’s important to have a tight end who’s a receiving threat, someone who can catch those 10-15 yard throws down the middle and get open in the red zone. Shiancoe was that guy last year and the Vikings offence needs him to be that guy in 2009.
* John Sullivan looked solid playing centre (Canadian spelling alert!), which was a relief. Phil Loadholt looked okay, too, although he appeared to get help from running backs and tight ends on almost every pass play and he had one false start that was very Ryan Cook-like.
* On the Vikings’ special teams first coverage assignment of the year – a Colts kick-off return – Heath Farwell makes the tackle. Farwell is so important to the Vikings coverage units. They won’t suck this year as long as he is playing.
* While Tarvaris Jackson didn’t have much to work with, he looked very inaccurate on several easy throws. This is why Jackson will never cut it as a starter in the NFL.
To be fair, he was running for his life most of the time and escaped some sacks with his strength and scrambling ability – something I don't think Rosenfels could have done. Let’s see how Jackson does with the first-teamers against Kansas City.
* I like how rookie cornerback Asher Allen tackles.
* And it was a letdown that Harvin didn’t play in this one. The Vikings say they kept him out because of a shoulder injury. That kind of bummed me out. I really hope Harvin is a unique talent – just like Randy Moss was in 1998 – that can turn a good Vikings team into a great Vikings team with his ability to make big plays.
I have nothing else for you. The Vikings first-teamers looked sharp and that's better than the alternative. And I hope Bernard Berrian's injury is not serious.
* Happy to see Sage Rosenfels look sharp – even if Indianapolis didn’t have any members of their starting secondary in the game. Rosenfels was accurate, completed a lot of passes and got rid of the ball quickly. He looked like a starting NFL quarterback. It's been a while since we've had one of those around here.
* Also happy to see Visanthe Shiancoe continue to show nice hands and continue being a big factor in the passing game. Offensively, a lot of the focus this offseason has been on the quarterback and Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin. But it’s important to have a tight end who’s a receiving threat, someone who can catch those 10-15 yard throws down the middle and get open in the red zone. Shiancoe was that guy last year and the Vikings offence needs him to be that guy in 2009.
* John Sullivan looked solid playing centre (Canadian spelling alert!), which was a relief. Phil Loadholt looked okay, too, although he appeared to get help from running backs and tight ends on almost every pass play and he had one false start that was very Ryan Cook-like.
* On the Vikings’ special teams first coverage assignment of the year – a Colts kick-off return – Heath Farwell makes the tackle. Farwell is so important to the Vikings coverage units. They won’t suck this year as long as he is playing.
* While Tarvaris Jackson didn’t have much to work with, he looked very inaccurate on several easy throws. This is why Jackson will never cut it as a starter in the NFL.
To be fair, he was running for his life most of the time and escaped some sacks with his strength and scrambling ability – something I don't think Rosenfels could have done. Let’s see how Jackson does with the first-teamers against Kansas City.
* I like how rookie cornerback Asher Allen tackles.
* And it was a letdown that Harvin didn’t play in this one. The Vikings say they kept him out because of a shoulder injury. That kind of bummed me out. I really hope Harvin is a unique talent – just like Randy Moss was in 1998 – that can turn a good Vikings team into a great Vikings team with his ability to make big plays.
I have nothing else for you. The Vikings first-teamers looked sharp and that's better than the alternative. And I hope Bernard Berrian's injury is not serious.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thoughts about preseason
Watching preseason games can be a bore, However, Football Outsiders writer Mike Tanier gives you a few reasons why exhibition games can be worth watching.
I’m with Tanier on this one. I find it refreshing to watch the Vikings play and not feel like I’m about to throw up (that sensation comes from nervousness during games, although the Vikes play does occasionally make me sick.) I also pay attention to position battles, how the draft picks do and if any rookie free agents flash some promise.
The problem with the preseason is it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not. Teams are only running basic offensive and defensive schemes and there are many, many scrubs in the game who will never play in the NFL. You’ve got to be careful putting too much stock in a strong performance by a rookie or no-name player during the preseason.
For example, during the 2007 preseason, Adrian Peterson looked dynamite and when the regular season started, he was dynamite. What we saw from A.P. that preseason was real. On the flip side, during the 2008 preseason Tarvaris Jackson looked like a vastly improved quarterback. But when the regular season started, we saw the same guy we had watched in 2007, with the same limitations, making the same mistakes. What we saw from T-Jack in the exhibition games was not real. So you never know.
One thing we do know is that Sage Rosenfels will start at quarterback tonight against the Colts. But if Rosenfels does very well, I don’t know how much we can take out of it (see above.) Also, the Colts seem to be holding out their entire first-team defence in this one. If Rosenfels stinks against a posse of Colts second-teamers, my hopes for a competent Vikings passing game this year will take a significant hit.
Injuries
In the first preseason game of 2006 Chad Greenway sustained a season-ending knee injury.
In the first preseason game of 2008 Heath Farwell sustained a season-ending knee injury.
Stay healthy tonight, Vikings.
Football Outsiders talks Vikings
Just ran across a great post at the Daily Norseman where site kingpin Gonzo got to ask Football Outsiders writer Bill Barnwell 10 questions about what FO’s analysis says about the 2009 Vikings.
Most of the news is reasonably good. Pay close attention to Barnwell’s answer to Gonzo's question regarding the quarterback situation, where he makes a couple of key points about Jackson’s supposed improvement in 2008.
About tonight’s game
Unlike you lucky people in the Minnesota area, I will not be able to watch the Vikes-Colts game live. I’ll have to wait until whenever the NFL Network shows it to watch any of it. I’m also in the middle of buying a new house and selling an old one. And my mother-in-law is coming up this weekend. So I’m not sure when I’ll post my thoughts on the game. But I plan on getting something up here.
I’m with Tanier on this one. I find it refreshing to watch the Vikings play and not feel like I’m about to throw up (that sensation comes from nervousness during games, although the Vikes play does occasionally make me sick.) I also pay attention to position battles, how the draft picks do and if any rookie free agents flash some promise.
The problem with the preseason is it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not. Teams are only running basic offensive and defensive schemes and there are many, many scrubs in the game who will never play in the NFL. You’ve got to be careful putting too much stock in a strong performance by a rookie or no-name player during the preseason.
For example, during the 2007 preseason, Adrian Peterson looked dynamite and when the regular season started, he was dynamite. What we saw from A.P. that preseason was real. On the flip side, during the 2008 preseason Tarvaris Jackson looked like a vastly improved quarterback. But when the regular season started, we saw the same guy we had watched in 2007, with the same limitations, making the same mistakes. What we saw from T-Jack in the exhibition games was not real. So you never know.
One thing we do know is that Sage Rosenfels will start at quarterback tonight against the Colts. But if Rosenfels does very well, I don’t know how much we can take out of it (see above.) Also, the Colts seem to be holding out their entire first-team defence in this one. If Rosenfels stinks against a posse of Colts second-teamers, my hopes for a competent Vikings passing game this year will take a significant hit.
Injuries
In the first preseason game of 2006 Chad Greenway sustained a season-ending knee injury.
In the first preseason game of 2008 Heath Farwell sustained a season-ending knee injury.
Stay healthy tonight, Vikings.
Football Outsiders talks Vikings
Just ran across a great post at the Daily Norseman where site kingpin Gonzo got to ask Football Outsiders writer Bill Barnwell 10 questions about what FO’s analysis says about the 2009 Vikings.
Most of the news is reasonably good. Pay close attention to Barnwell’s answer to Gonzo's question regarding the quarterback situation, where he makes a couple of key points about Jackson’s supposed improvement in 2008.
About tonight’s game
Unlike you lucky people in the Minnesota area, I will not be able to watch the Vikes-Colts game live. I’ll have to wait until whenever the NFL Network shows it to watch any of it. I’m also in the middle of buying a new house and selling an old one. And my mother-in-law is coming up this weekend. So I’m not sure when I’ll post my thoughts on the game. But I plan on getting something up here.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Silly season
It’s preseason, so naturally there are a bunch of fairly useless stories appearing this time of the year about various Viking players and how they have improved or are trying to improve. The Star-Tribune published three recently on Adrian Peterson, John Sullivan and John David Booty.
We’ll see what happens when the games start on Friday. But regardless of what his coaches are saying, I think there is a good chance Peterson will be an improved pass catcher and pass blocker in 2009.
I don’t think pass blocking is that difficult a skill to improve on. Sure, there are pass-rushing schemes to pick up on and little techniques to learn that will make you better at it, but pass blocking appears to be an effort thing. If you want to be a good at it, you will be. Just work hard at it and get your reps in and you’ll improve. Nobody has ever questioned Adrian Peterson’s work ethic and I’m sure he is working hard at it, so he’s got to be a better pass blocker in 2009 than he was in 2008 and 2007.
As for his pass catching, Peterson’s struggle to catch passes last year was puzzling to me. In his rookie season I thought he looked quite good catching passes even though the Vikings didn’t throw it to him very often. Based on his rookie year, I expected Peterson to improve some more and become an even bigger part of the passing game in 2008. Instead, he looked awful catching the ball.
I can’t explain why that happened. Perhaps he lost some confidence. Perhaps he couldn’t get in a rhythm or comfortable catching the ball because Brad Childress and Darrell Bevell always replaced him with Chester Taylor on passing downs.
Whatever the reason, my eyes in 2007 told me Peterson looked like he was capable of becoming a good pass-catching running back in the NFL. So I see no reason why he can’t become a good pass-catching running back in the NFL – in 2009. But the Vikings offensive staff has to trust him and throw to him more. Thus far in Peterson’s career, they haven’t seemed willing to do that
Playing time
I’ve started to fret about Viking players getting injured during exhibition games, something I didn’t worry about at all when I was Viking fan in my teens and 20s. Today Mike Lombardi’s writes about the importance of star players playing a great deal during exhibition games.
He has a point. I’d be horrified if Peterson or Jared Allen were to sustain a season-ending injury during a “meaningless” preseason game. But Lombardi is right to point out that these games aren’t meaningless.
They may not count in the standings but they do help players prepare for the regular season. And you could argue that playing your star players sparingly during the four-game exhibition schedule increases the likelihood they will sustain serious injuries when the “real” games begin. Perhaps these players won’t be in game shape or totally in tune with the speed of the game once the regular season hits, which means they might not protect themselves as well during the “real” games as they otherwise might have if they had played a lot during the exhibition schedule.
Anyway, I hope Peterson or Allen don’t get hurt on Friday.
We’ll see what happens when the games start on Friday. But regardless of what his coaches are saying, I think there is a good chance Peterson will be an improved pass catcher and pass blocker in 2009.
I don’t think pass blocking is that difficult a skill to improve on. Sure, there are pass-rushing schemes to pick up on and little techniques to learn that will make you better at it, but pass blocking appears to be an effort thing. If you want to be a good at it, you will be. Just work hard at it and get your reps in and you’ll improve. Nobody has ever questioned Adrian Peterson’s work ethic and I’m sure he is working hard at it, so he’s got to be a better pass blocker in 2009 than he was in 2008 and 2007.
As for his pass catching, Peterson’s struggle to catch passes last year was puzzling to me. In his rookie season I thought he looked quite good catching passes even though the Vikings didn’t throw it to him very often. Based on his rookie year, I expected Peterson to improve some more and become an even bigger part of the passing game in 2008. Instead, he looked awful catching the ball.
I can’t explain why that happened. Perhaps he lost some confidence. Perhaps he couldn’t get in a rhythm or comfortable catching the ball because Brad Childress and Darrell Bevell always replaced him with Chester Taylor on passing downs.
Whatever the reason, my eyes in 2007 told me Peterson looked like he was capable of becoming a good pass-catching running back in the NFL. So I see no reason why he can’t become a good pass-catching running back in the NFL – in 2009. But the Vikings offensive staff has to trust him and throw to him more. Thus far in Peterson’s career, they haven’t seemed willing to do that
Playing time
I’ve started to fret about Viking players getting injured during exhibition games, something I didn’t worry about at all when I was Viking fan in my teens and 20s. Today Mike Lombardi’s writes about the importance of star players playing a great deal during exhibition games.
He has a point. I’d be horrified if Peterson or Jared Allen were to sustain a season-ending injury during a “meaningless” preseason game. But Lombardi is right to point out that these games aren’t meaningless.
They may not count in the standings but they do help players prepare for the regular season. And you could argue that playing your star players sparingly during the four-game exhibition schedule increases the likelihood they will sustain serious injuries when the “real” games begin. Perhaps these players won’t be in game shape or totally in tune with the speed of the game once the regular season hits, which means they might not protect themselves as well during the “real” games as they otherwise might have if they had played a lot during the exhibition schedule.
Anyway, I hope Peterson or Allen don’t get hurt on Friday.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Hall of Famer
With Randall McDaniel being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame today, here's a nice little write-up on the big guy.
McDaniel becomes the seventh Viking player to have his bust fitted for Canton (Fran Tarkenton, Paul Krause, Gary Zimmerman, Ron Yary, Carl Eller and Alan Page are the others – and former GM Jim Finks and Bud Grant are also in there.)
With all the press Percy Harvin - selected 22nd overall in the 2009 draft – is getting in training camp, it's quite a contrast to the attention McDaniel got (which was none, from what I remember) after he was selected 19th overall in 1988. But that's probably the way McDaniel wanted it.
I hope Harvin can have half the career with the Vikings McDaniel had.
McDaniel becomes the seventh Viking player to have his bust fitted for Canton (Fran Tarkenton, Paul Krause, Gary Zimmerman, Ron Yary, Carl Eller and Alan Page are the others – and former GM Jim Finks and Bud Grant are also in there.)
With all the press Percy Harvin - selected 22nd overall in the 2009 draft – is getting in training camp, it's quite a contrast to the attention McDaniel got (which was none, from what I remember) after he was selected 19th overall in 1988. But that's probably the way McDaniel wanted it.
I hope Harvin can have half the career with the Vikings McDaniel had.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
One reason why it's better to play football in New York City than Minnesota
I'm slowly working on a post about the Vikes quarterback situation. But while I'm doing that, I notice Eli Manning became the highest paid player in the NFL today.
While he is 28, coming off his best year as a pro and has a Super Bowl ring, I don't think a guy with a career 76.1 QB rating and a completion percentage of 55.9 should be the highest paid player in the league. I can think of at least 10 other quarterbacks in the NFL I'd rather have than Manning (McNabb, Warner, Rodgers, Cutler, Brees and Romo in the NFC; brother Peyton, Brady, Roethlisberger and Palmer in the AFC) and that's without even really thinking about it. I know Manning plays eight games a year in windy Meadowlands yet that doesn't completely explain why he often looks like a solid. but not spectacular, player.
When you're a professional athlete, it's good to be in New York.
Other links
Percy Harvin's contract, which the NFL disapproved, has now been approved.
And Pat and Kevin Williams gets some good news (I think) regarding the Star Caps case.
While he is 28, coming off his best year as a pro and has a Super Bowl ring, I don't think a guy with a career 76.1 QB rating and a completion percentage of 55.9 should be the highest paid player in the league. I can think of at least 10 other quarterbacks in the NFL I'd rather have than Manning (McNabb, Warner, Rodgers, Cutler, Brees and Romo in the NFC; brother Peyton, Brady, Roethlisberger and Palmer in the AFC) and that's without even really thinking about it. I know Manning plays eight games a year in windy Meadowlands yet that doesn't completely explain why he often looks like a solid. but not spectacular, player.
When you're a professional athlete, it's good to be in New York.
Other links
Percy Harvin's contract, which the NFL disapproved, has now been approved.
And Pat and Kevin Williams gets some good news (I think) regarding the Star Caps case.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Signed
Percy Harvin is officially a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
No details of the contract have been released yet, other than it's a five-year deal, but it doesn't really matter what the details are. What matters is Harvin is expected in camp for Sunday's 3:30 p.m. practice. Here's hoping Harvin has the kind of impact on the Vikings offence that Adrian Peterson had in 2007 and Randy Moss had in 1998, as opposed to the kind of impact Troy Williamson had in 2005.
Of course, that impact will be largely determined by how well (or poorly) Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels play. So hold off on any offensive rookie of the year talk regarding Harvin. Until Jackson and Rosenfels prove otherwise, the Vikings quarterback position is still this team's albatross.
Update!
The National Football Post provides some details on Harvin's contract.
No details of the contract have been released yet, other than it's a five-year deal, but it doesn't really matter what the details are. What matters is Harvin is expected in camp for Sunday's 3:30 p.m. practice. Here's hoping Harvin has the kind of impact on the Vikings offence that Adrian Peterson had in 2007 and Randy Moss had in 1998, as opposed to the kind of impact Troy Williamson had in 2005.
Of course, that impact will be largely determined by how well (or poorly) Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels play. So hold off on any offensive rookie of the year talk regarding Harvin. Until Jackson and Rosenfels prove otherwise, the Vikings quarterback position is still this team's albatross.
Update!
The National Football Post provides some details on Harvin's contract.
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