Now We Have 90

The Minnesota Vikings entered training camp with only 89 players. One short of the 90-man roster limit. Some talking heads and most fans expected the Vikings to fill that open spot with a punter. Someone to challenge Jeff Locke. Others expected a quarterback. That position became a potential need when Taylor Heinicke showed up for camp with a cast on his foot. An unusual event put that cast on his foot. He severed a tendon in his foot while trying to help a friend get into his locked apartment. Heinicke put his foot through a glass pane in the door with terrible results. Foolish in hindsight and unfortunate now. He could be out for as much as three months. After a solid rookie training camp last summer and a strong spring, Heinicke was expected to challenge Shaun Hill for the top backup quarterback spot. Instead of a punter or a quarterback, the Vikings added undrafted rookie defensive tackle Claudell Louis to fill that final roster spot. Here's the final Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Roster. For now?

Quarterbacks
  5 Teddy Bridgewater
13 Shaun Hill
  2  Joel Stave

Running backs
28 Adrian Peterson
21 Jerick McKinnon
44 Matt Asiata
30 C.J. Ham
42 Jhurrell Pressley

Fullbacks
48 Zach Line
49 Blake Renaud

Receivers
14 Stefon Diggs
12 Charles Johnson
17 Jarius Wright
11 Laquon Treadwell
84 Cordarrelle Patterson
19 Adam Thielen
15 Isaac Fruechte
81 Moritz Boehringer
16 Terrell Sinkfield
  9 Marken Michel
  1 Troy Stoudermire

Tight ends
82 Kyle Rudolph
83 MyCole Pruitt
89 David Morgan
87 Brian Leonhardt
86 Kyle Carter

Tackles
75 Matt Kalil
72 Andre Smith
68 T.J. Clemmings
78 Jeremiah Sirles
60 Carter Bykowski
74 Austin Shepherd
71  Sean Hickey

Guards
76 Alex Boone
63 Brandon Fusco
61 Joe Berger
64 Willie Beavers
69 Isame Faciane

Centers
65 John Sullivan
62 Nick Easton
67 Zac Kerin

Defensive ends
97 Everson Griffen
96 Brian Robison
99 Danielle Hunter
95 Scott Crichton
64 Stephen Weatherly
94 Justin Trattou
91 Zach Moore
62 Denzell Perine

Defensive tackles
98 Linval Joseph
73 Sharrif Floyd
92 Tom Johnson
93 Shamar Stephen
69 Toby Johnson
60 Travis Raciti
67 Theiren Cockran
74 Claudell Louis

Linebackers
55 Anthony Barr
54 Eric Kendricks
52 Chad Greenway
59 Emmanuel Lamur
57 Audie Cole
40 Kentrell Brothers
51 Edmond Robinson
58 Brandon Watts
56 Jake Ganus
50 Jason Whittingham

Cornerbacks
29 Xavier Rhodes
26 Trae Waynes
24 Captain Munnerlyn
23 Terence Newman
20 Mackensie Alexander
35 Marcus Sherels
25 Jabari Price
31 Melvin White
36 Tre Roberson
38 Keith Baxter

Safeties
22 Harrison Smith
34 Andrew Sendejo
33 Michael Griffin
41 Anthony Harris
32 Antone Exum Jr.
27 Jayron Kearse

Kicker
  3 Blair Walsh

Punter
18 Jeff Locke

Long snapper
47 Kevin McDermott

***

Active/Non-Football Illness
79 Mike Harris

Active/Non-Football Injury

6 Taylor Heinicke

Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP)

85 Rhett Ellison

66 Kenrick Ellis

Reserve/Injured

90  B.J. DuBose

A torn ACL in the spring put defensive lineman B.J. DuBose on injured reserve. He's out for the season. Mike Harris, Taylor Heinicke, Rhett Ellison, and Kenrick Ellis all currently count toward the Vikings 90-man roster. There's been mixed reports on Harris' illness. Some indicate that he'll be back soon. Others indicate that he could be out for a while. Heinicke will be out for a while. Perhaps long enough that he could be a candidate for injured reserve. Ellis should be back soon. His absence is surely the reason that Claudell Louis was signed. They needed someone to get those defensive tackle practice snaps. Ellison tore his patellar tendon late last season. He's on target to return soon but that's an injury that's ended a lot of careers. Both team and player have to be careful with it. 

Training Camp Thoughts

All 32 NFL teams are now in camp. Football's back!

The Minnesota Vikings arrived at Mankato State University on Thursday with the news that head coach Mike Zimmer was signed to a contract extension. As general manager Rick Spielman said, Zimmer will be the Vikings head coach for a long time. That's welcome news for everyone with a positive interest in the Vikings. A contact extension after only two seasons is a bit unusual but Zimmer has been a hit, on the field and off, in Minnesota. At his introductory press conference in January 2014, Zimmer said that he wanted to build a team that would make everyone associated with the team proud. He's succeeded. It's a great time to be a Vikings fan. Just need a title.

The Vikings entered training camp with an open spot on the 90-man roster. Most fans wanted that spot filled by a punter. Others thought that it would be filled by a quarterback (Nick Foles?) since second-year passer Taylor Heinicke reported to camp with a cast on his foot. Instead the Vikings filled that final spot with rookie defensive tackle Claudell Louis. Undrafted out of Fresno State, Louis was signed and released by the Buffalo Bills this spring. Now, he has a shot with Minnesota. His signing shouldn't be too much of a surprise as the Vikings entered camp short a defensive tackle. Kenrick Ellis was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list yesterday. At 6'4" 295 lbs, Louis doesn't quite measure up to Ellis' 6'5" 335 lb size but he can still take those defensive tackle practice reps. Louis is the third Vikings defender (Emmanuel Lamur and Mackensie Alexnader are the others) with close relations to the poor island nation of Haiti.

The Vikings offensive line depth has taken some hits in the past week. Phil Loadholt was supposed to compete with Andre Smith at right tackle. He retired on Monday. Mike Harris started at right guard least season. He was supposed to compete with Brandon Fusco for that position this summer. Harris was placed on the Active/Non-football Illness list at the start of camp. As expected, no one has disclosed the details of this illness. When asked if he will be able to play this season, he said he wasn't sure. That doesn't sound good but people are notorious for jumping to conclusions.

The San Diego Chargers selected Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa with the third pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. He's the only draft pick that has yet to sign his first NFL contract. He's now a training camp holdout. Rookie holdouts shouldn't happen in this post-2011 CBA world. The contracts are slotted by draft position. There's so little to negotiate now that most teams have their entire rookie class signed before the calendar flips to June. The bonus money appears to be the problem in this Bosa-Chargers standoff. The Bosa people want all of the bonus money now. The Chargers want to pay some now and the rest later. This issue wasn't an issue with the two quarterbacks selected ahead of Bosa. It wasn't an issue with 28 players selected after him. There has to be some middle ground. Form my perch, holdouts are always sad. This one seems more sad than most.

More holdouts. Where's Rolando McClain? He wasn't on the Dallas Cowboys' chartered flight to California for their Oxnard training camp. The sometimes Cowboys linebacker is suspended for the first ten games of the season for a violation of the league's substance-abuse policy. Maybe he thought that meant training camp as well. He wasn't around the team much this offseason. He skipped missed most of the voluntary offseason program. He showed up for the mandatory mini-camp in June but did not practice because he wasn't in good enough condition. Nice. McClain has shown only a passing interest in football since the Oakland Raiders selected him with the 8th pick of the 2010 NFL Draft. Sometimes he's on the field. Other times he's getting in trouble. Sometimes he's retired. Other times he's not. His best NFL days were with the Cowboys in 2014. That year he sometimes looked like the player that the Raiders thought that they were drafting. Then he lost whatever focus that he had and here he is. Not in Oxnard. The Cowboys are starting to collect defenders that frequently aren't on the active roster.

Even more holdouts. Where's DeAndre Hopkins? The Houston Texans receiver wants a new contract. In three seasons he's become one of the dominant pass catchers in the league. Hopkins is one of the best in the league but his rookie deal pays him like he's about the 70th best. That's the problem with rookie deals. The best quickly outplay them. The Texans gave J.J. Watt his second contract two years before he was due. Hopkins clearly thinks that they should do the same for him.

The Detroit Lions signed cornerback Darius Slay to a four-year, $50.25 million contract extension. He's one of the top young corners in the game and now he's being paid as such. The Lions selected Slay in the same draft that the Texans selected Hopkins. The biggest contract difference between the two players is that Slay was selected in the second round. As a first round pick, the Texans have the fifth-year option that they can slap on Hopkins. Teams love that fifth-year option. The players are probably starting to hate it like they've grown to hate the franchise tags.

The Tennessee Titans signed receiver Andre Johnson to a two-year contract. He was a long-time Hall of Fame-caliber receiver for the Texans. He played for the Indianapolis Colts last season. Maybe he can one day find his way to the Jacksonville Jaguars so that he can have a complete collection of AFC South jerseys. Johnson's best days are behind him but he can still help a team. He should also be a nice mentor for the Titans receivers. Especially, Dorial Green-Beckham.

Dion Jordan and Josh Gordon are back. For now. Hopefully, Gordon could pick up where he left off for the Cleveland Browns. At his best he was one of the best receivers in the league. At his best, he's a nightmare matchup for corners. Hopefully, Jordan can do what he's never really done for the Miami Dolphins. Stay on the field. In three seasons since the Dolphins traded up to select him with the third pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Jordan has been active for 26 games. One start. He was suspended for the entire 2015 season. His reinstatement is conditional.

Football is back!

Minnesota Vikings 2016 Training Camp Roster

The Minnesota Vikings reported to training camp yesterday. This is the 51st consecutive year that Mankato State University will be their training camp home. With head coach Mike Zimmer, a strong coaching staff, a young talented team, and a beautiful new stadium, there's a lot of excitement the 2016 Vikings teams. Here are the 89 players that will be working in the unpredictable summer weather of Mankato.

Quarterbacks
  5 Teddy Bridgewater
13 Shaun Hill
  6 Taylor Heinicke
  2  Joel Stave

Running backs
28 Adrian Peterson
21 Jerick McKinnon
44 Matt Asiata
30 C.J. Ham
42 Jhurrell Pressley

Fullbacks
48 Zach Line
49 Blake Renaud

Receivers
14 Stefon Diggs
12 Charles Johnson
17 Jarius Wright
11 Laquon Treadwell
84 Cordarrelle Patterson
19 Adam Thielen
15 Isaac Fruechte
81 Moritz Boehringer
16 Terrell Sinkfield
  9 Marken Michel
  1 Troy Stoudermire

Tight ends
82 Kyle Rudolph
85 Rhett Ellison
83 MyCole Pruitt
89 David Morgan
87 Brian Leonhardt
86 Kyle Carter

Tackles
75 Matt Kalil
72 Andre Smith
71 Phil Loadholt
68 T.J. Clemmings
78 Jeremiah Sirles
60 Carter Bykowski
74 Austin Shepherd
     Sean Hickey

Guards
76 Alex Boone
63 Brandon Fusco
79 Mike Harris
61 Joe Berger
64 Willie Beavers
69 Isame Faciane

Centers
65 John Sullivan
62 Nick Easton
67 Zac Kerin

Defensive ends
97 Everson Griffen
96 Brian Robison
99 Danielle Hunter
95 Scott Crichton
64 Stephen Weatherly
94 Justin Trattou
91 Zach Moore
62 Denzell Perine

Defensive tackles
98 Linval Joseph
73 Sharrif Floyd
92 Tom Johnson
93 Shamar Stephen
66 Kenrick Ellis
69 Toby Johnson
60 Travis Raciti
67 Theiren Cockran

Linebackers
55 Anthony Barr
54 Eric Kendricks
52 Chad Greenway
59 Emmanuel Lamur
57 Audie Cole
40 Kentrell Brothers
51 Edmond Robinson
58 Brandon Watts
56 Jake Ganus
     Jason Whittingham

Cornerbacks
29 Xavier Rhodes
26 Trae Waynes
24 Captain Munnerlyn
23 Terence Newman
20 Mackensie Alexander
35 Marcus Sherels
25 Jabari Price
31 Melvin White
36 Tre Roberson
38 Keith Baxter

Safeties
22 Harrison Smith
34 Andrew Sendejo
33 Michael Griffin
41 Anthony Harris
32 Antone Exum Jr.
27 Jayron Kearse

Kicker
  3 Blair Walsh

Punter
18 Jeff Locke

Long snapper
47 Kevin McDermott

The Vikings have an open spot on the roster. Many expected a second punter to be added in the offseason. Someone to compete with the often criticized Jeff Locke. That hasn't happened. Locke's "all-important numbers" should improve with eight games in the cozy confines of U.S. Bank Stadium. Placement is more important than distance in the Vikings special teams scheme. The coaches also likely prefer to see the special teams battery of Locke-Blair Walsh-Kevin McDermott get all of the practice reps.

Linebacker Edmond Robinson is a player that I really expect to shine in his second training training camp. The Vikings drafted him in the seventh-round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of itty-bitty Newberry College. I first became intrigued by his potential when he more than held his own against the big boys at the 2015 East-West Shrine game. Coming out of college he was a raw, talented player with NFL size and potential. An Anthony Barr injury forced him into the starting lineup late in his rookie season and he played like he belonged against the Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears. His size and talent put him in Barr's spot at strong-side linebacker but Barr isn't going anywhere. I think that Robinson could become the sort of player that the coaches have to get on the field. Somewhere.

The Vikings first training camp practice is today. The drive to and through the 2016 NFL season has started.

Throwback Thursday: All-Retirement Team

The recent retirements of Kevin Williams, Eugene Monroe, Phil Loadholt, and Greg Jennings added to the already impressive football talent that's left the NFL this offseason. So much talent that ESPN Staff Writer Jeremy Fowler was able to put together a star-studded football team. Here's his 2016 All-Retirement Team.

Quarterback 

Peyton Manning

Running back

Marshawn Lynch

Receivers 

Calvin Johnson

Greg Jennings

Slot receiver

Percy Harvin

Tight end

Heath Miller

Offensive linemen

D'Brickashaw Ferguson

Logan Mankins

Manny Ramirez

Phil Loadholt

Eugene Monroe

Defensive linemen

Jared Allen

B.J. Raji

Darnell Dockett

Justin Tuck

Linebackers

Jon Beason

Jerod Mayo

A.J. Tarpley

Cornerbacks

Charles Tillman

Rashean Mathis

Safeties

Charles Woodson

Husain Abdullah

Those 22 players have nearly 70 Pro Bowls.

Defensive tackle Kevin Williams signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Minnesota Vikings yesterday so that he could retire with the team. He replaces B.J. Raji on this team and any 2016 All-Retirement Team. Williams was an outstanding player for the Vikings from 2003-13. 6 Pro Bowls. 5x First-Team All-Pro. 2000s All-Decade Team. He was one of the most disruptive and dominant defensive linemen in the league and should be in the conversation for the Hall of Fame in five years. 

Speaking of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Class of 2021 might be filled with first-year eligible players. Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson, Calvin Johnson, Jared Allen, Marshawn Lynch, and Kevin Williams. Manning and Woodson are automatics. Johnson, Allen, and Williams were among the best at their positions for the majority of their careers. They could and at least Johnson probably should join Manning and Woodson. Lynch's best were years were of Hall of Fame caliber but he probably didn't have enough of them to make it in his first few years of eligibility. A Hall of Fame case could eventually be made for Heath Miller and Charles Tillman.

I can't remember a year in which so much football talent walked away from the game. Manning and Woodson are the headliners. They were Heisman finalists together and came into the league together, it's only fitting that they leave together and enter the Hall of Fame together. Johnson, Allen, Lynch, Williams, Miller, Tillman. Matthew Hasselbeck! The young players in the league have a very large void to fill. 

Vikings Training Camp Competitions: Defense

The Minnesota Vikings report to Training Camp 2016 this Thursday. Their first practice is Friday. Coaches often say that every spot on the roster is up for grabs each season. That's hardly honest as some players have the talent, determination, and dedication that makes their spot on the roster all but assured. But, you never know. Surprises come out of training camps every year. No one thought that Terrell Davis was going to amount to much for the Denver Broncos in 1995. A big hit in a preseason game got him some attention and he took it from there to become one of the best running backs in the league. Position competition makes a team better. Yesterday we took a look at the Vikings training camp competition on the offensive side of the ball. Here's a look at some of the training camp competition on the defensive side of the ball.

Defensive line
This is arguably the deepest position group on the team. The starters are mostly set.

RE Everson Griffen
DT Sharrif Floyd
NT Linval Joseph
LE Brian Robison

Defensive end Danielle Hunter was a pass-rushing, run-stuffing surprise as a rookie last season. The Vikings thought that they were getting a very raw player when they selected him in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He was a quick study and became a defensive force down the stretch last season. He could leapfrog Robison in training camp. No matter how it plays out Hunter will be on the field often. Head coach Mike Zimmer likes to rotate his defensive linemen and the Vikings have the depth to do so. Tom Johnson and Shamar Stephen provide nice depth at defensive tackle. Kenrick Ellis, Toby Johnson, and rookie Thieren Cockran have their work cut out for them to make the 53-man roster. Ellis, at 6'5" and 335 lbs, is the one player currently on the roster that can match Linval Joseph's size in the middle of the line. The most intense training competition on the defensive line should be for the fourth defensive end spot. The top contenders are 2014 third-round pick Scott Crichton, Justin Trattou, Zach Moore, and 2016 seventh-round pick Stephen Weatherly. Any of the four can win the competition.

Linebacker
The Vikings linebacker position starts with the UCLA kids. Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks. Barr at strong-side linebacker. Kendricks at middle linebacker. They are the present and future of the middle of the defense. Barr is approaching surperstar status. He might already be there. With the frequency with which the Vikings are in their nickel defense to cope with the pass-happy offenses of the NFL Barr and Kendricks are often the only linebackers on the field. The training camp competition will be for the third (weak-side) linebacker spot in the base defense. Long-time starter, and defensive leader Chad Greenway has stated that this will likely be his final season. He enters camp as the starter. Free agent addition Emmanuel Lamur will provide strong competition. Lamur might be new the team but he isn't new to Zimmer's defense. In fact, Lamur might have as much experience in the defense as any player outside of corner Terence Newman. Zimmer was Lamur's defensive coordinator the first two years of his career and he's been playing in the defense for all of his four years in the league. He has unique coverage skills for a linebacker. Second-year linebacker Edmond Robinson could be the wild card of the group. He has Barr-like length and athleticism.

Cornerback
Xavier Rhodes has one corner spot covered. He has the size and talent to break out as one of the best young players in the league at the position. The ageless Terence Newman was the starter at the other spot last year at 37. He returns as a leader, mentor, and potential starter at 38. But, 2015 top pick Trae Waynes should be ready to take the spot. Like Rhodes, Waynes has the size and skills to be a top corner. Newman provides excellent depth. At nickel, Captain Munnerlyn returns after a very good 2015 season. Second-round pick Mackensie Alexander has the talent to challenge Munnerlyn in camp but his time will probably come next year. He'll provide excellent depth this year. Marcus Sherels should round out the corner group. He's one of the Vikings top special teams performers and one of the league's best punt returners. I can't recall the Vikings ever having this much depth at the corner position. Rhodes, Waynes, Newman, Munnerlyn, and Alexander. That's a terrific 5-deep blend of talent, youth, and experience.

Safety
At safety, the Vikings have Harrison Smith at one spot and as many as five players competing for the chance to start opposite him. The safety and offensive line competitions will be the most-watched of training camp. This one is wide open as Andrew Sendejo, Michael Griffin, Antone Exum Jr., Anthony Harris, and rookie Jayron Kearse will all probably be given a shot to start. Sendejo has been a starter for most of the past two seasons. He was signed to a contract extension this offseason. That had more to do with his value on special teams than his continued hold on the safety position. He's had his moments on defense but the coaches want a player with a greater variety of skills. If he doesn't keep his starting status, Sendejo provides excellent depth. Griffin was signed as a free agent this offseason. He was a terrific player for the Tennessee Titans for several seasons but his best days are behind him. Sendejo and Griffin likely enter training camp at the top of the depth chart but the hunch here is that it's time for one of the youngsters to grab the job. Exum is probably the most physically gifted of the bunch. If his awareness and understanding of the nuances of Zimmer's defense ever catches up with his athletic ability the Vikings could have a star. This is a big camp for him. Harris is a tall, lanky defender that seems to understand the nuances of Zimmer's defense. Kearse is a freakishly sized athlete at 6'4" and 215 lbs. You can't teach that. The perfect safety to pair with Harrison Smith is probably a combination of the five players competing for the job. Each offers something different. This will be a fascinating training camp competition.

The Minnesota Vikings defense was pretty much a disaster as recently as 2013. Mike Zimmer's arrival in 2014 changed that. This is now one of the top defenses in the league. And it's getting better.

Vikings Training Camp Competitions: Offense

On Thursday, he Minnesota Vikings return to Mankato State University for training camp for the 51st time. There's a lot of optimism in Minnesota these days. A beautiful new stadium, a fantastic head coach, and a young talented football team are pretty much the reasons for that optimism. Many positions are set on the team. Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson will be in the offensive backfield. Everson Griffen will be rushing the passer. Anthony Barr will be doing quite a bit of everything. Harrison Smith will be everywhere. There will still be enough position competition to spice up every practice and preseason game until the Vikings travel to Tennessee on September 11. Some of the positions may have as many as five contenders for the job. Here's a look at some of those competitions on the offensive side of the ball.

Offensive line
The contenders:
Just about everyone

The Vikings offensive line was a mess in 2015. It wasn't so hot in 2014 either. The line has to play better if the optimism for 2016 is to become something real. Tony Sparano was brought in to coach the line. Guard Alex Boone and tackle Andre Smith were added in free agency. Center John Sullivan returns healthy after missing the entire 2015 season to back issues. Willie Beavers was added in the draft. Head coach Mike Zimmer said this offseason that the offensive line was missing a voice, an attitude, a little bit of the nasty that every line needs to be effective in the NFL. Bringing in Sparano will change that. Adding Boone will change that. Competition for nearly every spot on the offensive line will change that. There are 15 offensive linemen on the roster. Six of those players have started at least 50 NFL games. Eight have at least one full season of NFL starting experience. Ten have at least one start. Those players expect to start but only five of them will. Vikings beat writer Matt Vensel, of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, even went so far as to consider Matt Kalil, Alex Boone, Joe Berger, and T.J. Clemmings as the only locks to make the team. I'd throw in rookie Willie Beavers. But, that's just me. On the surface Vensel's prediction seems absurd but he's probably more right than wrong. The line will be shaken up this training camp and the cuts could be surprising.

Left tackle
This job is Matt Kalil's to lose. He was the fourth pick of the 2012 NFL Draft but he hasn't played to that level since his rookie season. His second and third seasons weren't so good. His fourth was an improvement. His fifth must be much better or he won't be in Minnesota in 2017. He has the natural talent to be great. The sort of natural talent that gets a player drafted fourth overall. The hope here is that the training camp competition, the addition of Sparano coaching him, and Boone playing next to him will bring out the best in Kalil. Bring out some of that nasty in him. T.J. Clemmings started all 16 games at right tackle last year. He's been moved to the left side and will compete with Kalil.

Left guard
This is the one spot on the line that can be written in ink. This spot belongs to Alex Boone. His energy, his intensity, his personality is such a boon to this position group.

Center
John Sullivan had been the Vikings starting center since 2009 until a back issues wiped out his 2015 season. Joe Berger started and played well in his place last season. The center competition probably comes down to Sullivan vs. Berger but youngsters Nick Easton and Zac Kerin should be in the mix. It really isn't fair but one thing working against Berger is his versatility. He can play, and play really well, all three interior line positions. He may be more valuable to the team as a backup to those three positions than a starter at one of them. Especially with the limited roster space available on game day.

Right guard
Brandon Fusco was moved to left guard last year after playing really well at right guard for a few seasons. He struggled on the left side. Those struggles and Boone's presence put him back on the right side. He will compete with Mike Harris in training camp. Harris, a converted right tackle, was a nice surprise at right guard last season. Rookie Willie Beavers was drafted as a tackle, is listed as a tackle, and his future might be as a tackle but I have a feeling that he could be part of the right guard competition this summer.

Right tackle
The right tackle competition changed before it got started when Phil Loadholt retired on Monday. He had been the Vikings starting right tackle since he was selected in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He rarely missed a game in his first five seasons. The last two have been a whole other story. A torn pectoral muscle wiped out the last quarter of the 2014 season. A torn achilles tendon wiped out his entire 2015 season. That's a tough injury for a big man to overcome. Loadholt suffered some sort of setback since mini-camp and decided that the injuries have just become too much to overcome. He'll be missed. On the field and off. Andre Smith was added in free agency to compete with Loadholt. Now the right tackle job is his to lose. Smith had been a solid starter for the Cincinnati Bengals since he was selected with the sixth pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. Competition for the Vikings job could come from youngsters Austin Shepherd, Carter Bykowski, Jeremiah Sirles, and possibly the rookie Beavers. If he's not at guard.

Receiver
The competition at receiver is more about the order of the depth chart than who makes the team. Unless something stunning happens in Mankato the six receivers on the Vikings 2016 roster should like this.

Stefon Diggs
Laquon Treadwell
Jarius Wright
Charles Johnson
Cordarrelle Patterson
Adam Thielen

Stefon Diggs is probably the one sure starter. Charles Johnson enters training camp as the other starter. Laquon Treadwell was the Vikings first round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He has the talent to be a star. Jarius Wright has made the slot position his own but can play outside the numbers as well. He's a solid, underrated football player that just makes plays. Often of the big, move-the-chains variety. With only four years in the league, Wright is also the veteran leader of a very young group. A very young group that is versatile and talented. Cordarrelle Patterson is the wildcard of the group. It would be wrong to call Patterson a bust. He's the most explosive kick returner in the league. The Vikings selected him in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft to be more than a kick returner. He's such an electric player with the ball in his hands and so physically gifted that he has to be more than just a kick returner. He's done basically nothing on offense the last two years. As with Kalil at left tackle, 2016 could be Patterson's last shot at showing the Vikings that he can be a cornerstone player in Minnesota. Patterson's biggest problem seems to be that football has always come so easy for him. He's never had to work at the nuances of the receiver position. He's finally done that this offseason. He's done it on his own and he's joined his fellow receivers in "passing camps" with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. If the OTAs and mini-camps are any indication, Patterson may finally become the receiver that the Vikings drafted him to be. Adam Thielen is a special teams dynamo. A fixture and play-maker on each of the units. He also makes strong contributions on offense. Moritz Boehringer was drafted in the sixth round out of Germany. He's new to the game and so raw as a player but he's 6'4", 230 lbs and runs a 4.4 40. You can't teach that. There was a time not long after the draft that I thought that the Vikings had to keep him on the roster because they couldn't risk losing him by putting him on the practice squad. I'm not so sure that's the case anymore. Unless he makes incredible progress during training camp he's just too raw right now to keep on the 53-man roster. If he can make that leap then things might really heat up for the receivers in Mankato.

Tomorrow: The defensive training camp competitions.

Youthful Vikes

There's a lot of excitement about the immediate future of the Minnesota Vikings. Much of that excitement is due to the young talent on the roster. Here are the ages of a projected starting lineup.

Quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater, 23

Running back
Adrian Peterson, 31

Fullback
Zach Line, 26

Receivers
Stefon Diggs, 22
Laquon Treadwell, 21

Tight end
Kyle Rudolph. 26

Tackles
Matt Kalil, 27
Andre Smith, 29

Guards
Alex Boone, 29
Brandon Fusco, 26

Center
John Sullivan, 30

Defensive end
Everson Griffen, 28
Brian Robison, 33

Defensive tackle
Linval Joseph, 27
Sharrif Floyd, 25

Linebackers
Anthony Barr, 24
Eric Kendricks, 24
Chad Greenway, 33

Cornerbacks
Xavier Rhodes, 26
Trae Waynes, 23

Safeties
Harrison Smith, 27
Anthony Harris, 24

Kicker
Blair Walsh, 26

Punter
Jeff Locke, 26

Long snapper
Kevin McDdermott, 26

Adrian Peterson, John Sullivan, Brian Robison, Chad Greenway are the only projected starters that are 30 or over. Peterson doesn't really count due to his being ageless as a genetic freak. Sullivan will be spending much of training camp fending off youngsters Nick Easton and Zac Kerin. It's quite possible, even likely, that Robison will give way to 21-year old Danielle Hunter. As a rookie last year, Hunter was the youngest player in the league at 20. He's still one of the younger players in the league in his second year. The freakishly talented Hunter has the potential to be a star. He's ready to start now but the Vikings and Hunter might be best served with Robison starting and Hunter coming in as a situational pass rusher. Besides, Robison is a solid starter and defensive leader. No matter how it plays out the Vikings rotate all of their defensive linemen on a regular basis. It's a very deep group and the coaches take advantage of it. Chad Greenway has already announced that 2016 will be his final season. He's been such a great member of the Vikings. On the field and off. He's had a terrific career. His playing time has been reduced in recent years due to the increasing frequency with which the Vikings are in a nickel defense. They were in their base defense, with three linebackers, on only about a third of the defensive snaps last season. That has greatly reduced Greenway's time on the field. That reduced playing time decreases the wear and tear on his body and keeps him fresh for a 16+-game season. 27-year old free agent addition Emmanuel Lamur will challenge Greenway in training camp.

Of the 88 players on the roster, 50 are 25 years of age or younger. The majority of those players are the cornerstones of the Vikings team moving forward. They still have a nice mix of seasoned veteran players. 10 players are 30 or older.

Terence Newman, CB, 37
Shaun Hill, QB, 36
Joe Berger, G/C, 34
Chad Greenway, LB, 33
Brian Robison, DE, 33
Adrian Peterson, RB, 31
Michael Griffin, S, 31
Tom Johnson, DT, 31
John Sullivan, C, 30
Phil Loadholt, T, 30

Terence Newman is an ageless defensive back in the mold of Charles Woodson, Darrell Green, and Deion Sanders. He may not be as high profile as those three but he's been a similar sort of ageless marvel. He was solid as a starter last season but he should give way this year to last year's first round pick Trae Waynes. With his playing experience, and especially his experience in Mike Zimmer's defense, Newman is as much player-coach as player for the Vikings.

Shaun Hill is the veteran backup to Teddy Bridgewater. He has experience in Norv Turner's offense. He's on the roster more as a mentor for the young quarterbacks than as a player. If Bridgewater was out for an extended period of time, I wouldn't be surprised to see 23-year old Taylor Heinicke to get the call.

Joe Berger can play any of the interior line positions. He took over the starting center position last season when John Sullivan was lost to a back injury. He was probably the most consistent Vikings offensive lineman. His ability to cover three positions makes him as valuable as any lineman on the roster.

Michael Griffin was brought in as a free agent this offseaon. He was one of the better safeties in the league a few years ago but those years are likely behind him. Vikings defensive backs coach Jerry Gray was Griffen's defensive coordinator in Tennessee so there's some familiarity. If Griffin doesn't win the safety starting spot opposite Harrison Smith I doubt that he makes the team. They have too many younger safeties if Griffin isn't the starter.

Tom Johnson might be over 30 but he's still fairly new to the NFL. This will only be his sixth season. His road to the league was a circuitous one. He's a terrific situational pass rusher. His limited number of snaps helps preserve his 31-year old body.

Like Sullivan, Phil Loadholt missed the entire 2015 season. He's a very large man coming back from a torn achilles tendon. When healthy Loadholt has been a solid starter but he hasn't been able to avoid injuries the past two seasons. That uncertainty forced the Vikings to add Andre Smith in free agency. The Loadholt-Smith right tackle battle should be one of the more interesting battles of training camp.

Update: It's being reported that Loadholt plans to retire. It's sad that the injuries of the last two seasons took such a toll on his body. He'll be missed. On the field and off. 

The Vikings are a very young football team. They mix two handfuls of players over 30 years of age into that youth. Other than the ageless Adrian Peterson those players are more complimentary but their leadership is invaluable. It's the young football talent that make the Vikings an intriguing team now and in the coming years.

RIP Coach Green

I was saddened and shocked to hear that Dennis Green had died Thursday night. 67 is far too young.

As a Cal fan and a Minnesota Vikings fan, I was delighted when the Vikings hired Green in 1992 to be the fourth (actually 5th but I have a hard time counting Les Steckel) head coach in franchise history. As a Cal fan I was delighted that he was leaving Stanford. As a Vikings fan I was delighted that he was coming to Minnesota. I liked his coaching experience with the San Francisco 49ers and Bill Walsh and I was impressed with what he was doing at Stanford as their head coach. He lost more than he won in his three years there but he had the Cardinal pointed in the right direction. I didn't much care for that direction so the Vikings swooped in at the perfect time. For Cal and for the Vikings.

Dennis Green coached the Vikings for ten seasons. That's second in tenure only to Bud Grant's 18 years in franchise history. Green brought football fun back to Minnesota. Despite losing four Super Bowls, the Vikings were one of the best teams in football from 1969 through most of the 1970s. Except for a nice little stretch at the end of the decade, Vikings football was more miss than hit in the 1980s. Green might have been a little abrasive at times but in terms of winning football games he made the 1990s feel a little bit like the 1970s in Minnesota. In his ten years he took the Vikings to the playoffs eight times. That's made even more impressive by the fact that seven different quarterbacks led those eight teams into the playoffs. The lack of a franchise quarterback was often viewed as a criticism of Green. People tend to forget that unless you're the Green Bay Packers or Indianapolis Colts finding a franchise quarterback isn't that easy. Green's last quarterback was supposed to be the end of the Vikings long search for a franchise quarterback. Daunte Culpepper. If Green's coaching career hadn't ended with the disastrous 2001 season, who knows where the Green-Culpepper union would have gone.

Listening to the coaches that coached with and for Dennis Green and the players that played for him has sure brought back memories of those Vikings teams and those times. Sometimes the last days are the only days that you remember of a person or a time. The 2001 Vikings season was horrible in so many ways. The 2000 season ended and the 2001 calendar year started with that disastrous 41-0 thrashing by the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game. Running back Robert Smith shocked everyone by retiring at the age of 28 a few weeks later. The Vikings team and the NFL were rocked by the tragic death of Korey Stringer during training camp. 15 years later, I still have vivid images of Cris Carter, Randy Moss, and Dennis Green trying to deal with and make sense of the sudden loss of Big K. Then the whole world was floored by 9/11. It was the sort of year that you just want to forget. The sort of year in which a football season has little importance. It was the sort of year in which Vikings owner Red McCombs decided to end Dennis Green's time in Minnesota. As much as I want to forget about that 2001 season it's often the time that I remember first when I think of Green's Vikings coaching career. That's unfortunate because Vikings football was fun again in the 1990s. Especially 1998.

The Minnesota Vikings 1998 season was a thrill from start to the stunning, disappointing finish. The Vikings had a pretty good offense before 1998. That was one of the givens with a Dennis Green-led team. The offense could score. No matter who or what was under center. Then they happily scooped up Randy Moss with the 21st pick of the 1998 NFL Draft. Green gets a lot of credit for his shrewd decision to take a chance on Moss. Personally, I felt that Green should have been shown the door if he hadn't taken a chance on this unbelievably, freakishly talented football player. How can anyone pass on a player like this? Thankfully, enough teams found a reason to do so. With Moss, the Vikings 1998 offense became ridiculous and Green just turned it all loose. It was a blast. They could score from anywhere on the field and whenever they wanted. In many of the games it felt like they were just toying with their opponent. Toying with them like a cat would a mouse. I often wished that the defense was a little better but they did enough. They even scored some points of their own. It was an amazing season that ended a game sooner than it was supposed to end.

Dennis Green was an excellent football coach. He was a player's coach. He knew when to press a player. He knew when to back off of a player. He was also patient with players. That was especially evident with the manner in which he handled the development of Jake Reed and Robert Smith. Reed took a while to adjust to the NFL. It wasn't until his fourth year in the league before he did anything of note. Some coaches would have booted him long before that. Green didn't and Reed rewarded him with four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Injuries threatened to derail Smith's career before it ever got started. It was year five before he was able to stay on the field for the majority of a season. Some coaches wouldn't have waited. Green did and as a result the Vikings had one of the most dangerous backs in the league. Perhaps Green's best trait as a head coach was simply letting his assistant coaches coach. It seems so simple but some head coaches can't let go and let the people that they hired do their jobs. Green was an offensive football coach yet he let offensive coordinator Brian Billick run the offense without interference. He did that with all of his coaches. He just let them have a say and do their jobs. It helps when you've hired talent football coaches like Tony Dungy, Tyrone Willingham, Tom Moore, Monte Kiffin, John Michels, Mike Tice, Chip Myers, Willie Shaw, and Billick. Green let his coaches coach and his players play. Seems too simple but some coaches simply don't get it. Dennis Green did.

RIP Coach Green. And thank you for bringing the fun back to Minnesota Vikings football.

Training Camps Are Here! Almost.

The New Orleans Saints welcomed their rookies to training camp on Wednesday. The Baltimore Ravens brought their rookies in yesterday. The Green Bay Packers will have rookies and veterans showing up for football work on Monday. By this time next week all 32 teams will be hard at work preparing for the 2016 NFL season. Football is back! Almost.

Here are the reporting dates for all 32 teams.

Green Bay Packers: July 25
Rookies: July 25

Indianapolis Colts: July 26
Rookies: July 26

Atlanta Falcons: July 27
Rookies: July 27

Baltimore Ravens: July 27
Rookies: July 22

Carolina Panthers: July 27
Rookies: July 27

Chicago Bears: July 27
Rookies: July 27

Denver Broncos: July 27
Rookies: July 24

Jacksonville Jaguars: July 27
Rookies: July 25

New England Patriots: July 27
Rookies: July 24

New Orleans Saints: July 27
Rookies: July 20

New York Jets: July 27
Rookies: July 27

Philadelphia Eagles: July 27
Rookies: July 24

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: July 27
Rookies: July 25

Washington Redskins: July 27
Rookies: July 27

Arizona Cardinals: July 28
Rookies: July 25

Cincinnati Bengals: July 28
Rookies: July 26

Cleveland Browns: July 28
Rookies: July 25

Detroit Lions: July 28
Rookies: July 23

Miami Dolphins: July 28
Rookies: July 28

Minnesota Vikings: July 28
Rookies: July 28

New York Giants: July 28
Rookies: July 28

Oakland Raiders: July 28
Rookies: July 24

Pittsburgh Steelers: July 28
Rookies: July 27

Buffalo Bills: July 29
Rookies: July 28

Dallas Cowboys: July 29
Rookies: July 29

Kansas City Chiefs: July 29
Rookies: July 26

Los Angeles Rams: July 29
Rookies: 27

San Diego Chargers: July 29
Rookies: July 29

Seattle Seahawks: July 29
Rookies: July 29

Tennessee Titans: July 29
Rookies: July 29

Houston Texans: July 30
Rookies: July 25

San Francisco 49ers: July 30
Rookies: July 30

The 49ers are the last to get the gang together. The Chipper is taking it easy on his new team. Maybe.

Football is almost here!

Top Selling Jerseys

Here are the top selling jerseys based on sales from April 1-June 30 on NFLShop.com.

1. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

2. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

3. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants

4. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

5. Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots

6. Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

Ezekiel Elliott has the league's best-selling jersey. That's a very nice showing for a player that's yet to take his first NFL snap. Carson Wentz is another rookie with a strong jersey showing. If things go as planned for the Eagles and their rookie quarterback, Wentz isn't even going to see the field this year. Rookies always have an edge in jersey sales due to the simple fact that they are new to the league. No fans have those jerseys so they jump at the chance to get them. Even if those rookies aren't going to play. Tom Brady's place at #2 is the more impressive showing. Perhaps Patriots fans are showing their support for their suspended and supposedly disrespected hero. They love that Gronkowski fellow too.

Where's Jared Goff? Two rookies made the top-6 in jersey sales but neither was the first pick in the NFL Draft. The Los Angeles Rams selected former Cal quarterback Jared Goff with that first pick. It's the perfect mix for the top-selling jersey. The Rams return to Los Angeles and they select a quarterback with the first pick in the draft. A tall, blonde, California quarterback at that. The fans should be in a frenzy but it's southern California. They move at a little different pace. Goff's jersey probably isn't too far behind Wentz. As are some of the new players in new places like DeMarco Murray, Josh Norman, and Brock Osweiler.

Training camps can't open soon enough.

Throwback Thursday: NFL Career Receptions Leaders

It's fun to take a peak at the NFL's career leaders lists. In the case of career receptions it will be a long time before we see any movement at the very top of the list. Jerry Rice put the record so far out there that he's in a class by himself. It might surprise some that a tight end is #2. Tony Gonzalez would have thrown a scare into Rice if he'd played another five seasons. While it will take a while for receivers to approach the reception numbers put up by Rice, and even Gonzalez, it shouldn't be considered impossible. The football is just being thrown so often these days. In 2002, Marvin Harrison had a ridiculous 144 receptions. That number felt as untouchable as Rice's career mark. Now, it doesn't feel so untouchable. Antonio Brown and Julio Jones each caught 136 passes last year. Brown's 136 receptions was only seven more than his 2014 total of 129. 265 receptions in only two seasons! And it feels like Brown is just getting started. After only six seasons he's #109 on the career receptions list with 526. If he can keep up his pace of the past two seasons for another eight season he'll pass Rice. That would be something.

Here are the NFL's Top-30 in career receptions

1	Jerry Rice	1,549	1985-2004	3TM
2	Tony Gonzalez	1,325	1997-2013	2TM
3	Marvin Harrison	1,102	1996-2008	clt
4	Cris Carter	1,101	1987-2002	3TM
5	Tim Brown	1,094	1988-2004	2TM
6	Terrell Owens	1,078	1996-2010	5TM
7	Reggie Wayne	1,070	2001-2014	clt
8	Andre Johnson	1,053	2003-2015	2TM
9	Isaac Bruce	1,024	1994-2009	2TM
10	Jason Witten	1,020	2003-2015	dal
11	Larry Fitzgerald	1,018	2004-2015	crd
12	Anquan Boldin	1,009	2003-2015	3TM
13	Hines Ward	1,000	1998-2011	pit
14	Randy Moss	982	1998-2012	5TM
15	Steve Smith	961	2001-2015	2TM
16	Andre Reed	951	1985-2000	2TM
17	Derrick Mason	943	1997-2011	4TM
18	Art Monk	940	1980-1995	3TM
19	Torry Holt	920	1999-2009	2TM
20	Wes Welker	903	2004-2015	5TM
21	Keenan McCardell	883	1992-2007	5TM
22	Brandon Marshall	882	2006-2015	4TM
23	Jimmy Smith	862	1992-2005	2TM
24	Muhsin Muhammad	860	1996-2009	2TM
25	Irving Fryar	851	1984-2000	4TM
26	Rod Smith	849	1995-2006	den
27	Antonio Gates	844	2003-2015	sdg
28	Larry Centers	827	1990-2003	4TM
29	Steve Largent	819	1976-1989	sea
30	Shannon Sharpe	815	1990-2003	2TM

I wanted to hit #30 because I remember the day in 1987 that Steve Largent passed Charlie Joiner. Art Monk passed Largent five years later. Then Rice took the record to a whole other orbit.

Of the top-30 on the receptions list, eight are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Jerry Rice
Marvin Harrison
Cris Carter
Tim Brown
Andre Reed
Art Monk
Steve Largent
Shannon Sharpe

Tony Gonzalez should join those eight as soon as he's eligible in 2018. Terrell Owens missed in his first year of eligibility but should get in soon. Despite some issues with actually catching a football. Receiver is arguably the most competitive position for Hall of Fame admittance. The voters have chipped away at the receiver logjam in recent years but there are still a lot of deserving players waiting for that call. Owens, Isaac Bruce, and Torry Holt are at the top of the list. Hines Ward and Randy Moss will join the line, perhaps move to the front of it, in the next couple of years. Reggie Wayne a few years after that. Derrick Mason is a receiver that I feel should get some Hall of Fame attention. He had a terrific, consistent career. Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell did as well. While Mason, McCardell, and Smith should be in the conversation they are probably closer to Hall of Very Good. Steve Smith, Anquan Boldin, and Andre Johnson are nearing the end of their great careers. Larry Fitzgerald, Jason Witten, and Antonio Gates are not too far behind them. All had Hall of Fame careers.

One of the more interesting, but not unexpected, things about the receptions list is the lack of players that started their careers before the AFL-NFL merger. Running the football was by far the preferred mode of moving it in those days so there were a limited number of passes to catch. Joiner started his career in 1969. He's sitting at #38 on the receptions list with 750. Charley Taylor started in 1964. He's at #54 with 649. Raymond Berry and Don Maynard are the really old guys. They started their great careers in the 1950s. Berry (1955-67) was Johnny Unitas's favorite pass catcher and caught 631. He's at #57. Maynard (1958-73) is at #56 with 633. There was a time when their totals paced the NFL. That was a long time ago.

Flea Flicker Top-15 Head Coaches

Finishing the Top-15 series with the coaches. Here are the Flea Flicker Top-15 Head Coaches entering the 2016 NFL season.

15. Todd Bowles, New York Jets
This is probably a little optimistic but I think that Bowles is an outstanding football coach. He's one of the most aggressive and effective defensive play-callers in the league.

14. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals were a mess before Lewis was hired way back in 2003. Now they are an annual playoff contender. If he could win some playoff games he'd soar up this list.

13. Bill O'Brien, Houston Texans
O'Brien has lead the Texans to 9-7 records in each of his two seasons as head coach. Considering the revolving door of mediocre quarterbacks that he's had under center that's damn near miraculous.

12. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
Reid gets his teams into the playoffs as a matter of routine.

11. John Fox, Chicago Bears
Fox got the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl. He got the Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl. It looks like it's taken him a single season to get the Bears pointed in the right direction.

10. Gary Kubiak, Denver Broncos
A Super Bowl win should have a coach higher than #10 but that has more to do with the coaches ahead of him. Unfortunately for Kubiak everyone wants to give credit for that Super Bowl win to defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Nobody matter how hard you try to explain it away Kubiak is a very good football coach.

  9. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
Winning a Super Bowl so early in his coaching career put Tomlin in a precarious spot. Where do you go from there? He always seems to have a great rapport with his team and he always has them ready to play every game.

  8. Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers
It helps to have Aaron Rodgers throwing passes for your team but McCarthy does have the Packers in contention every season. The offense does look more crisp when he's calling the plays.

  7. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
Payton and quarterback Drew Brees are so great together. Even though the Saints are finding wins harder to come by these days, Payton is still one of the best play-callers in the league.

  6. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Last year was a rough year for Ravens. To reach five wins was a surprising achievement for Harbaugh considering all of the injuries that his team suffered. He should have his team back in playoff contention as usual.

  5. Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
It's tough to imagine now but there was a time not long ago that Rivera was on the hot seat. His job is secure now but he can't rest on a mere Super Bowl appearance.

  4. Mike Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings
If the Vikings improve on last year, Zimmer will jump to #2 on this list. As a Vikings fan, I thank every team that passed on him for their head coaching job. He's been coaching since 1979 and this is his first shot at leading his own team. He's simply a great football coach. And players love playing for him.

  3. Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are the oldest team in the NFL. The hiring of Arians in 2013 is arguably the best decision this franchise has ever made. He's a fantastic football coach. As with Zimmer, it's stunning that it took so long for Arians to get an NFL head coaching job.

  2. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
The manner in which Carroll bolted from USC still bothers me but there's no doubt that he can coach.

  1. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
Some love him. Others hate him. Everyone respects him. Belichick is the best coach in the league and it isn't even close. He's among the best in the history of the league.