Hallmark Moment

In an earlier Flea Flicker, I bemoaned the brutal nature of the cut down days. It's not all devastation and tears. There are often wonderful stories. The players on the fringe of the roster usually have the best stories. The players that make the cut. The players whose dreams continue. They often have to battle through cuts every year. Sometimes it's the start of something great. Like former Vikings defensive tackle John Randle rising from undrafted free agent to the Professional Football Hall of Fame.

There might be two such warm stories taking place in Minnesota. Second year cornerback Marcus Sherels and rookie linebacker Larry Dean have opened many eyes throughout training camp and the preseason. Coming out of the University of Minnesota, Sherels was neither selected in the 2010 Draft nor signed to a contract afterwards. The Vikings invited him to a local tryout. He showed enough to be invited to training camp. He was later cut but added to the practice squad. He was activated toward the end of the season but still had to start the whole process all over again this year. His ability to return punts might have been the difference this year, but he has shown terrific quickness and cover skills. Larry Dean is the player that has really come out of nowhere to shine. A small linebacker, 6'0" and 226 lbs, from a small school, Division II Valdosta State. Dean is always around the ball. He's been flying around, making plays all summer.

It's hard to ignore the football dreams that die this time of year, but it's easy to smile about the achievements of players like Marcus Sherels and Larry Dean. It takes all 53 players to win a championship.