NFL Rules on McKinnie

On Friday, the NFL gave Bryant McKinnie his sentence with the charges stemming from a street brawl outside a Miami nightclub in February. The NFL suspends McKinnie the first 4 games without pay Friday for violating the league's personal conduct policy.This ends McKinnie's 87 staraight starts.With the happening, Artis Hicks is expected to take the LT position during this time. Tavaris Jackson is in his make or break season. Jackson remains a question mark at quarterback, and -- though coach Brad Childress has said repeatedly over the past few months he couldn't be concerned about the possibility of punishment for McKinnie -- this was a discouraging development for this team 10 days before the season opener.

You're Benched

For the 4th and final preseason game, the Vikes have decided to sit all the starters on the offense and defense. The reason being because so the coaching staff can get a closer look at some players they are not that sure about. The Vikes are sitting Jackson and Gus, so the battle for the 3rd string job will be decided tonight playing the Cowboys between Brooks Bollinger and John David Booty. I will say i have been a fan of Brooks since his college days. I do not see him making the 53 man roster.Booty is a rookie but I believe has more to offer the team. It will be interesting who the coaches feel that fit into the Vikings scheme more than others. I hope that everyone enjoys the game tonight.

Where is the Offense

With the third preseason game in the books. Vikes lose to the Steelers 12-10. It just leaves me more questions than answers for one. I know that our #1ish QB was on the sideline playing it save and our backup Gus Frerotte was getting his reps.Aftering seeing his performance tonight I can see why T-Jack has an edge on him. Rice and Berrian were also out of the contest. The line did not show up for the offense tonight that was certainly proven tonight.With Gus under a tremendous most of the time he was in there. The line could not open up holes for AD or Taylor much of the night. Childress wanted to run the ball, that was a lost cause with the 1-2 punch averaging about 2 yards a carry. The Vikings rushed 12 times for a mere 17 yards in the first half; the offensive line was called for three false start penalties on the first series.What the hell is this going to do with the Vikes a couple of weeks from the real deal. The OL needs to mold together soon.

I was glad to see that our D was in the backfield more the Big Ben was tonight. The Vikings kept the pressure on Big Ben, surrounded Willie Parker and held Pittsburgh's starting offense to three points.Ray Edwards and Kevin Williams had consecutive sacks in the second quarter, the series before Williams ran down rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall and forced a fumble that Tyrell Johnson recovered near midfield.I was impressed on how the Vikes D played tonight. I was a loss but it is only preseason right now and the coaches are trying to get a feel if certain players are going to fit in their scheme of things this season.

It is only an MCL sprain

In the preseason game against the Ravens Saturday night, Tarvaris Jackson was originally diagnosed with a knee bruise, but it is a little worse than that. After most in depth testing , it is said to be a sprained MCL. Now with this happening, T-Jack will more than likely miss the next 2 preseason games. The third game, it usually the most important one for the starters it is there dressed rehearsal game. With this happening to T-Jack it looks like backup Gus Frerotte will be get the reps that T-Jack needs to get with the starters. That is unless, Chilly thinks he has had enough reps.

Madieu Williams Injured

Madieu Williams could miss much as six weeks, because of a neck injury. With Williams being one of the BIG acquisitions that the Vikes made this past offseason. He was a vet to be opposite of Darren Sharper after the Vikes released Dwight Smith. The Vikes spend $33 million, six-year contract with nearly $13 million in guarantees last March. It is not released as of yet to what type of a neck injury that Willaims may have. In Fridays game, it was classified as neck spasms.

As of right now, rookie Tyrell Johnson, the Vikings' top pick in last April's draft, started in place of Williams on Friday and figures to move into that role.

Preseason week #1 Seattle 34 Vikes 17

I know you cannot look too much into this game. It is only the first preseason for crying out loud. There were up and down with game. It was an ugly game as a Viking fan let us just leave it at that.The Vikes turned the ball over 5 times(4 fumbles, 1 int), it lead to 20 Seahawk points.

The Vikes came out throwing:
So start off with is Tarvaris Jackson was of course the center of attention and he put up decent numbers: 8-11/118 yards/1 TD. He is looking better already than he did the beginning of last season. In which makes the Beloved Purple worry a little bit less.

The starting receiving corps that we upgraded this past season look impressive in the game. Bernard Berrian nearly had a TD grab from T-Jack, but tripping going out of bounds before getting in. Sidney Rice bulked up this past offseason will be a great #2 receiver for the Vikes this season.Thomas Tapeh made a triumphant return to the Dome by scoring a TD on a pass from Tarvaris Jackson.

With the Vikes used AD only a decoy in the first preseason game. I believe he was on the field for about 3 plays then he had the rest of the night off.Maurice Hicks led the Vikes with 32 yards on 7 carries. Chester Taylor had the lone rushing touchdown.

Jared Allen was explosive off the line is going to be fun to watch considering that we was lineup against one of the best OT in the league right now in Walter Jones.He was in the Seattle backfield quite often.The rest defense did not look like what they were advertised that is for damn sure(closing my eyes). It was not the whole group of #1s Pat Williams and Madieu Williams were gametime scratches from the lineup. Leslie Frazier played a relaxed defense with limited blitzing and whatnot. Seneca Wallce ripped through the Vikes most of the night did not really matter what string was out there.It is never a good feeling getting beat 34-17.Lets hope that the Vikes step it up come Week 1 in the regular season.

Some Side notes:
LB Heath Farwell and DE Jayme Mitchell tore ACLs in Friday night's loss to Seattle and are done for the 2008 season. This a good reason why coach are not fond of the preseason. Look at how many players are on the shelf for the season with one week in the books.

Next Saturday the Vikes visit the Ravens in Baltimore for Preseason game two.

Divorce Finalized

On Wednesday night, the Packers and the Jets finalized a deal to send Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre to NY for a draft pick.Here it is according to the NFL Network, if Favre takes 50 percent of total snaps with the Jets in 2008, the fourth-rounder becomes a third-round pick. If he gets 70 percent of the snaps and the Jets make the playoffs, it becomes a second-round pick; and if he gets 80 percent of snaps and the Jets make the Super Bowl, it becomes a first-round pick.Brett is a Jet.

After I heard this I was like holy shit. The soap opera is over, it is going to be wierd with no new twist in the Favre-Thomson drama. I cannot believe that no more Favre in Green Bay. He is still in Green. I am going to say I am going to miss him even though I am not a Packer fan. He was an exciting player to watch. Everytime that he had the ball, I was on pins and needles wondering if he was going to nail a long reception her for a TD.I am kinda glad we do not have to face him 2x a year any more..sweet.

Randle honored

John Randle is going to be honored on November 30th game hosting the Bears. He is going to be the 17th member of the Ring of Honor. He has the most sacks as a Defensive Tackle(5th overall). Here is how everything starts for Randle:
Signed by the Vikings as an undrafted rookie free agent from Division II Texas A&I in 1990, Randle led or tied for the team lead in sacks in nine of his 11 seasons with the Vikings. His 114 career sacks rank third in team history and are the most by a defensive tackle. He earned starting spots in six consecutive Pro Bowls (1993-98). Pretty good for a guy who was signed as a rookie free agent.

He is the lone reason that I ever became a Viking fan. I loved the way he played with the intersity on every play and every down of the game.Congrats goes the John Randle

Vikings Cleared

The announcement came yesterday from the the Comish that the Vikes did not violate the any tampering charges. It looks like that Ted Thompson jumped thw gun with these tampering charges that he claims were inappropriate between Farve and the Vikes. i believe that that the Pack is trying to make the Vikes look like the Pats of 2007. With the move I have a nice pick for Thompson and what I think of these ridiculous claims of tampering. In his letter to both teams, the Comish said that, "while those involved acknowledged conversations between Brett Favre and Vikings coaches, none of those conversations suggest that Favre was soliciting a job or that other teams were soliciting his services.

On a side notes with what the Pack is doing about Favre McCarthy was suppose to hold a conference last night, but I guess the "meeting" between the two sides when longer than expected. I believe that they love seeing Packer fans wonder what the hell are going to do already it have been a month now.

The Vikes So Far

Besides having the Favre distraction all over the NFL for the past month, I for one am getting a little fed up with this my word. All I have to say is this retire or don't.

With T-Jack entering his second year as the starter he is looking much better than he did last season. He will complete some pretty nice passes then he throws an occasional interception.What do you really expect of a guy going against one of the best defenses in the league.According to the Pioneer Press, he look good against the Chiefs in the night scrimmage.

The Viking starting running back has set his goals high this season. AD says he is comfortable with the offense and feels like a more complete back, capable of playing on every down. He spent the offseason gaining a better understanding of blocking schemes and protections. He's also worked on being a more patient runner, allowing his linemen to set up their blocks rather than always looking for the big play. I am glad to hear that he is learning to be a more patient runner because some of the games he was in a hurry to hit the home run but he waa takles for a loss and such.It will be interesting to see AD this year.

Benard Berrian has been shown that he is the clearly the number one reciever for this Vikings team this year. He has been working with T-Jack in the offseason to work on chemistry.The 32 reciever between is going to be an interesting one with Sidney Rice and Bobby Wadw. I think that Rice has the edge with the hands and speed.

The defense is showing that they will be a force to be reckoned with this year. They are set in the front 7 the starters are known already. The secondary is the department that every fan has been wondering about for the past couple of season. I hope that they will be able to defend against the pass this year.

Overall, the Vikes are looking great in camp thus far.There is no doubt the moves they made wil pay off this season.