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The Miami Dolphins have claimed Micky Shuler Jr. TE off waivers today. Shuler was waived to make room for Hank Baskett WR.  I for one am a little bummed about this and I knew he would not pass through waivers without being claimed. The Vikings were high on Shuler and many of the Coaches raved about how good of a blocker he was, even being able to single block Jared Allen and Ray Edwards. He definitely looked like our future replacement for Jimmy K but with better hands. Much was said about him after being drafted by the Vikes, about being the son of a Probowl TE, and having good mentors including our beloved Joe Sensor. What really stings about this is that we lost him because we had to sign a stop gap at WR because of injuries. He is our second draft pick to be claimed off waivers (stiil don't know who signed Nate Triplett.) because of the great job our FO has done drafting this looks like a sign of things to come with our draft picks whom we try to pass through waivers.

Much has been said about the Vikings returning all 22 starters from a team that was ever so close to making it to the Super Bowl, so going into the offseason and with the "final four rule" , the Vikings didn't have a lot to work with in the free agent market and they didn't need to necessarily draft an impact player like in years past. There were though a few positions that needed to be addressed and upgraded. Well not all of those positions like DT for example were addressed in the draft or free agentcy, but now that training camp has started I now realize why the organization did the moves they did and didn't do. My reasoning after the jump.

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Everyone here at the DN has their own opinion on who to take with our first pick, and there are also those who would like to trade down into the 2nd round and get extra picks ( which I wouldn't mind us doing either ). So as we approach these next 8 plus hours to draft time give your opinion on who we should take with our first pick #30 and why. I'll make my choice after the jump.

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I just read this article and thought I would share; with NFL Network playing the 98' Championship, I thought maybe if we were going to be remembering any playoff games why not playoff games against tomorrows foe? You can read about them here:

has the details 

It has been a long drought since the Viking faithful could really feel good about themselves and their teams chances going into tomorrow's NFC Championship game but tomorrow we will be praying for Purple reign!

It's the battle of the NFC's two best teams, who since the beginning of the year there was no question that they were on a collision course and 22 hours it will finally be here!

SKOL to the Vikings victory tomorrow and SKOL to our first Superbowl title!

Last week I asked the question of who would be the Viking who would stand out in our victory over Dallas, well I'm asking the same question but this time I want to know who you think it will be other than the usual suspects: Favre, Rice, Allen, Peterson...etc. 

New Orleans presents a whole lot of different problems for us and we are going to need our no-namers to step it up and come through once again. After the jump I will throw out a few names and why I think they could be crucial in our victory come Sunday.

The list of names is for example and not limited to just those individuals. 

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Ha ha I just had to say it after a week long of hearing how awful we are and how great the cowboys are. Well now that the game is over and the cleaning crew is picking up what's left of the cowboys off the Metrodome turf, who individually  impressed you today? There were so many Vikings who stepped up and made plays, tell you liked and why? As for the MVP of this game it was to me hands down the Viking defense. The Purple People Eaters are back!  

SKOL Vikings on to the Big Easy here we come!

In their victory over Dallas Sunday?

Before I go on with this post I need to put this disclaimer: Dallas trollboys need not apply!

During the season we have had a lot of Vikings step up their game on both sides of the ball, so my question is who will be the one Viking who makes the difference come Sunday? After the jump I have named a few Viking players who might be the MVP and why. 

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Well it has been quite sometime since the Vikings pass defense was something to brag about, not since the late 80's and early 90's when Carl Lee and Joey Browner had our pass D in check.

The Sheriff came to town and tried set things in order but after many failed draft picks or misuse of talent, our pass defense went frm bad to worse.

Then in the short lived Tice era we got a glimmer of hope; the signing of Antoine Winfield,and Darren Sharper (I'll remain moot on Smoot). Well just like the draft picks before who left town as soon as their rookie contract was up Sharper has since moved on.

Our pass D was looking like it was on the up and up with solid play from FA S Williams, an impressive rookie campaign from S T.Johnson, improvement from CB C. Griffin and an All-Pro year from Winfield.

Then enter in the 2009 season, the drafting of  CB Allen Asher, and FA signings CBs K. Paymah and B. Sapp. With a year now in the Vikings defensive sytem I thought our starting safeties would have taken this D to new heights
but to our disappiontment it hasn't.

We can name a number of excuses on why our pass defense didn't do so well but I'm not going to.

At times we have seen glimses of being really good (see Pittsburg game) and just horrible (see Carolina game).

Now it's playoff time and it's do or die and I believe that this team will only go as far as the pass defense will allow us.

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Our beloved Purple just received some more hardware;

Vikes’ Harvin named Offensive Rookie of Year

Yes folks the Percy Harvin, the one we were all worried about when we drafted him. The one we said ( well me and a few others here ) that, "he is a risk, the kid doesn't use his head, he is injury prone...etc. Well since he showed up to Winterpark all we have had to talk about is his talent, his toughness, and his heart. I have eaten my words and I give Chilly all the credit for flying out there to meet with his family and him face to face. He truly has proven himself on and off the field and the best thing about that is he is only going to get better!

Now it's playoff time and I can hardly wait to see how he performs as our mighty Vikings begin the voyage to Superbowl glory! Skol Vikings!

PHMF will be jumping for joy!

Way to go Percy!

   First off I want to apologize for accidently erasing my fanpost on this subject, because with that also was erased the comments from my fellow Viking fans. I had forgotten to write about Darius Raynuad and when I went to edit to enter him in, I instead erased the whole thing. So if you'll forgive me I would like to atleast summarize what I had posted.

   Back in the late 90's and early this decade our Minnesota Vikings had the best receiving core in the NFL ( sorry "greatest show on turf" you were a close second), but age, attitudes, contracts expiring, off the field troubles and Coach Childress new standard of accountability depleted that core. By Chilly's 2nd season the cupboard was now empty and the rebuilding process had begun.

   The Vikings started off by signing free agent Bobby Wade, and then selecting 3 WRs in the draft: Sidney Rice (2nd rd.), Andre Allison (5th rd.), and Charlie williams (7th rd., who would not make the team).The Vikings also brought in free agent TE Vishante Shancoe from the Giants. The following year the Vikings signed away Bernard Berrian from our hated rivals dabears, and then select Jarmar Johnson (6th rd.)  in the draft. Undrafted Darius Raynuad made the practice squad and would later be signed to the active roster. This years offseason would see the Vikings bring in free agent Glen Holt, and to much a surprise the first round pick of Percy Harvin.

   As we look ahead to this upcoming season, we have a lot forward to in our passing offense and the KOA finally coming to life; here's why...

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I have read comments here on the DN about how Todd Pinkston had better stats than our own Sidney Rice in their first two years, and because of that the doubters are trying to say Pinkston was a better player. I disagree with that logic  and will tell you my reasons why Rice is better. First the stats can be deceiving; being that Pinkston had more receptions (52) to Rice's (46). Pinkston played for the pass happy Eagles, which pass the ball 60/40 to running the ball. In Minnesota where we have the best running back in the game, we run the ball about 55/45 to passing it. Second Pinkston played in more games (31) to Rices (26), so more oppertunities on a pass happy team = better stats. One stat the doubters don't mention is TD's where Rice has more (8) to Pinkston's (4). To be honest Pinkstons stats should have been much greater but he alligator armed so many passes that went his way. Rice will separate himself from anymore of these lame comparasions this year now with Harvin on board and if he can stay healthy. I'm counting on him to make our QB's job easier and start playing up to his potential. The biggest thing that separates Rice from Pinkston is HEART Rice isn't afraid - no alligator arms here. I think the rest of the league better pay attention the Vikings are coming!!!

With all the rejoicing that we have been doing over last weekend's draft and all the recent talk about "you know who" maybe unretiring again, we have forgotten and rightly so that da Bears picked up Jay Cutler via a costly trade. As much as I would have liked the Vikes to have traded up 4 years ago and draft him or make a move and aquire him this year when he was on the trading block. I must admit even though he is now the QB for our rivals from the windy city, I kinda like seeing him there. Think about it for 15 years we had that "you know who" guy to hate and every year when the schedule would come out we would circle those dates with our confrontations with #4. Well, now we have someone new to hate and he comes in a #6 fashion. True he has a connon of an arm and is athletically gifted, all the more to root for our defense to get him and do horrible things to him. This makes for good football and having #6 in the NFC North will make the division better and our beloved Vikings better, so come playoff time we will be prepared to conquer whatever teams stand in our way of a Super Bowl title. As for Stafford we have to wait and see. Any thoughts or comments on this subject?  

I know everyone wants Loadholt but he may not be around at #54 and I don't see us trading up, so with that said I say we take Meredith OT out of South Carolina. He may be "undersized" for a RT (289 lbs.) but he has the frame  to grow 6'5" and he has a hand punch we have not seen since Randell Mcdaniel left town. He has quick feet and is a perfect fit for the zone blocking scheme the Vikings use. He excels in pass protection, which was an area of weakness last year, and for his size he will not be bullrushed back into the QB, he is one tough hombre. RT is our most pressing need right now that we got our playmaker :). We can grab a corner later. What do you think? 

We are one week away from the draft and up until now there has been some grumblings about why we haven't brought anybody in and why are sitting on our hands while every one else is improving through FA?

Well, I'm not worried about all that and here's why: the Vikings are not known for bringing in FA's over 30 and for over paying for less talent and that's what they have done this offseason. I personally wanted them to bring in some 30 somethings but the Vikings view that as getting in the way of developing younger talent and I can't argue with that. The Vikings like bringing in FA's in the 24-27 year old age range so they get them in their prime. The Vikings resigned the ones they felt they should keep and let the others go that they felt they could improve on talent wise.

They only brought in two FA's from outside of the organization so far and both are to improve  the horrid ST's we had last year, with a new coach. After the draft expect a few other FA signings as teams unload vets to make room for their draft picks. The Vikes have done well in this department for years, picking up needs and quality depth. So no need to panic.

Most of all, I'm not worried because we have a solid core of players who are under contract for some years still to come and our younger players now have more experiance in the offensive and defensive systems, which they will be more comfortable in and be able to make more plays. Sometimes bringing in all kinds of FA's  can actually set a team back because it takes a team time to gel and chemistry is everything (see Washington Redskins).  The Vikings hit a homerun with their FA's last year now it' time to replenish through the draft.

True we have a few pieces to the puzzle missing but with the draft and roster cuts coming, we should find what we need. Our schedule looks very favorable as well and after our team got a taste of the playoffs, I am sure they are hungry for more and have some unfinished business to attend to. I am excited about this upcoming season and look forward to repeating as NFC North champs and stomping a few heads along the way!  Go Vikes!!!    ...any comments? 

 With all the "excitment" ( I say that tongue in cheek) the Viking FA signings have generated this offseason, I say let's bring in the old guys. By old I mean by NFL standards 32+ years. I know the FA agent market wasn't that great this year and the team is spending it's money wisely but their is some old guys who still have something left and could contribute to a Superbowl run.  Here are the players I would like to see wearing Purple this year.

Jason Taylor DE: Doesn't anyone remember the 06 game where he almost singlehandedly beat the Vikes? He has a lot to prove after his big contract last year and is is pursuit of a ring. He is a natural LDE and would conjure up memories of the old Purple People Eaters.

Orlando Pace OT: could be brought in to play RT where he would definately be an upgrade. He has always been dominant in the run game and would love having a RB like AD to block for.

Tory Holt WR: A true pro at wideout who runs disciplined routes and knows how to take care of his body. Would serve as a tutor to Vikes young WR's while giving us a true #2 WR.

Jeff Garcia QB: A veteran of the WCO who would love to go out with a SB ring. He does not have much of a window left and his experiance would benefit the Vikes other QB's.

Of course they would all have to take a pay cut which I think they would if they really want a SB title. This would allow the Vikes to take the BPA in each round of the draft or even allow them to trade down  and get extra picks to fortify this team for the future. Any thoughts?