Sprint Game Ball Of The Week: Which Viking Gets The Prize?
by Christopher Gates on Dec 6, 2010 7:47 PM CST
in Minnesota Vikings 2010 Season
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Live from Phoenix, Arizona. . .where the free wi-fi in the airport drops only slightly less frequently than Charlie Sheen's trousers at a "hookers and blow" convention. . .it's time to have another go at the Sprint Game Ball of the Week! After a big victory like the one the Vikings had on Sunday, there are no shortage of candidates for such an honor. So, let's run through them, shall we?
Jared Allen - Apparently #69 figured out that he was tipping his intentions at the line of scrimmage early on in the season. . .you know, the part where he only had one sack in the first seven games? Well, he's changed things up a bit, and now he looks a whole lot like Jared Allen again, as he's put together 7.5 sacks over the last five games, and has had at least one sack in each of them. Allen had the lone sack of Ryan Fitzpatrick on Sunday and. . .wait a minute. The Vikings only got credit for one sack yesterday? Did it just seem like a hell of a lot more, or am I imagining? Anyway, he had a sack, forced a fumble that the Vikings recovered, and basically destroyed Bills' LT Demetrius Bell while the Bills inexplicably continued to not offer Bell any help against him.
Tarvaris Jackson - Yeah, generally a game where you throw three interceptions isn't going to get you any sort of rewards or anything like that, but give Jackson credit when it's due. This guy has been jerked around a lot by this franchise over the past three seasons. I mean a lot. Seriously, Willy Loman calls Tarvaris Jackson just to say, "Man, you just can't catch a break, can you?" And it would have been really easy for T-Jack to simply pack it in after the pick 6 he threw that gave the Bills a 7-0 lead. Instead, he completed his next eight passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns, and the rout was on. I don't know what Tarvaris Jackson's future is in the National Football League, whether it's with us or some other team, but I'll go ahead and say it. . .if Tarvaris Jackson is a Minnesota Viking going into the 2011 season, I have no problem with him being our starting quarterback. Give him a healthy Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe, and Adrian Peterson, and let him turn it loose.
Adrian Peterson - We've been over this. He's the man.
Sidney Rice - We're bringin' Sidney baaaaaaaaaack. (Yep!) These other suckers don't know how to caaaaaaaaaaatch. (Yep!)
Wow. . .gone from referencing Arthur Miller to referencing Justin Timberlake in the span of about five minutes. I'm not sure what to make of this. I may need a drink.
In any case, the old Sidney Rice is back, and he proved it with two outstanding touchdown catches on Sunday. The first one. . .where the officials completely blew the call and caused the Vikings to burn a challenge in order for them to get it right. . .is exactly what Brett Favre talked about last year when he always said "Even if Sidney's covered, he's open." Going up over two Bills' defenders to catch that pass was a thing of beauty. The second touchdown catch came on a perfectly thrown ball by Jackson, putting it where only Rice could get it, and get it he did, stretching out and hauling it in. As much as I hate to say this, I simply have to continue to wonder. . .how much different would this season have been with a healthy Sidney Rice for 16 games?
So, there are your candidates, ladies and gentlemen. Cast your vote, debate away, and we'll be back with more in a little while! (Yes, I'm saving the whole game day thing I got to do for when I'm back at home in the comfort of my own recliner instead of in an airport with a crappy wi-fi connection. Rest assured, though, it's coming.)
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Nice “Death of a Salesman” reference. I vote for Sidney Rice for showing us what we all already knew: he can catch the ball really well.
Pirates, Vikings, Hokies. I'm used to heartbreak. At least I have the Penguins....
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-The Great One
by blackjackfishtaco on Dec 6, 2010 8:11 PM CST reply actions
I have to got with Sidney too
Even though AD had 3 TDs – That one catch by Sidney was ludicrous and it will be my lasting memory of that game
by Loki The Viking God on Dec 6, 2010 9:11 PM CST reply actions
I went with Sidney too...
… but I could easily go with AP too.
But good call on TJ. Let’s get some more data points and see where he is at. Bench Favre. Let’s get a chance to look at TJ and even Webb. Maybe we can sign TJ fairly cheap, and he can at least compete for a starting job. Then look around either draft or free agency for someone else to compete for the starting job.
I can’t imagine we’d get rid of TJ at this point, and try to bring two other guys to compete for the starting job. I can’t imagine who those guys would be. There just aren’t franchise QB’s hanging around to pick up.
For all the TJ haters, who else are you going to get? We can get one other guy to compete, but face it, TJ might well wind up being the best guy we can find at this point.
Give him a chance now to show what he can do, when the games don’t matter.
I’m just afraid that Frazier feels pressure to start Favre because he thinks that is the best chance to win now (which I personally don’t believe) to secure the head coach job. I wish we could get TJ and Webb to take every snap in the remaining 4 games.
Bulger will likely be free
The guy played well in St. Louis before his line went to crap. He knew the game rather well and I suspect he would be a much better mentor and teacher than T-Jack for whoever we draft this year.
by AlldayFurore on Dec 7, 2010 11:02 AM CST up reply actions
No way
The Vikings need to stop getting old veterans. We need a fresh new QB that can compete for years ahead. It seems like all my life (which isn’t that long), other than Culpepper, the Vikings consistently pick up old men to play the QB role. Why is this? Maybe some of you more experienced Vikings fans can clarify on this.
+1
We need to stop with the re-treads. I would rather give TJ a chance, now if you are talking about a BC position, another vet might be a good addition.
You miss the point
You bring in the veteran while the young recruit is developing. Who is going to teach this new franchise QB how to be a franchise QB? T-Jack? I don’t think so. Bulger has been there. He performed at a high level. He was one of the top QBs and can teach a young player how to play the game. T-Jack is still developing. You can’t have a developing QB teach another developing QB. How is that going to work out?
by AlldayFurore on Dec 7, 2010 11:36 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Cunningham and Johnson likely
Culpepper was greatly inflated by having Moss when he was hitting his prime. He either didn’t fit the system he was given or just wasn’t a great QB. I would say both but he was a failed draft pick as well.
by AlldayFurore on Dec 7, 2010 12:03 PM CST up reply actions
Yep...
…. I think we should go out and get a veteran free agent. I suspect we will. The point is, it might be hard to get a guy who is better than TJ. But, you get a guy and give them a chance to compete.
But I also think you look once more (at least) to the draft, and see how Joe Webb comes along too.
I still think that, we play TJ now, get some more insight into him, and then go from there. It might turn out he’s not great, but for next year our best option. Or, he might turn out better than anyone expects, and then that’s good too.
We have nothing to lose now. Just don’t sign him to a massive contract until we know we have a good starter, and we are taking no risks starting him in these last four games.
by HammeroftheGods on Dec 7, 2010 11:48 AM CST up reply actions
The Vikings need to stop getting old veterans. We need a fresh new QB that can compete for years ahead
If you want a QB that can compete for years, then you probably DO want a vet, so you don’t have to through the rookie in right away. The relative success of Sanchez, PManning, Flacco etc, is the exception, not the rule (which is defined by Rodgers, Hasselbeck, Brady, and others, and on the negative side by ASmith, Couch, Leaf, etc)
Exactly the point
I was making. Bulger might not be the exact veteran we are looking for but I think he is worth a look. Probably less expensive then other potential veterans too. I would like to see several guys brought in to workout after the season is over and they figure out the direction they want to go at QB. Drafting seems the best option at this point.
That's the logic that got us in this predicament in the 1st place....
No team is truelly in a win now situation unless they are past week 10 and they lose an irriplaceable starter, then they need to scour the waiver wire and other teams practice squads to fill that void to finish out the season and get through the playoffs.
Let me say it again No team is in a win now situation at the beginning of the season, because Every is in the same boat at the beginning of every season, fresh and getting a feel for everything.
by midnightwonder on Dec 7, 2010 4:24 PM CST up reply actions
4-6 years
AD has 4-6 of his best years left. He could actually be a little more patient at times and we likely haven’t seen even close to his best season yet. Getting a highly rated prospect who can be ready in 1-2 years isn’t going to hurt our chances of winning with AD. Having a great RB will only help the development of the young QB, knowing they can turn around and put it in the gut of the best RB in the league.
Completely disagree with TJ analysis
187 yards passing, 23 yards rushing, 2 TD, 3 INT are not the stats of a starting QB who can take you to the playoffs. Back up QB definitely.
Thank god Sidney went medieval on Bills’ asses…1 TD, 4 INT wouldn’t have looked too good.
by izziefans on Dec 6, 2010 9:53 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Are we really going to start doing this?
Deciding which balls should have been intercepted if receivers didn’t make plays? That’s about as arbitrary and pointless as it gets. Should we also start taking away TD’s from Adrian Peterson for plays where he should have been tackled?
Come on! Really!
Let’s not start pulling up stats. You really don’t want to go there.
Let’s just say it was an okay start and he can still improve.
by midnightwonder on Dec 7, 2010 9:44 AM CST up reply actions
Shaking off the rust
Also when we have such a large lead can’t T.J. be a little bit more loose? I remember one of those interceptions looked like he slipped after taking the snap. As soon as that happened I knew he was just going to sail it up into the air. Lesson learned for TJ. Also after that pick six he started throwing the ball to the outside and not giving the defender a chance. Let’s just see how he does and stop saying he is NOT the one… because things change and perhaps he learned a thing or two.
that last interception really bothered me. there was absolutely no call for throwing that ball in that situation (multiscore lead, trying to chew up clock and not give the other O good field position). bad judgement.
it's called....
trying to make a play out of nothing. You learn a lot from what you see. And if I remember correctly TJack didn’t see alot of BFavre throwing the ball away.
Don’t hate him for something you praise someone else for that’s just being bias. Especially when you get the same results. sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
by midnightwonder on Dec 7, 2010 3:59 PM CST up reply actions
it’s called….trying to make a play out of nothing. You learn a lot from what you see. And if I remember correctly TJack didn’t see alot of BFavre throwing the ball away.
Please list for me all the interceptions from bad throws (not bouncing off a receiver’s hands or whatever) that Favre has thrown as a Viking with the team having a multi-score lead in the fourth quarter.
that’s ok, I’ll wait.
AP
Didn’t even know if he was going to start until game time. Then he outruns the entire bills defense to seal the win.
Leslie Frazier
While AD and El Sid had absolutely INSANSE games, Coach Frazier is the one that should get the ball. He has kept these players focused so they could go out and do what they did. Plain and simple. How many times have we seen the Vikes cave after a pick six? The only change is the level headed approach that Coach Frazier has brought. The players are finally playing up to their potential because of him. And that is why I would give him the game ball… again.
You are all out lying
The only change was not only Frazier but also B Favre Gone.
I could have easily voted for all four
They all had a great game but in the end, game ball goes to Adrian
"Skol Vikings! Let's win this game Skol Vikings!
I liked what I saw from T Jack mentally.
Given the ups and downs he’s had, the lack of play-time, his tendency to crumble under pressure in the past, watching him come back from that initial pick 6 to be productive was certainly a breath of fresh air. I’m still a little unsure about his accuracy, but I think this would improve if he were given the chance to settle into the role a bit – he wont force the pass, something we’ve seen Favre do an awful lot this season.
To be honest, regardless of who gets it, it’s just nice to be able to start looking forward to the remaining games of the season! :)
That goes to a bit of Frasier as well
After TJ threw the pick Frasier went up to him and told him the nest offensive play was going to be a pass. Letting his players prove themselves is a shite long better strategy then what Childress ever had.
It's a lot easier to love the Vikings when they win...
I agree
And I think that is really what TJack needed the most (to get away frrom Chilli) I haven’t seen any QB truly shine in his offense, Brad Johnson, Ferrote, Thigpen, and even Bret Favre, they all struggled trying to run Chilli’s offense his way.
Last year we suceded when Favre improvised.
by midnightwonder on Dec 7, 2010 1:24 PM CST up reply actions
Yup
And Chilly used to be a QB coach!
Like you say Grim, Frazier does deserve a lot of the credit. We’re seeing a team rallying around each other rather than falling apart. It’s warming. :)
Well I finally got to watch the game last night — wasn’t shown on TV in my area & I could not get internet streams to work, so I had to go into news blackout modes for 24 hours while I downloaded a torrent of it so as not spoil it.
I gave the ball to Sidney. Frankly I had some doubts if he was a one-year wonder, or if it was magic he only had with Favre. That catch for TD that he made over two guys backs was just monstrous.
I am actually a bit of a TJack defender, but I’ll be honest I was shocked to read this:
I’ll go ahead and say it. . .if Tarvaris Jackson is a Minnesota Viking going into the 2011 season, I have no problem with him being our starting quarterback.
Let’s face it, if that was anyone else but Sidney on the other end of that throw I talk about above, that is probably another INT for TJack, and then I doubt TJack is a candidate for game ball. I hope we don’t lose site of the fact we were playing the Bills, as well. No disrespect, but there were a number of fantasy sites with writers that think Favre sucks and is washed up, but were still advocating making him your string QB last weekend if you had him, because we were playing the Bills. That should say a lot, without me having to add to it I hope. Deciding TJack is a viable candidate to be our starter based upon this game only is … a little eensy bit premature.
+1
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthend, ambition inspired, and success achieved."
-Helen Keller
I agree
I am not jumping on the TJ bandwagon just yet with a semi-decent game against the Bills. I should be a little lenient being this was his first full game, shaking off the rust, since God knows.
I need to see more out of him against a better team under more pressure. I agree this was a premature statement of him being our 2011 QB with a game against the Bills. I do understand the point of him coming back from that pick 6 and getting two TD’s but I need to see more, if that’s possible the rest of the season.
T-Jack's Judgement
Perhaps that toss to Sid would have been a pick with anyone else, but what’s to say that T-Jack throws that pass to BB or baskett given how “outstanding” they always play. Knowing what your receivers can do is just as important as the guy tossing the pass. When Randall Cunningham had both CC AND Randy, that dude could just throw up a pass and it’d be caught 9/10. His 106 passer rating in 98 wouldn’t have even been in the 90s if he didn’t have randy to make those insane catches. T-Jack knowing that Sid will fight for that ball is a big reason that Favre or T-Jack target him at all. Bills or not, T-Jack stepped up, made mistakes, then said "f—- these mistakes, I’m going to score the hell out of the rest of this game. One rout later, and I’m seeing a QB who’s trying to mature despite his poor prep from the joke of a franchise we had to train him up.
Maybe you're right
maybe TJack did lots of scouting and tape review that week & he knew that Bills secondary was so bad that Sidney would have a chance at a ball that probably would have been picked off by better cornerbacks.
Wow TJack is rally smart, he really deeply analyzed the situation in that split-second.
take off the tinted glasses dude...
Do you honestly think that for 1 1/2 years behind Favre that TJack or any QB for that matter doesn’t know that Sid will fight for the ball. Just get it up high and he’ll go get it.
It still took some guts to make that throw, especially after he already threw a pick 6. Even if he isn’t the Vikings QB next year, he still needs to audition for other teams so he still had a little pressure on his shoulders.
2yrs ago he wouldn’t have even tried that throw, he would just tried to run around and the threw up a lame duck a he was getiing hit and a LB would have made an Int.
by midnightwonder on Dec 7, 2010 4:13 PM CST up reply actions
2yrs ago he wouldn’t have even tried that throw, he would just tried to run around and the threw up a lame duck a he was getiing hit and a LB would have made an Int.
Sure he would have. He would have made that exact same throw actually. Under thrown and into double coverage. You can’t tell me that you didn’t see Rice have to basically jump over that Cb’s back to catch that one can you?
by packallday555 on Dec 7, 2010 10:28 PM CST up reply actions
AP get my vote
He ran with anger,just like most of the year, when he said jump on I will carry you. Nice job by Sid, good to have him back, as far as TJ, I don’t think we can know until we see more.
Game ball goes to the team
It was a team effort to win this game
Tavaris Time
Favre starting doesn’t benefit this team in any way. He gone after the season. He’s hurt & we all have seen that he just doesn’t have it this year. Yes he has shown flashes but we need to see if TJack is going to step up or just be a back up. We are going to have to make decisions at QB & not using these last 4 games to look at TJack & maybe even Webb is just plain foolish. Real game situations against the Giants, Eagles,& Bears. Teams that are fighting for the playoffs. These are excellent opportunities. The team seems refocused
so Tarvais has the support he needs. If he steps up then we can give him the reins next year. If he fails then he will only help the team with a better draft chioce to replace him. It’s a win win.
Couldn't agree with you more.
We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Yep
That makes sense to me. The biggest problem I have with a lot of what I’m hearing is that “we should get our money’s worth” from Favre, as if what we’re paying players determines whether or not they should start instead of the other way around. We will pay Favre the same whether or not he plays (bonuses aside), so that money is logically sunk. We should play who we think will give us the best chance at winning, and in this case we should evaluate that on a long-term basis instead of a short-term won, with playoffs having become a possibility In Math Only (I believe the Pack and the Giants have to lose all of their games and Tampa Bay and Seattle lose two of theirs—we would have a better divisional record than Tampa in that scenario, so we would get the tiebreaker. Also, Tampa and Seattle will play each other, which means the winner of that game would have to lose two others; not a likely scenario).
I want to give the game ball to Sidney Rice, incidentally. It’s not just that he had two freakishly good plays, it’s that his receiving opened up the passing game to be a real threat, which assisted AP (yes, the opposite could be said, but we didn’t have too much of a passing threat even with AP, which would imply that AP’s presence could not affect the passing game enough for us to take advantage of it). 105 yards ain’t bad, either. He gave confidence to our game and probably our quarterback. You think T Jack would be as calm and collected had Sidney not caught those passes the way he did?
Amen to this from C. Gates:
“I’ll go ahead and say it. . .if Tarvaris Jackson is a Minnesota Viking going into the 2011 season, I have no problem with him being our starting quarterback. Give him a healthy Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe, and Adrian Peterson, and let him turn it loose.”
Curse you Mr. Gates!
I have Justin Timberlake stuck in my head now. Oye.
I voted for Sidney Rice, but it is a great statement about the Vikings’ roster that it was a difficult choice.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
Now, now. . .
To borrow a line that I generally don’t like people using. . .Mr. Gates is my father.
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by Christopher Gates on Dec 8, 2010 9:22 PM CST up reply actions
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