OK ESPN, Here’s a Tip

Enough already. Enough of the developing stories regarding Mike Vick and how he went from the bedroom to the living room because one of the reporters that are camped out in his yard saw him do this.

What’s next?

This is ESPN with a developing story:

Mike Vick went down to his kitchen at 1:23 p.m. today and heated up one of those steak and cheese hot pockets, and after doing so, Mike spent the period of 1:55 to 2:08 on the pooper (Geez, what do you expect after eating one of those things?).

It is being reported that he read “Dog World”, this month’s “Animal Planet: A Pit Bull Special.”

ENOUGH ALREADY!

 

Shannon Matthews is a Sports Jabber contributor. You can view more of his work at  Talking NW Sports

Join in the discussion on this and other topics in the NEW Sports Jabber Forums!

Changing of the Kansas City Cheifs’ Guard

For those of you who haven’t been paying too much attention to the offseason over at One Arrowhead Way, there’s a new sheriff in town. And a new mayor, city manager, police chief, and dog catcher.

And if you’re currently an employee of the Chiefs with more than six months on the job, I hope you have your resume all dusted off and out looking for something new.

Clark Hunt is on the prowl, and he’s hired gunslingers of renown to win his range war over the mediocrity of his once proud NFL franchise. And nobody—NOBODY is going to prevent him from getting the job done.

I wouldn’t be surprised to learn they’ve even moved all the gear around in the weight room and training room—just so it doesn’t look or feel anything like last year.

Lots of things are different this year for the team and the staff of the KC Chiefs.

For instance, media access to the players is greatly reduced. The team wants Coach Haley to be the face and voice of the team—and he seems to be growing into the job regardless of his obvious initial reluctance for the job.

At the same time, Haley understands if he wants the players to be all football all the time, he has to deflect the things that take their minds off what he wants them doing.

Another good example of change for the sake of change is the teams relocation of training camp from River Falls, WI to St. Joseph, MO. I imagine dollars and state tax incentives also played a role in this decision, but the idea of creating a new team culture via the use of geographic changes simply made the decision a no-brainer.

The most obvious change to date has been the atmosphere around the entire team. In the past, King Carl and his head coaches were pretty transparent about what they were thinking and trying to accomplish with the team at any given point in time.

That transparency gave other teams too much information and made it possible for our foes to throw a monkey wrench into our plans if they wanted to—and you know they sometimes succeeded. It gave away part of our competitive edge. Needlessly.

The new regime is not transparent. In fact, even after they make a move to help the team… they’re pretty close-mouthed about exactly what they were thinking when they pulled the trigger on the decision. So, we see what they did, but are left to speculate on what the move actually means in the grander scheme of things.

A good example of this is the grievance Larry Johnson filed with the league over guaranteed money. The commonly held train of thought was KC would release LJ out-right shortly after winning their case. That was several weeks ago now, and if anything—exactly the opposite is true.

I personally thought LJ would have to renegotiate his contract and convert some of his guaranteed money into performance incentives, and they may still look to him for that. But right now I’d say it’s 60-40 they keep him and pay his guarantee as long as he keeps working hard and stays on the straight and narrow off the field.

A HUGE change is the self confidence radiated by the GM and the Coach. They’re not making big promises, they’re not predicting wins and losses, and they’re not talking very much—about philosophy, mindset, individual players, nada.

What they are doing is the work. They evaluated the draft and they did what their draft board dictated they do for the team. And they don’t give a tinkers damn what anyone else thinks of their decisions.

These guys are confident without being arrogant. You want to talk about change, well brother there it is in a nutshell. THESE GUYS ARE CONFIDENT.

I think as we move forward from here, you’re going to see this team begin to progress in unexpected ways.

Like maybe Glenn Dorsey turns out to be a hell of a DE in the 3-4 in spite of the talking heads nay-saying his role right now.

Like maybe Dennis Johnson finally gets put into a scheme designed to maximize his gifts rather than force him to play a role he is less comfortable with.

Of all the guys currently on the team, I respect DJ and Tamba Hali the most—simply because they were selfless and loyal and did what was asked of them because their coaches told them it was good for the team.

They put the team first, unlike Jared Allen who only cared about himself, his stats, his money, and his happiness. I can tell you this: if King Carl had not traded Allen last year, I do not doubt Pioli would have got rid of him this year if Jared was still singing the me-first mantra he singing last year.

I have to say I like the direction this team is going, and I will continue to like it regardless of wins and losses.

The Kansas City Chiefs have always been a team which placed a higher value on character, and the example their players make for the kids in our community than they placed on talent or winning. That’s how it should be, and it’s one of the reasons I love this team in good times and bad.

We lost our way in this regard in the twilight of the Peterson years and in the drama of big offense from Dick Vermeils teams. I’m glad to see us fixing this problem now.

This doesn’t mean we’re automatically running off folks of dubious character. It means the new regime is setting a higher standard for them and making them accountable for that standard. Guys like LJ will get another chance to make good and get paid what they’re worth if they can become accountable members of the team and the community.

Welcome to Kansas City all the newcomers. Most of all, we welcome the new attitude.

I believe you’re going to give us a team we can be proud of very, very soon, and Arrowhead will once again be the toughest place in the league to win a road game.

Five Plays That Sum Up Jacksonville’s 2008 Campaign

When I started thinking about the most successful offensive plays from Jacksonville’s 2008 season, there was a long pause.
(Pause)
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After a great deal of racking the brain, copious amounts of research and tons of Red Bull, I came up with what I thought were signature plays for the Jaguars in 2008.

Shaun Hill Paid His Dues: Let Him Start

San Francisco Head Coach Mike Singletary has made it clear that no one is safe.

After taking over as head coach in the middle of last season, he discovered that same of the players had become fat and happy. He quickly changed the personality of the team, and helped lead the beleaguered team to a 5-2 finish.

At the forefront of San Fran’s improvement was the play of Shaun Hill. The eight-year pro out of Maryland was rarely spectacular, but always solid.

After the J.T. O’Sullivan experiment flamed out in predictable fashion, Singletary called on Hill and he answered the bell.

Hill started eight games (and played extensively in that Seattle loss, Singletary’s first game) and posted very respectable numbers (62.8 completion percentage, 13 TDs, 8 INTs, 87.5 QB rating).

Actually, Hill had earned the right to be the starter in 2008. He only started three games in 2007, but he completed 68.4 percent of his passes and threw five touchdowns to just one interception.

There was a revolving door at QB in 2007, but Hill was clearly the most effective in the stat that matters most: wins and losses. San Fran only won five games last year. Hill won two of those, despite playing in just three games.

But Mike Martz’s arrival in the City by the Bay put Hill’s rise on hold. And I can understand that.

Martz (who was far more successful than I thought he’d be, by the way) runs an incredibly complex system, and O’Sullivan had an instant advantage because he was with Martz in Detroit.

Once Hill got up to speed, he showed that he was capable of running that system. Now imagine what Hill could do with some weapons.

If Michael Crabtree lives up to his potential, he will be the best wide receiver the team has had since TO. And Isaac Bruce’s veteran presence should only help Crabtree’s development.

If Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker can get with the program, the offense could be dangerous for the first time since I don’t know when.

Supporters of Alex Smith are quick to point out that he’s had four different offensive coordinators in four years, and is working with his fifth in Jimmy Raye.

But I don’t have a lot of sympathy for Smith, because Hill has thrived in two completely different systems.

He performed well under Jim Hostler (whose offense was basically “run on first and second down and throw on third”) and Mike Martz (whose offense is harder to learn than calculus).

Even though the two systems were night (more like dark ages) and day, Hill thrived in both. That says a lot about his character and desire to learn, whereas Smith’s inability to adjust to different OCs speaks volumes about his football IQ and his internal drive.

I know that Hill is not the sexy pick. I know that Smith was the overall No. 1 pick. But at some point, coaches have to forget about that stuff and make their decision based on production. Advantage, Hill.

Competition is the cornerstone of any successful team, but Hill has proven his mettle time and time again. 49er fans everywhere should hope that No. 13, not No. 11, is under center when the season begins.

Around the League with Brady Quinn, Adrian Peterson and Others!

Sadly, my week that started so great ended badly. Nothing bad in my life, it just didn’t pan out in carrying out some projects.

Sigh, what can you say when a curveball comes your way? You swing and hear a big “pfft” of bat hitting nothing but empty air! That’s why we call it life, but we have a great holiday weekend coming up!

As we enter Memorial Day weekend, be safe, have fun and enjoy the fact we live in the greatest country in the world.

Before we get to my blog, I want to congratulate my dear friend Evian “Chico” Rivera, who is graduating this week from San Diego State. Congratulations, brother! It took awhile, but you’ve done it!

HC Tom Cable, Oakland Raiders, on Michael Vick: “I’m not going to go there.” Do a search on Vick and you’ll see headlines such as “Jerry Jones: Cowboys not a contender for Michael Vick,” “49ers might bite on Michael Vick after ban,” “Letter: No place for Vick with Patriots” and on and on.

However, Cable, who was with Vick in Atlanta, states football is secondary right now but did not come out and say they have no interest. This is classic Raiders as owner Al Davis loves to give players another shot.

The assumption is the player has a chip on his shoulder to prove everyone wrong. Vick IMHO would upgrade the position.

Sure Jeff Garcia is there, but he’s older and limited, and JaMarcus Russell will never live up to draft expectations. If Russell fails this season, never say never!

HC Eric Mangini, Cleveland Browns, on the quarterback battle: “Brady will get the first reps today.” According to Mangini, Brady Quinn has the early lead in the quarterback battle, but Mangini is keeping it fair with remarks such as “Not that Derek hasn’t done well, but [Quinn] gets the first reps.”

I think it’s Quinn’s job to lose. The team knows what it has in Derek Anderson and needs to see if Quinn can be the QB of the future or show enough for Cleveland to trade Anderson.

Quinn is not as good as the prognosticators believed he was when drafted, but the Browns have to give him a shot. I’m not sure how good he can be with the team around him, but because of that, I’m staying away from either player come draft day.

RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings, on gaining weight: “God willing [I will get to] 225, 230…” Peterson wants to get bigger as he’s a physical running back. I can’t blame him. Fans forget, as a season wears on players lose weight and get weaker every week.

As fans, we don’t think about a season in its entirety and how this violent game wears the players down. I think this is a great goal for him, and if anything maybe it helps with his durability as the season wears on.

He’s this year’s No. 1 overall fantasy player; he’s not an exciting No. 1 IMHO, but he is someone worthy of the pick. Gaining the weight will help.

Frank Gore on sharing the carries: “… the more I touch the ball, the better player I am.” The 49ers drafted Glen Coffee with their third-round pick, and many believe it could become a time share.

However, Gore doesn’t necessarily agree, and head coach Mike Singletary talks about having someone give Gore a break and share some of the load. This leads one to believe Gore will not share time but be the primary ball carrier week in and week out.

Gore has disappointed the last two years, with only 14 total touchdowns and an average of 74 rushing yards and 28 receiving yards per game. Disappointing or not, Gore will see most of the carries, which makes him a low first-round pick this year.

RB Laurence Maroney, New England Patriots, on why he sucked last season: “I had a broken bone and I was trying to play with it.” Maroney is talking about playing hurt and analysts and fans knocking him for his poor play without knowing.

There is truth to what he said, but I look back at how poor a player overall he has been. Especially in their last Super Bowl, when the team needed him to keep the New York Giants‘ front four honest. He couldn’t.

He went down at times behind the line of scrimmage without any hard contact. Yes, this is the year he has to prove himself, because so far he has been nothing but a monumental disappointment.

Even then, he’s worth nothing more than a late-round flier at the earliest with Fred Taylor, Kevin Faulk, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Sammy Morris on roster.

GM Mickey Loomis, New Orleans Saints, on RB Edgerrin James: “We’ve spent some time evaluating Edgerrin.” Alex Marvez pens another solid story, but I disagree with anyone who believes James still has anything left in the tank, particularly when you consider what his asking price will be.

You can probably find or could have found equal talent out there at a much lower cost. James has always been about the money and never about heart.

The article talks about how he averaged 67.2 rushing yards during the final five games last season and started all the Cardinals’ post-season games. I buy that, but I am also not foolish enough to realize his lack of playing time until those final five games and the postseason were a result of fresh legs and nothing more.

The Saints would regret signing him, and he would also hurt the overall value of Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas, mostly the latter.

Deuce McAllister on Deuce McAllister: “I want to play a couple more years.” Deuce is still working out five hours a day at a clinic run by orthopedic surgeon James Andrews. In dollars, if healthy, he’d make a better signing than James would.

If he understands his role would be something to the effect of coming off the bench for seven to 12 touches, he would be fine.

I say that because Deuce, if healthy, can help a team balance its offensive attack. For fantasy owners, Deuce going back to the Saints would not affect Bush or Thomas as much as Edge would.

There you have it. Be safe this weekend and enjoy the hard-earned time off from work! As I always say, if you’re looking for breaking news updates that get to you faster than e-mail, follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/wdelpilar

Jim Zorn’s Transition to the West Coast is Still Surfing Choppy Waters

Jim Zorn had a bumpy ride in the 2008 NFL season, his first as head coach of the Washington Redskins. The team finished at 8-8, and Zorn’s highlight was being the first Redskins coach since Hall Of Famer George Allen to win his initial game in Dallas versus the Cowboys.

Zorn being hired as head coach was a surprise in the first place. He has been an assistant coach in the NFL since 1997, but he is best known as the first quarterback in the history of the Seattle Seahawks franchise. He is also a member of the Seahawks Ring Of Honor. 

After his playing career ended in 1987, he immediately went into coaching in Division 1A college football. He coached with three different schools before joining the Seahawks as an assistant coach. That team was coached by Dennis Erickson, a coach who specializes in the spread offense.

After leaving Seattle in 1998, he joined Bobby Ross with the Detroit Lions the next season. He served as the quarterbacks coach, and left the team after the following season to rejoin the Seahawks. There, he coached under Mike Holmgren for seven seasons.

Zorn is said to be a proponent of the West Coast offensive system, which Holmgren had learned under Hall Of Fame coach Bill Walsh in San Francisco. When Zorn played, he spent most of his career playing under head coach Jack Patera. Patera ran an offense that passed the ball most of the time, and to some success.

When Hall Of Fame coach Joe Gibbs suddenly retired before the 2007 season, to concentrate on his personal life, he left behind a roster molded to his style of play. Zorn faced a tremendous challenge of trying to implement his offensive theories with a personnel not familiar with that style of play.

Though the Redskins got off to a fast start, with a 6-2 record, injuries hit the team and ended their hopes.

Redskins starting quarterback Jason Campbell had a set a Redskins record of consecutive passes without an interception to start a season, and just missed the NFL record by forty attempts. He also set career high marks in virtually every passing category.

Campbell was also sacked a career high 38 times, which is not a conducive statistic for success under the West Coast system. Many know that Campbell has had to learn six offensive systems in his last six years of football, which includes college.

This year marks the first time that Jason will play in the same system for two straight years since his sophomore year in college.

That was purported to have almost not have occurred, because the media claimed the Redskins held interests in other quarterbacks. They were said to be a player in the Jay Cutler sweepstakes, before Cutler landed in Chicago.

Washington also supposedly wanted to trade up in the 2009 NFL Draft and grab Mark Sanchez of the University of Southern California. Sanchez ended up being drafted by the New York Jets instead.

Though Zorn has recently stated he wants Campbell to be the Redskins quarterback, these recent moves prove otherwise if they are true. The question remains if the pressure is more on Campbell or Zorn to produce in 2009.

The Redskins current roster has many offensive players built towards the power running game that Gibbs wanted. Clinton Portis is the teams main running back, though he hasn’t been able to stay healthy an entire season since 2005. In order for Portis to be at his best, he requires over twenty carries per game.

The backups are a mix of proven and unproven types. Ladell Betts ran for 1,154 yards in the Redskins 2005 season, but has battled his own injury issues throughout his seven years in the NFL. Betts might be the teams best receiving threat out of the backfield as well.

The rest of the group consists of Rock Cartwright, the teams kick returner, and two free agents. Marcus Mason is a local man who made the team in 2007 for a short time, and has been on the Redskins, Baltimore Ravens, and New York Jets practice squads since.

Anthony Alridge spent his 2008 rookie season on the Denver Broncos injured reserve list. Alridge might fit a West Coast scheme best out of the group, but the diminutive back will have an uphill climb to prove his worth as a receiver and possibly as a return specialist.

The teams main passing weapon the past four seasons has been tight end Chris Cooley. Cooley, a three time Pro Bowler, is the only tight end in NFL history to have at least six touchdown receptions in his four seasons.

Despite all of his success, and the fact he is a fan favorite, the Redskins used a second round draft pick on tight end Fred Davis in 2008. Davis contributed three receptions in his rookie year.

What Zorn’s plans are for Davis is as baffling and unclear as the selection of him in the first place. Cooley is just 26 years old, and appears headed to Canton at his current pace. If the Redskins plan to use Davis more, it has yet to been seen how.

The Redskins main wide receivers are Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El. Moss is known for good speed, but unreliable hands. Randle El is a small, quick type, and best projects doing his most effective work in the slot. Washington recently signed Roydell Williams, who had been inconsistent in his three years with the Tennessee Titans.

The Redskins also drafted two wide receivers in 2008. Devin Thomas was the teams top draft choice, and showed promise with 15 receptions. The other was Malcolm Kelly. Kelly was only able to give Washington three receptions, and was considered a disappointment by many fans.

The Redskins also drafted Marko Mitchell this year, in the seventh round, but the tall wide receiver is considered a raw prospect with good athleticism.

Though Zorn has obviously drafted some players he feels fits his scheme, none are key members of the team. Thomas has been the only one to show any promise thus far, so the onus will be on Davis and Kelly to step up their games this year to prove Zorn was right about them.

The West Coast scheme is a system that relies on finesse. It appears it will take Zorn years to get those types of players, something hard to fathom his will have with team owner Dan Snyder. Snyder has gone through six coaches in the ten years he has owned the Redskins.

Snyder is obviously gambling that Zorn is going to be another of those shiny acorns that has fallen off of the Bill Walsh tree. The list of successful coaches from that tree is long and legendary. Many have won Super Bowls.

If it doesn’t, the Redskins may have hired themselves another Marty Mornhinweg. Mornhinweg is considered one of the dull acorns that fell of the Walsh tree. He lasted two seasons in Detroit, winning five games total.

There is an expression that a coach needs three years to show whether or not his system fits best for the franchise that employs him. This year, being Zorn’s second, may determine if that theory holds true.

Detroit Lions Fans Have Seen This Song and Dance Before

Every couple of years the Detroit Lions hire a new coaching staff and they predictably come out and say which NFL system they are going to adopt.

 

The 2009 version is an emphasis on a power running game, with a defensive built to catered to the current talent.

 

Gone are the Tampa Two defense and the so called West Coast offense. Two systems that never caught on in Detroit one because they did not have the personnel to use these systems and two by the time the Lions got around to using them they were yesterday’s news.

 

This is the problem with a franchise that keeps changing their coaching staff. Each new staff has to implement their system with players acquired by a different staff for a different system.

 

For 2009, enter Head Coach Jim Schwartz and Defense Coordinator Gunther Cunningham. These are the two men charged with fixing the Lions on the field performance, and these are the reasons Lions fans have no faith in what they are doing.

 

Schwartz has never been a head coach in the NFL before. In the last 10 seasons the Lions have hired two other rookie NFL coaches (Marty Mornhinweg and Rob Marinelli). Both of these men failed miserably and Lions fans remember it well.

 

Mr. Cunningham comes to Detroit via the Kansas City Chiefs. There he was the defense coordinator for a defense almost as inept as the Lions. Cunningham’s defense in 2008 gave up 393 yards per game, which was less than a first down better than the 2008 Lions defense. This is not a man the Lions fans care to respect.

 

More than playbooks, schemes, and systems the Lions fans want to win. The unfortunate part of that is it is going to take some patience on their part before this team is ready to win.

 

Lions fans do not want to hear this and the terrible economy of Detroit is going to make them think twice before spending top dollar to see the same old Lions once again.

 

For 2009 to be successful the Lions as an organization must work not for wins, loses or a playoff berth, but to earn back the respect of their own fans.

 

In a very real sense, the coaches can throw out the playbook and simply put on a good show that will get the fan base engaged again. If they fail to do so, and suffer another embarrassing season the future of this franchise could be in doubt.

Superstar Athletes and Public Perception

For every Wayne Gretzky or Roger Federer, the sports world has a Dennis Rodman or a Terrell Owens.  However, every once in a while, the sports world merges with the legal world and produces sensational news that the public can’t seem to get enough of. 

The part of this that confuses me is how the public reacts when everything with the legal aspect is completed.

Dany Heatley is a superstar hockey player for the Ottawa Senators. On September 29th, 2003, while driving his Ferrari, Heatley lost control. The crash resulted in the death of Dan Synder. 

Synder wasn’t just a teammate, but his best friend. Heatley pleaded to second-degree vehicular homicide and received three years probation. After extensive rehabilitation for the injuries he suffered, Heatley returned to hockey and continues to be a top offensive player in the NHL.

Ray Lewis is the face of the Baltimore Ravens, but eight years ago, he was charged with murder and aggravated assault for his part in the January 31st, 2000 murders of two men in Atlanta following a Superbowl party. 

Lewis eventually pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of obstruction of justice and testified against the two other men in connection with the deaths.

Kobe Bryant is one of the most famous basketball players today and is currently trying to lead the Lakers towards another NBA title. However, on July 1st, 2003, Bryant was accused of rape by a young woman in Colorado.  Before the case could go to trial, both sides reached a settlement.

Michael Vick was the star QB for the Atlanta Falcons and considered one of the most dynamic players in the NFL. Unfortunately for Vick, his world came crashing down when he was identified as a major player in a dog fighting ring. A few months later, Vick pleaded guilty and receive 23 months in jail.

These are four cases of superstar athletes being accused of involvement in heinous acts. Ironically, Michael Vick is the one superstar that seems to be receiving the least amount of forgiveness considering his crimes don’t involve another human being.

What does that say about society in general?  Sure, Vick’s criminal acts are the most recent, but have you seen a recent Lakers game or the Ravens playoff games this past year?  Bryant and Lewis are back in the good graces of fans even though they could be guilty of two of the ugliest crimes we punish people for.

Michael Vick is no saint.  He lied to the public, Arthur Blank and Roger Goodell.  He threw away tens of millions of dollars and is now about to start a construction job for roughly $10 an hour. 

Vick is about to enter the public domain and try and show people that he isn’t the heartless monster that a lot of people perceive him as.

How long will Michael Vick be in the “doghouse” of sports fans across the country? Are his crimes somewhat less heinous because the terrible acts only involved dogs and not human beings? 

As a dog lover, I find his actions to be despicable, but how can we consider it worse than what the other three athletes were accused? 

As a Steelers fan, I’m fairly certain that Mr. Rooney would never sign Vick and that’s something that I respect.  However, Vick deserves a second chance down the road, when he shows the remorse that fits the crimes he committed. 

I guess we’ll find out who takes the chance on a talented but troubled QB in the months to come.

 

 

One Thousand Yards Does Not Equal Success

Every offseason since the departure of Terrell Owens in 2006, all you hear Philadelphia Eagles fans moan and groan about is the lack of receiving in the Eagles’ explosive offense.

And quite frankly, I have had about enough of it.

Not only with the Eagles, but also with the NFL in general. Analysts and opposing fans everywhere are always bashing teams for not having that “top guy” in the depth chart.

What if I told you guys this shocking statistic: Since the departure of Terrell Owens in 2006, the Philadelphia Eagles have never been out of top 10 in total receiving yards, and in 2008 they had the sixth best total receiving yards by a team in the NFL.

Yes, that means they have had more receiving yards then teams with potent offenses like Dallas, Green Bay, New England, Miami, and San Diego.

That’s not good enough? Well, wait until you hear this: They are the only team other than New Orleans, Chicago, Minnesota, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, New York Giants, Oakland, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Cleveland, New York Jets, and Miami who did not have a 1,000-yard receiver in 2008.

Whoa, wait just a second, isn’t that nearly half of the NFL? This statistic leads me to my next topic, which is that having a 1,000-yard receiver is overrated in the NFL. Yes, it does help, but just how much does it really lead to a successful football team?

Out of the teams I mentioned above, they hold a total record of 122-142-2 (.462) and five of them made it to the playoffs (Miami, Philadelphia, Tennessee, New York Giants, and Minnesota). Out of those five teams, they share a combined record of 55-24-1 (.700).

It is just a fact, and the statistics do not lie. You do not have to have a 1,000-yard receiver to be a good receiving team, although it does help.

But I don’t want to be one-sided here, so lets look at those other “successful” teams who do have a 1,000-yard receiver on their team. They have an overall record of 137-113 (.548). And of those, there are seven playoff teams with a combined record of 63-37 (.630).

And if you look at it, the playoff teams without a 1,000-yard receiver actually have a better record and winning percentage then those who did make the playoffs in 2008.

All of this is to just prove one thing people: teams are becoming more aware that depth is a key attribute to having a successful receiving core. It is about quantity nowadays, not quality. You do not have to have a big time receiver to have a good receiving core or to make the playoffs

 

For more, go here.

Vikings OTA 5/22: Rice Shows Improvement, Change in Participation

A welcomed sight hit the eyes of Minnesota Vikings fans and coaches during the team’s Organized Team Activities (OTAs).

The Vikings wrapped up the week’s activities Friday, and it appeared one offensive player was not only successfully coming back from a knee injury, but was becoming a weapon the offense could turn to.

Minnesota wide receiver Sidney Rice, who was largely ineffective after suffering a knee injury during Week Two last season, impressed coaches during OTAs. Rice made spectacular grabs during the week’s practices, something Vikings fans missed last season after Rice had an impressive rookie season in 2007.

In addition to the work Rice went through preparing his knee for the workouts, the former second round draft pick from South Carolina improved his overall strength. According to Vikings.com, Rice added more muscle to his upper body and looks like he is in great shape.

Rice and various other Minnesota veterans were expected to be at the workouts, but Vikings head coach Brad Childress changed his expectations for veteran attendance. This summer, Childress has asked mainly rookies, free agents, and selected veterans to work out at the team’s headquarters.

Although some veterans were given time off, most made their way onto the field.

“[I’m] still a mother hen, but mother knows what to expect from some of those guys that I didn’t invite to come out onto the grass,” Childress said on Thursday. “There are a couple of [veterans] that talked their way out there.”

Childress took into consideration the reasons why players show up and how these workouts can benefit them.

“Everybody that’s here, we gave some thought to the whys and the what fors, whether it was people that were injured, people that maybe started on this roster after the start of our year and didn’t have a training camp,” Childress said. “Obviously, the rookie guys.” 

Childress was known as being a disciplinarian who held physical practices and expected his players to be on the field when he became head coach. Three years later, fans can see that time equals change.

The Vikings’ next mini-camp workout starts on June 2 and will go through June 4. They have many workouts throughout the month of June, so stay tuned for all the updates from Winter Park.

 

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