THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS SHUT DOWN TEAM FACLITY DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, the Minnesota Vikings have shut down their team facility due to COVID-19 concerns.

On Sunday, Sept. 27, the Vikings hosted the Tennessee Titans in an NFL football game that had no fans due to the Vikings and the NFL Covid-19 policy.

On Monday, Sept 28, three Titans players and staffers test positive for COVID-19.

The Titans beat the Vikings 31-30 in a close game that came down to the wire.

The Vikings will continue testing players throughout the week. The Vikings are scheduled to play in Houston on Sunday, Oct. 4. They are currently 0-3.

2020 NFL DRAFT RECAP

The 2020 NFL Draft took place April 23-25. Because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) This year’s draft was done all online. The NFL went into social distancing mode with NFL prospects going virtual. 

NFL draft attendees had cameras and networking capabilities set up in their own houses as a form of social distancing measures.

 The Minnesota Vikings selected. 

No. 22: Wide receiver Justin Jefferson from LSU (6-foot-1, 202 pounds).

No. 31: Cornerback Jeff Gladney from TCU (5-10, 193).

No. 58: Tackle Ezra Cleveland from Boise State (6-6, 311).

No. 89: Cornerback Cameron Dantzler from Mississippi State (6-2, 185).

No. 117: Defensive end D.J. Wonnum from South Carolina (6-3, 258).

No. 130: Defensive tackle James Lynch from Baylor (6-4, 289).

No. 132: Inside linebacker Troy Dye from Oregon (6-3, 231).

No. 169: Cornerback Harrison Hand from Temple (5-11, 197).

No. 176: Wide receiver K.J. Osborn from Miami, Fla. (5-11, 203).

No. 203: Tackle Blake Brandel from Oregon State (6-7, 307).

No. 205: Safety Josh Metellus from Michigan (6-0, 218).

No. 225: Defensive end Kenny Willekes from Michigan State (6-3, 264).

No. 244: Quarterback Nate Stanley from Iowa (6-4, 235).

No. 249: Safety Brian Cole II from Mississippi State (6-2, 213).

No. 253: Guard Kyle Hinton from Washburn (6-2, 295).

Former Minnesota North and Gopher football player Tyler Johnson was drafted 161 overall in the fifth round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is joining former teammate Antoine Winfield Jr. who was selected in the second round with the 45th pick overall. 

Also, tackle Ben Bartch who played at St. John’s became the first Division III player taken in the last five years in the NFL draft. Bartch was selected in the fourth round with the 116th overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

STEFON DIGGS TO BUFFALO BILLS

Stefon Diggs has been traded to the Buffalo Bills. Minnesota will get a 1st-round pick, a 5th-round pick, a 6th-round pick and a 2021 4th round pick for Diggs and a 2020 7th-round pick according to ESPN’S Adam Schefter.

THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS TO HOLD KICKER TRYOUTS

The Minnesota Vikings are holding tryouts on Tuesday November 8, 2016 for a kicker. Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh has struggled the first eight games of the year.

Through the first eight games of the year Walsh is 12 of 16 on field-goal attempts and 13 of 16 on extra point attempts.

After the bye week in week 6 the Vikings have lost 3 straight games.

As of November 7, 2016, the Vikings are 5-3. They started out the year 5-0.

THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS ACQUIRE QUARTERBACK SAM BRADFORD

The Minnesota Vikings have acquired quarterback Sam Bradford from the Philadelphia Eagles. 

The trade for Bradford will fill in the void of Teddy Bridgewater, who suffered a knee injury in practice on Aug. 30.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS 2016 VIKINGS DRAFT PICKS

The Minnesota Vikings picked up eight players in the 2016 NFL Draft which was held April 28-30 2016.

Laquon Treadwell

WR, Mississippi • 6-2, 186                                         

First round, 23rd overall

Mackensie Alexander

CB, Clemson • 5-10, 190

Second round, 54th overall

Willie Beavers

OT, W. Michigan • 6-4, 324

Fourth round, 121st overall

Kentrell Brothers

LB. Missouri • 6-0, 245

Fifth round, 160th overall

Moritz Boehringer

WR, Germany • 6-4, 229

Sixth round, 180th overall

David Morgan

TE, Texas-San Antonio • 6-4, 262

Sixth round, 188th overall

Stephen Weatherly

DE, Vanderbilt • 6-4, 267

Seventh round, 227th overall

Jayron Kearse


S, Clemson • 6-4, 216


Seventh round, 244th overall

MINNESOTA VIKINGS ARE GETTING A NEW FOOTBALL STADIUM AND MAYBE A MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER TEAM

The Minnesota Vikings are getting a new football stadium in downtown Minneapolis. The 2013-2014 season was the last season in the Metrodome.

The Minnesota Vikings will play their games during the 2014 and 2015 seasons at TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota.

The new Vikings stadium will host the 2018 NFL Super Bowl at the new stadium.

According to Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: “Members of the Vikings' ownership and front-office group on Tuesday were in Kansas City to peruse the city's Major League Soccer operation. The Vikings want an MLS franchise for their stadium, which will have a 60 percent transparent roof, that's to open in 2016. The MLS season runs from March 1 through November.”

MIKE ZIMMER TO BE NAMED HEAD FOOTBALL COACH OF THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS

According to ESPN the Minnesota Vikings have hired Mike Zimmer as their head coach.

Most recently Zimmer has been the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals.

 

Zimmer replaces Leslie Frazier who was fired in December.

LESLIE FRAZIER HAS BEEN FIRED BY THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The Minnesota Vikings have fired head coach Leslie Frazier. Minnesota’s record for the 2013 season was 5-10-1.

 

Frazier started coaching at Minnesota when he was hired as the defensive coordinator in 2007. He has been with the seam since then and was hired as the head coach in 2011.

 

Frazier had a 21-31-1 coaching record.

ADRIAN PETERSON'S 2-YEAR-OLD SON DIES

MINNESOTA VIKINGS ADRIAN PETERSON HAS BEEN ARESTED IN HUSTON, TEXAS

According to Judd Zulgad from 1500ESPN.com, After being arrested in Houston early Saturday, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson complained of shortness of breath when he arrived at the Houston city jail.

Kese Smith, a spokesman for the Houston police department, said Peterson was "examined by Houston fire department medical personnel," who, "pronounced him to be medically fine."

Here's the rest of the report from Peterson's arrest as relayed by Smith:

"This happened at a club in downtown Houston called the Bayou Live Nightclub.

"It began just after 2 a.m. this morning when a Houston police officer working an approved extra job as security began the process of clearing the bar of patrons. The bar had just closed.

"While doing so he approached Adrian Peterson, who was with a group of people next to the bar.

"Peterson was talking with that group of people next to the bar and the officer informed Peterson and the group that the bar was closed and asked them to walk toward the nearest exit.

 

"The officer left the group to continue advising other patrons the bar was closed. A short time later, the officer returned and found Peterson and the group still talking at the bar. The officer again asked everyone to leave the bar, reminding them that it was closed.

"As the officer turned away to remind other patrons of this, Peterson told the officer that the group had heard him the first time and pushed the officer in the shoulder causing him to stumble.

"The officer then informed Peterson he was under arrest and asked him to turn around and place his hands behind his back. Peterson instead began yelling at the officer who again told him to place his hands behind his back.

"As the officer attempted to place Peterson in handcuffs, Peterson pulled away from the officer and assumed a violent stance. At this time an HPD sergeant, who was also working an approved extra job, saw what was happening and attempted to assist in arresting Peterson.

"Peterson began struggling with both officers. During this entire time, that initial officer was giving verbal commands to Peterson to stop resisting and place his hands behind his back.

"Peterson ignored those verbal commands and continued to struggle with the officers and ultimately a third officer had to assist in detaining Peterson.

"Once placed in handcuffs, Peterson was transported to the Houston Police city jail where he complained of shortness of breath. He was examined by Houston fire department medical personnel who pronounced him to be medically fine.

"He was then booked into the jail and is charged with resisting arrest, which is a misdemeanor."

'U' approves agreement with Vikings to use TCF | kare11.com

 FROM KARE11.COM 

 MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota's Board of Regents has approved an agreement with the Minnesota Vikings that allows the use of TCF Bank Stadium during the NFL team's construction of its new stadium.

The board unanimously approved the letter of intent on Friday. It is non-binding, but sets the parameters that university President Eric Kaler and the Vikings can use to develop a lease agreement.

'U' approves agreement with Vikings to use TCF | kare11.com

MINNEAPOLIS WASHBURN TO GET NEW SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD

Minneapolis Washburn High School will be getting a new synthetic turf field. That will replace the grass field that is already in place. The Minnesota Vikings and Minneapolis Public Schools teamed up for athletic fields. The Minnesota Vikings presented a check for $20,000 in grant money to get the project started.

According to a press release put out by the Minneapolis Public Schools, “The grant, awarded by the Vikings, the NFL Youth Football Fund and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), will be used to replace the natural field at Washburn High’s MacQuarrie Field with synthetic turf as part of the MPS Team Up for Turf campaign, a commitment to raise $2.2 million to convert the athletic field at Washburn high school to state-of-the-art synthetic turf field”.

I was able to talk to Washburn athletic director Daniel Pratt about the project. I was also talk to football head coach Giovan Jenkins about the project. 

THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS NAME LESLIE FRAZIER HEAD COACH

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune the Minnesota Vikings name Leslie Frazier their head coach. Frazier replaced Brad Childress after Childress was fired earlier in the season.

Frazier joined the Minnesota Vikings staff in 2007 under then head coach Tony Dungy.

Frazier will be Minnesota’s eighth coach in franchise history.

THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS RELEASE WIDE RECIEVER RANDY MOSS

According to ESPN News and the NFL Network, Vikings waive 7-time Pro Bowl WR Randy Moss. Moss was acquired from Patriots last month.

THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS HAVE HIRED MATT SHELDON AS DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH

The Minnesota Vikings have hired Matt Sheldon as their assistant defensive backs coach.

Here is the official release sent out by the Vikings:

The Minnesota Vikings have added former Buffalo Bills and St. Louis Rams assistant, and Minnesota Golden Gopher defensive back, Matt Sheldon to its coaching staff as Assistant Defensive Backs coach.

Sheldon, who is heading into his 10th season as an NFL assistant, joins the Vikings following 4 seasons coaching LBs with the Buffalo Bills. With Buffalo, the Bills LBs were instrumental to the team ranking No. 2 in the NFL in passing defense, led by MLB Paul Posluszny who emerged as a play making force.

Prior to his stint in Buffalo, Sheldon spent 2001-05 with the St. Louis Rams, where he assisted on special teams and with the secondary and LBs on defense. Before joining the staff at St. Louis, Sheldon served as a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin (1997-99) with the defensive secondary. Wisconsin’s defense led the nation in 1998 and the Badgers were the first team in Big Ten history to win Rose Bowls in consecutive seasons (1998-99).

Sheldon played DB for the University of Minnesota after prepping at D.C. Everest High School in Schofield, WI.

BRETT FAVRE SIGNS WITH THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Quarterback Brett Favre has landed in Minnesota. Multiple Twin Cities media outlets reported that Brett Favre
has signed his contract and he took part in the afternoon practice at Winter Park on Tuesday afternoon. Terms of the contract have not been disclosed as of yet.

MARK WILF TALKS WITH BRETT FAVRE ABOUT PLAYING FOR THE VIKINGS

BY JUDD ZULGAD MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE

Mark Wilf: Sure there is interest in Favre

Mark Wilf, Vikings owner and team president, said “sure there is interest in Brett Favre but that’s part of the process in general” when asked about the quarterback today during a luncheon on the Southwest Minnesota State campus that was part of the Vikings “You made the team” community tour.

“The reality is we understand everyone’s curiosity about it,” Wilf said. “This is something that every day we are working on making our team better and we are going to evaluate every player that comes through the door and that would include Brett Favre as well. … That process continues every day and a player like Brett would be included in that evaluation. Just like any other player. He’s a Hall of Fame quarterback and great competitor and ultimately you have to ask Brett Favre what his plans are. Sure there is interest in Brett Favre but that’s part of the process in general.”

Wilf was then asked about all the media attention the will-he-or-won’t-he Favre saga has drawn in the past week. ”It’s pretty crazy but people love football, people love the NFL,” Wilf said.

Here is Wilf’s entire question-and-answer session today from an earlier chat with the media on the Favre situation.

Q. Where do things stand right now between the Vikings and Favre? Are you talking? Can you give the fans an update?

A. “Clearly I’m appreciative of the fact that our fans are very interested and like I said they are very curious about the whole situation. The fact of the matter is I think with any player we have a football department, we have a head coach, Brad Childress, Rick Spielman is our head of our personnel and we go through this process with every player. We look at a variety of factors and that’s the process we are going through right now. And that’s something that’s with any player and certainly a competitor and a Hall of Fame quarterback like Brett Favre is no different than those other players in terms of that evaluation.”

Q. There has been a lot of speculation and things. Has anyone from your organization met with Favre in the last week or so for any reason?

A. “I’m not aware of any meeting but the fact is, like I say, any football personnel matters, medical matters, those types of issues are really issues that we don’t typically discuss publicly. I hope the fans and the media can appreciate that. Because that’s the right way we feel can get the best product on the field to get our ultimate goal, which is a Super Bowl championship.”

Q. Do you feel the organization owes the public, especially the Vikings fans, just some sort of where you guys stand? Whether there is interest. Whether there’s not interest. Or whether this is all speculation.

A. “Again, I’m not sure there’s any bad information. I think the reality is there is no new information to report on this matter. Certainly when there is new information about any player, or the moves that we make, the first people we share it with is the media and the fans. And there’s no new information or news to report on.”

Q. Are you able to confirm interest in Brett Favre?

A. “Certainly a player of Brett Favre’s [caliber], a Hall of Fame quarterback, with the competitiveness he has. That is a player that we would have interest as we would have in other players. But again, there is a process of evaluation, a variety of facts that go into it and that has to play itself it [out]. I defer to our coach and our personnel people to really evaluate those issues.”

Q. So you can’t confirm the report by Yahoo! Sports last Thursday that Favre had told the Vikings he was going to stay retired?

A. “What I can tell you is that type of decision is up to Brett Favre and I’ll leave it to Brett Favre to give you that type of answer.”

Q. You and your brother, Zygi, have been very supportive of your football people. Is this the type of situation where you would sign off on whatever decision is made by Childress and Spielman?

A. “We view it as a process and the ultimate [is] we are faithful in Coach Childress and Rick Spielman and our entire football staff to come up with the right evaluations and decisions with any player. Not just Brett Favre. That’s something they share with us and we have dialogue on that. But in the end we believe that there has to be a thorough process with any player and there is no difference here.”

Q. What could Favre do for ticket sales?

A. “I can tell you this. We are very excited about the roster we have and the product we have. We made the playoffs, we won the NFC North last year, we feel we have a better roster this year than we had when we left the stage back in January so we’re very excited about it. And that’s at every position. I hope the fans, I believe the fans share that excitement and we’re close. I think we are going to get to the next level this year and I’m hoping the fans come out and support us and come to the stadium. It’s a great experience.”

Q. Would there be a point where you need to move ahead with Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson as your quarterbacks and put a deadline on Favre?

A. “Again, building a football team is an ongoing process and we’re not going to make pronouncements one way or the other on any of this. But like I said before, it’s a process, it’s an evaluation. Every player, all 53 positions and our football staff, we have full faith and credit that they are going to put the best product on the field and the best players on the field. We are excited about the 2009 season.”

CHAD GREENWAY. linebacker

Q. Are players being kept in the loop at all on this Favre situation so you have an idea what is going on?

A. “There is so much going on with this in the media and it is what it is. From what we know it could be a blown up story that we don’t know anything about that may have no legs at all. What we’re going to do is stick with what we got. We havve two great quarterbacks in there with JDB [John David Booty] learning. So we have Sage [Rosenfels] and Tarvaris [Jackson] who are in there as great quarterbacks, great experienced quarterbacks who we are going to be behind. It is what it is. Unless something happens or changes there is really no speculation about it. We should move on and go on with Sage and Tarvaris like we have been.”

Q. Is there ever any point when this could become a distraction?

A. “I think last year [when the Favre rumors swirled] is a perfect example of how it won’t. Last year it didn’t become a distraction and we kind of went through the same thing during training camp, which is right at the peak time. For us, it’s like we battled through that, were NFC North champs from last year and it obviously didn’t affect us. We got off to a relatively good start so I don’t think that had any type of effect. As a player, you don’t get into any of that. If it’s somebody else’s team or your own team, you just try to do what you can do. For me I’m not going to get any better worrying about what somebody else is doing.”

Q. How about Favre’s potential leadership and what he can bring?

A. “At the same time, he’s retired a couple of times so you wonder where his loyalties lie. For us, it’s about we’re moving forward with what we’ve got here. We have a team that can obviously win at a high level and we have a team that moving forward we think can really compete for an NFC North title again and get to the championship game and hopefully further. As good as something may sound, we have a great team to play with right now and there is no sense in looking outside of what we have within our 53 [man roster].”

BEN LEBER, linebacker

Q. Are you just as in dark about alll this Favre talk?

A. “I am, I know the other players in the locker room are. Whatever happens, happens. You know how the players are. We don’t know about this stuff until it actually happens. Even players that get cut or players that sign on, it’s usually after the fact. We’re seeing it off the Internet and through the newspaper. Whatever happens, we’ll read about it probably after it happens.”

Q. What was he like to play against?

A. “He’s extremely tough. He’s savvy, he knows the reads. The guy would sometimes just laugh at us in some of the bluffs and fake blitzes that we were showing. He knew we weren’t blitzing and he knew what we were doing. From that aspect it was kind of disheartening because he’s not even falling for it. He’s tough to bring down. He’s got a lot of pocket presences and he’s a bigger guy, a strong guy than you would think. Just a natural leader and a great player.”

Q. Do you follow this stuff closely?

A. “If it was just strictly football stuff I think it would be easy to follow. But now you’re talking injuries, you’re talking flights out of Mississippi. Now, it’s becoming like, it’s such a big thing that it’s kind of hard to follow. Yahoo! Sports and you don’t know who to believe. So I just kind of stick to the meat of the story and that’s it.”

BRETT FAVRE TALKS ABOUT A RETURN TO FOOTBALL

BY Chip Scoggins MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE

ESPN’s Ed Werder is reporting that Vikings coach Brad Childress will meet with Brett Favre at an undisclosed location this week. Here is the report.

According to the report, the two are going to discuss whether Favre wants to come out of retirement and join the Vikings this season and that Favre will make a decision soon afterward. Werder writes that the team wants Favre to participate in offseason minicamps.

Childress left open the possibility of Favre joining the team when asked about it during the rookie minicamp this past weekend. Childress said the team had not discussed it but probably would do so.

The biggest issue is Favre’s health, specifically his right arm. Werder wrote that Favre has not been working out and did not have surgery on his torn biceps tendon, which caused his production to drop dramatically at the end of last season with the Jets. Favre apparently believes the injury can heal without surgery.