Minnesota Vikings 1998 Draft
1. Randy Moss WR Marshall
2. Kailee Wong LB Stanford
3. Ramos McDonald DB New Mexico
4. Kivuusama Mays LB North Carolina
5. Kerry Cooks S Iowa
6. Matt Birk T Harvard
7a. Chester Burnett LB Arizona
7b. Tony Darden CB Texas Tech
The incredible rookie season of Randy Moss helped make the Minnesota Vikings 1998 offense one of the most explosive in NFL history. As he was taking apart defenses across the league, a Harvard-educated tackle was learning how to be a professional center. Matt Birk was a project, at best, when he was drafted. Moss made an impact immediately. He continued making an impact for the Vikings until his unfortunate trade to the Oakland Raiders following the 2004 season. Birk became the Vikings starting center in 2000. He was soon a team leader and one of the best at his newly learned position. This 1998 draft was one of the Vikings best because of Moss and Birk. The other six players did little to nothing. Wong had potential but injuries soon ended his career. Moss and Birk made a difference. They were linked by a common draft but were often at odds. Moss was a little unpredictable with an unbelievably smooth path to the NFL. Everything came easy to him in athletics. Birk was a disciplined, hard-working grunt. Few predicted an NFL career of any length. No one predicted a 15-year, nicely decorated career. Their vastly different paths resulted in vastly different views. They likely had few conversations. Some that are known weren't considered pleasant. Despite their differences they will always be linked by their common beginning.
Randy Moss and Matt Birk will always rank among my favorite Vikings players. Moss for his unbelievable talent. Birk for his unbelievable work ethic and leadership. He also has a terrific sense of humor. Humor goes a long way. I have mixed emotions in seeing both in Sunday's Super Bowl. I'd love to see both have a championship in their excellent NFL careers. It would have been best for them, and for me, to get that big win while in Minnesota. That wasn't meant to be. Moss nearly got one with New England in 2007. He gets another shot with San Francisco now. Birk gets his first shot with Baltimore. Viking gifts from 1998 are benefiting each Super Bowl team. While closing in on the end of their football careers, Moss and Birk are still making an impact. It's warming to see Moss making a tremendous contribution to the 49ers as a mentor and leader. Few have ever really given him proper credit for his football smarts. The opposite is true of Birk. Not enough people have ever really given him proper credit for his football skills. I think that Moss and Birk would get along better now. They have much more in common as older football players looking for that elusive ring. They came form the same draft with the same team to play on different teams in the same Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens are reaping the benefits of the Minnesota Vikings 1998 draft.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
What Went Wrong?
I've had 36 years to wonder why the Minnesota Vikings haven't returned to the Super Bowl. I've had just as long to wonder what went wrong in Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX and XI. They made it to four and lost all four. I remember Super Bowl XI against the Oakland Raiders very well. Super Bowl VIII against the Miami Dolphins and Super Bowl IX against the Pittsburgh Steelers I don't really remember at all. I didn't really understand the game in those early years so they were just a blur. The only thing that came out of those Super Bowls for me was my passion for the Minnesota Vikings. As such, I've gone back and watched all four many times. I've tried to understand.
So, what did go wrong? First of all, they played against four of the best teams of that era. The Kansas City Chiefs team that they were up against in Super Bowl IV was loaded. The offense was explosive. The defense was brutal. Despite the New York Jets surprising victory in Super Bowl III, the upstart AFL still received no respect. That Chiefs team was terrific. The Dolphins, Steelers and Raiders were three of the best teams during the '70s. The Steelers of that decade is one of the greatest teams in history. The Vikings lost to very strong teams. Still, the Vikings teams that played in those Super Bowls were nothing like the Vikings teams that got there. There was something missing in each game. They didn't seem ready to play. Several years ago, while Brad Childress was coaching the Vikings, I read an evaluation of his team by an anonymous scout of an opposing team. This scout said that the Vikings don't try to out-scheme anybody. They just line up and go at it. "This is what we have. Try and stop it." That sort of mentality doesn't really fly too well anymore. Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers teams of the '60s could do it but few can now. The game just isn't that simple anymore. Whether that view is accurate is up for debate but it has some merit. Since the 2007 drafting of Adrian Peterson the Vikings have been a "line 'em up and run it" type team. The only time that changed was when Brett Favre was added to the mix in 2009. Still, Childress didn't really try to trick anyone and he didn't much care for Favre's improvising. Hearing about the possible lack of scheming in this century got me thinking about Super Bowl failures in the previous one. The Vikings of those days just kept doing what worked. They were very good at what they did but they were very predictable. I think that those great AFL/AFC teams were ready for what the Vikings did well. They were certainly more ready for the Vikings than the Vikings were for them. The Chiefs, in particular, had the Vikings on their heels the whole game. The Vikings defense played against the Chiefs offense like they'd never seen film of them before. That's no way to approach a championship game.
The Minnesota Vikings failures in the big game is a puzzle to all fans of the team. Those teams were far better than the teams that showed up in the Super Bowls. The players are even more puzzled. Everyone has theories because the Vikings performance never made sense. The bottom line is that they weren't ready. Were they overconfident? Were they out-schemed? The questions will continue to be asked until the Vikings finally win one of these damn games.
So, what did go wrong? First of all, they played against four of the best teams of that era. The Kansas City Chiefs team that they were up against in Super Bowl IV was loaded. The offense was explosive. The defense was brutal. Despite the New York Jets surprising victory in Super Bowl III, the upstart AFL still received no respect. That Chiefs team was terrific. The Dolphins, Steelers and Raiders were three of the best teams during the '70s. The Steelers of that decade is one of the greatest teams in history. The Vikings lost to very strong teams. Still, the Vikings teams that played in those Super Bowls were nothing like the Vikings teams that got there. There was something missing in each game. They didn't seem ready to play. Several years ago, while Brad Childress was coaching the Vikings, I read an evaluation of his team by an anonymous scout of an opposing team. This scout said that the Vikings don't try to out-scheme anybody. They just line up and go at it. "This is what we have. Try and stop it." That sort of mentality doesn't really fly too well anymore. Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers teams of the '60s could do it but few can now. The game just isn't that simple anymore. Whether that view is accurate is up for debate but it has some merit. Since the 2007 drafting of Adrian Peterson the Vikings have been a "line 'em up and run it" type team. The only time that changed was when Brett Favre was added to the mix in 2009. Still, Childress didn't really try to trick anyone and he didn't much care for Favre's improvising. Hearing about the possible lack of scheming in this century got me thinking about Super Bowl failures in the previous one. The Vikings of those days just kept doing what worked. They were very good at what they did but they were very predictable. I think that those great AFL/AFC teams were ready for what the Vikings did well. They were certainly more ready for the Vikings than the Vikings were for them. The Chiefs, in particular, had the Vikings on their heels the whole game. The Vikings defense played against the Chiefs offense like they'd never seen film of them before. That's no way to approach a championship game.
The Minnesota Vikings failures in the big game is a puzzle to all fans of the team. Those teams were far better than the teams that showed up in the Super Bowls. The players are even more puzzled. Everyone has theories because the Vikings performance never made sense. The bottom line is that they weren't ready. Were they overconfident? Were they out-schemed? The questions will continue to be asked until the Vikings finally win one of these damn games.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Can Only Smile
I can only smile when I hear San Francisco 49ers fans grumble about having to wait 18 years for a Super Bowl return. I've been around 49ers fans my entire life. It's always fun when they pop up again. 18 years since Steve Young and Jerry Rice carved up the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX. I can still see the Super Sunday of Super Bowl XI when the Minnesota Vikings were disposed of by another bay area team, the Oakland Raiders. I've been surrounded by their fans too. It seems that I've always been surrounded by happy football fans. Until the past 18 years. So long. I've been waiting 36 years, and counting, for a Vikings return to the Super Bowl. Oh, those red and gold clad fans have been a happy bunch for most of my football life. The recent, difficult 18 years were preceded by 14 years of dizzying success. Five Super Bowl appearances. 5 Super Bowl wins. The life of a 49ers fan hasn't been a rough football life in my lifetime. In the Super Bowl era only a handful of teams can stand as grand. Of the most successful teams, only the 49ers have left Super Bowl Sunday without a loss. The Vikings have left all four of their appearances with a loss.
I'm not crying. Really, I'm not. I've always been happy for my 49ers fan friends. They've been blessed with incredible teams. Some of the best that the football world has ever seen. Incredible coaches. Incredible football players. Losing is part of the journey. Part of the life of being a fan. It's always been my hope that the longer and more trying the wait the sweeter the win. 18 years is just not that long to wait. It's an even shorter wait if it was preceded by so many years of unbelievable success. I hope that the 49ers fans are happy Sunday night. Seeing loved ones happy is always a fine thing. I know this to be true as I've seen it five times. I hope that the younger 49ers fans, the ones that didn't know the happy days of Walsh, Montana, Lott, Rice, Craig and Young, know the experience of a Super Bowl win. I'll know that experience some day soon. Until then, I just smile when I hear how rough the last 18 years have been.
I'm not crying. Really, I'm not. I've always been happy for my 49ers fan friends. They've been blessed with incredible teams. Some of the best that the football world has ever seen. Incredible coaches. Incredible football players. Losing is part of the journey. Part of the life of being a fan. It's always been my hope that the longer and more trying the wait the sweeter the win. 18 years is just not that long to wait. It's an even shorter wait if it was preceded by so many years of unbelievable success. I hope that the 49ers fans are happy Sunday night. Seeing loved ones happy is always a fine thing. I know this to be true as I've seen it five times. I hope that the younger 49ers fans, the ones that didn't know the happy days of Walsh, Montana, Lott, Rice, Craig and Young, know the experience of a Super Bowl win. I'll know that experience some day soon. Until then, I just smile when I hear how rough the last 18 years have been.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Pro Bowl Thoughts
Some housekeeping:
The recent rumors that the New York Jets are exploring the possibility of trading cornerback Darrelle Revis are basically crap. Besides the stupidity of trading the best corner in football, how do you trade a player coming off a torn ACL? This is simply another example of the media creating a story where there isn't a story. Some mail room slappy probably wondered aloud what the Jets could get in a trade and a media slappy ran with it. Super Bowl, Senior Bowl, Hall of Fame elections, even the Pro Bowl. There's enough football to discuss without poking fun at a dysfunctional football team.
Reinstating former New Orleans Saints defensive idiot Gregg Williams is a mistake. He's the clown behind the Saints bounty fiasco and should never see another football field.
On to the Pro Bowl:
I vote for the Pro Bowl moving back to the week following the Super Bowl. The participants from the Super Bowl deserve the opportunity to join in the fun.
NFC 62
AFC 35
The NFC now leads the series 22-21.
Despite the crazy score, the effort in this edition of the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was much better than the joke that was on display last year. It was more like the game that I've watched over the past 35 years. A pick-up football game simply played for the fun of it.
One of the best things that takes place during the week in Hawaii is the players meeting and getting to know the players from other teams. Seeing Adrian Peterson and Drew Brees chatting on the sideline was cool. Hearing about Peyton Manning talking to everyone during the week is what makes the whole event great. It's what Manning has always enjoyed most about the game and I imagine that the other players feel the same. It's probably the best meet and greet that the NFL has to offer.
"Yes, there are penalties at the Pro Bowl" -Ed Hochuli
Pretty funny to see Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt split out wide on OFFENSE. Peyton Manning threw to him but it was off Watt's finger tips. The AFC repeated the stunt at the end of the game. Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul was covering him and ended up with an interception. I doubt that the Texans incorporate this in the playbook.
It was another strange scene at the start of the AFC's third possession. There was Green Bay Packers center Jeff Saturday's blue NFC jersey in the huddle with 10 players in AFC jerseys. As much as I didn't think that Saturday should even be selected for the game it was cool to see him take one last snap with Peyton Manning.
One player that's starting to get some much deserved attention is Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington. I really liked him coming out of TCU in the 2010 NFL Draft and I hoped that he'd end up in Minnesota. He made this Pro Bowl and he'll be in many more. With corner Patrick Peterson, the Cardinals have a couple of outstanding, young defensive playmakers.
Another excellent, young defensive player is Chicago Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton. He'll also make frequent postseason trips to Hawaii. Melton will be a free agent in a few weeks. I'd love to see him land in Minnesota. At the very least, it'd be nice to see him leave Chicago but I can't imagine the Bears letting him get away.
Minnesota Vikings rookie tackle Matt Kalil made his first Pro Bowl appearance at the end of the first quarter. Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake blew by him for a sack to end a promising drive. The announcers were saying that Kalil's late Friday arrival in Hawaii as the possible reason for him being a step slow. I'd say that his playing on the right side of the line was a bigger reason.
I couldn't help but notice that Kalil and his Vikings teammate Kyle Rudolph were the only NFC players to make any kind of effort to catch Derrick Johnson on his interception return for a touchdown. Perhaps that effort was due to them being in their first Pro Bowl and they didn't know any better.
I loved the NFC running back pairing of Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch. The AFC defense probably hated it.
No surprise that New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz came alive when Eli Manning entered the game.
Seeing some of these pass rushing, 3-4 linebackers trying to cover tight ends and backs is reason enough to change the selection process for linebackers. These "linebackers" don't do cover very well. These players are forced to play a position in the Pro Bowl that they simply don't play during the season. True outside linebackers like Chad Greenway and Lance Briggs are overshadowed by the glitzy sack stats of the 3-4 guys. Those sack guys should go in as defensive ends. Rushing the passer is what got them to Hawaii. Let them rush the passer, even as stand up ends.
It was great to see Vikings fullback Jerome Felton get a touchdown. Fullbacks rarely get any glory. They just do the dirty work. Felton was a big part of Peterson's incredible 2,097-yard season. He deserves all the recognition this game and that touchdown gives him.
Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier might have had a heart attack when Adrian Peterson went in on punt coverage in the fourth quarter.
Congratulations to Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph on taking home the MVP award. 5 catches, 122 yards and a touchdown. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson tried to throw him a second touchdown but Doug Martin stole it from him.
Happy Birthday Cris Collinsworth. I remember him playing in the Pro Bowl.
Now, the Super Bowl can begin.
The recent rumors that the New York Jets are exploring the possibility of trading cornerback Darrelle Revis are basically crap. Besides the stupidity of trading the best corner in football, how do you trade a player coming off a torn ACL? This is simply another example of the media creating a story where there isn't a story. Some mail room slappy probably wondered aloud what the Jets could get in a trade and a media slappy ran with it. Super Bowl, Senior Bowl, Hall of Fame elections, even the Pro Bowl. There's enough football to discuss without poking fun at a dysfunctional football team.
Reinstating former New Orleans Saints defensive idiot Gregg Williams is a mistake. He's the clown behind the Saints bounty fiasco and should never see another football field.
On to the Pro Bowl:
I vote for the Pro Bowl moving back to the week following the Super Bowl. The participants from the Super Bowl deserve the opportunity to join in the fun.
NFC 62
AFC 35
The NFC now leads the series 22-21.
Despite the crazy score, the effort in this edition of the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was much better than the joke that was on display last year. It was more like the game that I've watched over the past 35 years. A pick-up football game simply played for the fun of it.
One of the best things that takes place during the week in Hawaii is the players meeting and getting to know the players from other teams. Seeing Adrian Peterson and Drew Brees chatting on the sideline was cool. Hearing about Peyton Manning talking to everyone during the week is what makes the whole event great. It's what Manning has always enjoyed most about the game and I imagine that the other players feel the same. It's probably the best meet and greet that the NFL has to offer.
"Yes, there are penalties at the Pro Bowl" -Ed Hochuli
Pretty funny to see Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt split out wide on OFFENSE. Peyton Manning threw to him but it was off Watt's finger tips. The AFC repeated the stunt at the end of the game. Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul was covering him and ended up with an interception. I doubt that the Texans incorporate this in the playbook.
It was another strange scene at the start of the AFC's third possession. There was Green Bay Packers center Jeff Saturday's blue NFC jersey in the huddle with 10 players in AFC jerseys. As much as I didn't think that Saturday should even be selected for the game it was cool to see him take one last snap with Peyton Manning.
One player that's starting to get some much deserved attention is Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington. I really liked him coming out of TCU in the 2010 NFL Draft and I hoped that he'd end up in Minnesota. He made this Pro Bowl and he'll be in many more. With corner Patrick Peterson, the Cardinals have a couple of outstanding, young defensive playmakers.
Another excellent, young defensive player is Chicago Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton. He'll also make frequent postseason trips to Hawaii. Melton will be a free agent in a few weeks. I'd love to see him land in Minnesota. At the very least, it'd be nice to see him leave Chicago but I can't imagine the Bears letting him get away.
Minnesota Vikings rookie tackle Matt Kalil made his first Pro Bowl appearance at the end of the first quarter. Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake blew by him for a sack to end a promising drive. The announcers were saying that Kalil's late Friday arrival in Hawaii as the possible reason for him being a step slow. I'd say that his playing on the right side of the line was a bigger reason.
I couldn't help but notice that Kalil and his Vikings teammate Kyle Rudolph were the only NFC players to make any kind of effort to catch Derrick Johnson on his interception return for a touchdown. Perhaps that effort was due to them being in their first Pro Bowl and they didn't know any better.
I loved the NFC running back pairing of Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch. The AFC defense probably hated it.
No surprise that New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz came alive when Eli Manning entered the game.
Seeing some of these pass rushing, 3-4 linebackers trying to cover tight ends and backs is reason enough to change the selection process for linebackers. These "linebackers" don't do cover very well. These players are forced to play a position in the Pro Bowl that they simply don't play during the season. True outside linebackers like Chad Greenway and Lance Briggs are overshadowed by the glitzy sack stats of the 3-4 guys. Those sack guys should go in as defensive ends. Rushing the passer is what got them to Hawaii. Let them rush the passer, even as stand up ends.
It was great to see Vikings fullback Jerome Felton get a touchdown. Fullbacks rarely get any glory. They just do the dirty work. Felton was a big part of Peterson's incredible 2,097-yard season. He deserves all the recognition this game and that touchdown gives him.
Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier might have had a heart attack when Adrian Peterson went in on punt coverage in the fourth quarter.
Congratulations to Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph on taking home the MVP award. 5 catches, 122 yards and a touchdown. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson tried to throw him a second touchdown but Doug Martin stole it from him.
Happy Birthday Cris Collinsworth. I remember him playing in the Pro Bowl.
Now, the Super Bowl can begin.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Game Day Thoughts
Ha! Some might say differently but the Pro Bowl is indeed a football game. There's been a lot of talk in recent years about the future of the Pro Bowl. I say that it should stay. It's a fun game. It was never meant to be taken too seriously. The AFC-NFC Pro Bowl has been around since the full merger in 1970 but this game really goes all the way back to the early '50s. I've watched these games since the '70s and I've never had a problem with the effort put forth by the players until last year. That was pathetic. There's more energy in most pregame drills than what was shown in that game. It was embarrassing and NFL players don't really like being embarrassed. I doubt that we'll see a repeat of that ridiculous display. This is still a lighthearted game and should be accepted as such.
I'm watching. If for no other reason but to see Adrian Peterson run again.
The AFC and NFC have each won 21 Pro Bowls.
Three rookie quarterbacks (Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson) made this game. With Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees hitting their mid-30s, and still excelling, it's reassuring that the NFL's passing game is in good hands in the coming years. It's too bad that Griffin is injured for his first Pro Bowl game. He'll be back.
It's kinda cool, maybe a little weird, to see Manning and Luck throwing for the same team.
The future of passing in the NFL doesn't rest solely on the newbies. There's a nice group of quarterbacks led by Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco, Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger that are still young and skippy. Passing will continue to be the preferred method of moving the football.
The Minnesota Vikings have seven players in this Pro Bowl:
Adrian Peterson
Jerome Felton
Matt Kalil
Kyle Rudolph
Jared Allen
Chad Greenway
Blair Walsh
Felton, Rudolph and rookies Kalil and Walsh are making their first Pro Bowl appearance. The Vikings had a very talented, veteran roster when they just missed the Super Bowl in 2009. Everything fell apart pretty quickly after that NFC Championship game. Too quickly. Not quite as quickly, but just as dramatically, has been the rise in talent and youth on the current roster. The 10-6 record this year and the young players in this game are an indication that the Vikings are heading in the right direction.
There should be 8. Green Bay Packers center Jeff Saturday is retiring after he plays in this Pro Bowl. He should have retired before the game. His spot should have gone to Vikings center John Sullivan. It's ridiculous that a player that was benched during the season, as Saturday was, is voted into an all-star game. Outside of the incredible Adrian Peterson, Sullivan was the most deserving Vikings player to be honored by Pro Bowl recognition.
Actually, Blair Walsh might have been the most deserving Vikings player outside of the incredible Peterson. I sometimes forget about kickers. Some have said that Walsh had the best kicking season ever. At first that surprised me. The more I thought about it the more sense it made. Walsh was fantastic all season. He set an NFL record with 10 field goals of 50+ yards. He destroyed the Vikings team record for touchbacks. He missed only three field goals on the season. One was blocked. The most impressive thing about Walsh's field goals was that nearly every kick was right through the middle. I can't recall ever seeing such season-long accuracy. The Vikings are pretty much in field goal position as soon as they cross midfield.
The Kansas City Chiefs won only two games this season. They have six players in the Pro Bowl.
"There's too much leakage on that play."
-Chiefs head coach Hank Stram during Super Bowl IV
Stram was mic'd during that Super Bowl against the Vikings and he was often hilarious. Many Vikings' fans go ballistic when they hear Stram's whiny voice ridicule the Vikings play that day. Unfortunately, there was a lot to ridicule. That play on the field always bothered me more than a dapper little coach calling it as he saw it.
College football had their biggest all-star game yesterday. The Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. It's a little strange to think that this past week of practice for the Senior Bowl has become more important to the NFL people than the game itself. The build-up to the Draft begins in Mobile at the practices. Many of the coaches and scouts leave before the game is even played.
I like the broadcast team of Mike Mayock, Charles Davis and Paul Burmeister. Mayock and Davis have long been the backbone of NFL Network's draft team. They're excellent with the draft and their work on games is terrific.
Brian Schwenke was a solid offensive lineman for Cal. If NFL teams weren't aware of him before this week, they are now. He was in at center for one drive. At guard the next. That versatility and his technique will get him an NFL career. I think that Schwenke really surprised a lot of people this week.
As the days go by I'm leaning more towards defense being the best choice for the Vikings first pick in the upcoming draft. Receiver is still one of their biggest needs but the depth at the position makes it possible to get a real nice receiver in the second round. I'm real interested in that tier of receivers and a bunch of them were playing in the Senior Bowl. Kansas St's Chris Harper, Marshall's Aaron Dobson, Louisiana Tech's Quenton Patton and Oregon St's Markus Wheaton among them. Since the quarterbacking in the game left quite a bit to be desired the receivers didn't get to show much. I don't think that Dobson or Patton even caught a pass. Wheaton had the most chances and he made the most of them. I was impressed with Markus Wheaton. Despite the lack of chances in the game, it's been noted by many that Dobson and Patton were terrific all week in practice. As it stands right now, I'd be real happy if the Vikings were to draft Patton, Dobson or Wheaton in the second round after selecting a big nasty defensive tackle in the first. Or a linebacker. Or a corner...
Defensive tackle looks especially strong in this draft. Another good thing as the Vikings could use one of those. North Carolina's Sylvester Williams, Purdue's Kawann Short, Missouri Southern's Brandon Williams, and Penn St's Jordan Hill all played well yesterday. All would be perfectly welcome in Minnesota next year.
Oh, the South won 21-16. Florida St. quarterback E.J. Manual was MVP. A little surprising seeing as defense dominated the game but Manual was behind all three South touchdowns.
Go NFC!!!
I'm watching. If for no other reason but to see Adrian Peterson run again.
The AFC and NFC have each won 21 Pro Bowls.
Three rookie quarterbacks (Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson) made this game. With Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees hitting their mid-30s, and still excelling, it's reassuring that the NFL's passing game is in good hands in the coming years. It's too bad that Griffin is injured for his first Pro Bowl game. He'll be back.
It's kinda cool, maybe a little weird, to see Manning and Luck throwing for the same team.
The future of passing in the NFL doesn't rest solely on the newbies. There's a nice group of quarterbacks led by Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco, Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger that are still young and skippy. Passing will continue to be the preferred method of moving the football.
The Minnesota Vikings have seven players in this Pro Bowl:
Adrian Peterson
Jerome Felton
Matt Kalil
Kyle Rudolph
Jared Allen
Chad Greenway
Blair Walsh
Felton, Rudolph and rookies Kalil and Walsh are making their first Pro Bowl appearance. The Vikings had a very talented, veteran roster when they just missed the Super Bowl in 2009. Everything fell apart pretty quickly after that NFC Championship game. Too quickly. Not quite as quickly, but just as dramatically, has been the rise in talent and youth on the current roster. The 10-6 record this year and the young players in this game are an indication that the Vikings are heading in the right direction.
There should be 8. Green Bay Packers center Jeff Saturday is retiring after he plays in this Pro Bowl. He should have retired before the game. His spot should have gone to Vikings center John Sullivan. It's ridiculous that a player that was benched during the season, as Saturday was, is voted into an all-star game. Outside of the incredible Adrian Peterson, Sullivan was the most deserving Vikings player to be honored by Pro Bowl recognition.
Actually, Blair Walsh might have been the most deserving Vikings player outside of the incredible Peterson. I sometimes forget about kickers. Some have said that Walsh had the best kicking season ever. At first that surprised me. The more I thought about it the more sense it made. Walsh was fantastic all season. He set an NFL record with 10 field goals of 50+ yards. He destroyed the Vikings team record for touchbacks. He missed only three field goals on the season. One was blocked. The most impressive thing about Walsh's field goals was that nearly every kick was right through the middle. I can't recall ever seeing such season-long accuracy. The Vikings are pretty much in field goal position as soon as they cross midfield.
The Kansas City Chiefs won only two games this season. They have six players in the Pro Bowl.
"There's too much leakage on that play."
-Chiefs head coach Hank Stram during Super Bowl IV
Stram was mic'd during that Super Bowl against the Vikings and he was often hilarious. Many Vikings' fans go ballistic when they hear Stram's whiny voice ridicule the Vikings play that day. Unfortunately, there was a lot to ridicule. That play on the field always bothered me more than a dapper little coach calling it as he saw it.
College football had their biggest all-star game yesterday. The Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. It's a little strange to think that this past week of practice for the Senior Bowl has become more important to the NFL people than the game itself. The build-up to the Draft begins in Mobile at the practices. Many of the coaches and scouts leave before the game is even played.
I like the broadcast team of Mike Mayock, Charles Davis and Paul Burmeister. Mayock and Davis have long been the backbone of NFL Network's draft team. They're excellent with the draft and their work on games is terrific.
Brian Schwenke was a solid offensive lineman for Cal. If NFL teams weren't aware of him before this week, they are now. He was in at center for one drive. At guard the next. That versatility and his technique will get him an NFL career. I think that Schwenke really surprised a lot of people this week.
As the days go by I'm leaning more towards defense being the best choice for the Vikings first pick in the upcoming draft. Receiver is still one of their biggest needs but the depth at the position makes it possible to get a real nice receiver in the second round. I'm real interested in that tier of receivers and a bunch of them were playing in the Senior Bowl. Kansas St's Chris Harper, Marshall's Aaron Dobson, Louisiana Tech's Quenton Patton and Oregon St's Markus Wheaton among them. Since the quarterbacking in the game left quite a bit to be desired the receivers didn't get to show much. I don't think that Dobson or Patton even caught a pass. Wheaton had the most chances and he made the most of them. I was impressed with Markus Wheaton. Despite the lack of chances in the game, it's been noted by many that Dobson and Patton were terrific all week in practice. As it stands right now, I'd be real happy if the Vikings were to draft Patton, Dobson or Wheaton in the second round after selecting a big nasty defensive tackle in the first. Or a linebacker. Or a corner...
Defensive tackle looks especially strong in this draft. Another good thing as the Vikings could use one of those. North Carolina's Sylvester Williams, Purdue's Kawann Short, Missouri Southern's Brandon Williams, and Penn St's Jordan Hill all played well yesterday. All would be perfectly welcome in Minnesota next year.
Oh, the South won 21-16. Florida St. quarterback E.J. Manual was MVP. A little surprising seeing as defense dominated the game but Manual was behind all three South touchdowns.
Go NFC!!!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Done Too Soon?
Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best may have played his last football game. It's far too soon. He'll turn 24 next week. He should have his best football ahead of him. Concussions have kept him off the field since 2011. Best has spent over a year trying to find a doctor that will clear him to play. None will. Considering the serious permanent damage that can be caused by these head injuries this may be for the best.
I can still clearly see Jahvid Best soaring through the air to score a touchdown for Cal against Oregon St. in 2009. A collision at the goal line forced him even higher. He was soaring way too high to come down on his head. He wasn't moving for so long. It was one of the most chilling moments that I've ever seen on a football field. It's difficult for any football player to know when that first concussion occurred. For Best, it's pretty easy to point to that night in Corvallis. He never again played football for Cal. Despite ending his junior year with that injury, Best left for the NFL. It proved to be the right decision when the Lions still drafted him at the end of the first round.
Jahvid Best was a big play waiting to happen as soon as he arrived in Berkeley in 2007. He exploded in 2008 when he led the Pac-10 in rushing with 1,580 yards. He averaged an amazing 8.1 yards/carry and scored 15 touchdowns. He showed that year what he could do on a football field. Against Washington in the last game of the regular season, Best was at his very best with 311 yards. An Amazing season. I've been thinking about that season quite a bit since hearing that Jahvid Best may not play again.
Jahvid Best played in only 22 games for the Detroit Lions. It's disappointing. A brief NFL career is still far better than a remaining life thrashed by the damage done to the brain. Concussions are brutal. You can feel fine but your brain most certainly isn't fine. Best likely feels fine over a year removed from his last concussion. I wish Jahvid Best the best in all that he does and thank him for the incredible football thrills that he brought to Cal.
I can still clearly see Jahvid Best soaring through the air to score a touchdown for Cal against Oregon St. in 2009. A collision at the goal line forced him even higher. He was soaring way too high to come down on his head. He wasn't moving for so long. It was one of the most chilling moments that I've ever seen on a football field. It's difficult for any football player to know when that first concussion occurred. For Best, it's pretty easy to point to that night in Corvallis. He never again played football for Cal. Despite ending his junior year with that injury, Best left for the NFL. It proved to be the right decision when the Lions still drafted him at the end of the first round.
Jahvid Best was a big play waiting to happen as soon as he arrived in Berkeley in 2007. He exploded in 2008 when he led the Pac-10 in rushing with 1,580 yards. He averaged an amazing 8.1 yards/carry and scored 15 touchdowns. He showed that year what he could do on a football field. Against Washington in the last game of the regular season, Best was at his very best with 311 yards. An Amazing season. I've been thinking about that season quite a bit since hearing that Jahvid Best may not play again.
Jahvid Best played in only 22 games for the Detroit Lions. It's disappointing. A brief NFL career is still far better than a remaining life thrashed by the damage done to the brain. Concussions are brutal. You can feel fine but your brain most certainly isn't fine. Best likely feels fine over a year removed from his last concussion. I wish Jahvid Best the best in all that he does and thank him for the incredible football thrills that he brought to Cal.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Early Draft Thoughts
Unless you are a fan of the San Francisco 49ers or Baltimore Ravens you can't help but have some thoughts about the NFL Draft. A lot can change between now and April 25th. A lot will change. A lot could change this week with the Senior Bowl practices. I've been thinking about the Minnesota Vikings draft possibilities since their playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers a couple of weeks ago. Partly due to Vikings position needs but mostly due to their football talents, I've been drawn to Georgia linebacker Alec Ogletree and Clemson receiver DeAndre Hopkins. It'sjust a hunch. The Vikings do need to bring in a middle linebacker that can drop into coverage more naturally. Ogletree was a safety early in his college career so he has better pass coverage skills than most linebackers. Those skills might get him drafted much earlier the Vikings 23rd selection in the first round. Receiver is the Vikings most obvious need. While this draft may not have the top level receiving talent of some previous drafts it's very deep at the position. The Vikings could fill other needs like linebacker and defensive tackle with that first pick and find talented receivers later. If Cal receiver Keenan Allen is still on the board at 23, the Vikings should sprint to the podium. It's more likely that a player like Hopkins is available and I think that he'd be an excellent selection. Or Ogletree. Or a cornerback. Maybe a cornerback...
Things will most certainly change but the following would be a fantastic start to the draft:
1. Alec Ogletree LB Georgia
2. Quenton Patton WR Lousiana Tech
3. Sylvester Williams DT North Carolina
Or:
1. DeAndre Hopkins WR Clemson
2. John Jenkins DT Georgia
3. Keith Pough LB Howard
So many options. This one would be a dream:
1. Keenan Allen WR Cal
2. Kevin Minter LB LSU
3. Brandon Williams DT Missouri Southern St.
It's really getting started now.
Things will most certainly change but the following would be a fantastic start to the draft:
1. Alec Ogletree LB Georgia
2. Quenton Patton WR Lousiana Tech
3. Sylvester Williams DT North Carolina
Or:
1. DeAndre Hopkins WR Clemson
2. John Jenkins DT Georgia
3. Keith Pough LB Howard
So many options. This one would be a dream:
1. Keenan Allen WR Cal
2. Kevin Minter LB LSU
3. Brandon Williams DT Missouri Southern St.
It's really getting started now.
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