Trade Him!!

The photo to the right shows a player who exemplifies the defensive backfield the Vikings have had for many years.  This year it looked like we may have a pretty good secondary. 

Enter...Josh Robinson.  In my opinion, the worst defensive back the Vikings have on the roster.  Today, he gave up play after play and even a couple of touchdowns.  Granted, the Chicago receivers are bigger than he is, but that is true of most receivers against defensive backs.  If the Vikings hope to keep from being beaten through the air game after game, they need to bench this guy or trade him away.

When Fantasy and Reality Collide

This year is the first year I have participated in a real fantasy football league.  I have had to learn all the nuances of how to draft, when to bench someone, when to trade, etc.  The hardest part to deal with has been putting team loyalties aside and drafting players I either dislike or from teams I don't like.

One such player was Drew Brees.  I have not cared for the Saints since their dirty-playing defeat of the Vikings in 2009 in the NFC Championship game.  I thought of Aaron Rogers, but could not stomach drafting a Cheesehead.  So, I settled on Brees, a player I knew could get me some points.  I also grabbed the Chicago defense and a player off the Packers (Cedric Benson until he got hurt). Selena has continuously told me that I have to put my real life loyalties aside and pick players who will score me points.

While trying to follow my wonderful wife's advice, I still picked up a couple of Vikings who have done quite well for me.  Thankfully, Kyle Rudolph is a favorite target of Christian Ponders, so he is my TE and has done quite well for me.  I also grabbed Chad Greenway, my only true loyalty pick.  He is a South Dakota boy, I have his jersey, and a Viking.   That is a great combination.  Plus, he is doing well and getting me good poihts.

Then comes the first Vikings' game I am able to watch on TV.  Vikings Vs. Redskins.  My fantasy match up for the week is against a co-worker who has Harvin and Walsh on his team.  For this game I have Rudolph, Greenway, and the Minnesota Defense.  So while I am cheering for my real-life team to win, I need Harvin to have a poor statistical day for Fantasy purposes.  My disloyalty to my real-life team was punished by me taking a drubbing with my fantasy team.  The loss I took was the largest point spread in our 6-team league so far this year.

I have learned a lot this year about fantasy football, but I don't think I will ever get used to having players on my team that I don't like in real life.

Work Him Hard Jared!

It sounds like Jared Allen is working our rookie offensive left tackle, Matt Kalil, pretty hard.  If anyone can make this kid the best he can be, it's Allen.  After going against him, everything else should be easy.

It is nice to see that we finally have an offseason that we can watch our teams develop and build our excitement for the year to start.  I know the Vikings are in a "rebuilding" year, but I still hope to see us do well.  It shouldn't be too hard to improve on 3-13.  Even if all we get is better play from the secondary we could win another two or three games.  They were horendous last year.  But then again, we have had many years of bad defensive backs.

Wouldn't it be simply awesome to see Ponder set the NFL on fire and have our new receivers tear up the endzones?  I know, I know...wishful thinking.  But hey, after all, I AM a Vikings fan!!!!

Karma Sucks, Doesn't it Payton?

Ever since the early part of the 2009 NFC Championship Game I was saying that it looked like the Saints were trying to hurt Favre.  The number of late hits and cheap shots was far beyond what could have simply been championship game excitement.  After the shot pictured here, where Favre's ankle was crushed, I had an immediate dislike for Sean Payton.  I had heard that he had commented that they would take out Favre.  Now, it seems he was taken out instead.

When Payton got hit on the sidelines last year and hurt his knee, I felt a small sense of justice being dealt.  Now that he has been suspended for one year for his bounty program, all is good in the NFL world.  I have disliked the Saints ever since that day, now without him as their coach I can at least tolerate them this year.

All this won't get our game back, but it is nice to know that what I had been screaming at my TV that night was actually what was going on.

Enjoy your time off, Payton.  I know I will enjoy not seeing you on the sidelines for a year.

What to do? What to do?

Draft day is coming soon and the Vikings still don't know where they are going to play next year.  Why do our off seasons always have to be so stressful?

To me, the Vikings couldn't have enough draft picks to fix all the holes they have on that team.  On offense, I would keep AP, Ponder, Harvin, Sullivan, and our Tight Ends.  On Defense I would keep Allen, Greenway, and fire everyone else!  Why can't we seem to find a defensive back who can play worth a crap?

I really think Ponder will be a good quarterback, maybe even exceptional, if we can give him the time to make those decisions and throws that he obviously has the talent to make.  When you give a quarterback just enough time to get away from center and then he is getting chased, you can't expect him to do anything for you.  He showed he  has the talent.

In free agency there are a couple of people we definitely need to stay away from.  One is Randy Moss, who plans on coming out of retirement.  I don't think the Vikings are dumb enough for that one again.  We also have no need for another Manning on the team.  Granted, this one is tons more talented than the last one we had, but he is damaged goods that, in my opinion, is a fool if he comes back to play.  I have heard Chester Taylor is available again.  We should have never let him go.  I say go get him back.  We could use that 3rd down threat again.

As always, I hold out hope that we will have a good season.  After last year, we really can't go much further down.  This year we have a full off season, so it should be better.  I will settle for a winning season this year.  I won't hold my breath for any sort of a title...not even a division one.

Oh the Shame....

It is not very often that I am able to watch a Minnesota Vikings game on TV out here on the East Coast, and this is one that I wished I hadn't been able to as well.

I don't think I can find one positive in this game, unless you consider Jared Allen adding to his sack total.  But personal accomplishments often fade behind a L in the W-L column.

The backfield had more green and gold in it than Purple and White.  Any and every time Ponder went back to pass, he was unable to take enough time to really read the field and then make a pass that was even close to being comfortable and not rushed.  Our offensive line is just that...offensive!  Loadholt barely had time to slap Clay Matthews on the butt as he sped past him to get in Ponder's face.  When Matthews is allowed to practically take the hand off FOR Peterson, you know he isn't being touched.  I can only imagine what McNabb was saying under his breath during the game.  Maybe, "Damn!  I am glad that ain't me getting pounded out there".  If it wasn't for Ponder's quickness and youth, he would probably be hurt right now.

Our defensive secondary, which has been our weakness for years, is now so abysmal that any team that even uses their running back against us is simply keeping their quarterback from throwing out his arm.  I saw some of the poorest coverage ever from NFL players and when they did get hold of a guy, it was briefly and usually by accident!  All I could see was a bunch of overpaid, under performing defensive backs.  I would trade them all for a Woodson...even half a Woodson.

 We don't have enough draft picks next year to do what we need to do to fix the problems.  I would hate to be Studwell this year trying to prioritize the "needs".  They are ALL needs.  I think we are safe at kicker, QB, running back, and punter.  Everything else is a need.  All I ask is that the pain that is this season goes away and maybe next year we can get our respect back.

Are the Politicians Listening?

I usually start my day off looking at the Viking Update website to see what is happening with the only important NFL Team in my world.  For those of you unfamiliar with the site, it morphed from what was a little weekly newspaper to a monthly magazine and an Internet site...all for $99/year.

Today, as I was looking at the "Forums" section, I saw a question posted by a member that read, "Who is your backup team if Vikes leave?"

I have thought of that a few times and thought maybe the Redskins, since they are local to where I am and I would be able to watch them regularly.  But I don't really like them that much.  Do I go extreme and cheer for the Packers out of animosity for the team leaving?  I don't think so...

After reading many of the remarks that stated that football life without the "Minnesota" Vikings just wouldn't be the same, I think I agree with the majority who said they would probably continue to watch the NFL because of a love for football, but not have a favorite team.  As one poster put it...as he discussed possibly following the Bears since he lives in Chicago...

"What sucks for me is that the Vikes are the ONLY team in any sport that I would call myself a true fan.  A true die hard.  Most of you know what I am talking about.  The one team where I will get a huge pit in my stomach when the lose or when the season ends.  The only team I will follow on sites like this on nearly a daily basis.  A true die hard.

I can grow to become a fan of another team like the Bears.  But the truth is, when they lose, I won't REALLY care.  I won't have that empty feeling anymore.  That is what hurts the most because it can't be replaced."

I think that about sums up how I feel about it too.  If the politicians in Minnesota saw this thread, and many like it that I have read, they would see that Minnesotans really don't want to lose the Vikings.  Most will complain about new taxes but will gladly pay it too keep them.  A politician that votes a tax to keep the Vikings will have a chance for reelection.  A politician that casts a vote that causes the Vikings to pack there bags and move to a new home...will not.


Full Forum thread:  Viking Update Forum Question