Some Football Thoughts

 Here some of the football thoughts that have been on my mind. 

1. The San Francisco 49ers dismantled the Green Bay Packers in last year's NFC Championship game. The two teams have a rematch tonight. They won't be playing for a shot at the Super Bowl. It's a Week 9 game. It will also be a very different 49ers team. Here's the offense that San Francisco might be trotting out for their first play of the game.

QB Nick Mullens

RB Jerick McKinnon

FB Kyle Juszczyk 

TE Ross Dwelley

LT Justin Skule

LG Laken Tomlinson

C Hroniss Grasu

RG Daniel Brunskill

RT Mike McGlinchey 

WR Richie James

WR Trent Taylor

Only McGlinchey, Tomlinson, and Juszczyk played for the Super Bowl last year. Injuries and COVID have dismantled the 49ers roster this season. Injuries and trades have changed the look of the 49ers defense as well. 

2. With the Houston Texans plucking Josh McCown off of the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles it's a fine time to review his remarkable professional football journey.

Arizona Cardinals

Detroit Lions

Oakland Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Carolina Panthers

Hartford Colonials (UFL)

San Francisco 49ers

Chicago Bears

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cleveland Browns

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Houston Texans

That's a lot of jerseys and moving. 

3. Here are the origins of the defensive starters that the Minnesota Vikings put on the field last Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

DE: 7th-round pick

DE: 4th-round pick

DT: 7th-round pick

DT: 4th-round pick

LB: Undrafted

LB: 2nd-round pick

LB: 4th-round pick

CB: 3rd-round pick

CB: 1st-round pick

   S: 1st-round pick

   S: Undrafted

Mike Zimmer and his defensive coaches have had to scramble to put their defense together this season. They had to look under rocks for corners at the end of the Packers' game. 

4. Between Sunday's game and tonight's game the Packers have had to prepare for a couple familiar teams that aren't familiar at all. 

5. Dalvin Cook sure is a fun back to watch. 

6. The Minnesota Vikings play the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Division game. Gotta get on a roll in order to right a terrible start. The Lions have routinely been a nuisance for the Vikings. There are the usual talking points when talking about an upcoming football game. This week there's this: Adrian Peterson and Everson Griffen. They'll be in the wrong uniform on Thursday. That'll be tough to see. Peterson and Griffen are all-time Vikings players. Each was the heartbeat of the their respective Minnesota teams. For their incredible football talent and for the heart with which they played, each are among my favorite players. Peterson will be in Canton five years after he retires. I'll be there. I've sadly gotten use to seeing great Vikings playing for other teams. All 13 Vikings players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame spent time with other teams. Peterson and Griffen in the wrong uniform will be tough to see on Sunday. 

7. How about that 2020 NFL Trade Deadline. Scintillating.