Minnesota Vikings

Over at the National Football League's site for the United Kingdom, one of their reporters spent the last week visiting three of the four teams that will be making the trip to Wembley Stadium this upcoming season. After the now-requisite "Holy crap, Adrian Peterson's handshake nearly broke my hand" bit (something that also, apparently, applies to rookie corner Xavier Rhodes), there was this revelation from Vikings' VP Lester Bagley: I interviewed Vice-President of Public Affairs/Stadium Development Lester Bagley and my final question focused on the potential for more Vikings games in London. He did not rule out that possibility, especially as the Vikings do not move into their new stadium until the summer of 2016. That leaves the 2014 and 2015 seasons as further opportunities for us to watch AP and his teammates in action in the UK. Bagley indicated that the Vikings wanted to see how things went in and around the 2013 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers but it was definitely a possibility for the future. This really shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody. With the Vikings moving into TCF Bank Stadium for the 2014 and 2015 seasons, there's already the possibility that they're not going to have enough space for all the season ticket holders, never mind people that want to buy single-game tickets. That would be a serious loss for the team from a financial standpoint, particularly when they could put one of their games overseas and make up those losses. So, it's not surprising that the Vikings would be open to the idea of playing more games overseas, be it in London or another location of the NFL's choosing. Frankly, at this point, I think I'd be more surprised if they didn't have at least one game outside of the United States in the next couple of seasons.

The division champion Vikings began rebuilding by releasing a Hall of Famer.

Continuing the Longshot Vikings series, the next two undrafted rookies to spotlight are defensive tackle Anthony McCloud and running back Bradley Randle. McCloud comes from Florida State, ranked as the #23 defensive tackle in the draft by CBS (#285 overall) and Randle comes from UNLV ranked as the #59 running back in the draft by CBS. As I did in the first article of this series, you'll get a statistical breakdown, scouting report summary and video highlights on each player. Also, as I mentioned before, be sure to check out Arif's Undrafted Free Agent Summary, as that's a great place to start to learn more about these undrafted rookies, although Bradley Randle is not included since he was signed after the first wave. So, hopefully this will allow you to get to know these players just a little bit better! 1. Anthony McCloud, DT Florida State Measurables Height: 6'2" Weight: 322 Age: 23 Arm Length: 32 3/4" Hand Length: 11" 40-yard Dash: 5.23 Bench Press: 24 Vertical Jump: 28.5 Broad Jump: 8'5" Short Shuttle: 4.70 Three-Cone: 8.19 Grade: 7th/Free Agency Contract: 3 years, $1,493,000 College Stats Tackles Tackles for Loss Sacks 2008 - JuCo 24 5.5 4 2009 - Redshirt n/a n/a n/a 2010 - FSU 35 3 2 2011 - FSU 25 5 2 2012 - FSU 24 1 1 Here are what some scouting reports were saying about McCloud before the draft: Positives From NFL.com: Squat widebody who sees snaps at three technique and nose tackle. Strong upper body. Does well to recognize screens after free releases and peels back to chase down with effectiveness. Flashes getting the leverage advantage. If initial push does for opponent to move backwards, that momentum can be sustained. Consistently tries to get backfield vision, moves side to side. From Draft Insider: Gap-occupying lineman who plays with terrific pad level. Bends his knees, gets leverage on opponents, and works his hands throughout the action. Keeps his feet moving on contact, explosive, and easily holds his ground. Negatives From NFL.com: Waits and absorbs on first contact. Initial step is not powerful. Anchor is entirely upper body strength, lacks the base to absorb and redirect. Burst off the snap is almost nonexistent. Lower body looks thin while upper body looks sloppy. Waist bender at the line of scrimmage. Hand use is too close to chest, fails to press. Struggles to work over top of blocks. Known to go down if leverage is lost while moving laterally. Very little short area quickness, base gets too skinny when forced to move. From Draft Insider: Struggles getting off blocks once engaged at the point of attack. Possesses just a small burst of speed. Marginally productive and better off occupying blockers versus making plays on the ball. Analysis "Amp" as he is better known by his teammates at FSU, joins teammate and 7th round pick Everett Dawkins for a shot at the 53-man roster. McCloud is a big run-stuffing, 1-tech tackle ala Pat Williams. After spending a year at junior college where he was very productive, he redshirted at Florida State and then came in as the starter for the next three years. He is compared to Shaun Smith and could also be well suited for a 3-4 Defense on the nose in 3-man fronts. But, he'll get his shot with the Vikings competing with the likes of Fred Evans and Letroy Guion. Seeing as how Guion was rated by Pro Football Focus as the worst defensive tackle in the entire NFL last year (that's every defensive tackle regardless of scheme...in the entire NFL...even those players that only played a single snap), and his only other competition at the 1-technique spot on the roster is practice squad holdover Chase Baker, this Longshot Viking might have a legitimate shot to make the roster. He sure seems like a shoe-in for the practice squad at the very least. McCloud may not be the most athletic specimen on the rost

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Aug 9, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop (55) is tended to by members of the Packers Today, the Green Bay Packers released veteran Middle Linebacker Desmond Bishop.  It was made public that the Packers were not willing to pay him the salary that he was due for this season when they were attempting to trade him around draft time this year.  The former sixth round draft pick was scheduled to make $3.464 million this year as a part of his four year, $19 million contract extension that he signed in 2011.  Bishop claims that the team never approached him about a salary reduction prior to his release. Bishop is coming off a severe injury that left him on the sidelines all of last season.  He tore his hamstring tendon in the preseason opener last year and has been rehabilitating that injury to be prepared for this season.  Bishop claims to be healthy now, and that claim will be tested by the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday when they bring him in for a workout. Bishop has never been the type of player to need motivating factors to get fired up, but the Packers seem to have lit a fire under the young player.   Here are some excerpts from his conversation with ESPNWisconsin.com’s Jason Wilde: Jan 15, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers inside linebacker Desmond Bishop (55) breaks up a pass intended for New York Giants tight end Jake Ballard (85) during the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE-STAR LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports “This is definitely a motivating factor. For several reasons, moreso I think than anything in my entire career.  Just from the standpoint of actually being cut. You figure it’s going to happen to everybody eventually at some point in their career, but I felt like I was the type pf player who can go out on their own time.” “There’s something about being released that’s definitely going to add another chip to my shoulders. It’s motivation. It’s nothing negative about this whole situation. I think it’s all part of the plan, and I have to keep playing it out. I think it’s going to be good. I think all that is going to help me reach my goal.” “If you had to go in a dark alley, I’d be one of the guys you’d take with you because you knew what you were going to get.  At the same time, I feel like I haven’t done enough – as a Packer or as a football player. I feel like I have a lot more potential to fulfill. That’s my next goal, wherever it is. I still feel I can do a lot of great things.” Don’t be surprised if Desmond Bishop’s visit to Minnesota ends up as a permanent stay.  This is a match made in heaven for this player and team.  The Vikings are currently in the middle of an open competition for the starting Middle Linebacker position and could use a veteran like Bishop to help anchor this young team.  Meanwhile, Desmond Bishop gets a starting job and gets to play against his former team at least two times a year.

The Vikings still need linebackers, and today they may have gotten a gift as the Packers officially released linebacker Desmond Bishop. A league source says the Vikings are expected to make a strong run at Bishop, according to Bill Huber of Packer Report. After tearing his hamstring in preseason last year, he missed the entire 2012 season.

Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports There are two pieces of advice I can give you about the running back position as you prepare for your 2013 Fantasy Football league drafts. First, if you don’t own a stud “back,” chances are slim to zilch of you owning a fantasy championship when the season ends. So you need to make that a priority and nab one quick. However, before you do heed the warning of my second piece of advice, the only dependable thing about top 10 projected NFL running backs in fantasy drafts is – they are not dependable. Now go find your back, best of luck. Before I state my argument based on statistical proof, I will first tell you that when it comes to Fantasy Football, I am the old guy and a data nerd through and through. I’m pretty much set in my ways, am extremely conservative and hold hard and fast to the trends that have made me successful through the years. One of those trends relevant to this article is, I never want to be in the top half of the draft. Stick with me, there is a method to my madness. For the sake of this article, I have gleaned through five years of data for support. I took the preseason rankings of the top 10 running backs and compared the list to the actual top 10 of each season. The findings will surprise you and possibly take away some confidence you have in your projected top backs. Of the five years, five of the top 10 backs actually finish in the top 10 just three times. In the remaining two years, only three were able to clinch a top-10 spot.  In five years of data, not one time did a projected number one running back finish the season in the top spot. Understandably. that is not an easy feat. But when I throw in the fact that only two projected top-three running backs (Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings and Arian Foster, Houston Texans) finished the season as a top-three back, that should be enough to scare the bejesus out of you when selecting a top-three running back. By the way, Peterson did that three times in the five years and Foster once. During the 2011 Fantasy Football season, not one running back projected to be in the top three finished that season in the top 10! Yet, three individuals used a topthree pick to select one of the three monster busts. Is that a frightening circumstance? You betcha. That is why I prefer to comfortably sit in the bottom half of the draft with the knowledge I won’t have to wait as long as that poor sob in the front half gambling on a running back that could be a complete bust to make my next selection. You can call it whatever you want; old fashioned or boring or far too conservative. At the end of the season, I usually call it winning. My advice to you, look back through the last several years of data on the running backs you are targeting, find the guys that produce year in and year out, they do exist I promise. The big names at the top of your drafts certainly look more “flashy” on paper, and you may even win some kind of award for best preseason draft. But preseason awards are almost a kick to an uncomfortable area when you finish in the muddled middle at season’s end. Avoid the hype, hoopla and fanfare on draft day. Stick to the basics, trust in the number crunching you took the time and effort to do prior to the draft. Plus, your roster will gain the flash it lacked in the preseason as you’re walking away from the table with your pockets full of Mr. Preseason Flash’s “Benjamins” when your team wins the league. Jim Heath is a Fantasy Football writer for RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_heath, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

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We all know Mike Wallace as one of the NFL's highest paid free agents of the off-season. And after reading USA Today, this blogger found out that Mike Wallace III claimed his son turned down $76 million in total money from the Minnesota Vikings during the 2013 free-agency period. The Vikings, who signed Greg Jennings and additionally drafted Cordarrelle Patterson in April's draft, was considered one of the main options for Wallace's services prior to his commitment to Miami.However, Wallace decided on the Dolphins—who went 7-9 and missed the playoffs in the AFC—over the Vikings—who went 10-6 and lost in the NFC Wild Card Round to the Green Bay Packers.Confused? So are we, but Wallace said that it's not about the money and he just wants to be happy. Good luck with the Dolphins, Wallace!

What’s Up Minnesota Vikings fanatics I think it’s safe to say that part of being a Vikes fan is despising the other teams in the division correct? As Vikings fanatics we have maybe overlooked the Silver Kitties for too long now. They might not be there yet, but they’re trying to put together a real team up there, so maybe we should keep an eye on them, too! Because of that, every now and then I’ll post an article about the Lions, just to help you keep an eye on what they’re up to. On Taking the Wind Marty Mornhinweg is not the worst head coach in NFL history. Deadspin’s Drew Magary and Dom Cosentino asserted the opposite late last week, based partly on Mornhinweg’s 5-27 record as head coach, but mostly on the HILARIOUS STUPIDITY of taking the wind in overtime. The article makes a lot of cogent points about the NFL having moved beyond coaches getting “hired to be fired,” straight into a swirling vortex of hiring blatantly unqualified candidates to turn around talentless rosters, and poleaxing them if they don’t immediately succeed. As I’ve written before, trying to catch “lightning in a bottle” is the wrong way to hire a coach. As often as not, the young coach who pretends to have the NFL figured out is found out. (see: McDaniels, Josh). Mornhinweg, in a way, was the model for this particular way to fail. Not only was he not an experienced NFL head coach, the 38-year-old had never been a head coach at any level. He’d been calling plays under Ste ” >”> …[click the link below to read the rest of the article] The rest of the article can be found here: The Lions In Winter: a Detroit Lions blog Tweet This Post