The Official Minnesota Vikings 2013 Thread!!

[Getanet]

You're not getting the motherload for AP. He's not "young" by NFL standards, has a HUGE contract, and the NFL clearly isn't a run-first league anymore.

NFL GMs put way more stock in draft picks than players these days.

[FISHINGURU]

Yaaaaaawn, I've heard that one before. The guy just almost broke the all time rushing record last season, he has plenty of tread left it's just a waste he's using it on this squad.

I guarantee if we put him on the block we would get more then 1 first round pick.

[hockeybc69]

Can anyone say the next Herschel Walker trade?

the Cowboys traded Walker to the Minnesota Vikings for a total of five players (LB Jesse Solomon, DB Issiac Holt, RB Darrin Nelson, LB David Howard, DE Alex Stewart) and six draft picks (which led to Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, Kevin Smith, and Darren Woodson). This was claimed to be a turning point in the rise of the Cowboys to the NFL's top echelon.

[FISHINGURU]

No No, that's not how it went down that's just your imagination. Here's the real story.

On the twentieth anniversary of the team’s first Super Bowl victory, members of the Minnesota Vikings 1990s dynasty looked back on the infamous “Trade-That-Almost-Was:” a proposed blockbuster deal that would have sent Dallas RB Herschel Walker to the Vikings in exchange for a bounty of draft picks.

“Oh man, you should have HEARD the price they were asking,” laughed Jerry Burns, the Hall of Fame coach who led the Vikes to three of their five titles during an unprecedented eight year span from 1990-1998. “I mean, three first round picks? Plus a bunch of seconds and thirds. For one guy? What are we, morons? Of course we told them to take a hike.”

“Do you realize that, if we’d made that deal, we never would have drafted Emmitt Smith?” seconded QB Rich Gannon, MVP of Super Bowl XXVII. “I mean, Emmitt propelled us to all those titles in the 90's. I don’t know where we would’ve been without him, but I’m sure glad he’s always going to be remembered as a Viking.”

While the laughably one-sided trade is now legendary, few remember the details: then Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, along with former head coach Jimmy Johnson, proposed the trade to Minnesota in an apparently desperate attempt to revive their struggling franchise. Jones and Johnson tried to convince Mike Lynn, the Vikings’ deceased former GM, that his team was just one player away from a championship, and that a swap of Walker in exchange for a massive amount of high draft picks, would be in both teams’ best interests.

The Vikings, of course, rejected such a ludicrous offer, and went on to enjoy unparelled succes for the next decade while the Cowboys continued to wallow in sub-mediocrity. Johnson retired in disgrace after Dallas’ second consecutive 1-15 season in 1990, and Jones sold the team at a substantial loss three years later before declaring personal bankruptcy in 1995.

“I’m just so glad things worked out the way they did,” said Darren Woodson, the six time pro bowl safety acquired by Minnesota with one of the several draft choices they preserved by not executing the trade. To have been here with the Vikings through all those wins, all those championships. It was really special. I don’t even want to think about what might have happened if management had pulled the trigger on that deal. Thank goodness they knew what they were doing.”

[Musky Buck]

We're a mess plain and simple once again. A playoff team a year ago thanks to Blair Walsh, we didn't get him into the best range, but Longwell would've been a disaster over 50 yards and with 0 touchback ability, remember our awesome kickoff coverage the years before, then AP got it really going. We added some talent to that team but losing to Cleveland at home, home opener with everyone fairly healthy is a disaster. This London game couldn't have happened at a more perfect time. Good thing we protected CP through the pre-season, he should've played every snap, now we hope Cassel or the 2 name guy can right the ugly norse ship, like the twins can we get at least to the all-star break and sorta be in the mix a touch. Big Ben to deal with, we should have sack city in London, he don't move real well and is a big easy target, I like how Paul Allen says I guess we're trying to get pressure with just our front 4. If we can't and we haven't our secondary is just toast.

[FISHINGURU]

Big Ben to deal with, we should have sack city in London, he don't move real well and is a big easy target

Big Ben might be big but he's far from an easy target, he extends plays allowing his wr's to get open to make the big play downfield.

I can see him buying some extra time against our rush and slashing us with his TE's and WR's.

[zepman]

I'd disagree that the Vikes are a mess. Whe're one decent QB away from being 3-0 or 2-1.

If we were getting beat 28-0 or blown out of any of our first three games that would be different...that hasn't been the case.

[pikestabber]

I'd disagree that the Vikes are a mess. Whe're one decent QB away from being 3-0 or 2-1.

If we were getting beat 28-0 or blown out of any of our first three games that would be different...that hasn't been the case.

I agree we would be 3-0 or at least 2-1 with just a few tweaks. It's all been about TOs. If we hold onto the ball we are most definitely 3-0. We've scored plenty of points, believe it or not (we rank 7th in total points scored). The six teams above us in that category are a combined 14-4! How many points would we have scored with even a serviceable QB? That said, it's the secondary that has me more concerned than Ponder at this point, and that is saying a lot.

[hockeybc69]

Quote:

it's the secondary that has me more concerned than Ponder at this point, and that is saying a lot.

And that's why I am starting Antonio Brown on my FFL this weekend.

Ben is gonna eat em up bad.

[FISHINGURU]

And that's why I am starting Antonio Brown on my FFL this weekend.

Ben is gonna eat em up bad.

Yep, Heath Miller wouldn't be a bad start either, TE's always gash us.

[schmitty3]

Our defense definitely is giving up too much points, but they are also setting up the offense nicely to put points on the board with all the turnovers they have generated.

[Shack]

Another week and another game.

Can someone answer me why we are playing in London? We play today right? What time and channel?

[fishersofmen]

Noon here I believe channel 4. Think it will be 6 in London....

[Shack]

Ok. Figured out time and channel. Noon on CBS is what I found. I assume the reason we are playing in London today is because of some kind of NFL International expansion?

[Shack]

Thanks fishersofmen.

That's what I got also.

[BuckSutherland]

Gee, imagine that, the QB isn't the worst player on the field and we come away with a win.

Couple important stats. Matt Cassel 11 for 11 to finish the game. Matt Cassel 0 turnovers. Matt Cassel 1-0

Funny how we got someone in there to play QB and the O-line all of a sudden gets better. Looked like a good balance of run and pass.

The problem the whole time has been PONDER!!

[PurpleFloyd]

Gee, imagine that, the QB isn't the worst player on the field and we come away with a win.

Couple important stats. Matt Cassel 11 for 11 to finish the game. Matt Cassel 0 turnovers. Matt Cassel 1-0

Funny how we got someone in there to play QB and the O-line all of a sudden gets better. Looked like a good balance of run and pass.

The problem the whole time has been PONDER!!

Still time to get rid of JA?

[BuckSutherland]

and his $20 million salary???? HeII yes!!! I could have gotten those sacks. He was going against possibly the worst LT in all of FB. Sure like the one where the guy stood up and let Allen play patty-cake with him and then walk around him.

If E griffen was in there he might have had 5 sacks. We could have afforded 5 A Winfield if we didn't have Allens bloated salary.

[Shack]

Well thank gosh that monkey is off our back. Wonder if the London field and atmosphere had something to do with it.

[greebs]

was good to see that a different qb at least gives them a chance against poor teams. the defense still is very shaky to give up that many points to a bad steeler team. think it goes to show that unless you are talking a Manning type qb, then this team is more than a qb away from being amongst the elite.

[RumRiverRat]

It is still Ponder's job according to our terrible head coach.

[FISHINGURU]

It sure would be nice to have an elite QB, today's passing attack was more fun to watch because it went from horrid to mediocre, can you imagine going from mediocre to good lol

[Shack]

It sure would be nice to have an elite QB, today's passing attack was more fun to watch because it went from horrid to mediocre, can you imagine going from mediocre to good lol

Lol. Too true. Could one even fathom going straight to "Great".

[Scott K]

Quote:

Vikings signed DE Brian Robison to a four-year contract extension.

Robison was set to hit unrestricted free agency after this season. Instead, the Vikings lock up their quietly productive left end. Robison started 31 games between 2011-12, compiling 16.5 sacks, 81 tackles and seven batted passes. So far this year, he's graded out as ProFootballFocus' No. 13 4-3 end out of 49 qualifiers.

[Scott K]

Quote:

Vikings DE Everson Griffen says the team has offered him a contract extension but it "wasn't in the ballpark."

Griffen, 25, is in the final year of his rookie contract. LE Brian Robison signed a new four-year deal Wednesday, and Griffen would seem to be the next guy in line for a new contract. With Jared Allen seeming unlikely to re-sign with the Vikings after the season, Griffen could be asked to start opposite Robison in 2014. He's going to need a contract first. Griffen has amassed 13 sacks over the last two-plus seasons. The two sides are still talking, Griffen confirmed.