>>>ALL THINGS VIKINGS<<<

I've been waiting for Irv Smith Jr to have a breakout year....that would. be nice

 

Former Alabama TE Irv Smith Jr. about to enter biggest season of young career



Former Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr. was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft. His three seasons with the franchise have been productive, but 2022 will be the season that determines what happens in free agency when his contract expires.

There was a slight bump in the right direction in his sophomore season, but his stats overall are nearly identical from both the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

In his two-year career, Smith has tallied 66 receptions for 676 yards and seven touchdowns.

Jordy McElroy of the Vikings Wire recently described why the upcoming 2022 season is vital to Smith’s potential journey through free agency in the 2023 offseason. It’s now on Smith to convince the front office they should extend his contract and not risk losing him to free agency.

“This is the year where Smith must take all of it from the practice field and show it on game day,” writes McElroy. “The Vikings are loaded to the teeth with offensive weapons. So there will be plenty of opportunities for him to exploit opposing defenses and make plays.

“A player with his size and skills is a rare commodity at this level, and coach Kevin O’Connell will do everything within his power to make the best use of him in the offense.

“This is obviously a wait-and-see approach from the Vikings as well. Time will tell if they’re actually willing to let his contract expire and play the free agent game with him in the offseason.”

The Vikings will look for the star qualities they have been seeking from Smith since they drafted him in 2022. It’s make-or-break time for the tight end.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Irv Smith Jr. and other former Alabama players that are now in the NFL.

YAHOO

 

Well it's a prove to me year,or will I get paid or not get paid type of year

 

Vikings' Dalvin Cook prides himself on being a 'bell-cow running back'

The Minnesota Vikings hired coach Kevin O'Connell to bring life to the club's offense. The assumption is the Vikes will install a more pass-friendly scheme after being a run-first club under Mike Zimmer.

The new offense doesn't change the mindset of running back Dalvin Cook.

"Wherever they want me to fit in," Cook told FOX 9 Sports' Hobie Artigue. "We got to run the football. That's a must. So, we've got to do a good job at that. However many touches I get, I'm going to take advantage of it. I'm just ready to win games. Wherever I fit in at, if it's an opportunity to help us win a game, 'Put me in there, coach.' That's my mindset."

Cook has made three straight Pro Bowls as the Vikings' bell-cow back. In 2021, he netted 249 carries for 1,159 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 13 games. His 36 scrimmage TDs since 2019 are tied for third-most in the NFL in that span, behind only Derrick Henry (45) and Aaron Jones (40).

The 26-year-old's three straight seasons with 1,100-plus rushing yards is the longest active streak in the NFL.

Entering a new era in Minnesota, Cook is expected to see an uptick in his usage in the passing game under O'Connell. But the dynamic back prides himself on being a workhorse runner.

"I could get the ball 30 times, and you could give it to me 30 more times the next game," he said. "And then I could go out there and catch five or 10 passes. ... Being a bell-cow running back is what I pride myself on being. One of those old school, Warrick Dunn, you know, just being one of those guys."


Injuries are the only thing that has slowed Cook down during his career. The back has missed multiple games in each of his five seasons, including four in 2021.

The Vikings have a solid backfield with Cook, Alexander Mattison, Kene Nwangwu and fifth-round rookie Ty Chandler. Minnesota taking some of the pounding hits off Cook's plate and supplementing that production with pass targets could help the bell cow stay healthy for a full season.

NFL.com

 

Trae Wayne has retried from the NFL a person coming out of college with so much hype never quite lived up to the hype

 

Training Camp start dates...


MINNESOTA

Rookies 7/24; Veterans 7/26

 

The Vikings need to sign Kyle Rudolph now!!!!!

 

The Minnesota Vikings could be looking to beef up their defensive front even more with a report surfacing of the team reaching out to three-time first-team All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

At first, the Las Vegas Raiders seemed to be the runaway favorites to land the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, but the Vikings are seemingly a surprise team that have suddenly emerged as a potential suitor, per Tyler Dragon of USA TODAY.

Not only have the Vikings reached out to Suh, but according to Dragon, the team has had multiple conversations with him. So it would seem like there’s serious interest there to potentially get a deal done.

Granted, it’s a two-way street, and there’s no certainty how close Minnesota is in comparison to Las Vegas on a contract coming together.



Even at 35 years old. Suh has still proven himself to be a productive player. He accumulated 27 tackles, six sacks and one fumble recovery last season with the Bucs.

The Vikings showing interest in him is proof that first-year general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is acting with a real sense of urgency in what is being dubbed as a win-now season.

Suh working in with Dalvin Tomlinson and Harrison Phillips is a terrifying possibility for opposing offenses that will already have to deal with Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith on the edges.

It would also be a step in the right direction for a team desperately looking to regain defensive relevance.

 

Rudolph still likes Minnesota too. I never wanted him to leave in the first place.

 

Justin Jefferson has the Hall of Fame atop his list of individual goals



Justin Jefferson had one of the greatest rookie seasons of any receiver in history with 88 catches for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns. The Vikings receiver followed it up with 108 receptions for 1,616 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

Jefferson, 23, is on his way to somewhere special, and the two-time Pro Bowler hopes that his journey ends in Canton.


“I mean I want to accomplish so much,” Jefferson said on NFL Network. “It’s an endless list that I want to accomplish. At the end of the day, I want to be a Hall of Famer. So, in order to reach that, that position is so much more that I have to accomplish, so much more that I have to set for myself to better myself and really to learn. I just can’t wait to really just see how far I can really go. This is just the start of my career, and there’s just so much more I have to learn, so much more I have to do for myself to really get on that platform of being a Hall of Famer.”

The trade of Stefon Diggs turned out to be one of the rare win-win trades in NFL history. Both teams came out ahead.

And Jefferson could put up even bigger numbers this season with the Vikings.

“Our offensive style, it’s not a run-first offense anymore,” Jefferson said. “Just us being able to put different people in different positions and distribute the ball really. I’m so excited in this offense.

“We’re all excited. We’re all happy to have (Kevin O’Connell). It’s definitely a different vibe, a different connection in the building with him there. We’re just excited to start it up, really. We want to see how this season is going to turn out for us.”

PFT

 

Go for it luv the mindset

 

You've gotta thank the Eagles every year for passing on him. Couldn't believe they did it then, still can't believe it now. What a gift to Vikings fans.

 

Justin Jefferson: We’re not a run-first offense anymore



Vikings running back Dalvin Cook spent time lined up as a wideout during the team’s OTA practices this spring and said that he’s happy to play “wherever they want to fit me in” on offense during the 2022 season, which are a couple of many signs being sent about the team’s new look on offense under head coach Kevin O’Connell.

There has been frequent mention of modernizing an offense that had grown stale in recent seasons and wide receiver Justin Jefferson has been enthusiastic about the direction that he sees the team moving in this year. That continued to be the case in a recent appearance on NFL Network.


Jefferson said there’s “definitely a different vibe, a different connection” with O’Connell running the show and one of the changes appears to be a direct benefit to Jefferson and others who will be catching passes from Kirk Cousins this season.

“Our offensive style, it’s not a run-first offense anymore,” Jefferson said. “Just us being able to put different people in different positions and distribute the ball, really. I’m so excited in this offense. Us just being in OTAs, learning the plays, going through it with our defense, and stuff.”

Jefferson produced at a high level while playing in that “run-first offense” the last couple of years, so the shift in philosophies could be setting him up for even bigger things in 2022. That’s good reason for Jefferson to be excited and for others to be curious about what the Vikings will do offensively this fall.

PFT

 

This is something I've waiting on some imagination something the Vikings have been lacking

 

PFF names two unexpected Vikings as Year 3 breakout candidates



When compiling a list for biggest Year 3 breakout candidates, Pro Football Focus’ Mike Renner decided to double dip with the Minnesota Vikings.

At first glance, it isn’t a surprise considering a change in regime has brought in a new era for the underachieving NFL franchise. There are sure to be some players that thrive with the arrival of Kevin O’Connell as the new head coach.

But things do get a bit interesting when seeing the actual names revealed on the list. For the Vikings, the players Renner believes could be poised for a breakout season are offensive guard Ezra Cleveland and cornerback Cameron Dantzler.

Dantzler is a great choice on this list considering he has basically faded into the background with the team going out and spending a second-round pick to select Andrew Booth Jr. in the 2022 NFL draft.

He isn’t going to give up that starting job across from Patrick Peterson so easily. With Booth also working his way back from injuries, there’s a bit of uncertainty that the rookie will emerge as an immediate contributor for the Vikings in his first NFL season.

This is a perfect opportunity for Dantzler to prove he’s capable of serving as a permanent fixture in the defensive backfield.

And Cleveland can do the same along the offensive front.

There have been some concerns at the interior positions of the line, most notably right guard and center. Cleveland has clearly flown under the radar despite coming off a pretty good season at left guard. Perhaps the second-round draft pick out of Boise State can take things to another level in an O’Connell-led offense.

The Vikings can only hope for a major step forward for both players on a rebooted team that’ll need all of the help it can get in 2022.

VIKINGS WIRE

 

Sure hope they are right about both players. Both are, in my opinion, key elements to success.

 

Ezra Cleveland to have a breakout year to help the O-line nice ,Cameron Dantzler he the one to keep yours eyes on its a prove to me year

 

Vikings Add Jonathan Bullard to Roster



EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings added depth to the interior of their defensive line Thursday.

Minnesota announced that it has signed with defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard, who has played in 70 career games with 15 career starts over six pro seasons.

Bullard could offer position flexibility along the line of scrimmage for Minnesota.

The Vikings are now running a 3-4 defensive scheme, so they might have Bullard work as a defensive tackle or defensive end that would be inside the edge rushers.

The 28-year-old Bullard most recently spent the 2021 season with Atlanta, where here played in nine games with four starts.

Originally a 2016 third-round pick by the Bears, Bullard spent the first three seasons of his career in Chicago. He played in 46 games for Minnesota's division rival, starting five games and registering a pair of sacks and a forced fumble.

Bullard spent 2019 with Arizona, where he registered a career-high 1.5 sacks before spending the 2020 season on Seattle's active roster and practice squad.

Overall, Bullard has 3.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and five passes defensed in his career.

The Vikings waived DE Kenny Willekes to keep their roster at 90 players.

VIKINGS .com

 

Vikings Sign OLB Andre Mintze



EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings have added to their group of edge rushers.

Minnesota signed former Broncos outside linebacker Andre Mintze, the team announced Monday.

Mintze (pronounced MINTS) is entering his second NFL season. As an undrafted rookie with Denver in 2021, he appeared in six games before landing on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury. Mintze recorded four tackles (two solo) on defense. He played 64 defensive snaps and 69 on special teams.

Prior to starting his NFL career, Mintze played at Vanderbilt University. He totaled 75 tackles (44 solo), 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a pass defensed in 43 games with the Commodores.

Mintze attended Imhotep Institute (Philadelphia), where as a senior he racked up 53 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. That season, he helped lead the team to a 15-0 record and PIAA 3A State Championship.

Passionate about making an impact off the field, as well, Mintze in 2019 started "Dancing Dores," a Dance Marathon fundraising competition between Vanderbilt athletic programs in support of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital.

Mintze earned two degrees in December 2019: cinema and media arts; and medicine, health and society.

Mintze and Vikings cornerback Nate Hairston will be reunited in Minnesota after being teammates in Denver last season.

 

Boxing really AP must be a slow news day.it just make me say huh