12 Days of Vikings Hype - Day 5

On the twelfth day of Vikings hype we took a look at Linval Hungry

On the eleventh day of Vikings hype we took a look at our QB

On the tenth day of Vikings hype we took a look at the defense

On the ninth day of Vikings hype we took a look a a trailer for the year

On the eighth day of Vikings hype we look at all three phases of the team

One week people!

On the seventh day of Vikings hype we looked backward and forward.

On the sixth day of Vikings hype we looked at a top player in the NFL.

On the fifth day of Vikings we take a look at the defense, again.

A Summer Summary

As I've traveled and enjoyed the Summer my attention to the sports scene has been diminished. That's far from a unique circumstance this time of year, but has been compounded by the fact that the Twins have been somewhere between abysmal and forgettable.

In addition to that, the addition I have put toward sports over the last week has been to prioritized the soon coming positivity.

Football is almost back folks. That is an annual fact that brings nothing but positive emotions. If not for the product on the field, for the hardcore fantasy football that can once again breath.

But I digress because this is not about football, at least not mostly.

12 Days of Vikings Hype - Day 6

On the twelfth day of Vikings hype we took a look at Linval Hungry

On the eleventh day of Vikings hype we took a look at our QB

On the tenth day of Vikings hype we took a look at the defense

On the ninth day of Vikings hype we took a look a a trailer for the year

On the eighth day of Vikings hype we look at all three phases of the team

One week people!

On the seventh day of Vikings hype we looked backward and forward.

12 Days of Vikings Hype - Day 7

On the twelfth day of Vikings hype we took a look at Linval Hungry

On the eleventh day of Vikings hype we took a look at our QB

On the tenth day of Vikings hype we took a look at the defense

On the ninth day of Vikings hype we took a look a a trailer for the year

On the eighth day of Vikings hype we highlight all three phases of the team

One week people!

On the seventh day of Vikings hype we look backward and forward at the same time.

12 Days of Vikings Hype - Day 8

On the twelfth day of Vikings hype we took a look at Linval Hungry

On the eleventh day of Vikings hype we took a look at our QB

On the tenth day of Vikings hype we took a look at the defense

On the ninth day of Vikings hype we took a look a a trailer for the year

Onward and forward we go!

On the eighth day of Vikings hype we highlight all three phases of the team

So here goes!

12 Days of Vikings Hype - Day 11

11 days

264 hours

15,840 minutes

Until the first Vikings Training Camp practice is scheduled to be underway.

I showed our big DT's flash yesterday and want to highlight another key member of the team, but this time on offense.

Take a look but be aware that this one is nearly 17 minutes long.

Thanks for coming by!

12 Days of Vikings Hype Videos - Day 12

If you aren't yet excited for the rapidly approaching NFL season then the videos I'm going to be incorporating over the next 12 days may not make a difference but since there are 12 days of Christmas, why can't there be at least 12 days of turning up the excitement level on the team?!

The order of the videos isn't intended to be a ranking, but I will try to do the best ones the nearer time comes to the opening of camp.

First up are a couple of videos about one of our beef eaters who, like others, is starting to get some national attention.

Fast Break

So there have been some big local news breaks over the past couple days but none of them merit a post alone so I'm gonna go with a quick wrap on everything.

• The Lynx are undefeated. 7 - 0 with more double digit wins then single digit victories. This is what champions do. Great job ladies!

• Rumor has it the Timberwolves will pursue Joakim Noah from the Bulls. That's not especially surprising since he played very well under Thibs during the Bulls recent run of success. I'm not sure he has longevity or athleticism to merit a starting roll type contract for the pups but his experience will probably deride that to some degree if he signs here.

• A few days ago Vegas put out odds on every NBA's team chance to win the 2017 championship. The local five were eleventh. A team that hasn't made the playoffs since I was frosh in high school is in the top 11!!!! There are only four Western Conference teams above them. It's unbelievable! Fairness in facts, they're tied with three other West teams so as not to mislead. Do I think they're a contender? No. But Vegas gets these things wrong so rarely. Even they're putting money on our squad making the playoffs!

A draft recap

As we continue to grind the through the weeks until Football is back I think it may be a good time to take a look back at one of the Vikings recent drafts and break down each pick. It takes a few years to have a real idea of what a team has gained or failed to do so, as has often been the case, so I'm going to take a look at the 2013 draft tonight.

I wish I could be positive about the class as a whole but it was not nearly as good as some of the drafts that have happened since and I want to be objective

Well let's begin, shall we?

Flash off

Option day has come and from what I can tell, the right decisions have been made.

Xavier Rhodes and Shariff Floyd had their 5th year contract options picked up by the Vikings. Their first round running mate, Cordarelle Patterson did not.

So CP - "Flash" - is now in a contract year.

I despise contract year players. So many times players break out in a big way in the last year of their contracts. It happens in the NBA & NFL on a nearly yearly basis.

The only ones who deserve big contract extensions or contracts with other teams are those who have multiple years of high level production. Or just consistent levels of productivity.

That does not include the aforementioned Flash Patterson.

Maybe he'll have a spectacular year. Which I can only imagine would mean great things for the entire team but flash off.

I don't want him on the Vikings next season. Not as a kick returner. Not as a "wide receiver".

Go away CP, just flash off.

Super 7

I've hit on this a little bit in the last few days but things keep progressing and it's very noteworthy.
Newsflash: The NFL draft was this weekend.

With the second pick in the draft Carson Wentz was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles. It's been discussed ad nauseam so I'm going to leave it at that.

In the fifth round his left tackle Joe Haeg got snatched by the Indianapolis Colts.

Like I said, I've covered this stuff in the past few days but there is new information that ought to be relayed.

After

Peace Garden Stars

Congratulations to all the young men joining the NFL this weekend!

So much of the focus goes toward the first round picks, and rightly so considering the ascribed value of those picks. But that's only 32 or in this case 31 of the 250+ to be selected before Saturday is done.

Likewise, so much of the attention this year has gone toward Carson Wentz. It's been said and will be said again that a North Dakota boy is almost assured to never reach the height that he did. But he isn't the first and won't be the last.

Two years ago, Billy Turner was drafted by the Miami Dolphins. Then Marcus Williams went to the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent.

Last year Kyle Emanuel was selected by the San Diego Chargers. Also, John Crockett joined the Green Bay Packers.

This year Carson Wentz was the #2 overall pick. Then in the fifth round Connor McGovern and Joe Haeg were both selected.

Two years ago people may have thought it was a mirage. A rare instance. Then it happened again last year and now all the action this year. But this year may be the most special of the three. Find out why after this.

Vikings Draft recap - round 1

The Tread is on the tires.
The Well is surely full.

We got the man I wanted all along. Laquon Treadwell is a Minnesota Viking.

I think I just heard someone say "Super Bowl home boi." Oh wait, that was just in my head.

The rounds not done and I'm hoping that GM Spielman can find a way to get back into the first round but if not it's already a success.

Prisoner of the moment, looking at it within minutes of the pick I'm giving it an A+.

14 - 2 just got a little bit more likely & we didn't even have to give up four picks to get him...

If anything else happens or comes to mind it'll be below the fold!

Vikings draft - stage 4

We're a few minutes under 8 days to the draft. I've gone through the bottom six picks and finally have gotten to the second round.

That has been plenty of action by other teams but none yet by the Purple. Getting into the top of the draft there are more potential fits then guys who could be excluded. I've already repeatedly noted the areas which could use attention, and will do so again next Thursday pre draft before my make my prediction of the first round but I think now is the right time to firmly eliminate some positions.

Running back
With the Texan Terminator still at the top of the position I don't think a running back needs to be added at all during this draft and especially not in the top rounds. As others have already identified, running back is one, if not the only position where there are more capable players then there are starting positions in the league. So maybe bringing one in as an URFA would bare dividends for the team down the road but not with the 8 picks currently in possession.

Vikings Draft - Stage 3

Well we've reached rounds 4 and 3 now.

As a recap, through the rounds I've already addressed I have the Vikings picking a Defensive Lineman, Wide Receiver, Cornerback and Offensive Lineman. The team needs that I still think they could benefit from addressing through the earlier picks are Linebacker, Safety, Wide Receiver with new additions being Punter and Quarterback.

Before you start yelling at the computer or in your head let me explain a bit.

I like Teddy. I think he has enough ability to win the super bowl but I don't want the Purple to refuse to strengthen the position if it sees a guy worth taking at the pick that they have, possibly even up in the first round. But no spoilers, so don't automatically assume that's the direction I'm going to go when draft day comes around and I address round 1.

As far as punter goes, I didn't address it in the early rounds and I don't want to be drafted at all. Jeff Locke is not the answer for the position but it absolutely needs to be a position that is included in the rookie free agent class. To this point and after this I don't want to a list any particular player but there's a local angle that would fit the need - Ben Lecompte. He won't be drafted because he's a punter from NDSU but he was one of, if not the best punter in the country last year regardless of division. I want the best for the team so hopefully they bring in him or someone else to compete and beat out JL.

Now onto pick talk