Changes

One of the most frustrating Minnesota Vikings seasons in memory came to a resounding close yesterday. The Wilf family decided to fire head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman. Change felt inevitable. Over recent weeks, Vikings fans had become so committed to change that a riot probably would’ve been the result if Zimmer and/or Spielman weren’t gone soon after the final game. After consecutive losing seasons, the Vikings are heading in a new direction. 

I have mixed feelings about these changes. If I were motivated to rank my favorite Vikings coaches, Mike Zimmer would have the spot behind Bud Grant. I was thrilled with Zimmer’s hiring in 2014. I always felt that he and Spielman had the Vikings pointed in the right direction. I always felt good about them in the building and the team that they put on the field. For all of Zimmer’s eight years with the team, I was proud to be a Minnesota Vikings fan. I hadn’t always felt that under some of the coaches that preceded him. The only time that I felt my pride waver was due to the team’s pathetic vaccination rate. Zimmer did all that he could to change that. Pride doesn’t equal wins and wins are all that matter in the NFL. Three playoff appearances in eight years isn’t good enough. Consecutive losing seasons isn’t good enough. Over eight years, Zimmer won 16 more games than he lost. That didn’t get the Vikings into the playoffs often enough. When I hoped for continued patience by the Wilf family, in particular, and the fans, in general, I often thought of the coaching career of Hall of Famer Bill Cowher. The Rooney family showed tremendous patience in their coach. Since the late 1960s, patience has been their policy. It took Cowher 14 years to win a title. A Super Bowl appearance after four years probably gave the Rooney’s some confidence in their patience. Zimmer had the Vikings in the NFC Championship in his fourth season. Cowher had losing seasons in his seventh and eighth seasons leading the Steelers. Sound familiar? Despite some career similarities, a Cowher-led Steelers team rarely missed the playoffs. Zimmer-led Vikings teams didn’t make the playoffs often enough. 

I liked Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman as the Vikings head coach and general manager. Still do. I believed in their efforts to win a championship. Still do. Mark Wilf said yesterday that the Vikings are in better shape today than they were in 2014. That’s due to the work of two men that are now without a job. As much as I like, respect, and appreciate Zimmer and Spielman, moving in a different direction feels like the right thing. Change feels right. Perhaps the thrill of the unknown is what drives those feelings. Who knows? I do know that I’m excited to see the coach and general manager that leads the Minnesota Vikings to their first Super Bowl title. 

 

Vikings-Bears

The Minnesota Vikings closed out a frustrating season with a 31-17 home win over the Chicago Bears. 

The first half was terrible. The second half was kinda fun. 

Over the first 29:29 of the game, the Vikings offense ran 18 plays, gained 22 yards, and punted four times. It was ugly. It was sad. The Vikings defense spent the first half playing one of those bend but don’t break sort of deals. The Bears were consistently on the Vikings side of the field but could only manage two field goals. All of that changed in the final minute of the first half. The Bears finally punched in a touchdown. Of course the Vikings defense gave up a score at the end of the half. The final minutes of each half had been a season-long problem. If they’d ever found a cure for their end-of-half woes, the Vikings might be preparing for a playoff game. A lot of things kept them out of the playoffs but this issue might’ve been the most significant. After that late Bears score, the Vikings offense finally did some things. Over the first 29:29 of the half, they gained 22 yards. In the final 31 seconds of the half, they gained 55 yards. That offensive explosion ended with a 39-yard Greg Joseph field goal. 

14-3 Bears at the half. 

It was all Vikings in the second half. The defense allowed a single field goal. They even added a touchdown. Patrick Peterson returned his first interception of the season 66 yards for the score. The offense scored three touchdowns. 

The difference in this game was the Bears offense vs. the Vikings defense on fourth down. The Bears were clearly willing to gamble in a game that meant little. They went for it on fourth down six times. They converted one. Four of those attempts ended in sack, sack, sack, interception. None of the Bears fourth-down gambles led to Bears points. One of the gambles turned into Vikings points. The interception was the one that Peterson took back for a score. 

Here’s a look at the Bears fourth-down attempts:

1. 4th-and-1 at Vikings 44-David Montgomery ran for four yards

2. 4th-and-5 at Vikings 35-D.J. Wonnum sacked Andy Dalton for -15 yards

3. 4th-and-1 at Vikings 13-Wonnum sacked Dalton for -5 yards

4. 4th-and-1 at Vikings 1-Anthony Barr sacked Dalton for -15 yards

5. 4th-and-1 at Bears 49-Peterson returned interception 66 yards for TD

6. 4th-and-19 at Bears 18-Dalton to Dazz Newsome for 13 yards

The first two are interesting as they took place on the same “drive.” The Bears ran eight plays for a total of three yards. It isn’t often that you see an offense run eight plays on a possession yet gain only three yards. Wonnum’s sack for a loss of 15 yards was the key. 

The Vikings defense did good things on those fourth down plays. A bigger factor was the horrible play-calling by Matt Nagy. 

One fun part of the final 30:31 of the game was the play of the Vikings three young receivers. Justin Jefferson has been an offensive staple since the third game of his rookie season. K.J. Osborn emerged this year as a productive player. Rookie Ihmir Smith-Marsette took advantage of increased opportunities against the Bears.

For the game:

Justin Jefferson: 5 catches, 107 yards, 1 TD (44)

Ihmir Smith-Marsette: 3 catches, 103 yards, 1 TD (45)

K.J. Osborn: 1 catch, 21 yards, 1 TD (21)

Old-man Adam Thielen (31 years) will return next year and probably has a few more years in him but I like the potential of the young trio of pass-catchers. 

Jefferson’s 107 yards boosted his season total to 1,616 yards. That’s 16 yards short of Randy Moss’s franchise record of 1,632 yards. Jefferson would’ve had the record if Kirk Cousins had looked to the right before he looked to the left on Osborn’s touchdown grab. Both receivers were wide open in the end zone.

Once they woke up, the Vikings offense did some fun things. Despite giving up a lot of yards, the Vikings defense was the difference in the game. They sacked Dalton seven times. Three of those were on fourth down. D.J. Wonnum, Anthony Barr, and Kenny Willekes each had two sacks. Wonnum was a menace on those fourth-down plays. Willekes was routinely harassing Dalton in the fourth quarter. Seven sacks, two interceptions, scored a touchdown, allowed a touchdown is a nice little stat line. 

There was a lot of pre-game chatter hoping that the Vikings would go with younger players in this game. In particular, many in the media and fans hoped to see rookie quarterback Kellen Mond. Those hopes were dashed when it was announced that Mond would be inactive. My guess is that those doing this chatter wanted the Vikings to lose this game without trying to lose this game. Personally, I don’t need to see a preseason game in Week 18. This season has been too damn frustrating to watch it close with a sad, pathetic white flag. I don’t need to see young Vikings players that haven’t played much all year flail about in a supposedly meaningless game. I prefer to watch a fun game to close the season. I prefer to watch the Vikings try to win games. Even a supposedly meaningless game. 

The Vikings finished the season with a disappointing 8-9 record. It’s been one of the most frustrating seasons of my six-decade relationship with the team. After last year’s 7-9 season, the Vikings likely enter an offseason of significant change. I’m not ready right now to deal with the fate of head coach Mike Zimmer. I’m thankful for each of his eight years with the team. I’m so thankful that he and his coaches coached and the players played to win this game. I’m thankful for this win. 

My-Time All-Time Chicago Bears Team

I picked an All-Time Chicago Bears Team in advance of the first Minnesota Vikings-Chicago Bears game. Here’s a different look at the Bears in advance of the second Vikings-Bears game. It’s a team made up of some of the best Bears players during my time as a Vikings fan. With two Super Bowl appearances and one very memorable win, Chicago has had some fine teams and players. 

Offense

Quarterback

Jim McMahon

Running Back

Walter Payton

Fullback

Roland Harper

Wide Receivers

Brandon Marshall

Alshon Jeffery

Tight End

Greg Olsen

Tackles

Jimbo Covert

James Williams

Guards

Mark Bortz

Tom Thayer

Center

Jay Hilgenberg

Defense

Defensive Ends

Richard Dent

Khalil Mack

Defensive Tackles

Dan Hampton

Wally Chambers

Linebackers

Lance Briggs

Mike Singletary

Brian Urlacher

Cornerbacks

Charles Tillman

Donnell Woolford

Safeties

Gary Fencik

Dave Duerson

Special Teams

Kicker

Robbie Gould

Punter

Brad Maynard

Returner

Devin Hester

Flea Flicker Week 18 Predictions

Week 18? The 2021 regular season comes to an end on January 9. I remember a time when the Super Bowl was played on January 9. The season was 14 games and the Minnesota Vikings played in that Super Bowl. It was a different time. Here are some guesses at this year’s Week 18 games. 

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings

Pick: Vikings

The Vikings frustrating 2021 season comes to an end. 

Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos

Pick: Chiefs

The Chiefs enter the playoffs on a winning note. 

Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles

Pick: Cowboys

Just playing for seeding?

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns

Pick: Bengals

The AFC North was supposed to belong to the Browns this year. The division belongs to the Bengals.

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions

Pick: Packers

This is dependent on the Packers desire to win this meaningless (to them) game. 

Washington Football Team @ New York Giants

Pick: Washington

Like the Vikings, Washington recently had hold of a playoff spot. Like the Vikings, they couldn’t keep hold of it. 

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: Colts

This is a must-win game for the Colts. The worst team in the league is in their way. There’s really only one outcome. 

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens

Pick: Steelers

Both team are in a win-and-pray playoff situation. With Lamar Jackson out, I have the Steelers with a slight edge.

Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans

Pick: Titans

The Titans have quietly navigated their way to the AFC’s #1 seed. They just have to beat the Texans to keep it. 

New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons

Pick: Saints

It’s a win-and-pray game for the Saints.

New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills

Pick: Bills

It’s a tuneup game for the Bills.

San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Rams

Pick: Rams

With the playoffs in front of them, neither team is playing well. 

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

Pick: Patriots

Playing for a first round home game? Maybe even a bye?

Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals

Pick: Cardinals

It’s a tuneup game for the Cardinals.

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pick: Buccaneers

After a nail-biter against the Jets, the defending champs don’t want to back their way into the playoffs.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Las Vegas Raiders

Pick: Chargers

This is a win-and-in game for both teams. I have the Chargers as the better team. 

Too Early 2022 NFL Draft Positional Rankings

It’s never a good thing to be thinking about the NFL Draft with a game still to play. The Minnesota Vikings 2021 season has been very frustrating and they played their way out of playoff contention before the final week. They host the Chicago Bears on Sunday. It’s real easy to look past that final game and toward the offseason. It’s going to be a busy offseason. In advance of the Vikings final game and a busy offseason here’s an early look, a too early look, at positional rankings of some of the top prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Quarterbacks

1. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

2. Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati

3. Carson Strong, Nevada

4. Matt Corral, Mississippi

5. Malik Willis, Liberty

Running Backs

1. Breece Hall, Iowa State

2. Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State

3. Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M

4. Kyren Williams, Notre Dame

5. James Cook, Georgia

Fullbacks/H-Backs

1. Connor Heyward, Michigan State

2. Jeremiah Hall, Oklahoma

3. Abram Smith, Baylor

4. Tanner Conner, Idaho State

5. Monte Pottebaum, Iowa

Wide Receivers

1. Jameson Williams, Alabama

2. Drake London, USC

3. Garrett Wilson, Ohio State

4. Jahan Dotson, Penn State

5. Chris Olave, Ohio State

Tight Ends

1. Trey McBride, Colorado State

2. Will Mallory, Miami

3. Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M

4. Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina

5. Derrick Deese Jr., San Jose State

Offensive Tackles

1. Evan Neal, Alabama

2. Charles Cross, Mississippi State

3. Ikem Ekwonu, North Carolina State

4. Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa

5. Daniel Faalele, Minnesota 

Interior Offensive Linemen

1. Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa

2. Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame

3. Kenyon Green, Texas A&M

4. Zion Johnson, Boston College

5. Darian Kinnard, Kentucky

Edge

1. Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan

2. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon

3. David Ojabo, Michigan

4. Cameron Thomas, San Diego State

5. George Karlaftis, Purdue

Defensive Tackles

1. DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M

2. Jordan Davis, Georgia

3. Phidarian Mathis, Alabama

4. Devonte Wyatt, Georgia

5. Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma

Inside Linebackers

1. Devin Loyd, Utah

2. Nakobe Dean, Georgia

3. Christian Harris, Alabama

4. Damone Clark, LSU

5. Channing Tindall, Georgia

Cornerbacks

1. Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati

2. Andrew Booth, Jr., Clemson

3. Derek Stingley, Jr., LSU

4. Trent McDuffie, Washington

5. Kaiir Elam, Florida

Safeties

1. Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame

2. Dayton Hill, Michigan

3. Jaquan Brisker, Penn State

4. Jalen Pitre, Baylor

5. Jordan Battle, Alabama

It’s an early start. 

Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022

The Black College Hall of Fame announced their 13th Class - the Class of 2022. The seven inductees were selected from a list of 29 finalists who were determined by the BCFHOF selection committee. Votes were tallied by the 10-member selection committee, comprised of prominent journalists, commentators, historians, former NFL general managers and executives, and members of the BCFHOF to determine the inductees. 

BCFHOF co-founder and 2011 inductee Doug Williams:

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, congratulations to the Class of 2022. These men should feel proud of this honor. They have been voted some of the best to ever play, coach, or contribute to Historically Black College and University.”

The Class of 2022 will be inducted during the Black College Football Hall of Fame Ceremony and Juneteenth Celebration, presented by the Atlanta Falcons on June 18, 2022. The ceremony takes place at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia. 

The Class of 2022 will make their first public appearance at the HBCU Legacy Bowl on February 19, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Class of 2022:

Ben Coates (Player)

Tight End … Livingstone College (1987-1990) … Finished his college career with 103 receptions, 1,268 yards and 18 touchdowns … Selected by the New England Patriots in the 1991 NFL Draft … New England Patriots (1991-1999) … Five-time Pro Bowler … Two-time All-Pro … Baltimore Ravens (2000) … Super Bowl XXXV Champion … Born August 16, 1969. 

Donald Driver (Player)

Wide Receiver … Alcorn State University (1995-1998) … Finished his college career with 88 receptions for 1,993 yards … Five-time “Athlete of the Year” … Selected by the Green Bay Packers 7th round of the 1999 NFL Draft … Green Bay Packers (1999 - 2012) Four-time Pro Bowler … Super Bowl XLV Champion … Green Bay Packers franchise leader for receptions and yards … Born February 2, 1975.  

John “Big Train” Moody (Player)

Running Back … Morris Brown College … Black College National Champion (1940) … Moody accumulated 290 total points and set a record for black college football players which stood until 1948 … All-American … Born 1917 … Died 1995. 

Nate Newton (Player)

Offensive Lineman … Florida A&M University (1979-1982) … All Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tackle (1980) … Washington Football Team (1983) … Tampa Bay Bandits (1984-1985) … Dallas Cowboys (1986-1998) … Six-time Pro Bowler (1992-1996, 1998) … Two-time All-Pro … Carolina Panthers (1999) … Born December 20, 1961.

Roscoe Nance (Contributor)

The Clarion Ledger's first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) reporter, the paper's first black sportswriter and a journalist later known around the country as the dean of black college sportswriters 1978–1985 … USA Today Sports Writer 1986-2007 … Founding Member of and President of the SWAC Alumni Association … Born December 8, 1948 … Died January 9, 2020. 

William “Billy” Nicks (Coach)

Coach … Morris Brown College 1930-1935, 1937-1939, 1941-1942; Prairie View A&M University 1945-1957 and 1952-1965 … His record at Morris Brown was 65–21–13 … His 1941 team was named "Black College National Champions" by Pittsburgh Courier …  His career record at Prairie View A&M University was 126–36–8, the winningest coach in school history … Nicks led the Panthers to five black college national titles and six Southwestern Athletic Conference titles … Born August 2, 1905 … Died November 2, 1999. 

Sammy White (Player)

Wide Receiver … Grambling State University (1972-1975) … First-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection (1973) and (1975). As a senior, White caught 37 passes for 802 yards and 17 touchdowns… Selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 1976 NFL Draft … Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year … UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year award … Two-time Pro Bowl selection in 1976 and 1977… Minnesota Vikings (1976–1985)… 128 career games, 393 receptions, 6,400 receiving yards, and 50 touchdowns.… Born March 16, 1954. 

***

The headliner of the Class of 2022 for me is Sammy White. The Minnesota Vikings have a strong receiver tradition. White is a big part of that tradition. He immediately exceeded whatever expectations there were for him as a rookie. He took the league by storm on his way to Rookie of the Year honors. He was the second of four (should’ve been five) Vikings receivers to grab the honor. He was a favorite of mine from his first game. With Ahmad Rashad on the other side of the field, the Vikings had their first great receiver duo. 

Sammy White joins Greg Coleman as consecutive Vikings legends to be inducted to the Black College Football Hall of Fame. 

Congratulations to the seven new members of the Black College Football Hall of Fame. 

Flea Flicker Week 17 Power Rankings

Week 17 of the 2021 NFL season is in the books. Here’s a look at how the 32 teams rank after 17 weeks.  

1.   Kansas City Chiefs (11-5)

2.   Green Bay Packers (13-3)

3.   Tennessee Titans (11-5)

4.   Buffalo Bills (10-6)

5.   Los Angeles Rams (12-4)

6.   Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4)

7.   Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)

8.   Arizona Cardinals (11-5)

9.   Indianapolis Colts (9-7)

10. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)

11. New England Patriots (10-6)

12. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)

13. San Francisco 49ers (9-7)

14. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

15. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)

16. Las Vegas Raiders (9-7)

17. Minnesota Vikings (7-9)

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7-1)

19. Miami Dolphins (8-8)

20. New Orleans Saints (8-8)

21. Denver Broncos (7-9)

22. Cleveland Browns (7-9)

23. Washington Football Team (6-10)

24. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)

25. Carolina Panthers (5-11)

26. Chicago Bears (6-10)

27. Seattle Seahawks (6-10)

28. New York Giants (4-12)

29. New York Jets (4-12)

30. Houston Texans (4-12)

31. Detroit Lions (2-13-1)

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14)

Until the last one.