The countdown begins
July 21st, 2008 – 12:03 PM by Judd ZulgadUpdate: It sounds like the Vikings and agents for several of their draft picks exchanged numbers today, although the team has not announced any signings today. One agent said he expects something tomorrow.
It’s finally here — almost. The Vikings will report to training camp on Wednesday in Mankato and then hold their first practices on Friday. We’ll have a training camp preview in the Wednesday paper (and on the website) and, of course, complete coverage from Mankato starting Thursday.
About the only piece of business the Vikings have yet to care of is signing their draft choices. None of the five picks from the April draft have signed but, as we’ve written before, because there is no first-rounder it shouldn’t be a major issue getting deals completed.
121 Responses to "The countdown begins"
woo hoo!!!
Were leaving together,
But still its farewell
And maybe well come back,
To earth, who can tell?
I guess there is no one to blame
Were leaving ground
Will things ever be the same again?
Its the final countdown…
Were heading for venus and still we stand tall
Cause maybe theyve seen us and welcome us all
With so many light years to go and things to be found
Im sure that well all miss her so.
and the countdown continues
There is a song out there, I’m sure Tony Pants knows the song, It’s “The Final Countdown”.
Oh, great. Now I’ve got that song going through my head…
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?season=2008&week=0
Are you #($%*& kidding me? 8-8 and “just a playoff spot”? Uh, just as we suspected, K-Seif really is just a Gay Bay loving ESPN sellout.
Oh, that was last year’s record. 
Either way, “just a playoff spot” is not where we’ll be. NFC North is ours, easy.
So is it a good or bad sign that there is no news on the tampering scandal? If Tagliabue was still running the NFL I wouldn’t be worried, but Goddell seems determined to bring the hammer down on issues like this. How painful would it be if we get hit with a draft pick penalty and then watch Favre return to the Packers? Ouch…I hope it doesn’t happen.
Here is a direct quote from a Q&A with Seifert over at ESPN Hashmarks:
Kevin from Milwaukee writes: You come from covering the Vikings, are you kidding? The last thing that people are going to listen to are comments posted against Favre coming from a past viking reporter. … go back to covering the Vikings.
Kevin Seifert: Kevin (nice name), I can tell you without hesitation that your concerns are shared by many Wisconsinites and Packers fans. The truth is, yes, I did cover the Vikings for the past nine seasons while working at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. I can also tell you without hesitation that I am not a Vikings fan, nor did I pick up any anti-Packers feelings during my time in Minnesota. Based on some other mailbag contributions, I think readers in Minnesota would, uh, agree.
Seifert looks like a Browns fan.
The way he wrote, is he really a fan at all? Seriously…. 
I’ve worked with both print and television sports guys, and from my experience it is pretty rare that the region they cover includes their favorite sports teams. I’ve also taken plenty of “Why does the reporter hate the Vikings/Twins/Wolves/Wild?” calls. These guys are paid to REPORT on these teams, not to LIKE them…
Seifert is obviously not a football fan. Polo is more his speed…
Yes, he is a fan…of men’s gymnastics.
And men’s swimming.
Of course his favorite sport is a highly contested game of Dungeons and Dragons with John Clayton in the ESPN break room…
I think Seifert and Dan Cole are both Sychronized Swimming Fans. Actually, I think they may have been in pairs competition together.
Hey! No making fun of the Common Man! I swear to God the guy gets funnier by the day…
What? Siefert not a Vikings fan all those years? Judd? Chip? Phat Pat? Is our world crumbling before our very eyes? Don’t you guys truly hate the Packers, Bears, White Sox? Say it ain’t so!!
You’re probably right, Bones, but I do think Sir Sid is the exception!!!
Jay Glazer just reported Shockey was traded to NO for a 2nd and 5th rounders
Shooter too.
That’s a good move for the Saints.
Green Bay IS the team to beat because they are the reigning champions…and they WILL be beaten.
As asked previously, how much longer before we get news about the FFF as it pertains to the Vikes? I really want this circus to be over!
I wouldn’t have had a problem with the Vikes sending a 2nd & 5th for Shockey.
Another weapon for Brees…nice!
My take on the NFC North.
1. We ARE the favorites to win the division.
2. Like 2007, the Packers WILL be better than most Viking fans think they will be.
3. The Bears will be a mess on both sides of the ball.
4. Drew Stanton will be starting for the Lions by mid-season.
Bones - Stanton starting, is that because Kitna will get hurt or they need to get Stanton some reps?
Could be either one, but I was thinking their season will be over by then and they’ll be looking towards the future at that point.
I think that Kitna will retain the starting job… if, and it’s a big if, the Lions can succeed at all at running the ball.
Kitna was a turnover machine last year, but that’s what happens when you throw 9 out of every ten touches and the defense KNOWS it.
Calvin Johnson should be a handful this year as long as he stays healthy, him on one side and Williams on the other…thats going to be tough to defend if the qb can get them the ball
Is the Shockey thing true? I can’t find it anywhere… I woulda given them a 2nd and a 4th for Shockey… beats having Shiancoe.
Mike Martz gone = Lions offense improved
I wasn’t overly impressed with Calvin Johnson. I understand that he was injured and that the learning curve is steep for rookie WRs, but he looked very ordinary. Same goes for LaRon Landry. The problem for the Kitties is their complete lack of a running game coupled with a poor offensive line.
I agree bones… I’d rather have Roy Williams than CJ at this point, but who knows, he’ll probably catch fire soon. He’s got the talent.
If Kevin Smith can run the ball, though, Kitna is a capable quarterback who’ll have a decent season.
I agree with Seifert, the Bears will de-throne the lions as the worst team in the North.
Nailed right on the head. It’s been said before…but bears repeating:
http://www.realfootball365.com/index.php/articles/vikings/12119
I agree with you B. 20 years from now the sports world will be shocked to find out that Mike Martz was insane during his NFL career…
It’s been painfully obvious to everyone not on the coaching staff that this group of linemen are not cut out for the zone blocking scheme.
More on Calvin Johnson: As much hype as the guy received coming into the NFL he really should have put up better numbers. While they are certainly in the minority, guys like Randy Moss, Marques Colston, and Anquan Boldin all put up HUGE stats as rookies…
TJack’s sack and fumble vs. Denver in OT was the direct result of Cook having no idea who to block and letting two guys loose unabated, full steam on TJ. That was either a scheme issue or a very clueless lineman issue. (I had that video clip and can’t find it.)
The drafting, repositioning, and insertion into the starting lineup of Ryan Cook continues to baffle me…
Hindsight is of course 20/20, but here are some other players taken in the second round that we could’ve taken instead of Cook:
Devin Hester
Greg Jennings
Anthony Fasano
Maurice Jones Drew
akvikesfan, go to fox sports.com the shockey story is on there
was the zone blocking scheme EVER improving for these yahoos or what?
If the o-line coach wants to run a zone blocking scheme he should go coach for Denver.
Bones, I’m pretty sure that’s Chili’s doing…
I have to second the motion on the zone-blocking scheme. Say want you want to about Tice, but he did manage to put togther a solid OL while he was here.
It should be painfully obvious to Childress and his staff that Ryan Cook does not belong in the starting lineup. What’s worse, with McKinnie in line to be suspended, who do we have to fill in? Eagle cast-off Artis Hicks? No thanks. Throw in the fact that Childress and Co. haven’t approached Birk about a new contract, and I’m wondering what happened to Childress’s common sense.
If Wilf wants a new stadium, he’d better get one thing through his head fast: If Childress doesn’t win this division and win in the playoffs, he should be fired. No ifs, ands, or buts. There is too much talent on this team outside of the QB position not to win, and Childress has the QBs he wanted. If he can’t win with this team, he doesn’t deserve another year.
Can someone please call the Viking front office and tell them that training camp starts this week, and they the ought to get in touch with agents for their draft picks, and start negotiating their contracts? Anyone….anyone…Bueller?
The frustrating thing is that we haven’t seen the zone blocking scheme really fit with this group of o-linemen for 2 YEARS! It’s not like we’ve seen a couple of bad weeks here and there, it’s been 2 season of seeing what should be a dominant o-line play like an average one. Bill Belichick would make a HALFTIME adjustment to correct it…
Possibly Bevell, but it’s probably Chili.
I’m still at odds over how good the O-Line really is. Hererra made some good progress last season and I think he’ll become a solid RG. RT is still a work in progress. As Frank stated, who do the Vikings have to play LT if/when McKinnie is suspended?
Apparently Hicks will be the starting LT when McKinnie gets suspended. KGB against Hicks = broken T-Jax by halftime.
May as well throw John Sullivan out there. Can’t do any worse! Tapeh better be able to pick up whoever gets through!
I don’t understand why you would want to count on a guy who failed miserably at RG to protect your quarterback (who is prone to make errors when he IS protected). I’d rather roll the dice and see what Chase Johnson brings to the field…
It is true that the O-Line deserves some credit for our effectiveness in running the ball. The best running team in the NFL must have some good linemean and a good scheme.
HOWEVER, we also looked well below average when protecting the passer. What the zone blocking scheme and skills does FOR the running game is what hurts us vs. the pass rush. And, of course, there is always the argument of scheme vs. personnel. Is the success or failure due to the scheme or the players?
Its a players league, as they say, and right now I feel our OLine personnel is a significant concern.
Concerns:
Tight End
O-Line
Quarterback
Cornerback
SIEFERT IS A TRADER! He picked the pack to win the North. Boo
…and he’s a traitor too!
not really a traitor if he was never a Viking Fan in the first place, no surprises about him picking the Pack
Journalists are supposed to strive for objectivity. You know, like Sid. Oh, wait, bad example of both.
BEARS, URLACHER AGREE TO NEW DEAL
Posted by Michael David Smith on July 21, 2008, 5:25 p.m.
Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher appears ready to report to training camp happily after reaching an agreement on a one-year contract extension.
Michael Smith of ESPN reports that Urlacher and the Bears have agreed to a contract extension that will give Urlacher a $6 million signing bonus and a $1 million bump in salary each of the next four years. One more year has been added to Urlacher’s deal, and the final year of Urlacher’s new contract will be the 2012 season.
His base salary in 2012 will be $7.5 million. Throw in a $500,000 workout bonus in 2012, and that’s $18 million in new money for Urlacher, although at age 30 there’s no guarantee that Urlacher will still be playing through the 2012 season.
Urlacher had four years and $25.5 million remaining on his existing contract, and he skipped voluntary off-season workouts in part because he was unhappy with his deal. He is expected to sign the new contract tomorrow when the Bears open training camp.
I’d find it hard, if I were a journalist, not to become a fan of the team I’m covering… however, maybe once you meet some these guys you think they’re a bunch of a-holes. who knows? besides Judd and Chip, that is.
I generally agree on the thoughts about the zone-scheme article. However, just to play devl’s (Chili’s) advocate…
I do think that the zone-blocking improved from two years ago to where it is now. Not saying it’s perfect, just saying it has gotten better. I also agree that it HAS been partially responsible for our dominance in the run and HAS been terrible to the development of T-Jack and the passing game.
On D, I think the scheme was dependent on a dominant pass rush… which hopefully we have now. It wouldn’t matter if our DBs were playing zone, man, or two hand tough… they were constantly on islands out there.
Just remember, Ray Edwards predicted he’d break the sack record on his side, so there’s at least 23 sacks there, and even with Allen drawing a double team on every play, he should be good for at least 12. Throw in a combined 20 from the williams boys, and 5 or so each from EJ and Leber, we’ve got over 60 sacks right there
Hell, we could easily have over 100 sacks this year…
Just remember Chilli is a dumb ass & TJoke blows…
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!
Fargo I’d say more like 150 sacks… which is comparable to TJoke throwing more TD’s than int’s…..In other words… not going to happen……..
FIRE CHILDRESSNOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Speaking of sacks, here’s the latest Jason Taylor tidbit. Someone had asked whether Taylor or former Vike Eramus B. Draggin would wear No. 99. The answer, according to SI’s Don Banks, is neither:
Speaking of Carter and Taylor, there was a big mystery here Monday about who was going to get to wear No. 99, the number Carter owns in Washington and the one Taylor has made famous in Miami.
Carter even joked about the prospect of either selling the number to Taylor, or being instructed from on high as to what jersey he’ll wear.
“We’ll see what happens,'’ Carter said. “If (owner) Dan Snyder comes to talk to me … (Maybe Jason and I) will have a dance off. But he’ll probably beat me. That salsa stuff and all that, I can’t do that. I do play the piano. Maybe I’ll play the piano and he can dance and may the best man win.'’
A little later Monday, new Redskins head coach Jim Zorn broke a little news, telling me and another reporter: “We’ve already resolved it. Andre Carter will be (No.) 99. And there was no money exchanged.'’
Apparently Taylor is going to have to earn his stripes as a Redskin, because not only is he going to be wearing a new number, he’ll be switching to left end, leaving Carter on the right side, which he has played his entire seven-year NFL career.
This must be Shooter (SI had it from the PP in their Truth and Rumors section). It’s one of the dumber things I’ve read in a while:
“The tampering issue, which is difficult to prove, would go away if the Vikings and Packers could make a deal (for Favre).”
Huh?
Before, the league was investigating because there was alleged smoke. But once they saw there was fire, no more problem! Yeah, that makes sense.
OK, Shockey is worth a Second Rounder, Jason Taylor is worth a Third Rounder, and Jared Allen is worth a First Rounder. That would make Brett somewhere in between. Like maybe a Third and a Fourth. That might be tempting, but I don’t see it happening.
Well, someone has to ask it…
Judd: Are you a Viking fan?
Chip: Are you a Viking fan?
Don’t use any “Chili” explanation here, just yes or no.
You broke the new YKW rule on the AV, Lefty. That will cost you one post. This rule is in effect until the FFF is over.
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