Walter Payton Man of the Year Nominees

The NFL released the nominees for the 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. This award recognizing the outstanding off-field work of the league’s players has become one of the most prestigious. It should be. The unfortunate thing about this award is that all 32 players are deserving of receiving it. Not only that, there are many more players on each of the 32 teams that are equally deserving. There are so many players doing amazing things to make their community and this world a better place. Here are the 32 nominees starting with the player that is, of course, most deserving.

Walter Payton Man of the Year Nominees

Minnesota Vikings: C.J. Ham

Arizona Cardinals: Kelvin Beachum

Atlanta Falcons: A.J. Terrell Jr.

Baltimore Ravens: Derrick Henry

Buffalo Bills: Dion Dawkins

Carolina Panthers: Austin Corbett

Chicago Bears: D.J. Moore

Cincinnati Bengals: Ted Karras

Cleveland Browns: Grant Delpit

Dallas Cowboys: Solomon Thomas

Denver Broncos: Garrett Bolles

Detroit Lions: DJ Reader

Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love

Houston Texans: Azeez Al-Shaair 

Indianapolis Colts: Kenny Moore II

Jacksonville Jaguars: Logan Cooke

Kansas City Chiefs: Travis Kelce

Las Vegas Raiders: Maxx Crosby

Los Angeles Chargers: Cameron Dicker

Los Angeles Rams: Kyren Williams

Miami Dolphins: Bradley Chubb

New England Patriots: Hunter Henry

New Orleans Saints: Demario Davis

New York Giants: Bobby Okereke

New York Jets: Quincy Williams

Philadelphia Eagles Jordan Mailata

Pittsburgh Steelers: Alex Highsmith

San Francisco 49ers: Curtis Robinson

Seattle Seahawks: Julian Love

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield

Tennessee Titans: Jeffery Simmons

Washington Commanders: Bobby Wagner

Congratulations to all of the Nominees. Especially C.J. Ham. 

Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists

The Coach, Contributor, and Senior Finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 have been determined. The focus on the more recent candidates continues. Sadly, as expected. 

Coach: 

Bill Belichick

Contributor:

Robert Kraft

Senior:

Ken Anderson

Roger Craig

L.C. Greenwood

The easiest discussion, if there even was one, had to be on Bill Belichick. He’s arguably the best coach in league history and should be fitted for a Gold Jacket as soon as he’s eligible. That’s now. I suppose the only hesitation was the possibility of a return to NFL sidelines. It’s unfortunate that Buddy Parker’s wait continues but Belichick deserves immediate induction.

As for the Contributor Finalist, there’s issues. Ralph Hay is one of the league’s founders. He called and hosted the meeting that started the National Football League. His Canton Bulldogs won NFL titles in 1922 and 1923. He should’ve been in one of the first few Hall of Fame classes. His induction certainly should precede that of Robert Kraft. Clark Shaugnessy also had a greater impact on the National Football League than Kraft. Bucko Kilroy as well. I don’t understand this rush to induct owners that merely ride the success of the people they hired. 

The problem that I have with the Senior Finalists is more involved. The refusal to consider deserving candidates that played before 1950 is simply idiotic. It shames the purpose of the Hall of Fame. Verne Lewellen, Lavvie Dilweg, Ox Emerson, and Al Wistert should’ve been inducted in the 1960s or 1970s. Fifty years later, they are still waiting. I just don’t get it. Voters that have shut the door on such players should not be voters. Lewellen is arguably the most deserving of the four and he didn’t even make it past the cut to 52. Neither did Emerson. That’s insane. Dilweg and Wistert didn’t make it to the semi-finalist stage. Maybe the Hall voters that have apparently shut the door on those that suited up before 1950 need to have those players described in today’s terms. Much like Marshall Faulk, Verne Lewellen was a versatile, touchdown-scoring machine. Faulk won one title. Lewellen won three. Lavvie Dilweg not being in Canton would be like Travis Kelce not making it about five years after he retired. And then waiting another half century. Can anyone imagine Kelce still waiting for that Hall call decades after he passed? The Green Bay Packers won three consecutive titles from 1929-31. The team was one of the league’s first dynasties. Johnny Blood McNally, Cal Hubbard, Mike Michalske, and, of course, Curly Lambeau are the only Hall of Famers from those teams. One can argue that Lewellen and Dilweg were as integral to that remarkable success as any of their teammates. The 1930s Detroit Lions had one of the most productive ground games in the history of the league. As the Portsmouth Spartans, they played for the title in 1932. After moving to Detroit and becoming the Lions, they won a title in 1935. Ox Emerson paved the way for that ground game and the team’s success. His Hall omission can be compared to a player like Alan Faneca still waiting. Al Wistert’s long wait might be the most stunning of all. He was one of the finest offensive AND defensive linemen of his era. Like Lewellen and Dilweg, Wistert was also an integral part of a dynasty. His Philadelphia Eagles team went to three consecutive championship games from 1947-49, winning in 1948 and 1949. His Hall omission can be compared to players like Chris Jones AND Lane Johnson waiting 20 years and being kicked to the Senior pool. Both still waiting 75 years after their last snap. Can anyone imagine Jones and Johnson waiting more than a single year for their Hall call? Anyone with a proper understanding of league history should easily see the greatness and impact of Verne Lewellen, Lavvie Dilweg, Ox Emerson, and Al Wistert. All four had Hall of Fame careers. All four have been waiting since the Pro Football Hall of Fame opened in 1963. None even made it to this year’s Semi-finalist stage. Again. That’s just absurd. What is this “Blue Ribbon” Senior Committee even doing when they meet? 

The Nine Senior Finalists:

Ken Anderson

Roger Craig

L.C. Greenwood

Henry Ellard

Joe Jacoby

Eddie Meador

Stanley Morgan

Steve Tasker

Otis Taylor

While I would’ve liked to see Otis Taylor among the finalists, I really have no problem with Ken Anderson, Roger Craig, and L.C. Greenwood being selected from the nine semi-finalists. My problem is with the continued ignorance of the league’s past. Recognizing the league’s past is the stated purpose of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s sad that the 1970s seem to be as far back as this group of voters are willing to go. I suppose it’s fitting since most fans and many national pundits see the National Football League as starting with Super Bowl I. 

Minnesota Vikings 53 - Man Roster

Nothing about this Minnesota Vikings season has gone as hoped. John Wolford being the third quarterback on the team’s depth chart is proof of that. John Wolford! It appears fun for local and national pundits to rage about the Vikings quarterback situation but that’s simply a lazy take. It’s always about the quarterback. If a team has offensive issues, it’s always the quarterback. There’s no doubt that the quarterback play has been lousy but it’s an offense-wide issue. How can an offense perform at its best when no one knows who is playing on the offensive line from game-to-game. Hell, for the Vikings this season there’s been offensive line uncertainty from play-to-play. Much of the preseason optimism was due to the rebuilt offensive line. The five starters have yet to play an entire game together. The frustrations this season are fast approaching the sad heights of the 2010 season. 

Anyway, the Vikings host the Washington Commanders this Sunday. When the schedule came out in the spring, this game was probably circled by many as one with significant playoff implications. Instead, the two teams enter the game with a combined seven wins. In advance of the big game, here’s a look at the Minnesota Vikings current 53-man roster. John Wolford!

This current roster has 54 players. Cornerback Dwight McGlothern and quarterback John Wolford were elevated from the practice squad to the active roster in advance of last week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. One of those players, at least one of those players, has probably gone back to the practice squad. John Wolford!

2025 Minnesota Vikings 53-Man Roster

Offense (26)

Quarterbacks (3)

J.J. McCarthy

Max Brosmer

John Wolford

Running Backs (4)

Aaron Glenn

Jordan Mason

Zavier Scott

CJ Ham - FB

Receivers (5)

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jalen Nailor

Tai Felton

Myles Price

Tight Ends (4)

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Ben Sims

Ben Yurosek

Offensive Line (10)

Christian Darrsisaw

Donovan Jackson

Ryan Kelly

Will Fries

Brian O’Neill

Justin Skule

Walter Rouse

Blake Brandel

Michael Jurgens

Joe Huber

Defense (25)

Defensive Line (6)

Jonathan Allen

Javon Hargrave

Jalen Redmond

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Elijah Williams

Outside Linebackers (6)

Jonathan Greenard

Andrew Van Ginkel

Dallas Turner

Tyler Batty

Bo Richter

Chaz Chambliss

Inside Linebackers (4)

Blake Cashman

Eric Wilson

Ivan Pace Jr.

Austin Keys

Cornerbacks (4)

Byron Murphy Jr.

Isaiah Rodgers

Fabian Moreau

Dwight McGlothern

Safeties (5)

Harrison Smith

Josh Metellus

Theo Jackson

Jay Ward

Tavierre Thomas

Special Teams (3)

Kickers (1)

Will Reichard

Punter (1)

Ryan Wright

Long Snapper (1)

Andrew DePaola

Practice Squad (12)

Henry Byrd, G

Dontae Fleming, WR

Tyrek Funderburk, CB

Jonathan Harris, DL

Jeshaun Jones, WR

Corey Kiner, RB

Vershon Lee, G

Gabriel Murphy, OLB

Bryson Nesbit, TE

Taki Taimani, DL

Sione Takitaki, LB

Zemaiah Vaughn, CB

Reserve/International

Max Pincher

Reserve/Injured

Ty Chandler, RB

Zeke Correll, C

Aaron Jones, Sr., RB

Rondale Moore, WR

Matt Nelson, OL

Carson Wentz, QB

Reserve/Physically Unable To Perform

Gavin Bartholomew, TE

Minnesota Vikings Week 13 Superlatives

The Minnesota Vikings are riding a four-game losing streak. Their most recent loss was a sad 26-0 shutout at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks. The loss screams “no superlatives.” The Vikings were shutout for the first time since 2007. Superlative regular, kicker Will Reichard stepped on the field once. For the second half kickoff. While the Vikings offense was terrible, the Vikings defense was fantastic. Despite a few, scattered tackling issues, the entire group was outstanding. They all get this week’s only superlative. One defensive player deserves extra attention.

Vikings Player of the Game

Dallas Turner, OLB

5 tackles

4 assists

2 sacks

2 tackles for loss

1 forced fumble

Impatient folks were calling Dallas Turner a bust after a rookie season playing behind excellent  OLBs Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. Turner received added snaps early in the season when Van Ginkel was injured and more recently when Greenard was injured. Now, Turner is receiving more snaps simply on merit. He’s been outstanding. It’s really no surprise that as his play ascends so does that of the Vikings defense. 

Vikings - Seahawks

It didn’t seem possible but the Minnesota Vikings season dropped even deeper in the dumpster with a 26-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings hadn’t been shut out since 2007. With the way the offense is playing, it feels like the next one could come before this season is finally done.

There was some optimism built through the week for the first start of undrafted rookie quarterback Max Brosmer. With starter J.J. McCarthy out with a concussion and Carson Wentz done for the year, the rookie was next. Despite having one fewer year in the league than McCarthy, Brosmer is two years older. Since being signed after going undrafted, Brosmer has shown to be a quick study of the Vikings offense and looked advanced in preseason work. Perhaps the pre-game optimism was simply hope, desperate hope. Any young quarterback, especially an undrafted, rookie quarterback, needs everything around him to be right. With left guard Donovan Jackson ruled out for the game on Friday and left tackle Christian Darrisaw declared inactive on Sunday, things weren’t right around Brosmer against the Seahawks. It showed early and it showed throughout the game.

Vikings first five possessions:

5 plays, 7 yards - punt

4 plays, 21 yards - punt

3 plays, 2 yards - punt

4 plays, 18 yards - punt

The only good thing about the start of the game was the play of the Vikings defense. Sam Darnold and the Seahawks offense did little throughout the game. They managed a field goal on their first possession of the second quarter. It turned out that was the only score the Seahawks would need. That wasn’t known early in the second quarter. The Vikings offense followed the big field goal with another punt. Then the defense forced their first turnover in nearly a month. Dallas Turner sacked Darnold and forced a fumble. Jalen Redmond recovered at the Seahawks 13-yard line. Just when the game looked like it was about to turn the Vikings way, it turned the other way.

Last week, the Vikings were in a tight, tense, defensive-heavy game against the Green Bay Packers. Just when that game felt like it might flip the Vikings way, a mind-numbing mistake handed the Packers a gift touchdown. The game sadly drifted away after that moment. Yesterday, the Vikings had a glorious scoring opportunity on the Seahawks 13-yard line. On 4th-and-1 from the four-yard line, head coach Kevin O’Connell opted to put the ball in Max Brosmer’s hands. Pressured by DeMarcus Lawrence, Brosmer underhanded the ball right to linebacker Ernest Jones IV. What followed was an easy 85-yard stroll to the end zone and a 10-0 lead. 

10-0 with about three minutes to play in the first half and this game felt like it was done. An excellent effort by the Vikings defense couldn’t cover for another four turnovers by the offense. 

The Vikings offense was terrible. One might even say that they were worse than terrible. The defense was terrific. Of course, everyone wants to point the finger at a single person to blame for a loss like this, a shut out loss like this. The offense was clearly the problem in this game and in recent games. When the offense isn’t working, it’s always the quarterback or the coach/play-caller. I wish that Kevin O’Connell had called a run on that fourth-and-one. I believed at the time, and certain now, that Jordan Mason up the middle had a much better chance of success than Max Brosmer passing for a yard. If Mason is stuffed, the Seahawks get the ball at their own five and the game is still 3-0. That “bad” call wasn’t the biggest of the offense’s problems in this game, and recent games. In my opinion, the biggest problem throughout this fast-becoming really sad season has been the merry-go-round offensive line. Every game has been a different group. Hell, sometimes it feels like every play is a different group. One of the biggest reasons for optimism this season was the rebuilt offensive line. The group of five put together in the offseason started their first game together last week against the Packers. The Vikings starting offensive line didn’t start a game together until Week 12. Week 12! That group lasted just over a half. There has been zero consistency on the offensive line. Zero consistency in who’s out there. Zero consistency in play. Yesterday, with an undrafted rookie quarterback under center, the Vikings could not run the ball. With Brosmer often running for his life, they could not pass the ball. Game announcers Joe Davis and Greg Olson proclaimed that the offense probably wouldn’t look any better if J.J. McCarthy was playing. I have my doubts about that but also question whether any quarterback would be proficient behind a line that can’t run block or protect. 

Because it’s the only good thing about this game, the Vikings defense deserves praise. More praise than they’re certainly going to get after a shutout loss. Perhaps reaching for talking-points in a game mostly over in the third quarter, Joe Davis and Greg Olson talked of the Seahawks place among the best in the league. The duo said the team had no weakness. I was a little surprised by this as the Seahawks offense really did nothing against the Vikings defense. Sam Darnold was running for his life throughout the game. He completed under 54% of his 26 passes for 128 yards. If you can ignore the interceptions, Max Brosmer had as many yards and a much better completion percentage. Jaxon Smith-Njigba came into the game seriously challenging the 2,000-yard barrier. He finished this game with two catches for 23 yards. 17 of those yards came on a late screen probably called just to get him off of a one-catch for six yards game. For the game, the Seahawks averaged only 3.5 yards per play. That was just a bit better the 3.2 yards per play of the Vikings offense. Which offense was broken yesterday? The Vikings defense had quite the hold on the Seahawks offense. 

I seriously hoped that I’d never again face a Vikings season as frustrating as the 1984 and 2010 seasons. The 2025 Vikings are very much heading in that direction. After the past four weeks, it’s a little shocking that a winning season is still mathematically possible. With five games to play, there’s an opportunity to flip this shit. The Washington Commanders are next. 

Flea Flicker Week 13 Predictions

It’s Week 13. Here are some guesses at the games.

Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks

Pick: Vikings

Things felt pretty nice when the Vikings defeated the Lions in Detroit. That feels so long ago. After three straight losses, the Vikings must start winning. It starts in Seattle. 

San Francisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns

Pick: 49ers

With all of their injuries, it’s truly shocking the 49ers have managed to win eight games.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans

Pick: Jaguars

This is as much predicting the Titans to lose as predicting the Jaguars to win.

Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts

Pick: Colts

The Colts rebound from their late fade to the Chiefs.

New Orleans Saints @ Miami Dolphins

Pick: Dolphins

The Dolphins have a bit more.

Atlanta Falcons @ New York Jets

Pick: Falcons

Kirk Cousins tops the team that once courted him.

Arizona Cardinals @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pick: Buccaneers

Buccaneers health might be the only standing in the way of a win. 

Los Angeles Rams @ Carolina Panthers

Pick: Rams

The Rams continue their roll.

Buffalo Bills @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: Bills

Hopefully the Bills show.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers

Pick: Chargers

Can the Chargers rebound from that Jaguars game?

Denver Broncos @ Washington Commnaders

Pick: Commanders

The Commanders snap their six games losing streak.

New York Giants @ New England Patriots

Pick: Patriots

Rematch of Super Bowls XLII and XLVI. Different outcome.

Seattle Seahawks All - Time Team

The Minnesota Vikings travel to Seattle this weekend for a big game against the Seahawks. The Seahawks have an interesting history. It’s interesting because they’ve spent significant time in the AFC and the NFC since they entered the league in 1976. The Seahawks were an NFC West team in 1976. Then, they flipped to the AFC West in 1977. The Seahawks remained in the AFC West for nearly 25 years. Realignment put them in the NFC West in 2001. The past 24 years have been the team’s most successful. They’ve had three Super Bowl appearances (2005, 2013, 2014) with one win (2013). Despite having a team for nearly 30 years, their fan base made their first real appearance during this run. 

Offense

Quarterback

Russell Wilson

Running Back

Shaun Alexander

Marshawn Lynch 

Fullback

Mack Strong

Wide Receivers

Steve Largent

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

This might be a bit early for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Following his “breakout” 2024 season, Smith-Njigba’s 1313 receiving yards, in only 11 games this year, has already topped the best season of contenders Doug Baldwin and DK Metcalf. 

Tight End

Jimmy Graham

Offensive Tackles

Walter Jordan

Duane Brown

Offensive Guards

Steve Hutchinson

Chris Gray

Center

Robbie Tobeck

Defense

Defensive Ends

Jacob Green

Michael Bennett

Defensive Tackles

Cortez Kennedy

Joe Nash

Linebackers

Fredd Young

Bobby Wagner

K.J. Wright

Cornerbacks

Richard Sherman

Dave Brown

Safeties

Kenny Easley

Earl Thomas

Special Teams

Kicker

Steven Hauschka

Punter

Jon Ryan

Returner

Joey Galloway