This morning Gov. Dayton whipped out the thesaurus to color the GOP in a "ludicrous, disaster, absurd, harebrained, laughable, cynical, fiasco, insincere, appalling" light. He stopped short of turning green, ripping his purple shorts, and smashing things around the capitol. Since then, tempers have cooled off in high level meetings between the Gov. and GOP leaders to hammer out a bill that is ensured to pass.

So far they have determined:

Stadium WILL have a roof, stadium WILL be payed for with bonds from sales and income state tax since it is publicly owned, State's current offer is 25% of cost plus roof, plan will be pursued only if Vikes and City sign on (number debatable). Old plan did not pass votes required they say.

What is yet to be determined is: Are the Vikings on board (talks ongoing), is Minneapolis on board (same), and will the DFL commit.

Information provided via the titter accounts of Patt Kessler, Jeff Goldberg, and Tom Hauser.

Keep the faith. SKOL.

In what appears to be yet another act of cowardice and "passing the buck" to the next set of dumb asses..er legislators..Governor Mark Dayton announced the worst blow yet to the Vikings stadium drive.  Follow the link to the Strib below for details.  This certainly puts any potential deal on life support my fellow Viking maniacs.  Looks like it's down to a hail marry play in the special session.  We all know how those go...unless you are the Wisconsin Badgers.  Discuss and mourn.  Skol Vikes.

-In a nutshell, this kills any attempt to come up with funds via sales tax hike.-  A HALF A GOD DAMNED PENNY.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/blogs/133019458.html#commentHere

Since the Strib is essentially falling apart with the loss of Zulgad and the obscurity of Scoggins, I've been following Pelissero of ESPN1500 lately. 

Good things: Shank-a-lank and Harvin returned to practice today.  Much rejoicing.

Terrible awful no go bad things: Kevin Williams will see a foot specialist after struggling through the game and will miss an undisclosed amount of time.

Break your heart thing:  Fill in guard, Scott Kooistra, suffered an undisclosed neck injury, will be placed on IR, and when asked..Frazier said he doesn't know if it is career threatening or not.  You have to feel bad for a guy whose stock was rising and was a possibe fill-in for our right guard spot.  Kooistra remained in Seattle.  Thoughts and prayers to his and his family.

This from the twitters of Adam Schefter and Mort.  In a nutshell, the 8th Circuit delivered an as expected verdict (per sources) which should not theoretically hamper current negotiations as both parties were very well aware that this was the likely outcome.  Of most important note perhaps: The NFL CANNOT lockout rookies and FAs.

PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SIGN SQUIDNEY

GET PONDER ALL THE INFO HE CAN POSSIBLY DIGEST

We now return you to your regularly scheduled workdays.

As we all know by now, "super secret moon base moat full of laser sharks guarded by black knights with laser swords" talks have taken place between the NFL and the Association formerly known as the NFLPA (but now has an asterisk with it because every entity that tags itself ''formerly known as'' must subsequently now be known with a symbol on your name) over a few occasions recently.  The following is a piece by profootballtalk.com which best summarizes my optimism and foundation for a mid-July labor settlement.

Clicky here!

Tag it and bag it folks, aside from all the rhetoric, it turns out that when you kick the self-serving lawyers out of the room, even two diametrically opposed forces can begin to see common ground.  Now about that Federal ammo dump thingy...

*I know this is just one man's hope, perhaps a fool's hope, but it's about damn time we had some optimism around here don't you think?*

The '98 loss to the Falcons did not break me.

41-0 did not break me.

12 men in the huddle did not break me.

This coach HAS broken me.

Never have I seen something that I love as deep as the Vikings been raped and mishandled so poorly by one man.

Brad Childress is the worst coach in Viking history.

I hereby retire my Viking fandom untill Brad Childress is fired in the most humiliating manner possible.

Sign if you agree.

I just watched the live stream, and the replay should be up on www.vikings.com within an hour or two, but i'll give you the gist of it:

1) Carl Johnson (VP of NFL officiating) informed the team this morning that Shank's TD SHOULD HAVE BEEN COUNTED and said the overturn was wrong by the official.  <sigh...>

2)Johnson went on to say that the Quarless TD, if challenged, would have been overturned.  STRIKE TWO!

3) Last but not least: Favre has a broken ankle and is in a walking boot but as yet to be ruled out for the Pats.  STEEEEEEEERIKE  Three!

4) Crap.

Like I said the PC replay should be up on www.vikings.com with in an hour or two.  Go to Judd Zulgad's twitter if you need confirmation now.

I know I am not the only one who thinks Winter Park has had nothing but rainy sad clouds and kicked puppies lately, so I am proud to link you the conglomeration of Week 1 opening media day and AP interview.  Some highlights of note before the link and subsequent avoidance of plagerism.  Also added is the amount of asses that the particular notation kicks.

1) Ced Griffen is practicing full speed and taking reps with the 1st team.  Frazier has edited his timeline for Ced and is now NOT ruling him out of this Thursday's game.  It is optimistic to say the least that he'd start, but highly possible Ced sees significant time barring not set backs.  3.5 Asses out of 5 (plus 1 if this is true because getting Ced back would be HUGE)

2) AP apparently has found out why he fumbles and offers a Monsterman style quote for those folly enough to continue to attempt to strip the ball. (3.5 Asses as I REALLY don't think AP fumbles that mutch.  He is way below the fumbles/attempt rate that Sweetness and other backs posted for their first 3 years.)

3) The entire team is palpably pissed off and will be gunning to make this one personal.  Several players are on record with this.  Expect a totally different Vikings team then we have seen so far. (5 asses kicked if true because I am started to develope a stinging hatered towards all of those oligarchic Saints fans that come over to the DN)

Full story here: http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/blogs/102299769.html

SKOL 

As per the good fellows of Access Vikings, apparently the Phattest of Pats is 50/50 on weather or not he will retire.  What do you all think?  If Pat leaves, do we currently have his replacement ready to roll?  Should we focus on a DT via trade or draft?  Thoughts?  SKOL Vikings, never let them see you hurt!  One a side note, I'm curious as to weather or not a fine will be leveed at the jerk ass who blatantly went after Favre's knees towards the end of the game...

For some reason seeing Frankie Munez's, I mean Sean Payton's little squirrel face celebrating makes me very irate.  Can't wait to play the Aints next year and beat em bloody!

As per Access Vikings beat writers, Ray Edwards and Kevin Williams were practicing at least on a limited basis and judging from this, should play on Sunday.  Reports are Kevin only has a bone bruise (suck it up Nancy).

The bigger concern is Percy's abscence.  One can only assume it is migranes as reported.  For the love of God, get this kid some 'herbal remedies'. 

To be honest, for this game I think it is much more imperative to have Edwards and Williams suited up and rolling than Harvin.  The Saint's D does not scare me in the least.

Thoughts?

First of all..what a pentalty happy crew of officials we had today, no?  Secondly, your running game is scarry good and your corner back play is the tightest my Viking squad has ever seen this year.  Trust me, I do no give out accolades easily.  What I saw today was a slug fest that eventually wore out the away team.  Who knows what Domata Peko would have done today.  I think both QB play was very average to say the least.  Favre was efficient in what we expected from him, and Palmer simply did not have enough weapons and/or time to throw the ball.  I think Chris Henry being hurt hampered you guys a great deal, as we were stacking the box a good deal without the respect of the deep ball.. Has this been your problem since losing Henry? I think my post takes on a different approach if your team didn't commit so many pentalties.  Good game Bengals, and I would LOVE a remach in the Superbowl if our respective squads are so fortunate.  Good luck on the rest of your season.

Not a whole of of pissing and moaning can be put forth about the refs or anything of that nature.  My Vikes simply came out flat and were succinctly dominated in every facet of the game.  What a difference a year makes.  Last year when our two squads faced each other, it was an already playoff-bound Cardinals team that came out and was thrased by a Tavaris Jackson lead MN squad who was fighting to secure the division.  Pretty much the exact opposite tonight huh?  Just thought I'd come over and dole out congratulations where they are due.  To be honest though, right now I could care less about a loss dragging us to 10-2.....if you watched the game tonight you were witness to what was perhaps one of the ugliest injuries in football over the past few years.  Pray for EJ Henderson if you will, no one should have to suffer what he apparently did tonight.  Good luck on the rest of your season and perhaps we shall meet again.

Hello Saints fans,

Well it is getting late enough in the season to start thinking of potential playoff matches and by and large our two teams are head and shoulders above the rest of the NFC, that much is blatantly clear.  What surprises me is the parallel our teams play with..let me explain

QB- Yours is younger and has more moles..but that is about it.  Seoirusly...our two QBs are eating up opposing Ds like Fiber One bars in a chilli cook-off.  I'd say its a push.

WR and TE- Meechem, Colston and crew VS. S. Rice, Harvin, and Berrian.  I think we both have good-great receiving corps who are benefitting from tremendous QB play.  Again..push. to slight edge to Vikes as I like Shiancoe (8td this year)over Russel Crowe look-a-like
 

RB- You guys are 4th in the league in rushing (right?) and we have a guy by the name of Purple Jesus.  Basically your two backs do the same as AP.  Does that mean yours will be fresher?  Or does AP have more of a ''oh my god stop that man'' feel and thus get the credit?  Overall I think our running GAMES are about equal, but I'd take AP over your committee.

OL- Brees has been sacked 8 times fewer but has thrown 6 more INTs than Brett.  Normally those two stats dont relate much but with QBs as good as ours, I think one can make a legitimate argument that those gaps basically wash each other out.  OL are pretty good on both fronts, yours is better in the run game as AP always has to fight for his yards seemingly a lot more than your backs.

DEFENSE

DL- We have the best D line in the NFL.  Sorry but the Vikes take this one.   HUGE reason we lead the league in sacks.

LBs- Fujita and Vilma are the headlineers.  Ours are Greenway and EJ Henderson, with Ben Leber playing very well to boot.  Once again, this might be too close to call..perhaps favors Saints but the Homers in us probably could argue otherwise.

Secondary-  There is no question yours is more opportunistic.  Sharper is playing like a beast, and is a way better fit in your system than ours.  Glad to see him doing well.  Our safeties are only used to stop the home run, almost never will you hear them jumping a rout to attempt a risky INT or something of the like.  I like your secondary due to experience and aggression..but don't count Winfield comming back for us out...he's been done for a month now and you simply can't put a value on that guy.

Spec teams- Percy.  Harvin.  'Nuff said.  Football Outsiders ranks us as number 1 spec. teams.  I give us the edge.

Optional title:  Oh Shit....

AV and ESPN are reporting our starting corner is going to miss a lot more time than previously thought my friends.  This does not bode well, and almost promises that we will be without our star player next week versus a potent Packers passing offense.  The following week is a bye, so at the earliest we'd have him ready at the Lions or Seahawks.  What do you think is the appropirate move the team should make?  Debut Asher Allen?  Move Sapp over and have Allen take up the nickle?  I say this because i REALLY don't want Paymah back there.  He might as well wear a bullseye instead of a number on his jersey.  Take it easy fellow Purple faithful.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/blogs/65937567.html

Hey all, quick question here.  My best friend, a Bears fan, was kind enough to get my new wife and I tickets to the Bears V. Vikes game on 11/29 for our wedding gift this August.  I booked a room at the Holiday Inn-Metrodome and I was wondering if any of you would share your stories, how to to get to the game, local places for pregame, random thouhgs...that would be much appreciated.  Feel free to rant or describe what YOU guys and gals have done so I can make it a memorable experience for my wife and I.  She's new to Viking Fandom, and went as far as to buy an AD t-shirt.  Maybe I can get her to buy viking lingere?  (kidding, kinda).  Haha.  Thanks and have fun with it.

Edit:  I should point out that I'm from Sioux Falls and just a year out of college with new jobs for both of us.  Long story short, I bleed purple but haven't been to an actual game since my childhood.  SKOL VIKES!

First: A little background.

I received a rather interesting email from my wife today.  She works in a  reseach field that studies contaminants and pollutants in the environment and examines their affects on developing fetuses up into childhood.  That being said, I can assure you that the following is official and not just some contrived story.  Enjoy.

MORRISON, Wis. — All it took was an early thaw for the drinking water here to become unsafe.

There are 41,000 dairy cows in Brown County, which includes Morrison, and they produce more than 260 million gallons of manure each year, much of which is spread on nearby grain fields. Other farmers receive fees to cover their land with slaughterhouse waste and treated sewage.

In measured amounts, that waste acts as fertilizer. But if the amounts are excessive, bacteria and chemicals can flow into the ground and contaminate residents’ tap water.
In Morrison, more than 100 wells were polluted by agricultural runoff within a few months, according to local officials. As parasites and bacteria seeped into drinking water, residents suffered from chronic diarrhea, stomach illnesses and severe ear infections.
“Sometimes it smells like a barn coming out of the faucet,” said Lisa Barnard, who lives a few towns over, and just 15 miles from the city of Green Bay.
Tests of her water showed it contained E. coli, coliform bacteria and other contaminants found in manure.

In closing, I present the previous as unequivical proof that Packer fans are indeed FULL OF SHIT.

According to www.accessvikings.com, the district judge has ruled that the case will be tied up untill after the 2009 season.  This means we have our boys for the entire NFL season this year!  A big sigh of reliefe for us, a big groan of frustration for the rest of the NFL.  SKOL VIKES!!  This just means that our defense will be even scarier than thought this year.  Any chance we drop another DT and pickup some help in another area now that we know we are good on that position?

It seems our old warrior QB might have already gotten a little beat down courtousy of the KC zero blitzes last week.  In the link below, the AV crew describes how Brett told the ESPN MNF guys that he might have a cracked rib and cited discomfort breathing hard.  Weird how he would say this, then go on to tell us that he will not be wearing any special padding and that it doesn't affect throws.  Is he creating a fall back for a bad performance?  Another obsstacle for the journalists to ooze over if he lights it up?  Or is that ''slight discomfort breathing heavy" also known as "my old ass is out of shape".  Either way, this news rubs me in the wrong way.

Oh the noes!

Let me sum it up for you:  HI!  I am Mike Wobschall and I will ask you some juicy meatball questions for you to hit out of the park!  Hey...its Vikes..its Favre-realated...and its fresh.  Enjoy!

www.vikings.com

Remember...Kurt Warner is only one year younger than Brett, yet no one seems to be questioning his durability?  Mark Schlereth is a giant ogre of a douche and I hope the Vikes smash the Chiefs tomorrow!

Hello everyone,

A year after graduating college and establishing myself, I am finally able to financially swing a trip to the Twin Cities to watch my beloved Purple (hopefully) trounce the Bears 11/29/09.  I was wonding, since it has been AGES from my last Vikes game, if any of you had good suggestions as to hotels to stay at close to the metrodome.  Do any offer shuttles to the dome to avoid driving?  Any good tips for entertainment before/after the game?  My wife-to-be (one month till the big day!) and I want to make it a fun trip.  Any advice the seasoned attenders can lend is vastly appreciated.  Thank you!

The good folks at Access Vikings blog have reported that we have signed Loadholt and he will subsequently appear in training camp.  Jeez....I wonder if the wait was because a certain someone would have commanded $10 million or more in cap space and our talent people wanted to see what we had left to work with huh?  Jepp out.  SKol!

http://blogs.startribune.com/vikingsblog/?p=3082

PS- There is another Favre diddy in there that I simply cannot stomach any more of.

Check out this hot piece of crap.  If this just doesn't want to make you vomit than I don't know what will.  For the love of crap already just make up your damn mind so we can move on!  ARGGHHHHH!

To be honest, why would a grown man care about what anyone else thinks?  Are you REALLY that insecure enough to give a damn?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4350876

EDIT- Please delete this, I did not see that another user already posted it.  Props to you sir, no hard feelings meant.

Apparently the good folks over at Access Vikings have caught wind of some of the tickets for this year's Vikings games being onsale.  I havent had the time to do so myself but here it is nonetheless.  Check me out
Just thought I'd let you all know as I'm sure the immanent signing of a certain fuzzy cheeked QB might spark a lot of interest in single game tickets.  Have a good one all.  SKOL.

This just came from the folks at cnet.  Apparently it has been confirmed that a new and deadly computer virus is spreading across both Mac and PC opperating systems like wildfire.  This virus downloads itself onto your hard drive when you visit such sights as ESPN, Access Vikings, Foxsports, Yahoo Sports.  It reportedly aslo uploads itself every time you read a Florio, S. A. Smith, or Siefert article.  This virus works by imbedding itself into every single process your cpu runs, propigating itself across the web on a P2P basis.  Every time this virus rears its ugly head, your entire system resource profile is rerouted to its purpose.  Once said event happens, the virus changes form and diction, becoming all the more undetectable.  It is believed that the virus orignated somewhere in Mississippi on few computers used to run a small ranch operation there.  When the users plow a field, take a trip into town, exercise, ingest food, take a nap, or have a sip of Old No. 7, the malignant code spreads to the web.  This virus is reportedly overwhelming the defenses of the abovementioned meida outlet's servers and in turn spreading all the more.  It is rumored to have been created for the sole purpose of brining down its former operating system.  It was recently quarrentined in New York before again being losed upon the world.  This virus has been designated "Number Four", and has a viscious cycle of inactivity followed by a rash of infections.  A synonym for this culpret is BRETT FAVRE and it is nearing 40 years of age. 

Just thought I'd have a little fun with you all.  SKOL VIKES!

There are reports out that the Ram's new coach, Steve Spagnuolo has our abismal spec. teams coach Paul Ferraro high on his list to head St. Louis' spec teams.  I am not making this up.  If Chilly doesn't let this guy go and hire a new coach (I'd take anyone over Ferraro...even Snarf from Thundercats), then I have lost all faith in him.  Someone wants to take our hot garbage and eat it and we should very well let them.

I am SO chomping at the bit for another crack at the Falcons.  We are by FAR the superior team if we decide that holding onto the ball is the key.  That being said..check this out.

We beat the Giants this week, Chicago beats the Texans, Philly beats Dallas, and Oakland beats Tampa.

1) The Bears come into the Dome week 1 of playoffs, we absolutely trash them like we know we should and everyone gets to tell the luck ass Bears fans to finally shut the hell up.

2) Falcons trash the Cardinals like they will.  The Cardinals are hot garbage.

3) I belive we'd play Carolina in Car as is.  We can beat these guys.  We HAVE beaten these guys.

4) Atl goes to NY and somehow wins.  I don't know how..dirty bomb...AIDS...Second Comming of Christ....

5) ATL has to come to the DOME for the Championsihp game.  We procede to demolish them over and over.  I'm talking the Rape of Nanking style.  Gary Andersoen somewhere breathes a sigh of reliefe. 

6) We face off against TEN in Tampa.  We know we can beat these cocky bastards.  I hate Chris Johnson and his high stepping fairy ass.  Phat pat eats him, grabs the lombardy trophy, and shoves it right in Goodell's face on the podium, asking him how it tastes.  I procede to a state of Nirvana not experienced even by the Dali Lama himself.  The world ends and I don't care.

SKOLLLLLLLLLLL

Thanks to the

Revenge of the Birds

Need i say more?  If a picture is worth a thousand words than this one is worth about a million.  This is an absolutely hilarious picture that really doesn't need a caption..so moving on.

Well we will be without fat pat until the playoffs (optimism) but hold true guys!  It is not as if Pat single handedly got us to the #1 rush D.  Kevin is there, allen is there, and our linebacking core is sthere.  Fred Evans is going to step up huge for us as he's been getting reps lately in practice.  Hold the faith Norseman!  Oh, and please welcome the Packers to the lanf of Irrelevance.  Population:2 (Lions/PAckers) with room for three.

I seriously question weahter Der Fuher has some personal grudge against the Vikings.  Gosder Cherillus is not being fined for his block on Allen.  That I can understand, as it was techincally legal, just frowned upon by fellow NFLers.  The one that really gets my goat is that Fred Evans was FINED FOR THE FACEMASK PENALTY THAT HE DID NOT EVEN GRAB!!!  I wish I was kidding.  You remember the Lions game where Freddy was called for a 15 yarder?  Except the replay showed he didn't even come close to grabbing the facemask?  Well, in the No Fun League aparently they don't review tapes if you happen to wear Purple because the NFL fined him for it.  Absolutey rediculous.  I want serious bodily harm to come to Goodell at some point.

Greetings all.  I thought I'd answer the majority of all your questions with this post.  First and foremost let it be known that I am not the moderator of TDN, that honor goes to Gonzo.  That being said...ESPN reports that the very earliest we may POSSIBLY hear back from the federal judge is this Friday afternoon.  That may mean he wants to hear more testimony, that may mean he will give his decision, or that may mean nothing and he will take more time to decide.  Given those three possibilities, there is a 2/3 chance you will indeed be facing the Williams Wall this week given that the decision does indeed go against the players (no indication eithe way).  Let me know if I messed up anything.