2010 NFL Mock Draft Rounds 1 and 2: How Far Will Dunlap Fall?

Only four-and-a-half months until the highly anticipated 2010 NFL draft.

Can you feel the excitement in the air, or are you too busy feeling the holiday vibe?

As per usual, I will update my mock draft every single week.

Without further ado, let’s get to it!

1. Cleveland Browns—Jimmy Clausen, Quarterback, Notre Dame

Alright, let’s get over the fact that both Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen went to Notre Dame. It does not mean that they are virtually the same exact quarterback.

The perception that Clausen is a Quinn 2.0 just isn’t fair and just shows foolish judgment.

Jimmy Clausen is a slightly better quarterback than Jake Locker is. Clausen has had to go up against some of the better colleges in all of college football.

 

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Ndamukong Suh, Defensive Tackle, Nebraska

I’ve received some criticism for this pick because people think that Tampa Bay taking Suh is just getting plain old.

So what?

If you want the best player available, you take Suh. He will make a perfect fit for their scheme, and will go great with Roy Miller on the defensive line.

I can’t see Tampa Bay going any other way, but with the Nebraskan phenom.

 

3. St. Louis Rams—Jake Locker, Quarterback, Washington

Kyle Boller is great! Did you see the game he had on Sunday? Only kidding, he still is terrible.

If St. Louis doesn’t draft a quarterback in the first round, I will drive to Missouri to personally set fire to the houses of the people that made the decision.

Jake Locker has a great arm, size, and all the tools that are needed to be a great NFL quarterback.

Now only if he had weapons to throw to… Well, there are rounds 2-7, I guess.

 

4. Detroit Lions—Gerald McCoy, Defensive Tackle, Oklahoma

 

 

Normally I would have Russell Okung going here, but for some reason the Lions’ offensive line coach, George Yarno, said he liked the way Jeff Backus has been playing as of late.

I guess giving up 7.5 sacks through 11 games is acceptable. But then again, Detroit has won a mere two games in the last two seasons!

Gerald McCoy is a stud, no doubt. Detroit will love to have this guy to dominate on their defensive line. Don’t be surprised if he winds up being the defensive rookie of the year next season.

 

5. Kansas City Chiefs—Russell Okung, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma State

 

Kansas City will not have any success throwing the ball if they can’t keep Matt Cassel on his feet.

In nine games played, Branden Albert has already surrendered nine sacks. What has happened to this guy!?

Russell Okung is a must-pick selection. He’s easily the best offensive tackle in the nation. Kansas City would be imbeciles if they didn’t make this pick.

 

 

6. Washington Redskins—Sam Bradford, Quarterback, Oklahoma

 

Daniel Snyder loves going after big-name players. Albert Haynesworth, DeAngelo Hall, Clinton Portis, and Brian Orakpo for example?

Jason Campbell may never succeed in the NFL, especially not with the Washington Redskins.

He is done.

Sam Bradford’s arm will be fine by the time the combine rolls around. He will impress scouts, propelling him into the top-10.

 

7. Buffalo Bills—Ryan Mallett, Quarterback, Arkansas

The likes of Rolando McClain, Dan Williams, and Eric Berry sound intriguing, but the fact of the matter is that the Bills have two terrible quarterbacks on their roster in Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards.

Seriously, does this team expect to win more than five games next year with either one of these two at the helm? I hope not.

Ryan Mallett has had a great season with Arkansas. Is he a reach at No. 7? Possibly. But Buffalo needs a QB and Ryan Mallett needs Buffalo.

 

8. Oakland Raiders—Rolando McClain, Inside Linebacker, Alabama

 

Perhaps not the biggest need, but when you think about it, Kirk Morrison is set to be a free-agent when this season comes to an end.

Rolando McClain had a monster game in the SEC championship against the Florida Gators, only cementing his status as a top-10 pick.

Al Davis, if your brain hasn’t turned into dust already, draft McClain. You won’t regret it.

 

9. Denver Broncos—Dan Williams, Nose Tackle, Tennessee

Dan Williams is quickly rising up the draft boards in the last few weeks. He had a tremendous season with the Volunteers this year.

Denver lacks a great nose tackle. Ronald Fields? Not going to cut it. A player like Williams will.

 

10. San Francisco 49ers from Carolina—Eric Berry, Safety, Tennessee

 

It’ll come down to either Eric Berry or Joe Haden with this pick. I will give the 49ers Berry, though.

Berry is considered to be the best overall athlete in the entire draft? Why not? This guy is the best safety to come out in a long time.

 

11. Seattle Seahawks—Bruce Campbell, Offensive Tackle, Maryland

The Seahawks offensive line has many holes that need to be filled by new talent. Max Unger was a good pick in the 2009 draft.

Walter Jones has missed the entire season. Despite his intent to play in 2010, Jones is not starting material any longer.

Bruce Campbell is what the Seahawks need. They won’t regret this choice.

 

12. San Francisco 49ers—Joe Haden, Cornerback, Florida

I know, it seems crazy. Joe Haden and Eric Berry with the first two picks? Let me explain why.

San Francisco has one of the worst secondaries in the league, for starters. With Eric Berry and Joe Haden in, the 49ers will automatically have one of the best secondaries in the league.

They could trade one of these two picks for a first in 2011, or trade Nate Clements for a second- or third-round choice.

 

13. Houston Texans—Taylor Mays, Safety, USC

Taylor Mays falling this far would be terrific for the Texans. They need help in the secondary.

Eugene Wilson is not going to do the job for Houston’s secondary. Mays can step in right away and dominate.

Mays and Bernard Pollard would make a great duo at safety.

 

14. Tennessee Titans—Donovan Warren, Cornerback, Michigan

 

Nick Harper is far past his prime. The reason for the Titans terrible secondary is because he can’t cover for crap.

His contract expires at the end of the season. Unless the Titans are stupid, they will let him walk.

Donovan Warren will be a day-one starter if they draft him.

 

15. Pittsburgh Steelers—Earl Thomas, Safety, Texans

 

Troy Polamalu is injured often. When he is out, the Steelers are terrible. This shows how important one guy can be.

With that said, Polamalu needs a partner along side him in the secondary.

Ryan Clark and Tyrone Carter are both free-agents when this season is over. Earl Thomas can replace both of these guys.

 

16. New York Jets—Damian Williams, Wide Receiver, USC

Damian Williams didn’t have the greatest game vs. Arizona last weekend, but nobody from USC really did.

Braylon Edwards has dropped several key passes this year, once again. New York can let him go after this year.

In conclusion, Mark Sanchez will want a new target. His former teammate sounds perfect.

 

17. Atlanta Falcons—Brandon Graham, Defensive End, Michigan

Atlanta is one of the worst teams in the league at getting pressure on the quarterback.

Atlanta lacks a strong defensive end on the opposite side of the aging Jonathan Abraham.

Jamaal Anderson has been a bust thus far. Brandon Graham will step in to take his place.

 

18. Miami Dolphins—Terrence Cody, Nose Tackle, Alabama

Terrence Cody has slipped as of late because of the fact that Dan Williams has surpassed him for the No. 1 nose tackle spot.

Jason Ferguson turns 34 soon, and his contract expires in March. Miami will need a replacement.

 

19. Baltimore Ravens—Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

The Ravens have very few targets on offense. Derrick Mason will likely hang it up after this season is over. Keep in mind, he already retired once.

Dez Bryant, despite missing almost all season for the Cowboys, will be a top-20 pick with a strong combine.

Joe Flacco needs weapons. He will get a great one in Bryant.

 

20. New York Giants—Brandon Spikes, Middle Linebacker, Florida

Antonio Pierce is out for the season. Not to mention, he is near the end of his illustrious career with the Giants.

New York has a few needs on defense that they need to fix. Middle linebacker is the main one.

Brandon Spikes was dominant with the Gators in college. He will be dominant with the Giants in the NFL.

 

21. Jacksonville Jaguars—Tim Tebow, Quarterback, Florida

 

It seems that the Jaguars drafting Tim Tebow is pretty much inevitable at this point. When the governor starts talking about him, it’ll likely happen.

Tebow has stated that he will play any position that a team in the NFL sees fit. Will it be at quarterback? Doubtful. But he will be absolutely stellar in the wildcat formation.

 

22. New England Patriots—C.J. Spiller, Running Back, Clemson

 

How can having Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and C.J. Spiller on one team be fair? It shouldn’t.

Laurence Maroney is the definition of inconsistent. Fred Taylor will never start again. Sammy Morris is a decent third-string running back.

Spiller is a dynamic playmaker who is tough to stop.

 

23. Green Bay Packers—Charles Brown, Offensive Tackle, USC

Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers gets hit on almost every dropback the guy takes. That is preposterous!

They need serious help if they expect Rodgers to continue to be injury-free for a long time.

Charles Brown is the perfect fit for the Packers offensive line scheme.

 

 

24. Dallas Cowboys—Anthony Davis, Offensive Tackle, Rutgers

Flozell Adams is likely to retire soon. He’s near the end of his career, and obviously wearing down physically.

Jerry Jones usually goes after big names, but Anthony Davis, despite not being a big name, is the right pick for the Cowboys.

 

25. Philadelphia Eagles—Mike Iupati, Offensive Guard, Idaho

Andy Reid loves big offensive lineman. Reid actually drafted a guard in the middle of the first round 6 years ago. That guard was Shawn Andrews.

Thus far, Andrews has been a bust. Just chalk it up to a great idea that didn’t pan out.

Mike Iupati is a great pick for the Eagles here.

 

26. Seattle Seahawks from Denver—Jahvid Best, Running Back, California

 

Jahvid Best will still be available when this pick rolls around, that is unless he has a great combine.

Justin Forsett has shown signs of stardom this year, but even with him playing extremely well, Jim Mora Jr. said Julius Jones would start over him upon his return from injury.

 

27. Arizona Cardinals—Jermaine Gresham, Tight End, Oklahoma

 

Can you name the Arizona Cardinals starting tight end right now? I strongly doubt it. Anthony Becht and Ben Patrick have split time this year.

Jermaine Gresham is miles better than both of these. His stock has obviously dropped because he missed his entire senior season.

With that said, Grehsam will be another weapon for Kurt Warner to throw to, unless Warner retires.

 

28. Cincinnati Bengals—Ras-I Dowling, FS/CB, Virginia

 

Cincinnati doesn’t have many needs, thus they will look for depth in one area that they could use it in.

Morgan Trent as the nickel corner isn’t working out. In his rookie season, Ras-I Dowling will be able to play a lot of minutes in the nickel.

 

29. San Diego Chargers—Toby Gerhart, Running Back, Stanford

I will likely get ripped from limb by limb for having Toby Gerhart going in the first round of the draft.

The main reason that he’s not a projected first-round pick is because he’s a white running back. It’s like seeing the New Jersey Nets win a basketball game: it rarely happens.

Toby Gerhart is a tough, physical, and smart runner. I see no reason why San Diego shouldn’t draft him.

 

30. Minnesota Vikings—Travis Lewis, Outside Linebacker, Oklahoma

 

Haven’t changed my mind in the slightest. If Travis Lewis is there, the Vikings can and will select him.

With E.J. Henderson out for the year, Minnesota’s linebackers will have to step it up more than ever. If they had Lewis, they worries would be non-existent.

He’s not a middle linebacker, but Ben Leber can be if Henderson ever got hurt again.

 

31. Indianapolis Colts—Joseph Barksdale, Offensive Tackle, LSU

 

Charlie Johnson will become a free-agent when this season comes to an end. Indy will need a replacement for him.

The Colts will actually have a few needs when this season is over, despite the fact they are perfect right now.

Joseph Barksdale isn’t a household name, but you will hear about him more and more as the next few months come along.

 

32. New Orleans Saints—Sean Weatherspoon, Outside linebacker, Missouri

 

New Orleans has a few needs on defense, especially in the linebacking group.

Sean Weatherspoon is of good value with the last pick in the first round. New Orleans would be foolish to pass on this guy.

Round 2:

33. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Greg Hardy, Defensive End, Ole Miss

34. St. Louis Rams- Carlos Dunlap, Defensive End, Florida

35. Cleveland Browns- Jonathan Dwyer, Running Back, Georgia Tech

36. Detroit Lions- Trent Williams, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma

37. Kansas City Chiefs- Allen Bailey, Defensive Lineman, Miami

38. Washington Redskins- Jason Fox, Offensive Tackle, Miami

39. Oakland Raiders- Everson Griffen, Defensive End, USC

40. Buffalo Bills- Vince Oghobaase, Defensive Tackle, Duke

41. Carolina Panthers- Tony Pike, Quarterback, Cincinnati

42. Seattle Seahawks- Colt McCoy, Quarterback, Texas

43. San Francisco 49ers- Jerry Hughes, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, TCU

44. Houston Texans- Arthur Jones, Defensive Lineman, Syracuse

45. New England Patriots from Tennessee- Brandon Tate, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame

46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Chicago- Arrelious Benn, Wide Reciever, Illinois

47. New York Jets- Jared Odrick, Defensive lineman, Penn State

48. Kansas City Chiefs from Atlanta- Von Miller, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Texas A&M

49. Miami Dolphins- Nate Allen, Safety, South Florida

50. Baltimore Ravens- Kareem Jackson, Cornerback, Alabama

51. Pittsburgh Steelers- Mitch Petrus, Guard, Arkansas

52. New York Giants- Brandon Ghee, Defensive Back, Wake Forest

53. New England Patriots- Mike Neal, Defensive Lineman, Purue

54. New England Patriots from Jacksonville- Patrick Robinson, Cornerback, Florida State

55. Dallas Cowboys- Morgan Burnett, Safety, Georgia Tech

56. Green Bay Packers- Sergio Kindle, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Texas

57. Denver Broncos- Javier Arenas, Cornerback/Kick Returner, Alabama

58. Arizona Cardinals- Ricky Sapp, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Clemson

59. Philadelphia Eagles- Jeremy Beal, Defensive End, Oklahoma

60. Cincinnati Bengals- Marshawn Gilyard, Wide Reciever/Kick Returner, Cincinnati

61. San Diego Chargers- Marvin Austin, Defensive Tackle, North Carolina

62. Minnesota Vikings- Jevan Snead, Quarterback, Ole Miss

63. Indianapolis Colts- Daryl Washington, Inside Linebacker, TCU

64. New Orleans Saints- Brian Price, Defensive Tackle, UCLA

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Minnesota Vikings 2010 Mock Draft: Vikings Go Defense In First Round

This will become a weekly tradition until the 2010 NFL draft actually occurs. I did this same thing last year before the draft.

It’s always exciting to do individual teams mock drafts. It gives you more insight on the team and their specific needs.

As always, I will be doing a Minnesota Vikings mock draft.

Let’s get it under way!

Minnesota is on the clock.

Minnesota’s needs after this season (in order, considering Brett Favre plays another season): Nose Tackle, Offensive Guard, Quarterback, Running Back, Outside linebacker, Defensive End, Free Safety, Fullback, Cornerback, Blocking Tight End)

First round (30): Travis Lewis, Outside Linebacker, Oklahoma University

I’m in love with the idea of Minnesota drafting Travis Lewis, an outside linebacker from Oklahoma.

Why is Lewis such a good pick?

Travis Lewis is easily the best non—hybrid outside linebacker that will come out of this years draft. I say will because all signs point to him coming out. He could very well end up being a top 15 or 20 pick.

Minnesota’s Ben Leber isn’t playing at the level he was two years ago. The guy will be 31 years old soon.

The Vikings front seven would be even scarier with a great tackler like Lewis on the weakside.

*Projected trade: Minnesota trades second round pick to the Detroit Lions for their third and fourth round pick in 2011*

Third round (68): Morgan Burnett, Free Safety, Georgia Tech

It might seem a little bizarre for Burnett to fall this far, but it is very possible. According to several sources, Burnett has slipped slightly in the rankings.

If he is still available, Minnesota must select him, unless a better option at nose tackle is available.

Burnett, in his junior year, has wracked up 73 tackles and four interceptions.

He’s a 6″1, 215 lb stud that could wind up replacing Madieu Williams if his game doesn’t approve vastly.

Third round (94): Jay Ross, Nose Tackle, East Carolina

Jay Ross is one of the most underrated nose tackles in the draft.

Minnesota will be looking for a successor to Pat Williams when he soon retires. Can Jay Ross be the eventual replacement? Definitely.

At 6″3, 315 lbs, Ross is a beast at nose tackle. He’s not the best player at his position, but with the proper work, he can be a beast on the Vikings already impressive defensive line.

Fourth round (129): Jonathan Crompton, Quarterback, Tennessee

Jonathan Crompton, ever heard of him? Honestly, I did not know much about the guy before I read up on him a little bit.

Crompton, a senior out of Tennessee, has had his fair share of troubles on the football field. As of late, he looks like he’s finally putting the pieces to the puzzle together, so to speak.

Brett Favre is 40, and will likely not play after the the 2010-2011 season comes to an end. Crompton would be a solid fit to replace the future hall—of—famer.

He’s a great physical specimen at 6″4, 230 lbs.

Fifth round (166): John Jerry, Offensive Guard, Ole Miss

John Jerry would be a great pick for the Minnesota Vikings. Anthony Herrera isn’t exactly a spring chicken.

John Jerry was named SEC lineman of the week back in early October.

He would likely fit in with a team that likes very large offensive lineman. How wouldn’t the Vikings be a great fit for that?

They have two offensive tackles that are 6’8, 340 lbs. John Jerry would fit right in at 6’5, 350 lbs!

Fifth round (Compensatory selection for Matt Birk): Brandon Sharpe, Defensive End, Texas Tech

I don’t care what anybody says, to be honest. Brandon Sharpe would be one of the steals of the whole entire draft.

He had a tremendous year with Texas Tech as a senior. He totaled 15 sacks, 32 tackles, and 2 forced fumbles.

If Ray Edwards becomes a free—agent, a solid left end will be a position of need, undoubtedly.

Brandon Sharpe is like a Ray Edwards 2.0, but just a little better.

Sixth round (204): Ben Tate, Running Back, Auburn

Chester Taylor and Ben Tate are very similar in stature. They are both 5’11, and weight around 215 lbs.

Chester is set to hit the free—agency market when this season comes to an end. It’s being speculated that he will likely sign with another team to take a bigger role.

Taylor, a starter in 2006, has been one of the most important members on the Minnesota Vikings offense.

His contributions have been key to the Vikings success over the last two years.

As for Ben Tate, he is a great running back. In his senior year, Tate ran for 1,254 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Sixth round (Compensatory selection for Darren Sharper): Brandon Brinkley, Cornerback, Houston

Brandon Brinkley is a red—shirt senior from Houston with loads of talent.

On the season, Brinkley had 69 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 4 interceptions, and an interception for a return.

At 6’0, 180 lbs, Brinkley would be a solid nickel if Asher Allen doesn’t pan out. Karl Paymah has been an epic failure, to say the least.

Seventh round (240): Caz Piurowski, Tight End, Florida State

Caz Piurowski (wow, that’s a difficult last name to pronounce) is arguably the best blocking tight end in the entire 2010 draft.

Jim Kleinsasser, a solid blocker at tight end, is almost 33 years old, and is quickly losing a step in his game.

Perhaps not the biggest need in the world, but heck, it’s the seventh round. You go for depth in the last round of the entire draft.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

2010 NFL Mock Draft: Rounds 1 and 2 (With Predicted Trades)

It’s for me to once again update my 2010 NFL mock draft.

Not too much has changed since the last time I updated my mock a week ago.

A few teams have moved down in the order of picks and a few teams have moved up a few nothces.

To spice up the pot a little bit, I will be adding predicted trades that could very well end up happening during the draft.

As always, the order of picks are based on the teams current record and where I think they’ll finish at the end of the season.

Don’t see a player you think should be in there? Let me know about it.

I love all feedback and arguments. Tell me what you think of your teams pick(s).

Begin Slideshow

NFL 2010 Mock Draft: Rounds 1-3

Believe it or not, a lot has changed since I posted my mock draft a mere nine days ago.

With 21 weeks to go until the 2010 draft, it’s time to update my mock. I love doing this stuff.

My order of draft picks, as always, is based on the current record of the team, and how I think they will finish at the end of the season.

If you don’t see a certain player in the mock, ask me about it. There is a good chance I won’t have somebody declaring.

Enjoy the show!

Begin Slideshow

2010 NFL Mock Draft Round 1

It may sound like a long ways away to the 2010 NFL draft. 6 months. Only half a year, right? Well, I don’t really care. Mock drafts are fun to do, and I’m incredibly bored at the moment. I’ve been going through my fair share of thoughts on who will go where. These are my thoughts typed on individual slides. The order of the picks are based on who I think will win the most games based on the teams current records. NOTE: I do not have Sam Bradford declaring after this season. As a result, he will not be drafted.

Begin Slideshow

Minnesota Vikings Thinking Super Bowl In 2010

Unless you live under a rock, or you have no way to receive updates on the world of sports, you most likely know that Brett Favre is now a member of the Minnesota Vikings.

This move has received some negative and positive from the “so called” experts on ESPN. Truth be told, I can’t seem to stay on ESPN anymore because of how biased they are towards east-coast teams. Ever notice how it’s basically the Yankees, Giants, and Knicks?

I could care less what people think about the Vikings bringing in Favre. Minnesota’s quarterback situation before they brought in the future hall-of-famer was shaky and brought upon a lot of questions.

How is it an even argument of whether or not Minnesota should have made the move? To me, this is ridiculous. This is a match made in heaven. Could the timing be any more perfect?

Minnesota has arguably the best team they have had since 2000 where they went to the NFC championship only to lose by the score of 41-0 to the New York Giants.

The Vikings have impressive amounts of talent on both sides of the ball. Their offense has a leader in Brett Favre at the helm, Adrian Peterson to carry the ball, and three studs in Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin, and Visanthe Shiancoe to receive Favre’s bullet-like throws.

Where do I start on defense? Minnesota has had the best run defense for the last three years. This is no easy feat to accomplish. The Vikings consistenly put out a great front seven. This year’s front seven will be led by pro-bowlers Jared Allen, and Pat and Kevin Williams.

The Vikings weakness is their secondary that seems to give up at least two or three big pass plays every game. Expect for this problem to be fixed in 2009. Minnesota has two young studs in Madieu Williams and Tyrell Johnson at safety. They also have emerging star, Cedric Griffin and whily veteran, Antoine Winfield to start at cornerback.

Like I said, Minnesota has a lot of talent on both offense and defense. This team has plenty of skill to get them to the Super Bowl in 2010. There have been worse teams that have made it to the Super Bowl. For example, last year’s NFC champions, the Arizona Cardinals.

Minnesota, in my opinion, are one of the top three teams in the NFC today, maybe even the top two. New York and Philadelphia seem like the only teams that could give the Vikings a true run for their money next season.

The Eagles signed Michael Vick and he should bring a lot of success to their style of football. Am I the only one who thinks the Vikings mainly signed Favre to match the Eagles signing of Vick?

I will not go out on a limb by saying that the Vikings will make it to the Super Bowl, but it seems as though this is their year to do so. Minnesota is due for a deep run in the playoffs.

Brett Favre, during his press conference said that his daughter wants him to return for one more chance at a Super Bowl ring. It seems like this is a scene from a movie where the old-timer comes back to a contender and brings them the trophy they have been wishing for for years.

Brad Childress has been reported as running the wildcat during practice for weeks now. Teams like the Miami Dolphins of last year have had success running this unique style of play. Percy Harvin could take his game to a whole other level with the wildcat formation.

The Vikings are a tough team to read. Some games they lose to opponents they should beat, and other times they defeat teams that nobody thinks they have the slighest chance against.

2009-2010 schedule:

Week one: Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns, Result: Vikings (win)
Week two: Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions, Result: Vikings (win)
Week three: San Francisco 49’ers vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (win)
Week four: Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (win)
Week five: Minnesota Vikings vs. St. Louis Rams, Result: Vikings (win)
Week six: Baltimore Ravens vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (win)
Week seven: Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Result: Vikings (lose)
Week eight: Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers, Result: Vikings (lose)
Week nine: BYE WEEK
Week 10: Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (win)
Week 11: Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (win)
Week 12: Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (win)
Week 13: Minnesota Vikings vs. Arizona Cardinals, Result: Vikings (lose)
Week 14: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (Win)
Week 15: Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers, Result: Vikings (Win)
Week 16: Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears, Result: Vikings (Lose)
Week 17: New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (Win)

If the season happens to go down like this, the Vikings would wind up with a very impressive record of 12-4. This would get them a bye week in the first round of the playoffs in all likely-hood.

I am confident that the Vikings are in for a big year in 2009. With the team they have there is no telling what kind of things they can do.

Let’s just hope that whatever they do it involves a Lombardi trophy.

The Impact Of a Savvy Veteran, Marvin Harrison To The Vikings?

There have been rumblings that future hall-of-famer Marvin Harrison is potentially on his way to the Vikings, a team that he could potentially end his tremendous career with.

Many believe that Harrison needs to just hang up the cleats and realize that his deed to the NFL is done. I, on the other hand, feel that this would be a foolish move on Marvin’s part.

Marvin has played in the NFL since 1996, when he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. His college days were spent at the university of Syracuse. His quarterback at the time was Philadelphia Eagles current quarterback, Donovan McNabb.

Behind only Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison is viewed as the second best receiver that the National Football League has ever seen before. Call me a homer, but I feel that Cris Carter deserves that recognition.

Why wouldn’t a team want a player like that on their squad?

Yes, he’s past his prime, obviously. But what would it hurt to have a target that can provide a locker room presence? A possible leader to the young receivers?

Answer: Nothing

Minnesota is not desperate for receivers, but they are desperate for a receiver that could teach the other ones the ropes.

Minnesota’s receivers are all under 30 years old. Percy Harvin is only 21 years old and is a rookie. He, obviously, could use some teaching. Possibly how to not have an ego problem like that of Brandon Marshall or Terrell Owens.

Many wonder if the Vikings have the money to sign both Marvin Harrison and Brett Favre. They do. The con to this is that it will make it even more difficult to have Antoine Winfield an extension.

Winfield has discussed holding out until he receives a new deal. Minnesota cannot afford to lose him. He has arguable been our best defensive player for the past two years.

If it does come down to this scenario, I would say that the Vikings would say no to having Marvin Harrison on the team.

Marvin is a good player, but he’s not something we desperately need. Marvin is more of a player that would sweeten our chances of becoming a super bowl contender.

Minnesota is a team that needs to add pieces to the puzzle in order to bring home their first super bowl trophy in team history. I can’t be the only one that is hungry to have the Vikings finally be known as a team that has won a championship.

There is no telling how long Harrison can last. His body is clearly not in the shape it once was, but he could be able to make some sort of an effort. This effort doesn’t necessarily have to come on the field, though.

In my opinion, the Vikes should make a move to get Marvin. He’s talented and is a great leader in the locker-room. Let’s get it done for the right price.

The Impact Of a Savvy Veteran, Marvin Harrison To The Vikings?

There have been rumblings that future hall-of-famer Marvin Harrison is potentially on his way to the Vikings, a team that he could potentially end his tremendous career with.

Many believe that Harrison needs to just hang up the cleats and realize that his deed to the NFL is done. I, on the other hand, feel that this would be a foolish move on Marvin’s part.

Marvin has played in the NFL since 1996, when he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. His college days were spent at the university of Syracuse. His quarterback at the time was Philadelphia Eagles current quarterback, Donovan McNabb.

Behind only Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison is viewed as the second best receiver that the National Football League has ever seen before. Call me a homer, but I feel that Cris Carter deserves that recognition.

Why wouldn’t a team want a player like that on their squad?

Yes, he’s past his prime, obviously. But what would it hurt to have a target that can provide a locker room presence? A possible leader to the young receivers?

Answer: Nothing

Minnesota is not desperate for receivers, but they are desperate for a receiver that could teach the other ones the ropes.

Minnesota’s receivers are all under 30 years old. Percy Harvin is only 21 years old and is a rookie. He, obviously, could use some teaching. Possibly how to not have an ego problem like that of Brandon Marshall or Terrell Owens.

Many wonder if the Vikings have the money to sign both Marvin Harrison and Brett Favre. They do. The con to this is that it will make it even more difficult to have Antoine Winfield an extension.

Winfield has discussed holding out until he receives a new deal. Minnesota cannot afford to lose him. He has arguable been our best defensive player for the past two years.

If it does come down to this scenario, I would say that the Vikings would say no to having Marvin Harrison on the team.

Marvin is a good player, but he’s not something we desperately need. Marvin is more of a player that would sweeten our chances of becoming a super bowl contender.

Minnesota is a team that needs to add pieces to the puzzle in order to bring home their first super bowl trophy in team history. I can’t be the only one that is hungry to have the Vikings finally be known as a team that has won a championship.

There is no telling how long Harrison can last. His body is clearly not in the shape it once was, but he could be able to make some sort of an effort. This effort doesn’t necessarily have to come on the field, though.

In my opinion, the Vikes should make a move to get Marvin. He’s talented and is a great leader in the locker-room. Let’s get it done for the right price.

How to Solve the Quarterback Situation for the Minnesota Vikings

For months now it’s been a question of who the Vikings will start at quarterback. I can honestly say that we don’t have an answer to that question at this point in time. Luckily, there could be many options to contemplate over the next few weeks.

Quarterback has been an issue for a number years now, ever since the Vikings decided to release Daunte Culpepper, after he went down with a devastating leg injury back in 2005. I, personally, feel like this is a foolish move by the Vikings organization. One injury should not change the impact that a player can potentially make.

Daunte seems like a player who has caught a second wind. He has dropped over 30 pounds, and looks to be the favorite to win the starting quarterback job for the Detroit Lions.

With that said, we must move on. It was years ago that it happened, and we need to focus on the present and future, and nothing else.

Last year, the Vikings went through several times of trouble at the helm of the offense.

Tarvaris Jackson was benched after two games where he played absolutely dreadful. Let’s not sugar-coat it, Tarvaris sucked at that point.

Bring on veteran, second-stringer in Gus Frerotte. The decision to turn the ball over to Gus received some good and bad receptions. I thought it was a move that made sense for the time being, but not for the future.

Minnesota seemed to have caught some sort of spark from the sudden change at quarterback. The Vikings became a team to be reckoned with when Gus was the starting quarterback.

Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t great, but he was better than anything we had on the roster during the season.

Later in the season, Minnesota decided to once again bring back in Tarvaris Jackson. I figured that since he had spent time on the sidelines that he would become a quarterback with vengeance on his mind. Jackson had plenty of time to learn the system and the plays even more.

It turns out that I would be right. Tarvaris came out strong in his first game back. He finished out the season solidly, and even had a four touchdown performance against the Arizona Cardinals, the NFC champions.

Minnesota should go with the same plan for this up-coming season. Yes, there is the possibility that Brett Favre could un-retire and come back to the NFL to sign with the Vikings, but what if he doesn’t?

The point is that Minnesota should start out the season with Tarvaris Jackson being the No. One quarterback on the depth chart. If he doesn’t perform up to standard, put in Sage Rosenfels.

The reason Sage was brought in was to have a reliable back-up behind Tarvaris Jackson that could possibly start if they needed it to happen. He hasn’t automatically been given the starting job.

Nobody at this point should feel like they’ve been handed their starting job on a silver platter. Everybody needs to fight for their jobs all the time, as if they could lose it at any point whatsoever in the reason.

Don’t count out John David Booty either. The former fifth-round-pick could come out and surprise us. Look at Matt Cassel as a perfect example of that. J.D.B. might be the starter at the start of the season because he has had a year to progress his skills even more.

This is my way of solving the quarterback situation. It might not be a spectacular idea, but it is a realistic one at that.

I would love to know what you all think. Feel free to list your opinion of what you think the Vikings should do with this current situation.

Why Adrian Peterson Will Be the MVP of the 2009 Season

When you hear the question of who the best running back in the league is, who do you think of?  Adrian Peterson, Michael Turner, DeAngelo Williams, LaDainian Tomlinson, or Clinton Portis?

I, believe, that Adrian is probably the best among those players listed above. Disagree if you must, but that is how I feel.

I am a Vikings fan, but I would say that Peterson is the best running back in the league, even if I was a Bears or Packers fan. By the way, that will never happen in a million years.

Adrian has consistently gotten better at running the ball. In his rookie season, he had 1,341 yards and twelve touchdowns. These numbers easily put him in the top ten running backs in the league, maybe even the top five.

Many thought Peterson would be a one-year-wonder, and his numbers would take a decline in the following season. Oh, how they were wrong.

In his sophomore campaign, Adrian’s numbers sky-rocketed. He had 363 carries for 1,760 yards, and ten touchdowns. His only problem was that he fumbled an outrageous nine times.

Adrian must get this problem under control. The Vikings absolutely cannot afford to get far into the red-zone, just to have him fumble the ball away without even getting hit that hard. This occurred several times last year. As my friend Sayre would say, he has a massive case of “fumbleitis.”

Usually, quarterbacks win the MVP award. A quarterback has won the award for 35 of the last 51 seasons. Peyton Manning won the award last season.

These numbers do not fair well for Adrian. The odds will definitely be stacked against him for next season. But to be expected is Peterson once again silencing the critics and showing even more evolution.

Chester Taylor, the Vikings back-up running back, has seen a large decrease in his number of carries. This is obviously because Adrian is the every-down-runner for Minnesota.

He is in the last year of his contract, so the Vikings might try to either get the most out of him, or potentially trade him to a team that desperately needs a starting running back. Time will tell what Minnesota will do, but I sincerely hope that they keep him on the roster next season.

Adrian is one of the more devoted players to the game than I have seen in some time. In only two years, he has become a fan-favorite, and is considered by some to be one of the best players in the league.

I’m not one to base greatness on fantasy football, but A.P. went first in a lot of the leagues that I was in last year. People rolled the dice on Peterson even though he had only one year of experience under his belt at the current time.

You might say I’m bias, but I really could care less. This is really how I feel. I won’t say that Adrian is the clear favorite, but he is an absolute sure-fire top five player in the NFL today.

Another reason why he has a great chance to be the MVP is because of Minnesota’s lack to throw the ball at a high-rate. Often times, they rely on Adrian to get the job done when they need it the most.

Sage Rosenfels isn’t going to be a star, which will lead the Vikings to have to run the ball much more often than they used to. This should not come as a surprise to anybody.

If I had to predict Adrian’s stats for next year, I would say he will be around 400 carries, 1,900 yards, and 15 touchdowns.

Minnesota will also look to get him more involved in the receiving game. He has not been used that often for catching passes. I, definitely, expect this to change next season.

Case-in-point, Adrian Peterson is my top candidate for being the MVP of the 2009 season. Do you agree or disagree? Feel free to state your opinion.

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