The Official Vikings Offseason Thread!

[zepman]

Well, the guys only 20 years old. Not even old enough to have a drink legally. Remember the kinds of things we all did when we were that age. He's been under a microscope since the age of 16...he's made some mistakes...big deal...he'll probably make some more before it's all said and done. As far as the things he did in high school...please, let's all move on from that...just seems like we're reaching for something there.

[FISHINGURU]

i agree totally...no need to dwell in the past with the kid it's all about the future now...if he messes up from this point its his own fault...he couldn't of fallen in a better opportunity to redeem himself...lets just hope he stays out of trouble i think he will..we have a good core of guys that will help out..he can learn from his own mistakes and from the advice of players on the team that have made thier own mistakes also.

i think he puffed some reefer because he was actually smart...i'd purposly fail a drug test to if i knew i had to go to any of them junk teams that drafted before us lol wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

way to trick them percy!!!!

[Scott K]

lol... YA I bet thats it.

[FISHINGURU]

good ol percy he's a sneaky trickster isn't he lol

[Born2Fish]

LOL!! That's some logic I have never thought of!

[pinkfloyd4ever]

as long as his arms are more powerful than any officers gun we got nothing to worry about, coincidentally, why have all the whizzinators sold out in MN the last week?

[FISHINGURU]

if percy stays healthy and out of trouble he'll be right in the running for offensive rookie of the year!!

[Sandmannd]

That might be pushing it a little with Rookie of the year, but I hope he does well.

[FISHINGURU]

it will all depend on who's the qb

[zepman]

He has just as good of shot as anyone. Him exploding on a few special teams returns would help his cause alot.

[FISHINGURU]

sooooooooooo....how good do you think percy would be with favre as our qb?

[Born2Fish]

I think with any QB Percy is going to do well. He is very elusive and I think can flourish in our offense.

[fishersofmen]

Yahoo did a piece on 6 playoff teams that wouldn't make it back and of course our team was on there..........Honestly nothing would surprise me with our club.

5. Minnesota Vikings

Once every few years, the Vikings are the trendy pick to get back to the Super Bowl.

Thirty-three years and counting, they've yet to deliver on the expectations.

This year, many will dub the Vikings as a potential Super Bowl team.

And for good reason. Adrian Peterson is the best running back in the game. The defense remains solid, especially against the run. Defensive end Jared Allen(notes) punctuates a great pass rush.

The biggest question mark—the passing game—could become an exclamation point if Brett Favre(notes) ends up becoming the quarterback.

With or without Favre, there's something about this team that just doesn't click. Plenty of their fans sense it, even if they won't admit it to themselves during the high-hopes phase of the calendar, when everyone is 0-0.

Frankly, it's the coach. And if the Vikings don't make it back to the playoffs in 2009, there will be a new one in Minnesota next year at this time.

[FISHINGURU]

everyone will be surprised how good our offense is with a better qb...we already have one better then what we had last year but maybe we'll have 2 better ones before the season starts!

[Rick]

Actually we may have three better ones than we had last year.

Even if we don't get Favre.

[FISHINGURU]

yup...sage, favre and an improved booty!

[Scott K]

The Vikings have Percy Harvin lining up all over the field during OTAs, as expected.

Harvin played slot receiver, returned punts and kickoffs and also took some snaps in the backfield. The first-rounder reportedly looked "every bit as fast and explosive as advertised." Even if he doesn't win a starting job, it will be hard to keep him off the field as a rookie.

Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

[FISHINGURU]

he should end up being a fun and exciting player...as of right now with our draft and FA included i'm most excited about percy!

[Scott K]

Vikings DT Pat Williams recently called out Tarvaris Jackson, telling the quarterback he has to "put in the time" to improve.

"This ain't college no more. This is the NFL. You have to put in more time than you are used to putting in," the veteran added. Williams' comments are especially noteworthy because Jackson has always enjoyed the support of the locker room even when his play left a lot to be desired. Jackson's abilities seemingly make him a longshot to start, but ESPN's John Clayton believes Jackson is actually the favorite because he has Brad Childress' support.

Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press

Related: Sage Rosenfels

Not looking good for OL T-Jack when your team is rippin on ya!

[Sandmannd]

Well they would know if he's working his tail off or not. If your lazy, you aren't going to get the backing of your team mates, especially pro-bowlers who work their tails off.

[FISHINGURU]

sage is gonna dominate him in this competition

[Sandmannd]

That doesn't say much. I think you could put my German Shepard out there and she would dominate him

[klecker]

The Lions will beat the vikes in week two.

[FISHINGURU]

think again little guy klecker...you must not of heard the news...woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP)—When the Minnesota Vikings made Percy Harvin(notes) their first-round draft pick last month, coach Brad Childress immediately asked his offensive coordinator about his plans.

Childress wanted to know how Darrell Bevell would use Harvin, the versatile wide receiver from Florida who will be counted on this season for his ability to catch, run and return kicks.

“As soon as we called his name out, he turned to me and said, ‘Where’s the list?’ Bevell recalled. “So he wanted it immediately.”

Bevell, speaking Saturday between Minnesota’s minicamp practices, said there are 20 or 30 plays in the scheme designed specifically for the fleet-footed Harvin, who was selected 22nd overall. Between 10 and 15 of those, Bevell said, were added to the playbook in the past month.

“We’re up there trying to diagram everything we can,” Bevell said. “We’re looking at things we can do. We’re looking at things other teams have done and trying to get the ball to our playmakers.”

That includes the single-wing formation, which Miami successfully used on the league last year. It starts with a direct snap to a running back and can feature motion in the backfield, fakes and other types of tricks. The Dolphins call theirs the “Wildcat,” but whatever the name the concept has caught on.

Harvin took some of those direct snaps during a series of plays the Vikings tested Saturday without a defense on the other side. Running back Chester Taylor(notes) and wide receiver Darius Reynaud(notes) are also being evaluated in that role.

“They just want me to learn multiple positions,” Harvin said. “We don’t know quite where I’m going to play right now. I’m just learning kind of a little bit of everything. I’m just working hard and whatever they need me to play, that’s what I’ll do.”

Harvin scored in every game for the Gators last year and averaged 9.55 yards per rush in his three years in college. He’s 5-foot-11, shorter than the standard NFL size for receivers, but he makes up for that with exceptional quickness and elusiveness.

Harvin caught plenty of deep balls in practices this weekend, but his best value to the Vikings might ultimately be the way he can keep defenses from focusing solely on All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson by diversifying an offense that has clearly been on the conservative side under Childress.

“Percy is a special athlete. Not only is he a good receiver, but he’s got a little bit of that tailback in him,” quarterback Sage Rosenfels(notes) said. “There is a lot of things that we can do with him, maybe get some mismatches.”

Florida used Harvin frequently for direct snaps.

“That is a lot of my versatility,” he said.

Peterson, for his part, was excited.

“There’s a couple new plays we’re throwing in there to see how it works out,” he said. “Some of them are looking pretty nice.”

The sight of Harvin’s speed was pretty nice to Peterson, too.

“I know that guy is exhausted, because I’m exhausted for him—all the running around he’s doing,” Peterson said. “He’s a tremendous athlete, and he has a lot of ability.”

Like any rookie, though, he has much to learn.

“He is very athletic, but in terms of mentally he has struggled a little bit,” Bevell said. “It’s not something that we didn’t expect, because we have really put a lot on his plate.”

[Born2Fish]

Nice! Glad to see that they might switch stuff up a little bit. I believe Harvin has a great year. I would almost have to say offensive ROY!