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Vikings Discussion & Random Thoughts
Tired of this smoke from Canada. Someone send Smokey Bear up there to make them stop. On the Vikings front, the defense is outshining the offense, and that is pretty good for this time of year. Just think of how good our offense can become by practicing against this defense every day.
NFL News
We also get football this upcoming week on Thursday, Friday, Saturday when the Vikings play, and Sunday. I know what I will be doing. Watching lots of football to help me make poor decisions with my fantasy team again.
And…..FTP!
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R.I.P. Loni Anderson
Loved WKRP
She was a smoke show on ‘WKRP in Cincinnati‘ .79 is a pretty good run.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/loni-anderson-wkrp-cincinnati-star-dead-79
Same.
Funny stuff back in the day.
Les Nesman was the center of the show imo.
Last year, KOC played Sam Darnold two series I think, (maybe one) in the first preseason game against the Raiders. Then he held Darnold out the rest of the preseason. I’m wondering if we’ll see McCarthy against the Texans on Saturday. Or any of the other key starters.
My guess is we see JJ the first half. After that, I am not sure if he will play at all in the preseason. I think he should play a bit in each game, but I also trust coach to do what he wants.
The MLB farm club from MN beat a Major League Baseball team.
Impressive.
Is our kicking curse alive and well?
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/minnesota-vikings-facing-harsh-reality-024258268.html
We really have been cursed with kickers. For sure. We need a far more reliable option at that position.
We drafted ‘a far more reliable option’ last year.
Problem is he got injured and he seems less reliable currently.
Does he just need some time to ‘get his mojo back’ or is be broken?
Who was that kicker who filled in for him so well while he was out? Is he available?
I blame the Vikings for my trauma regarding kickers. Every time a team I like needs to kick a FG, or even the extra point, to tie or win, my blood pressure shoots up. Of course, they shouldn’t be in that position, but it happens. I don’t think I’ll ever really get over that.
Laughing. I have gotten that way too Kathy. I fully expect them to miss every field goal, and extra point. Maddening.
Actually this is the way to go to fix that ‘blood pressure/stress’ issue.
If you just assume that they will miss the kick you can be happy to be wrong if they make it and if they miss it ‘no big deal’ because you knew that they would.
Problem solved!
That helps for a team I just sort of like (e.g. cheering against the Packers, Eagles, etc.), but if it’s a team I really want to win, especially an important game, it doesn’t help.
This is a real thing for me, even for my favorite college team. I wish I was joking, but I’m not.
Did the curse ever die?
We made it back to the good old US os A yesterday shortly after noon. Whoohoo!
Also, I was sick of the smoke from Canada while we were in Canada. We got up early to see the sunrise our last morning there and we didn’t see the sun rise because of the smoke. It was a half hour later when we were loading the car that we actually saw the sun.
Congrats on your, and your families, survival.
Welcome back VP. What was the smoke from?
I would guess Fire.
https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/home
A little kurfuffle yesterday…..
I love the energy and passion. A lot of guys trying to prove they belong, they are leaders and they support their team
Or they’re scared they’re gonna lose their job, and overcompensating with excessive aggression, to show their “passion”.
That makes sense too
I like the attitude. They just need to remember they are all on the same team.
From Matthew Coller of Purple Insider:
Numerous reports out of camp have detailed Sam Howell’s struggles through eight days of training camp. While it was excusable early on, the runway left for Howell to gain a better grasp of the offense is fleeting.
“I think we have reached the time where if Sam Howell doesn’t go into this preseason game and these next couple practices and look really good and snap into it, then they have to start making some phone calls about other quarterbacks to bring in as a backup,” Coller said ahead of the Vikings’ August 9 preseason opener against the Houston Texans.
OR, Brett Rypien is good enough to take the reins as the back-up. Howell may be expendable.
Given the situation. I’m more concerned with the starter than the backup.
What happens if the starter doesn’t make it to the first game like last year? Better have a plan.
We’re screwed like most teams that lose their starting QB.
Browns have like five QB’s in camp… grin.
The Brown have four QBs on the active roster just like us; Flacco, Pickett, Gabriel and Sanders.
They also have Watson under contract but he will probably miss the entire year due to injury.
I wasn’t up on Deshaun’s injury status. I thought he might be available to play this year some time.
‘Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been rehabbing after retearing his right Achilles tendon — a diagnosis that could sideline him for most, if not all, of the 2025 season.Apr 10, 2025
Per ESPN
Rypien or Brosmer. either is probably better than Howell.
Remember, this coach got decent play out of several cast-off’s two seasons ago.
No small feat there….
Darnold has always had the athletic talent to be a good NFL QB. It’s what’s between his ears that has held him back. I think KOC simplified his reads to two receivers max on every play. Then throw it away, or take off running.
Agree.
Well Rickie Fowler has played pretty mundane golf for three rounds, and barely made the cut. He shot an even par round yesterday, and found himself way back in 56th place at the end of the day. He birdied his first hole today, and striped his drive on number two. Can he finally go really low for once?
Nope… misses a 4 footer for par on the second hole. Overly aggressive with his birdie putt from 21 feet, then just breezed the comebacker over the right edge. Back to even for the day. Really a bad, bad mistake there.
Good morning, SKOL!
FTP!!
Good morning Florida. Gonna be a hot one again down here in Tampa. My wife is gonna roast up some turkey breast, with stuffing, cranberry sauce, and baked beans for a late lunch today. Thanksgiving in July.
Wow… I don’t know who this guy is, but he must have a bad memory, or he’s a loon. This is a standard flag route throw that any NFL QB can make, and honestly pretty much any QB.
Looked pretty routine to me.
The ‘Hype Train’ is full speed ahead.
It’s a parody blog.
Jerry Jones said today that he will not consider trading Micah Parsons and that his standout pass rusher’s trade request “is just a part of negotiation.”
I think not Jerry. Your star player no longer wants to play for you. It’s not about money anymore. You missed wide right, son.
I think to Jerry it is always about money.
Yeah, and Jerry is lost in space. His player posted to the world he no longer want to play for Dallas.
Jerry: It’s just a negotiation.
Think with Jerry it’s always about the “sizzle” and the show. Did it with DAK and Lamb, paid the money, but loved the drama.
A little smoky in Edina.
Not terrible.
Im having cake and trying this craft out of Fargo.
Interesting combo… cake and lager… not my cup of tea.
Will Ragatz write-up on today’s practice. It’s a good one.
https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/vikings-training-camp-recap-day-9-jj-mccarthy-shines-again-punch-thrown
Ben Goessling says it was a much better day for the Vikings’ offense today, which paired some feistiness with execution. McCarthy had one of his better days of camp, and Sam Howell made a couple nice throws. More work for Brett Rypien with the No. 2 offense, as well, and Jordan Mason ran with some physicality.
‘Jordan Mason ran with some physicality’.
That is what he does. And I am here for it.
Will Reichard kicked again today. Went 3-5, but missed from inside the 40 twice. Both missed wide of left upright.
Better not miss those in real games… I hate when a kicker blows a short field goal or extra point. HATE it!
McCarthy finds Jordan Addison in the back corner of the end zone in a red zone drill. Nice throw, and impressive leaping catch over Dwight McGlothern for Addison.
Brian Asamoah decked Aaron Jones on a checkdown from J.J. McCarthy. Offered a hand to help Jones up, and then, after the offense confronted him, he threw a punch at Will Fries.
This was followed more feistiness. Tyler Batty tackled Aaron Jones to the ground in the backfield. And J.J. McCarthy came in and shoved Batty. Entire team is now in the middle of the field hearing it from Kevin O’Connell, who had a hard no-fighting rule.
Chippy is not bad.
Hockenson headed over to the medical area with a trainer. Was walking pretty slowly, had been pointing to leg area.
He didn’t go inside though after being looked at. Stayed outside but not wearing a helmet. Looked like groin area, just walking slowly.
No Serious Injuries!
Don’t make me repeat myself.
Noooooooo!!! ESPN will ruin Redzone.
https://nypost.com/2025/08/01/sports/heres-what-nfl-network-could-look-like-at-espn/
I’m so sick of the Cowboys dragging out their contract extensions and sports news talking about it 24/7. I do like Parsons, so I hope he actually does leave.
It sounds like Parsons is ‘sick of the Cowboys’ as well.
I figure if it is bad for ‘The Boys’ it is good for the Vikings.
I don’t see anything changing as long as Jerry is still alive, but every stinking year it’s the same Cowboy drama over some contract. It’s exhausting.
Why would we want it to change?
‘Never interrupt an enemy when he is making a mistake’.
Napoleon Bonaparte
Haha! Good point. Just wish the sports talking heads wouldn’t talk about it (and anything Cowboys) every day.
Ahhhh. That is a different problem.
Annoying ‘talking heads’ is why I watch most sports with the sound off now-a-days. And I never watch ESPN.
Good morning, SKOL!
FTP!
FTP Auto Rec.