Lets take a quick look at our current Wide Receivers. 

Our best man, SIdney RIce is no lock to be on the team next year, as he may get big bucks in free agency, if under the new system he is a free agent.

Percy Harvin- the man is a best when he is on the field, but unfortunately he may always have migraine issues

Greg Camarillo- should have a bigger role this year and has very good hands 

Emmanuel Arceneaux- signed this guy in the offseason, could be an x-factor or a dud

After that my friends it gets ugly quickly

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In a 10 team H2H with MI and CI and 3 OF slots and UTIL

my keepers are due tomorrow and i am keeping latos in the 12th and jesus montero in the 25th

my last choice is kendry(s) morales for a 9th round pick or brett gardner for a 13th round pick

im nervous about morales' injury, and although only a 9th round pick, there are still really good options.  I like gardner and the help he gives me with SB and my hope is that he can bat leadoff

so which one do you keep?

Poll

WHo do you keep?

50%

Morales (9th)

5 votes

40%

Gardner (13th)

4 votes

10%

Neither

1 votes

10 votes | Poll has closed

A little surprising they couldn't sign Phil Hughes for 2 or 3 years. 

Joba Chamberlain's deal is pretty team friendly and he could still be used as trade bait for a starter. 

Boone Logan's deal (along with Feliciano) gives us two very good lefties in the pen, probably to be used as LOOGY's in the now great bullpen. Marte could return in August or September and it would be interesting to if they keep all 3 lefties in the pen. 

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/113051714.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiU9PmP:QiUiacyKUzyaP37D_MDua_eyD5PcOiUs

Singeltary, who is good friends with frazier will be interviewed for the LB coach position which is vacant due to Pagac taking over the role of DC.   

THere is also talk of bringing in Johnny ROland to be the RB coach, and he coached Walter Payton. 

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Although I protest the move, Frazier will be the HC for 2011.  However, i think everyone would agree that outside of the special teams coach, the vikes need new coaches for every other spot.  Maybe Frazier will be the D coordinator next year, but i feel the Vikes need an aggressive D coordinator, not someone who will stick to the base D, heck i could be the D coordinator to do that for a lot less money.  Bevell needs to go as he was only here i believe to get Favre to Minnesota.  I know I was tired of his predictable play call.The Vikes need a new O-Line coach and secondary coach, the latter who will hopefully teach the corners how to catch INT's and show safeties how to play the position.  

In terms of position players Webb has potential and will definitely better with more reps, but will he be at a level next year where the vikes will be serious playoff contenders?  Even with another year, will he be smart enough to call out of runs that go for -5 yards, or learn to get out of bounds with the clock running down? I'm not sure, but the Vikings better sign or draft or trade for some competition and veteran backups.  I personally think with the Vikigns concerns at WR, that Webb could be a real weapon for us there.  The Vikings need to get rid of any safety not named abdullah and look to sign a good CB or safety.  Mckinnie needs to go and i think the vikings who will probably be drafting 10-14 should take the best LT or Mallet from Arkansas. I think they should re-sign Greenway and Rice and Im probably forgetting some other important guys.

That's what I think... any thoughts form the DN crowd? 

but i wouldn't anoint Joe Webb qb of the future just yet

Dont forget even T-jack looks good playing in a meaningless game

(remember cardinals 2 years ago or any other time he comes into a game with no meaning)

I also know this game was a little different being on the road against a good D, but really there was nothing on the line for the vikes and everyone expected them to get killed tonight

the main reason i dont think joe webb is the QB of the future FOR NEXT SEASON, is that the window for this team to win is very small and with mcnabb out there with probably a few good years left, he's our best chance of winning now

I know this year's draft class is stocked in qb's but presuming we end in the 13-17 pick range the top guys will likely be gone.  Plus its unlikely that we draft a qb who can lead us deep in the playoffs ( other words no repeat Sam Bradford) in his first year and would need a few years to develop.  We are better served drafting a top OT next year to protect who ever is behind center and trading a 4th or 5th round pick for mcnabb or just signing him if the redskins release him 

For the draft I would go

1st round- best OT

2nd round- QB or best defensive back

every pick after that is best guy available

Also this game throws a wrench into the Frazier situation.  I would really like if the Vikings could sign one of the top guys either Dungy, Gruden, or Cowher.  And i don't know who the D coordinator was for this game, but keep that guy for next year.  That game plan against Vick was perfect.  ANd he even avoided the mistake the giants made last week of continuous blitzing of vick even when they were way ahead.

I think just like after 2008 Brian Cashman is the big fish in the pond in market

I think its a given the Yankees will OFFER Cliff Lee 125 million, not only because he is a great pitcher but also because the yankees can't beat him and they cant afford to let him go to the red sox or rangers.  Also I'm confident giving lee the money because he can pitch in the clutch and he doesn't rely on velocity to get guys out so he shouldn't wear down as quickly.  He also has less mileage on his arm than most pitchers his age. AlsoI think Pettite retires, because really there isnt much left for him to accomplish and he was pitching in pain during the playoffs and more injuries are likely

As far as catching goes, I think Posada and Cervelli start out the year catching 3 games each.  Once Memorial day comes or posada's knees give out (that probably happens first) t he yankees call up Montero or Romine and they will split the duties with cervelli. Once posada comes back and lets say is called up, I say they let Posada catch 2 games, Montero 2 games, and cervelli 2 games, with Posada and Montero also spltting DH time.  

I also think the yankees may trade Romine and/ Gardner for another pitcher, probably Greinke.  The rationale is that Romine at best will be average major league hitter with plus defensive skills and that gardner has no pop and is a pure speed and defense guy.  YOu are capitalizing on both guys when their value probably wont get any higher.

I'm not saying they should or must trade gardner, but my feeling is that Cashman a la 2009 will empty the bank and go after Carl Crawford who is a better version of GGBG with more power but also more expensive.  They could keep gardner on the bench as a defensive replacement/PR but if you could trade him and pitching prospect for Greinke and then sign Crawford, that would be 2 huge upgrades for the yankees. Also the yankees won't trade swish or Grandy because they are simply better than gardner in terms of overall ability.  Plus swish keeps the team loose and is a fan favorite.

As for the bullpen, I think Joba should stay in bullpen.  You have to give the guy some stability andnot just yank him back and forth. Joba did very well down the stretch and is very important in getting the ball to Mo.  I also think the yankees should resign Wood if they can.  Lefty specialists seem pretty easy to find so I say bye bye to Boone Logan.

Hopefully Aceves is back, meaning Mitre and Gaudin can get the boot.

Here is what I think the yankee's opening day roster will be (not what I want persay but i feel it will be)

C Posada, Cervelli

INF Jeter, Cano, Arod, Tex, Eduardo Nunez, 

OF- Crawford, Granderson, Swisher, Gardner, Thames

SP- CC, Lee, Hughes, Burnett, Greinke (i say they trade some pretty good pitching pospects plus romine)

RP- Mo, Wood, Joba, Aceves, Moosley, Nova, Robertson,  Scott Downs, 

First off, i only go to Vikings game when they play at the Meadowlands, so my dad and i were staying to watch the game as long as they were playing.  The rain was a mess, but we were well prepared with rain gear

i had awesome seats about 19 rows back right on the 50 on teh vikings side.  I managed to get a few pics of favre and moss

 

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Last night i was sitting in section 315 in row 1

I was expecting the yankees to light up beckett, which they did, however, i wa snot expecting pettitte to be gone after 4

From my view, it appeared the ump had a tight strike zone

also the ball was jumping out of the park, arod's second homer seemed like a ground rule double and lowrie's home run, i thought wasnt hit that deep

also, arod looked locked in.  it looked like he couldnt miss.  after his first home run, (his next ab) i predictied a homer because it seemed like anything near the strike zone he was going to hit hard

cano looked lost at the plate

 

finally, i t was good to see the yankees fight back.  It seems like when they been behind by a lot they just give up

the yankees protested the game last night, meaning the game could be replayed from that point

ik the league has to find a plausible reason

but i think the yankees have a case.  The trainers did not signal, the call was made before the trainers came out.  This game may very well get replayed from that point, with the yankees winning 5-1  

 

For 75 words, go yankees, go yankees, go yankees, go yankees, go yankees, go yankees, go yankees, go yankees, go yankees, go yankees, go yankees, go yankees, go yankees, go yankees, 

in an 8 team league with about 28 spots, 1 catcher

i have posada and suzuki as my catchers and there's no real reason in my opinion to have 2 catchers when i could use the extra spot for a SP or better bench guy.  There's only so many teams that need a catcher and they know that I wont hold on to two catchers forever, so im hamstringed in terms of trading.  Who are some guys i should target to trade for? WHo would u trade posada or suzuki?  One guy i was looking at was adam lind.  He's off to a slow start and his owner is fed up.  Please thoughts are appreciated.

Brandon this may intrigue u for another contest

but my high school teamates were discussing if we got hit by a foul ball or something, what reparations we would like from the offender.

Ex.  I get arods signed cleat if he hit me with a foul ball

We were discussing which yankees would be the most fun to hang out with a day and wat we would ask of them

Time for some polls

ALso we discussed wat u would ask for- not lieka weeklong vacation with them or season tickets for 5 years

But hanging out for a day, a game in the dugout, a one on one clinic, all the autographs u want, tickets next to the dugout anyhting else?

Poll

Which Yankee would you most like to hit you with a foul ball so you could ask for reparations from?

33%

Nick Swisher- really?- possibly the craziest guy on the team

43 votes

0%

Burnett- underneath that scowl is the pie throwing maniac

0 votes

11%

CC Sabathia- a day with him and you'll never be hungry again

15 votes

24%

Derek jeter- like being in the spotlight

31 votes

3%

Arod- you know u like those purple lips

4 votes

3%

Joba and Phil Hughes- these guys can definitly have some fun

4 votes

6%

Mo- maybe u could learn that cutter?

8 votes

3%

Rob Cano- if melky were still here this would be the choice- but still

4 votes

14%

Francisco Cervelli- just for those u know him as God

19 votes

128 votes | Poll has closed

8 teams 29 rounds MI CI 1 C, 3 OF's, 2 UT, 6x6 HR, RBI, SB, R, Hits, OPS W, L, ERA, WHIP, Saves, K's we also have keepers but are complicated but explains why i took montero and heyward

C- Posada

1b- Lee

2b Utley

SS- Zobrist

3b- Zimmerman

MI- Andrus

CI- Morales

OF- Justin Upton

OF- Granderson

OF- Eithier

UT- Beckham

UT-Butler

SP Halladay

SP King Felix

SP- Lester

RP- Wagner

RP-Street

P- Guerrier

P-Aceves

B- Heyward

B- Montero

B-Reimold

B- Nick Johnson

B- Nolasco

B- Gavin Floyd

B- Brett Anderson

B- HArden

B- Garza

DL- Bedard

Thoughts? Strengths? Weaknesses? Although i have lots of pitching i was thinking of going after a Iter 2 guy like Gallardo SB is a weakness but there guys on the wire such as Stubbs and Juan Pierre

Saves are plentiful on the wire as well and ik Street is going on the DL

8 teams 29 rounds MI CI 1 C, 3 OF's, 2 UT, 

6x6 HR, RBI, SB, R, Hits, OPS

W, L, ERA, WHIP, Saves, K's

we also have keepers but are complicated but explains why i took montero and heyward

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by Cardinals to test free agency

i know the vikings are hampered in their free agent signings, but if we get rolle at safety that would be huge.  Rolle as far as I know is one of the premiere safeties in the league.  Every viking fan knows that madieu and tyrell did not cut it last year and safety was mainly the problem in teh secondary.  ROlle would fill that hole.  A good safety can help the cb when he gets beat.  LAst year if the CB's got even beat a little, and couldn't recover, the safety on that side was no where to be found.  Signing Rolle should be a top priority.  

was released today by the Giants

I dont know how well EJ will be able to play after his injury which would leave  a gap in MLB

Now I know that we are restricted in who we can sign based on the playoffs, but since pierce was cut i think we can sign him .  i feel that pierce is what we need from our MLB a proven guy who can step up and make sure there are no holes in the linebacking group

IM not saying Brinkley cant play MLB but he needs to improve big time, and seems liable in pass coverage which is hard to teach. 

Although not a pressing need, if Zygi wants to spend lots of money this offseason, than I feel adding pierce will help this team repeat last years success.

Also i feel if favre retires we should make a play at mcnabb.  if all the eagles want is a first round pick i think it is worth it.  or maybe a 2, 3rd would get it done 

when he throws a crucial pick

all the announcers say is there was bad timing.

When favre does it, the announcers say he is trying to do too much, his ego is in the way.

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Most of this hinges on Brett Favre's decision

but who knows maybe the vikes can hire him as a qb coach to help out the younger guys

Poll

What position would you draft first?

22%

DT

15 votes

18%

QB

12 votes

4%

OL

3 votes

50%

CB/S

33 votes

4%

Trade up and get a top 5 talent

3 votes

66 votes | Poll has closed

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First great game overall by the vikes, but here is what i noticed

1. Anthony Spencer and Jay Ratliff, who?  Everyone was saying Ware and these guys were going to be sitting in Favre's lap, but I dont think i heard Spencer's name at all.  The rookies did an amazing job stopping these guys

2. Who were those DB's in the Minnesota defense?  Certainly not ones we saw for the majority of the season.  All day, Sapp, Griffin, and even Tyrell were all over Dallas receivers.  Dallas had only two deep passes, both 20 yarders to Witten.  They tackled very well, the most memorable, Greenway's stop on Witten on 4th and 4 where he stood Witten up after the catch.

3.  The only negative.  Peterson could not get going at all.  But I dont blame him, i blame the guy calling the plays.  Constantly they just ran him up the middle, hardly any misdirection.  Pregame, Merill Hoge said Peterson ran best out of 3 and 4 wide receiver sets.  Conversely in the game Peterson never ran in these sets, and never was given the chance to get outside.

4. Special teams was an overall positive for us.  Although Percy could not return any kicks, Shaun Suisham himself gave us the edge.  I actually feel bad for that guy.  But ST, gave up no big returns on kicks or punts.  Even after teh three penalty debacle, Kluwe still bombed one. ALso at the end of the first half, Kluwe got off a great punt as well

5. I thought the Cowboys ran great screens and draws?  Against the Eagles those plays worked great,but the Vikings shut them down.  EVERY draw went for a loss, and I dont remember a single screen which surprised me, but that is what great tackling will do.  The Vikings shut down two of the Cowboys most successful options.

6. Childress did not screw up the game for us.  He didn't have many chances to, but still.  The key moment was after Suisham missed two field goals.  Childress had a 4th and 5 at the 'Boys 35.  Instead of a long field goal, Childress punted and KLuwe pinned them at teh 3.  Childress learned from Wade and didnt want to give any momentum back to the Cowboys.

7. Not team related.  The refs were god awful. FLozell put his hands in JA's face 3 times.  Their CB's held our WR's and also numerous holds on the offensive line.  Yet, they seemed to get the Vikes for a few ticky tack fouls.

I'm not mentioning some obvious ones line the D-Line and Favre and the Wr's because they do that every game. 

the cowboys have this kickoff specialist who is averaging 2 touchbacks per game.  He constantly is booming them 5-7 yards into the endzone, neutralizing any return game by the opponent.  Now percy has been OUTSTANDING in kickoff returns, and is a big momentum changer and spark provider.  It is my belief that we should let percy run back the first kick even if it is 5 yards deep in teh endzone.  If he doesnt get a good return then maybe re consider touchbacks, but i still think he has the ability to get good returns.

 

Curious to hear your side. (Percy My Fav im expecting a R4F response in which you say, percy could grab the ball from the back of the endzone and return it 109.99 yards lol)

since i didnt see a post on this anyway

it seems like beltre is signing withe the enemy for 1 year 9 million with a player or team option

now beltre is a gold glove winning third baseman, and provides some pop, but really to me this is like the mike cameron signing

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every game teh vikings win i wear a vikings jersey to school

Now this is more important cause i live in NY and most of my friends are giants fans

SO i need to know which jersey to wear, there is a poll with the choices

Poll

Which jersey

30%

Purple Harvin

24 votes

1%

White Peterson

1 votes

16%

Purple Peterson

13 votes

46%

White Favre

37 votes

6%

Purple Chester Taylor

5 votes

80 votes | Poll has closed

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My thinking is that teams are using max protection with 7 guys in to block

they are doubling JA and Kevin leaving 3 blockers against the rest of our rushers

The rest of the defense has then 5-7 guys to stop usually only 3 wr. 

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I am a Mark Derosa fan. I think his multi-positional value is underrated. I for one would be very happy to see the yankees sign him. According to Rotoworld Derosa could want a 3 year 27 year contract. Now he is 34 but if i was the yankees i would try to land him at 3/21. For one he would offensively bolster our OF with killing our budget. Second he could be an infield replacement. Days he does this, Granderson would play left and Gardner would play center. I believe this is the final piece the yankees should make

This is what I think the Yankees should do for the remainder of the offseason inn terms of moves

1st- Let Johnny Damon walk unless he comes back on our terms

2nd- Although i am a Holliday supporter, the 2010-2011 free agency pool is loaded with guys like lee, mauer, crawford, so we should save our money for next year to try to get two of those three, plus resign mariano and jeter. ALso pass on Chapman because of this reason.

3rd- Sign Nick Johnson to a one year deal with incentives for a second year.  This guy would be a nice fit for the 2 hole because he is Nick Swisher with a higher average

4th- Sign Mark Derosa.  Derosa is what every major league team needs.  He can hit well enough and field well enough to play left, but can play either 2nd or 3rd if guys there need a rest.  This immediately improves our outfiled offensively and gives us a super-sub.  I would give derosa whatever he wants.  Really i feel that getting him should be a top priority-ahead of johnson, and possibly before we get our number 4 starter. WHich brigns me to #5

5th- Sign a fourth starter.  The Yankees can go lots of ways with this.  Sign injury prone guys, who missed time last year: Bedard, Duchscherer, Sheets, or Wang. Or go with guys that have some risk: Washburn, Pineiro, Kelvim Escobar

In the end I see Johnson signing for 8 million with option for 2nd year.  Derosa 3 years at 6-8 million (estimate)

and finally i see them getting sheets on an incentive based contract for a year or pineiro (whom many ppl beleive is only a dave duncan product, but i see his groundball pitching doing well for our team)

Is it me or does it feel like the team has shift from a run heavy team to pass heavy team

I know brett favre is playing well, and teh O line is having a tough time opening holes

but we have the best back in the game, we need to get him the ball more

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and this is a VERY IMPORTANT ONE

teaching granderson how to hit lefties (somewhat decently)

when i play baseball you are taught to let the ball travel and hit the ball to the opposite field, that is what long has to preach to grandy.  Curtis may seem that short porch and try to power everything that way, but in order for him to hit effectively (.280-.290) he has to utilize the whole field.  Derek Jeter does this very well, as pitchers who try to throw him away he just hits it to right field

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a Vikings win this week and a Packers loss against Baltimore wins us the division

vikes will be 11-1

packers 7-5  

vikes own tiebreaker so will be 5 up with 4 to play

ALso as everyone knows we are huge Patriot fans this week, as a win by them means we are only a tiebreaker from being ahead of New oRleans.  Then we pray we run the table and they slip up somewhere. 

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Kurt Coleman, Safety from Ohio State

Watching this game, this guy stood out to me

he made some good plays against the run

and also has two interceptions

the second one, he made a great play to jump infront of the reciever and came down with the ball

his hands seem to be great and his coverage seems good too

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does anyone know winfield's status for sunday's game?

i know our backup corners have started to get the feel for things and have improved.   but we miss winfield alot

he shuts down his side of the field against both the pass and run.  Plus eh has great plays and actually catches interceptions.

Or do you think the Vikings will hold him out another to week to make sure is he is fully ready because they are facing a weaker team