10 Things

I'm stealing this idea from Sports Illustrated and Monday Morning Quarterback writer Peter King. And probably others as well. Here are 10 Things that have been on my mind recently. Perhaps it'd be more original if I only thought about eight things.

1. I'd like to believe that Colin Kaepernick's continued unemployment has nothing to do with collusion, a word that has become way to common these ridiculous days, but it's hard not to wonder when Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll tosses out his remarkable reason for not signing the quarterback. "He's too good to be a backup." Or something like that. I've never heard of a player not being added to a roster because he's "too good." It's just too stupid to believe.

2. More on the Kaepernick front. I've stayed away from the nonsense surrounding his protests simply because I prefer to stick to football. It's more simple and more fun. That doesn't mean that I haven't thought about it. Kaepernick had every right to do what he did. I also think that it was necessary due to the sad fact that this country is completely out of control in regards to race relations and basic respect for others. The 1968 anthem protests of Tommie Smith and John Carlos were a little before my awareness of things like that but I feel that Kaepernick's actions has ignited more positive conversation about this country's disappointing race issues than any single act in my lifetime. That's a good thing.

3. One last thing on respect for the National Anthem. Throughout all of this protest nonsense I've thought about the Bud Grant-coached Minnesota Vikings teams of the late 1960s into the 1980s. They practiced standing for the playing of the National Anthem. The flag and the song were that important to Grant. The entire team was lined up along the sideline, helmet under one arm, perfectly still. The team was something beautiful to behold during those few minutes. Those Vikings teams actually practiced for the playing of the National Anthem. Imagine that. Compared to them, every team on the opposite sideline and nearly every fan in the stands were disrespecting the flag and the song. Compared to them, every other team might as well have been kneeling. The contrast was that striking.

4. Football is fun.

5. Training camps are creeping closer. But mid-June to mid-July is the longest ~30 days on the football calendar.

6. I'm going to lose my damn mind if another reporter asks Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer or general manager Rick Spielman about Teddy Bridgewater's rehab timeline. Both are asked the question at every opportunity. Even if it was asked the day before. Or earlier in the same damn day. I can answer the question for them. No one knows when Bridgewater will return and that answer won't change no matter how many times the question is asked. Every injury is different. Every person is different. Every recovery is different. Bridgewater will be back when his doctor's clear him.

7. More Bridgewater. I find it a little unethical and very irresponsible for doctors that haven't treated a player's injury to give a diagnosis for that particular player's injury. Sure, they can speak to the general injury and that can be quite informative to a naive and gullible public but speaking to the specific's of a particular player, a particular injury, and a particular recovery isn't right.

8. When word got out that the New York Jets will either trade or release receiver Eric Decker, Vikings fans and beat writers were all over the possible addition of the receiver. Why? Is it his Minnesota roots? Is it his size and receiving skills? Or is it simply because every player that becomes available should be a target of the Vikings? It's good business practice for every team to at least consider each player that comes available. I doubt that Decker will be anything more than a consideration for the Vikings. They added Michael Floyd, a similarly sized and experienced receiver with Minnesota ties, a few weeks ago. It's no stretch to think that the team would like to see last year's top draft pick Laquon Treadwell, a similar sort of receiver, develop into the player that they drafted him to be. Adding Decker could get in the way of that development. Personally, I'd rather see the Vikings develop a youngster like Isaac Fruechte, another big receiver with Minnesota ties, than add an older player. Decker's 30 and injuries are starting to come with greater frequency. Despite his skills and experience I'm not sure that he would even make the team. Even if he did it could come at the expense of a player with greater future upside.

9. People in a lather over Adrian Peterson's "five more years" goal haven't been paying attention. He's been setting goals such as this since he entered the league in 2007. He routinely sets high goals, perhaps impossible goals, for himself. He always has and always will. 2,500 yards? That's his goal every season. Why set a goal that's within reach when you want to reach further? Peterson's drive to do more, do what hasn't been done, do what can't be done is what's made him the best running back of his generation, of any generation. I'm going to miss seeing him in a Minnesota Vikings uniform.

10. As much as I'm going to miss #28 I'm excited to see the Vikings' new runners. Dalvin Cook, Latavius Murray, and Jerick McKinnon.

There's ten of the things that I've been thinking about recently.