>>>ALL THINGS VIKINGS<<<

The NFC Central looks to be wide open, the Vikings look real good on PAPER but that damn injury bug could just destroy your team,Bears look they might be pretty good ( and a they been pain in azz to the Vikings ) Lions good or bad don't know just have to wait and see,just a soap box drama in Green Bay your quess is as good as mine what the hell is going on over there

 

the NFC Central looks to be wide open the Vikings looks good on PAPER but that damn injury bug could just destroy your team,the Bears could be pretty good ( always a pain in the Vikings azz )the Lions good or bad just have to wait,and the soap box drama in Green Bay who's hell know what's really going on?

 

flashback. lol! What about the Bucs?

 

lol I remember them used to give the Vikings fits oh man even when they were bad it was a tough game,but when the Buccaneers became good it was an absolute nightmare

 

sorry about my double post

 

Irv Smith Jr. plans to be scoring a lot this season



Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. has noticed “a lot more swagger” from quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason and he’s displaying some of his own as well.

Smith has 66 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns over his first two NFL seasons, but will no longer be splitting time with Kyle Rudolph in the Minnesota offense. During an appearance on NFL Network, Smth shared what he thinks that is going to mean for him.

“I have very high expectations, especially for myself,” Smith said. “I don’t want to put an exact number out there because I don’t want to say ‘I’m gonna score 15 touchdowns or however many,’ but it’s gonna be a lot. I’m going to be scoring a lot, making a lot of plays and helping my offense in any way, helping my team. I just want to be able to be a playmaker out there, whether it’s in the run game, pass game, scoring touchdowns, making a key block, whatever it is. I just want to, at the end of the day, win a Super Bowl and have the accolades that I want for myself at the end of the year.”

The Vikings don’t have a clear No. 3 receiver behind Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen heading into the season. Smith sounds like he has designs on claiming that role.

PFT

 

boy he looks jacked,and he looks to score more seems like he wants a bigger role in offensive game plan....time to put the pedal to the metal go for it..IT'S A PROVE IT YEAR!!!! GO VIKINGS

 

Eric Kendricks is severely underpaid and it just became even more clear


After Fred Warner agreed to a lucrative deal with the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday, it became even more obvious that Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks is underpaid.

After three seasons as a starting linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings, Eric Kendricks was awarded a five-year contract extension from the team in 2018, worth $50 million.

Since then, Kendricks has extended his streak of finishing with at least 100 tackles to five seasons, while also earning a Pro Bowl nod and a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2019.

Kendricks is one of the best linebackers in the NFL heading into the 2021 campaign. However, he’s no longer getting paid like one of the top players from his position group.

Should the Minnesota Vikings give Eric Kendricks a raise?
On Wednesday, it was revealed that the San Francisco 49ers and All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner have agreed to a five-year extension worth $95 million. Warner will now have an average annual value of more than $19 million.

Like Kendricks, Warner is an inside linebacker for his team’s defense. They both obviously don’t have the exact same responsibilities out on the field, but both of their respective teams heavily rely on them being in the lineup for each matchup.

After his new deal on Wednesday, Warner now has the highest average salary of any 4-3 linebacker in the NFL. In comparison, Kendricks currently has the 10th-highest average salary for a 4-3 linebacker in the league, behind guys like Matt Milano of the Buffalo Bills, Joe Schobert of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Cory Littleton of the Las Vegas Raiders.

During the last six years, only Bobby Wagner of the Seattle Seahawks has had more seasons with at least 100 tackles than Kendricks. The talented Minnesota defender is also one of six linebackers to accumulate a total of at least 600 tackles since the 2015 campaign.

Kendricks still has three years left on his current contract with the Vikings, and if the team was going to re-work his deal, their past tendencies indicate that next offseason would likely be the earliest it would happen.

At the same time, it wouldn’t be surprising if Minnesota figured out a way to give their top linebacker a little pay boost before the upcoming season. He’s currently scheduled to make less than $8.5 million in cash this year, which seems extremely low for a player of his caliber.

Tossing a few extra dollars his way now feels like it would also be a good way to prevent Kendricks from possibly asking for a drastic increase in pay after the 2021 campaign.

FANSIDED

 

This kind of thing is always going to happen in todays NFL. If Warner is the bar setter or standard, then yep, Kendricks deserves a raise, but it just doesnt work that way.

 

Kendricks needs to be PAID the big bucks these contracts are out of control stadium tickets food at the stadium ugh,the 49ers set a very high standard here a lot of really good Linebackers in the NFL want to get PAID

 

Report: Rick Dennison out as Vikings assistant coach after refusing COVID-19 vaccine



Vikings assistant coach Rick Dennison has reportedly lost his job because he refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Dennison, who had been the Vikings’ offensive line coach/run game coordinator the past two seasons, parted ways with the team, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN. The report does not specifically call Dennison’s departure a firing, although that’s what it sounds like.

The NFL is requiring Tier 1 staff — the people in closest contact with players, such as coaches and equipment managers — to get vaccinated. Players cannot be forced to get vaccinated.

The Vikings are promoting assistant offensive line coach Phil Rauscher to fill Dennison’s position, and adding former Auburn assistant coach Ben Steele to take Rauscher’s position.

Dennison is a 27-year veteran of NFL coaching.

PFT

 

The Vikings showed some interest in free agent receiver Dede Westbrook in May. They apparently have even more interest now.

The team is working out Westbrook on Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports. Westbrook indicated on Instagram on Friday that he was headed to Minneapolis.

The 49ers and Bengals also had conversations with Westbrook’s camp.

Rapoport, though, added Westbrook likely will sign in Minnesota “if all goes well” on the visit.

Westbrook has familiarity with former Jaguars receivers coach Keenan McCardell.

The Jaguars placed Westbrook on injured reserve after he tore his ACL in October. He made only one catch for 4 yards last season.

Jacksonville made Westbrook a fourth-round choice in 2017, and he caught 159 passes for 1,716 yards and nine touchdowns his first three seasons.

PFT

 

this could be interesting move by the Vikings

 

27 year veteran, he was probably already contemplating retirement and this just made his decision easier.

 

I might be pretty upset if I wasnt thinking of retirement... might be a case for a wrongfully firing lawsuit. Not sure.

I know Zimmer has been really pushing for a fully vaccinated team.

I also wonder how many players get cut that wont get vaccinated all around the NFL.

 

Firing people for not being vaccinated is like firing someone for their religious beliefs or their sexual preferences

 

Not the same, they are in an environment that dictates staying in a schedule to perform their duties, being a gay Jewish person wouldn’t effect the job performance in any way. Causing an internal pandemic changes the entire league.

 

I wonder tho... Is the right not to be vaccinated causing anything. From the other side of the isle, you have data where double-vaccinated people are still contracting Covid, so where does the line get drawn?

I havnt heard that the vaccine is foolproof or has been mandated as a requirement in the world or the NFL... so i just wonder how you can relieve a person based on their 'choice'. When it becomes a mandated law, that to me would be a different story.

The whole thing keeps haunting all of us and it still looks bleak as far as the future is concerned.

PS - Im not trying to be dogmatic in my opinion, just kinda thinking out loud.

 

The how is simple, without a strike, the league can mandated it if they chose. They don’t want to do that because then it becomes a political statement. This is a private enterprise made up of 32 owner groups, other than the Packers, whom I don’t think could mandate it with their structure.

I understand the vaccine isn’t 100%, but it not only takes the chances down exponentially, it also alleviates most of the symptoms. I’m not even sure if they have a recorded death of someone that has contracted COVID after receiving the vaccine?

Simple answer is, vaccinating the league is the easiest way to make sure the season continues unhindered. They still have the choice, but it could lead to them being unemployed.

 

The Vikings have added to their receiving corps, the team announced Sunday.

Minnesota signed free agent Dede Westbrook, a 2017 fourth-round pick who spent his first four NFL seasons in Jacksonville.

Westbrook played just two games for the Jaguars in 2020. He caught one pass for a gain of 4 yards in Week 3 and suffered a torn ACL in Week 7 that sidelined him for the remainer of the season. In 2019, he started 11 of 15 games and recorded 66 catches for 660 yards and three touchdowns.

The Jaguars also utilized Westbrook on special teams. Before suffering the knee injury, he totaled four punt returns for 44 yards and four kickoff returns for 89 yards.

Westbrook will join a position group in Minnesota led by Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson, who is coming off a phenomenal rookie campaign. He'll have the opportunity during training camp to vie for the WR3 spot, competing among the likes of Chad Beebe, Bisi Johnson and K.J. Osborn, who impressed during the Vikings spring program.

Here are five things to know about the Vikings newest receiver:

1. Reunited with McCardell

While Westbrook may be meeting new teammates for the first time, he's well-acquainted with his position coach.

The Vikings hired Keenan McCardell this offseason to coach receivers. And where did McCardell last coach? In Jacksonville from 2017-20, the duration of Westbrook's NFL career thus far.


McCardell is quite familiar with Westbrook's skill set and what he brings to an offense, which is an added benefit of the player-coach reunion.

2. 2016 Biletnikoff winner

Westbrook shined at Oklahoma and in 2016 earned the Biletnikoff Award, an honor presented annually to the outstanding receiver in American college football.

During that senior season, Westbrook led the Big 12 with 1,524 receiving yards and a school-record 17 touchdowns. He set a Sooners record against Texas that season with 232 receiving yards, breaking the previous mark of 217 held by Ryan Broyles.

Westbrook's 2016 campaign also earned him First-Team All-Big 12 honors and put him in the running for the Heisman Trophy. He ultimately finished fourth in voting behind quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and Oklahoma teammate Baker Mayfield.

3. Westbrook has wheels

Westbrook accepted an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine in preparation for the 2017 NFL Draft, but he did not participate in any on-field drills in Indianapolis.

He did, however, show off his speed at Oklahoma's Pro Day. Westbrook was clocked at 4.39 seconds in the 40-yard dash, a time that would have ranked third among receivers at the combine behind John Ross (4.22) and Curtis Samuel (4.31).

Westbrook's wheels are an asset in the receiving game as well as in returning. He has 47 career punt returns for 461 yards and one score.

4. Made a good impression


Westbrook started his college playing career at the JUCO level, playing at Blinn Community College in Brenham, Texas. As a sophomore at Blinn, he earned NJCAA First-Team All-America honors after racking up 1,487 yards and 13 touchdowns in only eight games.

Westbrook transferred in 2015 to Oklahoma, where he started all 13 games and was named Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year by the conference's coaches.

5. Hails from the Lone Star State

A native of Cameron, Texas, Westbrook garnered attention as a receiver at C.H. Yoe High School.

Westbrook is now one of nine Vikings who hail from the Lone Star State. He joins CB Kris Boyd (Gilmer), CB Jeff Gladney (New Boston), DE Danielle Hunter (Katy), S Kirk Luther (Garland), LB Blake Lynch (Gilmer), DT James Lynch (Round Rock), QB Kellen Mond (San Antonio) and RB Kene Nwangwu (Frisco).

VIKINGS.com