Who Should Receive This Week's Game Ball For The Minnesota Vikings?

by Christopher Gates on Oct 10, 2011 10:01 AM CDT in Minnesota Vikings 2011 Season

You know what the awesome thing about the Vikings getting a win is? It means that there are generally a lot more candidates for a Game Ball, and this week is no exception. Let's get right to this week's candidates.

DE Jared Allen - He seems to be appearing on this list a lot. . .possibly because, the Vikings' record be damned, he might be the NFL's defensive MVP through the first five weeks of the year. He racked up two more sacks on Sunday afternoon, and threw in a fumble recovery for good measure. He now has sole possession of the NFL lead with 8.5 sacks, and going back to last year has registered a sack in seven consecutive games.

DE Brian Robison - Not to be outdone, the end on the other side of the defensive line had himself another outstanding game, too. He registered two sacks as well, and forced the fumble that Allen recovered after blowing past Cardinals' offensive tackle Levi Brown early in the first quarter. Robison is also in the top 10 in the NFL in sacks, as his 4.5 have him tied for ninth place in the NFL. Anyone still wish we would have kept Ray Edwards around for that huge contract?

RB Adrian Peterson - Ho hum, another day, another 122 yards and three more touchdowns for the best running back in the National Football League. There are few players in this league that are as much fun to watch as Adrian Peterson, particularly when things get rolling the way they were on Sunday. You can't say a whole heck of a lot about him that hasn't already been said. . .he can run around you or he can run through you, whichever he decides.

S Jamarca Sanford - We've been lamenting the play of the safeties in Minnesota since. . .well, since Joey Browner left town, pretty much. (Or at least Robert Griffith.) But with the Vikings able to pin their ears back and get after Kevin Kolb early on Sunday afternoon, Sanford was able to take advantage, notching the first two interceptions of his NFL career and playing a big role for a Vikings' secondary that looked pretty good despite Antoine Winfield being on the sidelines with a neck injury.

CB Chris Cook - Speaking of the Vikings' secondary, Chris Cook appears to finally be "getting it," and we couldn't be happier. He didn't get any interceptions on Sunday, but he did a fine job considering the amount of time he spent lined up across from Cardinals' all-world receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald only managed four catches for 66 yards in his return to his home town, and Cook played a pretty significant role in that.

So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. . .who should get the Vikings' Game Ball of the Week for Week 5?

Poll

Who should receive this week's Vikings Game Ball of the Week?

DE Jared Allen

278 votes

CB Chris Cook

68 votes

RB Adrian Peterson

504 votes

DE Brian Robison

90 votes

S Jamarca Sanford

79 votes

Other (discuss in comments)

17 votes

1036 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

AP

Easy pick. I think Kevin Kolb should have been an option too.

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by Eric J. Thompson on Oct 10, 2011 10:09 AM CDT reply actions

The fans, for sticking with this team lol. The crowd was LOUD in that dome!

"I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist
and that there are as few as there are any other great artists.
Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts
since the medium is the human mind and spirit."

by Edgecrusher71 on Oct 10, 2011 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions

People’s Champion.

Jimmy K.

by _clifton_ on Oct 10, 2011 10:19 AM CDT reply actions

AP

As much as I would love to vote for Jared Allen, B Robi, or Jamarca Sanford (thank god he’s the starter), when you’re the first player in league history to register 3 TDs in the first quarter, you get the game ball.

by SkolNick on Oct 10, 2011 10:19 AM CDT reply actions

I voted AP

And the feat was amazing, but it was the first time 3 TDs were scored in the 1st quarter since Tim Biakabatuka did it in 1999 against Washington.

"God always comes first, then grades, (and lastly) football." 11-year old phenom Demias Jimerson on his reaction to being told that he cannot score more than 2 TD's per game in his Arkansas Pee-Wee football league.

by NMVike on Oct 10, 2011 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions

yeah, but

two of those touchdowns came because of 2 turnovers and 3 drives where the Vikes offensive darn near started in the red zone.

by Chris3 on Oct 10, 2011 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions

On any other day - you would have to say Allen would have won this hands down.

But AP just blew Arizona away yesterday – the man was unstoppable!

by Scottish Viking on Oct 10, 2011 10:27 AM CDT reply actions

Allen and Robison had monster games

But minus AP, our offense had 210 yards and 13 points.

by Purpledork on Oct 10, 2011 10:37 AM CDT reply actions

oddly

enough that still would have been enough to win, but I will take AD all day anyway.

Try to learn from others mistakes because there just is not enough time in this world to make them all your self

by montana vikes fan on Oct 10, 2011 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions

That IS crazy! In that case just give the game ball to the D.

by Edgecrusher71 on Oct 10, 2011 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

But it would have been so much more stressful :P

by Purpledork on Oct 10, 2011 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions

I picked other

My vote is for the people’s champion. Without his solid blocking at the LOS and him throwing bodies around downfield, AD wouldn’t have went off like he did and McNabb surely would have been on his back more than once.

"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State

by Alittlemore_cowbell on Oct 10, 2011 10:55 AM CDT reply actions

People's champion should get consideration

But only AP could have handled Marshall and Patrick Peterson like he did. Sauce would have given the average running back several extra yards, but Adrian knew how to take advantage of his opportunities. Also, who can legally match that sheer violence on the field?

I know it’s a “rebuilding” year with problems in several key positions (WE, OL, SS, etc.) but I can’t help but feel that this team would have been quite the contender with a real QB instead of Donovan McWashedUp and 2 inexperienced backups. Even in the old Black ‘n’ Blue.

by Arif Hasan on Oct 10, 2011 11:08 AM CDT reply actions

There is 1 guy out of 5 there from the offense to choose from.

That would tell you either he had an AMAZING game, which it was pretty damn good… Or that the defense as a whole played terrifically, while I think both are the case I think we should give it to the Defense as a unit.

by Edgecrusher71 on Oct 10, 2011 11:37 AM CDT reply actions

I pick the DEFENSE

These guys deserve it as a unit with such an across the board outstanding performance. AD is a beast and Jimmy can blow up a defender consistently like no other in the league, but it was the D that shined the brightest because it was a group rout.

It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a Viking to raze a village.

by Luft Krigare on Oct 10, 2011 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions

I choose other.

I think Leslie Frasier should get it. He has kept his cool through all of this, while encouraging all the players and yesterday many of them stepped up and acted as leaders. I think this bodes well for the Vikings. I sure wish he would put Webb in , though. :(

by berserkerND on Oct 10, 2011 11:40 AM CDT reply actions

Everyone NOT named "McNabb"

but that wasn’t an option so I vote Peterson and special props for One-Eye’d Allen!

(perhaps J.A. is thinking of auditioning for Odin in the next film?)

Vikings Valhalla .com

by Admiral BigGun on Oct 10, 2011 12:11 PM CDT reply actions

Defense. Easy. It’s tough to think of a worse (or better?) mismatch than Allen and Robison on the Dome’s surface vs. the Arizona OTs and Kolb; Cook had another exciting game against an elite receiver; the secondary actually converted turnovers…AP and the offense had a 28-point first quarter, but the degree of difficulty for that is much, much easier when you’re constantly starting drives deep in opposing territory.

by jianfu on Oct 10, 2011 12:48 PM CDT reply actions

Jimmy K and Percy

just because their blocking was absolutely awesome. I saw more than a few times where Jimmy K had his guy pancaked on the ground, and Percy was a game changer w/ his blocking … even Frasier gave him the Vikings game ball.

when asked by Dan Patrick if his name alluded to not making quick decisions in the pocket, Ponder calmly replied "As crazy as it sounds, my mom's maiden name is actually Superbowlwinner. All one word"

by filbert33 on Oct 10, 2011 12:54 PM CDT reply actions

Any word

On Jared’s eye btw?

Atleast Rupert will still make the ProBowl!

by LeeleeX on Oct 10, 2011 12:57 PM CDT reply actions

4way gameball

Peterson, Allen, Robison and Saucer

A bird in the hand is worth about 10.99 at KFC and makes me lick my chops
Yummy!!!!!

by kdog69 on Oct 10, 2011 1:05 PM CDT reply actions

I think Asher deserves a tip of the cap, as well. A pick, a pass defensed… sometimes the guy looks like a playmaker (yesterday, against the Steelers his rookie year) and sometimes (more often than not thus far) you have to avert your eyes.

I will say that guys like Cook and A. Allen seem much better/more comfortable when they’re allowed to play more press-man style (and both always seem lost in zone).

by jianfu on Oct 10, 2011 1:11 PM CDT reply actions

Got to give it to Allen

He helped keep the Cardinal’s down. For instance, that sack he had which took them out of field goal range. Then you take into account he missed a few series with his eye-injury, only to come back out and continue to make plays.. Absolutely a beast. Peterson had a good day, but Allen was simply outstanding. You could argue #69 is MVP of the team.

by REVENGE4KLUWE on Oct 10, 2011 1:17 PM CDT reply actions

I can see how people might pick AD or Allen

But honestly for a man who has just flat out impressed me this year and is 9th in sacks in the league Robison should get it. Two sacks and one forced fumble. This is out of the LEFT defensive end mind you the guy who shouldn’t be pulling those kind of numbers down. No this guy is a wrecking ball so far this season and his production at his position is excellent so far this year.

Putting Ponder in isn't the question, it's the answer.

by Grime on Oct 10, 2011 3:23 PM CDT reply actions