Tag Archives: Minnesota Vikings
Next in line: 5 teams Los Angeles should court next
Yesterday it was announced that the Minnesota Vikings are staying in Minnesota for good. The Minnesota Legislator passed a Bill toward a new stadium and Vikings fans can now rejoice and celebrate the biggest win in Franchise history.
NFL mock draft 3.0: Trades, trades and more trades!
We are officially one week away from the 2012 NFL Draft and one week away from the complexity of the 2012 Season changing with every pick.
2012 NFL Draft: 5 teams who should trade with Vikings
The 2012 NFL Draft is just 16 days away and as we know the top two picks, what we don’t know is how the rest of the draft will shakeout. Right now it seems most around the NFL have a set order in how the draft is going to play out within the first several picks, but the Minnesota Vikings may look to throw a wrench into things as they are shopping the third overall pick.
Breaking: Sanchez wants out, Vikings interested?
The Jets continue to be the center of pre draft talk. They have already traded for Tim Tebow, and it was just a matter of time before Mark Sanchez requested a trade.
Teams who need to take advantage of Compensatory Picks
The NFL has announced the compensatory picks for the 2012 Draft, and now 32 extra picks were distributed to 23 different teams on Monday. For those who don’t know, Compensatory picks are handed out to teams based on the number of free agents lost and gained during Free Agency. The Oakland Raiders were the big winners as they didn’t have any picks in the first four rounds of the 2012 Draft.
2012 NFL mock draft: First round
After teasing you with my divisional mock draft tour, I now present to you the full 32 team first round mock. This will be the first of about 3 or 4 mock drafts I will do leading up to Thursday Night April 26th when the 2012 NFL Draft gets under way.
Spreading the Wealth: What Teams Could Adopt the Spread Offense in 2012
“Conventional knowledge” has always said that the spread offenses featured in the college game would never work in the NFL. However, the Denver Broncos, under Coach John Fox, proved different this year. The Broncos adopted the new system to better compliment quarterback Tim Tebow and ended up winning the AFC West and upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wildcard round of the playoffs this year. Make no mistake, there are other teams in the NFL that could excel by utilizing this new trend of offense, especially teams with quarterbacks that have had trouble adapting to the pro-style. Here are some teams that would not surprise anyone if they used this new offense in 2012.
Carolina Panthers
- Cam Newton greatly excelled in college and junior college running this scheme, and since he has already established himself as a threat both throwing and running the ball teams would be put into a sticky situation trying to defend him. Compliment that with the one-two punch of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart running the ball and Steve Smith outside could be lethal. One catch here is that they are a fan of the two tight end sets with Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen, so the spread could be used as a compliment to their already established offense.
Philadelphia Eagles
- This would be the perfect way to get the fans excited and light a spark underneath the offense. Not to mention that Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy would give defenses nightmares! Also, arguably their top receiver, Jeremy Maclin, had success in the system in college. Inadvertently, this would help out their defense too if they decide to stick with their hybrid-nickel scheme with three corners.
Cleveland Browns
- Considering that Colt McCoy and their suspected target in the draft, Robert Griffin III, both had success in college running the spread, the change would make sense. The hang up here is that Pat Shurmur was the offensive coordinator for Sam Bradford in St. Louis and insisted on running the pro-style. Also, new offensive coordinator Brad Childress is also an advocate for the more conventional offensive scheme. However, with an offense that has Greg Little as its top receiver and a running game that will most likely be without Peyton Hillis, creativity is necessary to have success in the AFC North.
New England Patriots
- When have we ever known Bill Belichick to not love new trends, especially when it condones spreading the ball around in the passing game! In no way do I suggest that they will completely scrap the offense they have featured this year, but with Bill O’Brien leaving for Penn State some minor changes could occur. The most likely replacement for O’Brien is former offensive coordinator and Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels. McDaniels is already on the Patriots’ staff and started to feature the spread last year with the Rams to help out Sam Bradford.
Minnesota Vikings
- This could be an interesting endeavor for the Vikings. Christian Ponder showed signs of being a solid starter in this league, but they greatly overworked Adrian Peterson to make the rookie quarterback’s transition easier. With the spread, it would help Ponder in the passing game, give Adrian Peterson less but more effective carries, and would be better suited to fully utilize the skill set of Percy Harvin. Either way, they need to find a way to limit Peterson’s carries and further Ponder’s fragile progression as a starter in the NFL.
Detroit Lions
- How scary could this be? The passing game would open up further for Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson while also making the running load easier for Jahvid Best. In games against high powered offenses, the Lions seem to convert to a pass-first scheme anyway.
Miami Dolphins
- This is very contingent of them not signing Peyton Manning, but if they decide to stick it out with Matt Moore or sign Matt Flynn this could be a good option. The main reason is because this team had success running the Wildcat in the past and now with personnel like Reggie Bush and Steve Slaton, if they re-sign him, they could run the legs off of teams. Also, with the development of Devone Bess and Brian Hartline alongside Brandon Marshall this offense could put up some serious numbers.
St Louis Rams
- Josh McDaniels tried to implement this offense last year but wasn’t very successful. New coach, Jeff Fisher might try the same moving forward to cater to quarterback Sam Bradford’s strengths. Surely, there will still be pro-style sets since Fisher is old school and favors a run-first offense, which is well-equipped with running backs Stephen Jackson and Cadillac Williams. However, in the modern game you need your quarterback to be productive and the spread would seem to be the answer.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Blaine Gabbert had a rough time showing any consistency in his rookie season, but coach Mike Mularkey is known for creating unique ways to get production out of his offenses. He will probably try to implement the same style of offense he featured in Atlanta, but considering the Jaguars biggest threat in the receiving game is tight end Marcedes Lewis they will have to effectively utilize the ground game. Also, Gabbert had success running the spread at the University of Missouri.
Steve Gross is a Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag and can be contacted at SGross@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com
Related articles
- Like Tebow, Patriots Sharpened Spread Offense at Florida (nytimes.com)
- Rams Hire Brian Schottenheimer (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- NFL Mock Draft: Predicting Landing Spots for Top Prospects (bleacherreport.com)
2012 NFL Mock Draft: Top 10 Picks
The 2012 NFL Draft Order is set, the only thing left is to order the remaining playoff teams and Draft season will be in full swing. The Indianapolis Colts won the Andrew Luck sweepstakes and hold the number one pick. It is guaranteed that they will be taking Andrew Luck to be Peyton Manning’s successor in Indianapolis. Jeff Fisher will have a tall task in St. Louis as he looks to be the next coach to take on the task of rebuilding the Rams, while Leslie Frazier’s first year in Minnesota didn’t quite go well. Mike Holmgren has the Cleveland Browns once again picking in the top ten but thanks to the trade with Atlanta, he will have an extra pick to help the Browns try to compete in the competitive AFC North. Meanwhile in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers are going from a ‘youngry’ Raheem Morris to a coach who has yet to be named and will look to turn Tampa back into the team who won ten games in 2010. From there, the Jaguars, Redskins, Panthers, Dolphins and Bills round out your Top Ten draft order heading into the off-season.
Plenty of teams inside the top ten who need a QB, and with Matt Barkley and Landry Jones returning that will throw a wrench into the plans for those teams. Will that cause teams to trade ahead of Cleveland, who would most certainly take Robert Griffin in order to take Griffin before he falls to Cleveland. Some are going to have new coaches while others will have new General Managers. So I present to you, a Mock Draft covering the Top ten teams and project who they could draft in April.
1. Indianapolis Colts- Andrew Luck QB Stanford: This is a no brainer right here, Luck is going to be the future of Indianapolis. The only question that remains is what happens to Peyton Manning, will he be traded or will he stay and tutor Luck for a year or two before giving way to the Andrew Luck Era.
2. St. Louis Rams- Matt Kalil OT USC: Jeff Fisher’s very first task as the Head Coach of the Rams should be ensuring Sam Bradford doesn’t catch the David Carr syndrome. They have tried to fix the offensive line but with no prevail, Matt Kalil is a Franchise Left Tackle who can come in and protect Bradford for the next decade or so.
3. Minnesota Vikings- Justin Blackmon WR Ok. State: In 1998 the Vikings said hello to Randy Moss who was drafted 22nd overall and became a star player right away. In 2012, the Vikings say hello to their new Randy Moss, Justin Blackmon. Christian Ponder needs a legit number one receiver and with Blackmon on board joining Adrian Peterson, the Vikings offense should be much better next year.
4. Cleveland Browns- Robert Griffin III QB Baylor: Colt McCoy right now is doing nothing to show he can be a franchise quarterback. He was drafted in the third round so the Browns don’t have much invested in him and with a rookie wage scale, they can afford to draft Griffin. Now the question will be, will Griffin finally stop the quarterback carousel in Cleveland and finally provide them a franchise quarterback.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Morris Claiborne CB LSU: Cornerback is the big issue for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers heading into the off-season. Ronde Barber will turn 37 before the Draft and is a Free Agent. Aquib Talib is one more offense away from being suspended from the league and has a court date in March, a month before the Draft. Claiborne is not only the best player available but he also fills a need. Tampa’s young defense gets better with the addition of Claiborne.
6. Washington Redskins- Alshon Jeffery WR South Carolina: To whomever will be the Redskins QB in 2012, I give you a present in the form of Alshon Jeffery. Now of course I do expect Washington to try to trade up for Robert Griffin but I don’t do trades this early. So assuming they stay at six, they get a weapon for either Grossman or Beck and whoever the franchise quarterback ends up being.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples DE UNC: Jacksonville loves drafting defensive lineman early and unfortunately they have drafted busts which leads to the more permanent fix in Coples. Coples has the perfect size, speed and athleticism to be a force for the Jaguars on defense. Coples ended the season with 7.5 sacks and in a division where you face Matt Schaub and Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck twice a year, you have to get to the Quarterback and Coples certainly will do that.
8. Miami Dolphins: Trent Richardson RB Alabama: This could be the first shocker here, but Richardson is the best player available here at eight. I know they drafted Daniel Thomas last year but with it being a two back league, Richardson can come in as the starter with Thomas and Bush taking over for Richardson on third downs or in goal line situations.
9. Carolina Panthers: Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama: The Panthers must work on their defense to make sure Newton doesn’t have to do everything. Carolina was ranked dead last against the pass and must do something to slow down other teams from beating them in the air. This is a good young team who I expect to be a playoff contender couple years down the line but must improve their defense in order to do so.
10. Buffalo Bills: Jonathon Martin OT Stanford: This is the best scenario for the Bills come Draft night. When the Bills suffered injuries to their offensive line and had to move players around, the offense suffered and so did Ryan Fitzpatrick. Demetrius Bell is not a franchise Left Tackle, while Jonathon Martin is. Martin can solidify the offensive line and ensure Ryan Fitzpatrick stays up right and the Bills can get back to the team who was 5-2.
Mike Presley is a NFL Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag. He is a graduate of the Carolina School of Broadcasting and hosts a weekly NFL show on the schools radio station 89.3 The Storm entitled “The Front Seven.” Mike also writes for the racing website www.hardcoreracefans.com. Follow him on Twitter @mikepresley64.
Related articles
ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com
- 2012 NFL Draft: Is RG3 the Right Fit for the Redskins? (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- Stanford Cardinal’s Luck Hasn’t Run Out Just Yet (college-sports-university.com)
- Justin Blackmon Sets Record and Prepares for NFL (college-sports-university.com)
- Colts Should Select Andrew Luck, Trade for RG3 (college-sports-university.com)
- STB’s Hottie of the Week: Brooklyn Winn (ShatterTheBackboard.com)
Excessive Celebration: 5 Over-the-Top NFL Touchdown Encores
The legendary Vince Lombardi is credited with saying when you get to the end zone act like you’ve been there before. He must be turning over in his grave with some of the off the wall touchdown celebrations that have occurred over the last decade. The latest came last Sunday as Buffalo Bills wide out Stevie Johnson was fined mocked New York Jets’ wide receiver Plaxico Burress’ accidental shooting of himself in the thigh back in 2008. Reports have surfaced that Johnson was fined $10,000 by the league for his excessive celebration. Where the NFL under Commissioner Roger Goodell can at times indeed be the No Fun League, some of these football players forget that they are professionals and instead choose to put on amateur side shows of sorts. Sure, some are funny and others harmless, but when is it cross the line and become too much? When is it time to act like you’ve been there before?
Here are five excessive end zone celebrations that have received fines throughout the past 10 seasons.
Wes Welker Makes a Snow Angel: Yes even the good guys can come up with a devil of a celebration. Late in the 2008 season the New England Patriots were playing the Arizona Cardinals in Foxborough. Snow was on the ground and it was typical New England weather for late December. As he has done many times in his career Wes Welker scored a touchdown. As he hasn’t done many times in his career Welker then laid out in the snow-covered end zone and began making a snow angel. Welker was fined $10,000 for his heavenly gesture.
Terrell Owens Autographs a Football: Throughout his NFL career Terrell Owens has been one of the more colorful performers when it comes to touchdown celebrations. In 2002 Owens pulled a sharpie out of his sock after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football. He autographed the game ball and handed it to his financial advisor. Owens was fined $20,000 for his Monday Night antics.
Randy Moss Moons Lambeau Field: Here’s a classic. 2004 playoffs, January, Lambeau Field, Vikings against Packers. After scoring a touchdown Randy Moss does a little celebration and then proceeds to stand in the end zone with his rear facing the crowd. In a “mooning” gesture, Moss pretends to pull his pants down as if he were exposing his rear to the stadium full of cheeseheads. Joe Buck immediately called Moss’ act disgusting. Moss later defended his actions by stating that he did it because Packer fans traditionally moon the opposing team’s bus when they pull into the stadium. For his mooning efforts Randy Moss was fined $10,000.
Chad Ochocinco Holds Sends the NFL a Message: This list wouldn’t be complete without Ochocinco being represented. Like Owens, Ochocinco is known to have some of the more colorful touchdown celebrations in the NFL. From putting the football with a pylon to proposing to a Bengals Cheerleader, fans never knew what to expect when it came to No. 85. Of all his celebrations the one that took it a bit too far was when he held up a sign after scoring a touchdown that read, “Dear NFL, please Don’t fine me again!” For his creativity Ochocinco was fined $10,000.
Joe Horn Makes a Phone Call: Wow…Of all the celebrations on this list this one takes the cake. Not only did it involve the most pre-staging but it also received the heftiest fine. In 2003 against the New York Giants Horn scored his second of what would become a four touchdown night and went to the upright of the goal post and pulled out a cell phone he had stashed from the padding. He then made a call to his kids. We’ve all heard of roaming charges but that had to be the most expensive phone call ever made as Horn was fined $30,000 dollars for dialing up the digits.
Aaron Moon is the CEO and a Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag. An active duty Navy Chief and avid writer, Aaron is a lifelong Bears’ fan who writes about his team from a critics’ point of view. You can contact Aaron on facebook or follow him on Twitter @DA_Bear_Truth. Contact Aaron directly by emailing him at amoon@thepenaltyflagblog.com.
Related articles
- Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco to Have Neighboring Lockers Again? (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- Move Over Brady, Welker Eyes His Own Records (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- Could Terrell Owens Help the Bears Contend for a Super Bowl? (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- No Interest In Owens, Bills Need to Check the Tape (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
Donovan McNabb to the Minnesota Vikings delayed by Brett Favre
NFL.com has reported that the Minnesota Vikings have traded with the Washington Redskins for QB Donovan McNabb.
What a difference a year makes for the now “journey man” Donovan McNabb, whose trip to Minnesota was put on hold due to an aging Brett Favre wanting to give it one more try.
