Daily Norseman: FanPosts

Hodges and Mauti questions from a Penn State fan

2013-05-19T21:46:23Z

I am a life long Penn State fan and as such I have an interest in following former Nittany Lions as they move on into the National Football League. I was pleasantly surprised when Gerald Hodges and Mike Mauti were both drafted by the Vikings. I think that you Vikings fans will be very pleased with their skills and abilities. Mike Mauti, if he gets beyond his knee injuries, will be a fantastic leader. So those are the biased opinions of a die hard Penn State fan.

What is the early word on Hodges and Mauti? Do the Vikings have any immediate needs at the linebacker positions that Hodges and Mauti could fill? I look forward to hearing fan responses. By the way this fan site is way more fun than the Steelers fan site (Behind the Steeler Curtain). All they seem to care about over there is plotting mock drafts for the next one hundred years or analyzing the shortcomings of the third string long snapper.

"The Quarterback of the Defense"

2013-05-19T02:58:54Z

There's no offseason like the NFL offseason! After fans watch the yearly rigged Super Bowl, they wait impatiently for major events such as watching head coaches get the hammer, NFL Free Agency, and everyone's favorite annual NFL Draft. The Vikings did their best to address each hole to the best of their ability during the draft and free agency. Its hard to argue with Greg Jennings and three first round draft selections, however, it is widely considered that the only hole the Vikings may not have addressed during the main portion of the NFL offseason is Middle Linebacker.

The MLB spot is sometimes called the QB of Defense and apparently, there is a huge question at Quarterback! On defense!

The way many Vikings fans see it, there are three obvious scenarios.

A) Brian Urlacher

Its not the most likely scenario, but the first possibility is to sign Brian Urlacher to a one year deal. Brian Urlacher is an expected NFL hall of famer. The first approach the Vikings could take is to sign one of the best middle linebackers in NFL history. Urlacher may be on the decline, but he would give the Vikings more veteran leadership on defense at one of the most important positions on defense.

What else could signing Brian Urlacher do for the Vikings? Well, it would allow Erin Henderson to stay put at his position at outside linebacker. This would also keep the Vikings from rushing the rookie, Hodges and even Mauti or Audi Cole into the starting lineup.

B) Erin Henderson

This may be the most likely scenario at middle linebacker, as the Vikings are already preparing to go in this direction. According to recent news, Erin Henderson is preparing to make the switch to middle linebacker, like his brother and former Viking, E.J Henderson. Erin Henderson is still young at 26 with six years of experience and big enough to play the position at 6'3 and weighing in at around 245 pounds. Henderson was a serviceable starter at outside linebacker this season for the Vikings, totaling 80 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. Part of this scenario would most likely include starting the Viking's rookie and fourth round draft pick, Gerald Hodges at outside linebacker. According to reports, Hodges appears to be on the right track, based on his performance at the Viking's offseason training activities.

C) Michael Mauti

This scenario would likely keep Erin Henderson at his current position at outside linebacker or Gerald Hodges at outside linebacker. Michael Mauti was one of the Viking's three seventh round draft selections. It seems unlikely that a seventh round pick with no NFL experience may be starting at the Quarterback of Defense, but Michael Mauti is a true leader and a very good football player. For those of you that don't know, Michael Mauti had the potential to be a first round draft pick, if not for the injuries, which include several knee injuries, but apparently Rick Spielman thought that Mauti was too good of a football player to not draft. Michael Mauti was the leader and star of Penn State's defense, not to mention, teammate to another Viking's rookie, Gerald Hodges. While Mauti was out with injury, his team honored their leader by wearing his number on their helmets. Not only was he a star football player, but he emerged as one of the leaders to help trudge his team through the Penn State football scandal. Michael Mauti is a great player, though hammered with injuries, this guy is a fierce competitor with the talent and instincts to be our QB on defense. If he's ready to play, then he could make 31 general managers kick themselves in the ass for passing him up seven times.

The MLB spot is sometimes called the QB of Defense and apparently, there is a huge question at Quarterback! On defense!

The way many Vikings fans see it, there are three obvious scenarios.

A) Brian Urlacher

B) Erin Henderson

C) Michael Mauti

Poll

Assuming all of these scenarios are a possibility, which one would YOU like to see?

Who are the Best Current Minnesota Vikings Outside of Adrian

2013-05-18T15:53:24Z

Okay, I think we can safely say Adrian Peterson is not just the best player on the Vikings, but arguably the best player in the league. Who would be # 2 though, or # 3? I think there are a lot of very good choices to pick from. So, if making a top 10 list of the best current Vikings; it might not be that easy, and even more difficult to agree with most Vikings' fans on.

I am very optimistic of this year's draft class, especially our three first round draft picks; I think each of them could or will potentially make a top ten list next near, and in some people's eyes; might be considered this year. Though, I'm not going to include any new Vikings, because they haven't yet stepped on the field in a game for the purple, and this obviously includes Greg Jennings and others.

So, personally just looking at the offensive side of the ball; I think the best players are Adrian Peterson, John Sullivan, Matt Kalil, Kyle Rudolph, Jarius Wright. Honorable mentions, solid players and up and comers in my humble opinion are Phil Loadholt, Jerome Felton, Rhett Ellison, Toby Gerhart and yes Christian Ponder.

Now, looking at the defensive side of the ball the best in my opinion are Jared Allen, Chad Greenway, Harrison Smith, Everson Griffen and Chris Cook. And the very close # 2s and solid and up and coming players in my opinion are Kevin Williams, Brian Robison and Josh Robinson with players like Erin Henderson and Jamarca Sanford making solid contributions.

So, now that leaves us with the often forgotten special teams, and honestly Blair Walsh takes the only spot, but hands down, and is a vital part of the Vikings being put into better position to win games and outright has already won games for the Vikings.

So as of now, and I expect this to change, maybe even before next year with the potential impact of new Vikings to the roster; I think the ten best current Vikings are:

1. Adrian Peterson

2. John Sullivan

3. Chad Greenway

4. Jared Allen

5. Kyle Rudolph

6. Harrison Smith

7. Chris Cook

8. Matt Kalil

9. Everson Griffen

10. Blair Walsh(if not willing to count kickers; I think I would go with Jarius Wright).

So, how accurate or inaccurate do you think this list is, and what would your top 10 list look like?

So as of now, and I expect this to change, maybe even before next year with the potential impact of new Vikings to the roster; I think the ten best current Vikings are:

1. Adrian Peterson

2. John Sullivan

3. Chad Greenway

4. Jared Allen

5. Kyle Rudolph

6. Harrison Smith

7. Chris Cook

8. Matt Kalil

9. Everson Griffen

10. Blair Walsh(if not willing to count kickers; I think I would go with Jarius Wright).

So, how accurate or inaccurate do you think this list is, and what would your top 10 list look like?

Poll

Who do you think the 2nd best player on the Vikings is right now?

The Name Game

2013-05-17T20:37:35Z

It's the first day of 1st grade. You're teacher says, "Lets all learn each others names!" Everyone inwardly (nah, you're in 1st grade, self control is alien to you, you groan out loud) The name game. The bane of every little kids existence. Flash back to now. I often wonder what he enemies of the evil meat packers from the Bay of Green names mean. So today we're playing the name game!

I'll start. In a game I formally played, World of Warcraft, most demon's names had the prefix Fel. Now, I'm not a demon or anything, but I thought it sounded cool. My favorite word is banana for some odd reason, and I put the two together. It sounded and looked cool, so I used the name.

Now channel you're inner 1st grader and play the name game with us! Why do you have the name you have? Some of you have obvious names like NMviking, and some of you have abstract names like Grime. Name game, commence.

RANDOM VIKING OF THE WEEK: May 16, 2013

2013-05-16T21:23:34Z

via cdn.bleacherreport.net

Orlando Thomas

Position: Safety

College: Southwestern Louisiana

Vikings Career: 1995-2001

Another Viking Lifer, Thomas was drafted in 1995 in the 2nd round, 42nd overall. Thomas intercepted 22 passes in his career, 9 of them came in his rookie season, on his way to All-Pro honors. Thomas went on to start 87 of 98 games. He retired in 2001.

In 2007 Thomas revealed he had been suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. In 2009, the Vikings website reported that Thomas had passed away, which was a shock to everyone, including Thomas, who was still very much alive. The Vikings, of course, removed the report and issued an apology.

via cdn.bleacherreport.net

Orlando Thomas

Position: Safety

College: Southwestern Louisiana

Vikings Career: 1995-2001

Former Viking Round-Up

2013-05-16T20:26:15Z

A trio of former Vikings have been in the News today, and some of them may spark some discussion. Hopefully the site issues will be fixed so that regular fanposts start showing up on the front page. But in the meantime, what do you all think of this chatter?

Chris Kluwe signs 1-year deal with Oakland Raiders. It's only for a veteran minimum, which for Kluwe is probably about $840,000. I say, good for him in landing a new gig. It brings him back to his California roots too, which I'm sure he's happy about. I figured he'd land a gig somewhere, but I admit I'm a little surprised that it only took 10 days for him to catch on with another team.

Donovan McNabb wants his Eagles #5 jersey retired. Granted, he said it was the team's call (obviously), but something about McNabb really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It must have been all those dirt balls during the first half of the 2011 season. He was probably the most successful Eagles QB since Ron Jaworski or Randall Cunnigham (all 3 seasons he was with the Eagles). The Eagles only have 7 retired jersey numbers, with Brian Dawkins being the most recent. I suppose McNabb's deserving of it, and according to the article, he plans to retire as an Eagle, and his jersey number is also being retired at Syracuse. There's also a part of me that just doesn't care one way or the other.

Randy Moss apparently hasn't ruled out a return to the NFL for 2013. He's "undecided". Obviously, at age 36, the deep speed that he was famous for is gone, but the route-running and hands are still there. He caught 28 passes for 434 yards and 3 TDs last year with the 49ers. That would make him a #3 or #4 receiver in terms of production, and he could play in a 3rd down "possession" role, or in the red zone. There's pretty much no way I'd want him back on the Vikings, but perhaps some other WR-starved team could consider him? Cleveland Browns maybe? Ha ha...

And that's all I got.

The Quarterback "Situation"/Vandy

2013-05-15T05:58:04Z

The Quarterback discussion thread. Its that time of the year again, the draft is over, and our favorite players are starting to shuffle around and oil up their rusty hinges. With the end of tryouts, we should have a good inkling of what the roster will likley look like. All we have right now is speculation on how our favorite teams will do, and with it brings the inevitable QB "controversy". Every team has one....every year...... no matter what.....The good teams are mostly concerned with their #2 and 3 guys on the depth chart. However when you have a QB with highs and lows resembling Rex Grossman, you are left a bit weary.

Fear not though, this is not a Ponder hate thread, just one fans take. Im starting from the presumed top of the Depth Chart for easier assessment. 1. Joe Webb-QB-UAB since he finished the season as our starter its only fair to make him our starting quarterback.

Just Kidding..... 1. Christian Ponder-QB-FSU I hated the pick when we drafted him, but whats done is done. We know about the highs and lows last season brought us. He could very likley pull a Drew Brees and light teams up, but few go that route. I feel like evaluating Ponder has been beaten like a dead horse lately, so I'm going to end his section there and keep my fingers crossed for him. However I also crossed my fingers for Tjack.(buhhhh)

2. Matt Cassel-QB-USC I was also never a Cassel fan either at KC or NE. I thought NE was a golden opportunity that got an average backup paid like a star. Matt had limited success in KC, due to various reasons. His numbers look better than he was played. Theres a reason why cheifs fans didnt break down when hearing of his release. He seems like your typical first read quarterback.q In a talented, well schemed offense he could be a valuable asset. However, talent-wise I dont know if we are that far apart from KC, with the exception of course being that we have the GOAT RB.

3. Mcleod John Baltazaar Bethel-Thompson-QB-Sac St. Your typical bottom of the barrel developmental guy. He played one year at UCLA before transfering to Sac.state. In four years in college, he started 23 games and had 1615 yards. Very underwhelming production. He has a cannon for a arm, but there is a reason he has been cut twice. While Tony Romo has a nice story, dont expect MBT to contribute to our organization as anything more than a practice body. 4. James Vandenberg-QB-IA Lastly he have Vandy. Theres allot to say about this kid. He was thrown to the wolves at Ohio State as a redshirt freshman, due to Ricky Stanzi being injured the previous week on a naked boot in iowas own endzone. He played about as well as he could have in regular time. However he took a sack in overtime to push Iowa out of FG range, and crushing their bid for the national championship. He sat his sophomore year behind Stanzi, and took the starting gig as a junior in 2011. As a junior at Iowa he showed allot of promise, a strong arm with multiple throws that simply wowed onlookers. He showed accuracy that even Stanzi had lacked. At the end of a steller junior year in Iowas pro style offense Vandy finished with over 3000 yards and 25TD to 7Int. Then everything went south. Between his junior and senior year he lost his #1WR, LT, RB and his offensive coordinator to the draft/transfer/firing. He then lost the top 3 RBs on the depth chart during the season. The new offensive coordinator called plays in a very Musgravish fasion. 3-14? Bubble screen to our 6-3 WR who runs a 4.9 At the end of a very disappointing season for Iowa, Vandy proved you shouldn't put a pro style QB in a spread offense his senior year, especially when your only returning a handful of starters. He finished 2012 with 2249 yards and 7TD to 8int. James remains my favorite to be the guy if Ponder ponders away this season. Well thats my take on this sicheation. As always Skol Vikings Obligatory "Suck it Marty".

NFL Symphony Orchestra - Part 1, the NFC

2013-05-15T02:54:51Z

This is mostly a reprint from a recent blog post of mine, but I thought I'd share it here too. Fair warning, it's rather lengthy, so enjoy or flame at your leisure.

I'm a professional musician, a trumpet player in fact. I have what some may call a weird cross-section of interests as I love the NFL and classical music, among other things. While it may seem like an odd combination, the NFL and a symphony orchestra actually have a lot in common. Both institutions require intense audition procedures for the performers to earn a contract. Both institutions feature high pressure, live performance-based activities. When a performer can no longer perform at a high level they either retire, or they are replaced (usually by younger, cheaper options). The performers dedicate hours and hours honing their craft for much of their life, and continue to practice and maintain their abilities throughout their careers. In fact, some NFL players have even participated in some classical music events. Not too long ago Larry Fitzgerald tried his hand at conducting. Former Colts receiver Ben Utecht sang with the Colorado symphony. When Baltimore won the AFC Championship last season and made their way to the Super Bowl, some members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra took it upon themselves to compose a new "fight song" to encourage the members of the team. Classical music and sports have been paired before, as anyone who has heard the famous piece Casey at the Bat (as narrated by Darth Vader!) can attest. And in the most direct combination of the NFL and classical music, believe it or not, but there is an NFL Players Choir featuring current and former NFL Players, which is more of a gospel choir, but has collaborated with symphony orchestras before. So, the NFL and the symphony orchestra is not as strange a pairing as one might first assume.

In a recent open thread, Mondo Peregrino and 66AlbinoRhino99 were discussing the film composer John Williams and the joke came up that the trombone was the "Packers" of the orchestra and that the oboe was the "Vikings" of the orchestra. As a Vikings (and NFL in general) fan and a current member of two regional symphonies I felt inspired to take this joke all the way to its logical conclusion. Yes, I am going to assign every instrument of the orchestra to an NFL team, until all 32 teams are represented by their most appropriate symphonic instrument. I must point out though, I disagree with the idea that the Packers are deserving of the trombone, and there is just no way that the Vikings are the oboe of the orchestra, as I'll explain below.

As many know there are five distinct "families" in the orchestra: Woodwinds, Brass, Keyboard, Percussion and Strings. It just so happens that we can group those families together to create a "Wind" conference to represent the NFC teams (Woodwinds and Brass) and a "Percussive" conference (Percussion, Keyboard and Strings) to represent the AFC teams. While this is sort of an arbitrary assignment, it just so happens that there are 16 instruments in each conference if it's divided this way. Because of the length of this article I have split it into two parts, so this first one will focus on the NFC Teams and the Woodwind and Brass instruments. And while it may seem like this is a rehash of a recent Star Wars/NFL post, rest assured it took me days to finish this, so the resemblance is merely coincidental (I prefer to go with the old adage "great minds think alike"). So, in all seriousness I present to you the NFL Symphony Orchestra, in score order.

NFC Teams -Woodwinds and Brass

Piccolo - New Orleans Saints

This instrument is one of the smallest of the orchestra, but is without a doubt the highest and most ear-piercing of them all. The piccolo was first introduced in the Romantic era (mid-19th century), but is probably most known for their solo in John Philip Sousa's famous band march The Stars and Stripes Forever. I've never met a 100% sane piccolo player. And therefore, the New Orleans Saints are appropriate, not only for their existence as an expansion team in the 1960s which were added to the NFL later than many franchises, but also because of their recent time in the limelight with a Super Bowl win and several playoff appearances. This is perhaps a bit of personal bias, but I find the piccolo and the Saints to be equally annoying.

Flute - Arizona Cardinals

One of the first instruments of the orchestra, this instrument developed from the recorder (which many people that have had elementary school music may be familiar with). The flute is a little larger and a bit lower sounding that the piccolo, and is one of the most easily recognizable instruments of the symphony. It is almost always gets the melody in a piece of music, however due to its lack of volume output; flutes are easily drowned out by larger and louder instruments. The Cardinals were formed in 1898, and were one of two founding members of the NFL! They were originally from Chicago, before they moved to St. Louis in the 1960s, and then to Phoenix in the 1980s. They've won the Super Bowl twice, and it's fitting to be associated with such a prominent orchestral instrument as the flute, especially considering that their mascot can whistle a high pitched tune or two as well. But lately, they've been drowned out by the bigger and better NFL teams.

Oboe - Detroit Lions

Like the flute, the oboe is a founding member of the symphony orchestra. It too gets the glory of having the melody frequently, but is a fickle instrument and is very difficult to make sound good. Any good oboe player is also a master of reed making, which makes or breaks this instrument. The Lions are a franchise that hasn't been very good since the merger. But initially they were a force to be reckoned with, especially in the 1950s. But, just like any good oboe needs a good reed maker guiding the instrument, the Lions haven't had a decent GM/Owner guiding their franchise since Ralph Wilson left in 1959.

English Horn - Saint Louis Rams

The English Horn is like a larger and lower version of the oboe and was added to the orchestra shortly after the Oboe in the late 1700s at the tail end of the Classical area. It primarily plays more in a supporting role, but does occasionally get to shine as a melody/solo instrument. The Rams were an early franchise created in the 1930s. They've found a bit of success with three Super Bowl wins, but since the merger have only 1 championship. Like the English Horn as a support instrument, they serve the NFL mostly as a punching bag for other teams to ascend to the playoffs.

Clarinet - Green Bay Packers

Like the flute and oboe, it was a pioneering member of the orchestra and is frequently featured as a melody instrument. Like all woodwind instruments the clarinet can play extremely fast notes, and can wow audiences with its capacity for soft, subtle dynamics. But it can easily be overshadowed by louder instruments. The Packers have been a great team recently thanks to the wowing and subtly superb performances of quarterbacks like Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, and have even won a few recent Super Bowls as a result. But they've also been the victim of being overshadowed by more dominant franchises with disappointing playoff losses to superior teams. Just as the clarinet is one of the most impressive and dominant instruments of the woodwind section and a popular orchestral instrument, the Packers happen to own the most league championships and are one of the more popular NFL teams as well.

Bass Clarinet - Seattle Seahawks

The Bass Clarinet is like a bigger, lower version of the clarinet and was added to the orchestra in the late Romantic era, but wasn't featured prominently until the 20th century. It is rarely used in a soloist or melodic role, and its dark tone color is typically used to fill out harmonies and provide bottom support to the other woodwind instruments. The Seahawks were also a later addition to the NFL, created in 1976 as an expansion team. It is particularly fitting for them to be associated with an instrument that rarely is featured or gets the limelight, because they similarly have not won any league championships. They have had numerous playoff appearances however.

Bassoon - Philadelphia Eagles

The cousin of the oboe, it too is a double-reed instrument and is difficult to play in tune and with a good sound. It takes a good reed maker to master the bassoon. It looks like a bazooka and sounds like a duck, but it was the founding member of the low end of the woodwind section. The Eagles are a franchise that found early success with three Pre-merger league championships. They have made countless playoff appearances, but haven't won the League Championship since 1960. Just like the bassoon needs a good reed maker, it takes a skilled head coach to lead a team to the Promised Land, and the Eagles are trying out a new one after Andy Reid failed to deliver.

Contra Bassoon - Minnesota Vikings

This huge instrument is like an oversized bassoon and is capable of playing in the extreme low registers, and wasn't added to the orchestra until the Romantic era when composers were actively trying to expand the orchestra. I've never once heard a contra bassoon melody, but they can crank out a squawking bass line with the best of them. Like the Contra Bassoon, the Vikings were an expansion team of the 1960s, and enjoyed limited success with Coach Bud Grant. But they have never won the big one. They have always fielded a competitive team and can hang with the best teams, even consistently making the playoffs in every era (27 playoffs in 52 years). But like the Contra Bassoon, they rarely get the full glory. Lastly, as the Contra Bassoon hangs out in the extreme low registers, the Vikings play in a climate featuring extreme low temperatures, so the connection is apt.

Saxophone - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The saxophone is the bastard of the woodwind family. It's actually made of brass, but has a single reed like a clarinet, and the finger combinations are nearly identical to the clarinet. It doesn't really have much of a role in the symphony, outside of a few token pieces, like Ravel's annoying Bolero. I hate the saxophone and it's only included because I needed another instrument to get to an even 32. I don't necessarily hate the Tampa Bay Buccaneers like I do the Saxophone, but aside from one token Super Bowl win in 2002, what have the Bucs achieved really...a few playoffs appearances? So as one of the newer teams in the NFC, added in 1976, they are just like the Saxophone as a newer instrument of the orchestra.

Horn - Chicago Bears

The horn is one of the founding members of the orchestra, known for its outdoor pastoral connections to the hunt. A versatile instrument, the horn is able to play high, low, loud, soft and gets the melody and accompaniment with equal frequency. However, like the oboe, it's a fickle instrument that is difficult to play. The horn frequently chips notes at the most inopportune moments and takes a highly skilled musician to play well. The Bears were the other founding member of the NFL, and have 9 championships to their name and like the Horn, they are well acquainted with glory. However, they also have recently taken to choking at key moments, either missing the playoffs on tiebreakers, or attempting to win the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman at QB. Also, since the horn is associated with outdoor and pastoral settings, it's only fitting that one of the few teams with an outdoor stadium be associated with the Horn (and I won't even mention going on a bear hunt with a hunting horn...oh wait, I just did). And lastly, as such a versatile and well-known instrument it's only fitting that the Bears, with their 2nd most league championships be associated with the horn.

Trumpet - Washington Redskins

Another founding member of the orchestra, the trumpet is the most regal and sometimes pompous instrument in the orchestra. The trumpet can be played higher and louder than most other instruments, and looks to lay waste to the woodwinds that always sit in front of their bells. A fanfare instrument initially, the trumpet has taken on more of a melodic and soloist role as the evolution of the orchestra has unfolded. With the Redskins situated in our Nation's capital, it's more than appropriate for a fanfare instrument with pompous connotations to be associated with a city filled with politicians. The Redskins also have won three Super Bowls, and two more league championships, although they have only made three playoff appearances in the last 13 years.

Cornet - Dallas Cowboys

The cornet was a later addition to the orchestra with the invention of the valve in the 19th century. It tried to overtake the trumpet as the dominant, soloist instrument, but due to its darker, muted tone, it couldn't compete. Its smaller size makes it well suited to children who want to learn the trumpet these days. And how fitting for the Cowboys to be in the same division as the Redskins, since the cornet and trumpet are so much alike? As an expansion team in the 1960s, the Cowboys resemble the cornet as an instrument that was also later added to the orchestra. The Cornet has many pieces that feature them like the trumpet, and like the Redskins the Cowboys also have 5 league championships to their name. The cornet is a bit of an overrated instrument, and it seems fitting for the Cowboys to be associated with it.

Trombone - New York Giants

The trombone was added to the orchestra in the late classical era by Beethoven himself, and frequently conjures up images of the sacred and supernatural. Its tenor voicing makes it a versatile instrument able to cover the melody and support the harmony. It is maybe the loudest instrument in the entire Wind conference, and has a very distinctive sound. The Giants are tied for 3rd place in most league championships and are deserving of such a distinctive instrumental association as the trombone. The Giants were a slightly later addition to the NFL in 1925, but still one of the first much like the trombone. The Giants biggest rival is the Eagles, and much like the Trombone and Bassoon compete for register space in the lower tenor range, the Giants and Eagles battle it out for dominance of the NFC East.

Bass Trombone - Atlanta Falcons

The lower and larger version of the trombone, the Bass Trombone lives in the extreme low register. Very rarely does the Bass Bone (as players like to call it) get the melody, but it takes a skilled musician to control the low register and play in tune. As the Bass Trombone rarely gets any glory or melody lines, it seems appropriate to assign them to the Falcons, who also have yet to win a league championship. Also, as a relative newcomer to the NFL as an expansion team in the 1960s, it further resembles the Bass Trombone as a newcomer to the orchestra in the Romantic era.

Euphonium - Carolina Panthers

Like the saxophone, the Euphonium doesn't have a permanent home in the orchestra. It's like a mini version of the tuba and occupies the same musical space as the trombone. There are only a few select pieces, primarily from the late Romantic era, that feature the Euphonium prominently. Typically they are relegated to playing in concert bands. The perfect fit for one of the newest instruments of the orchestra happens to be the newest franchise in the NFC, the Carolina Panthers. Their team is in pretty bad shape right now after making it to the Super Bowl in 2003, but ultimately losing. Just like the Euphonium has yet to become much of an orchestral instrument, the Panthers have a long way to go to be respected as an NFL franchise.

Tuba - San Francisco 49ers

The lowest of the brass instruments, the Tuba was added to the orchestra in the Romantic era along with the cornet when the valve was invented. The tuba can play quite loudly and there are a few moments where the Tuba is allowed to shine, even though most of the time they are confined to the bass lines and low notes of the chord. The San Francisco 49ers team was formed in 1946 and wasn't added to the NFL until 1950. They've won their fair share of league championships, but haven't been relevant since Joe Montana in the 1980s, until recently. The 49ers mascot is associated with the gold rush, and how fitting for them to be associated with the largest brass instrument that shines with the most gold color?

Stayed tuned for Part 2 - The AFC: Percussion, Keyboard and Strings!

This is mostly a reprint from a recent blog post of mine, but I thought I'd share it here too. Fair warning, it's rather lengthy, so enjoy or flame at your leisure.

NFC Teams -Woodwinds and Brass

Piccolo - New Orleans Saints

Flute - Arizona Cardinals

Oboe - Detroit Lions

English Horn - Saint Louis Rams

Clarinet - Green Bay Packers

Bass Clarinet - Seattle Seahawks

Bassoon - Philadelphia Eagles

Contra Bassoon - Minnesota Vikings

Saxophone - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Horn - Chicago Bears

Trumpet - Washington Redskins

Cornet - Dallas Cowboys

Trombone - New York Giants

Bass Trombone - Atlanta Falcons

Euphonium - Carolina Panthers

Tuba - San Francisco 49ers

Stayed tuned for Part 2 - The AFC: Percussion, Keyboard and Strings!

Missed Tackles by Defenders

2013-05-14T17:56:08Z

Football Outsiders, in addition to running statistical analysis on NFL games, also employs dozens of volunteer game charters to pick up on things missed by the basic box score. Missed tackles is one of these categories. Football Outsiders recently shared some of the best and worst tackling defenders per their game charting. Several Vikings figure prominently. Here's the link. Let's hit the highlights.

First, the good news: Erin Henderson was recorded missing just two tackles in 2012 (three in 2011) and made it into the top ten of lowest missed tackle rates by linebackers with just a 3.1% miss rate. Also, by this analysis the Vikings were wise to let Jasper Brinkley go. He missed 11 tackles, which when compared to his solo tackle count of 78, gives him a missed tackle rate of 12.4%. This was fourth worst among linebackers. Curiously enough, a potential replacement for Brinkley ranks even higher. Yep, Brian Urlacher missed eight tackles but only had 56 solo tackles, for a rate of 12.5%. In 2011, Urlacher's rate was just 3.2%. This could be a sign that Urlacher is slowing down.

Now, the bad news. Harrison Smith matched Brinkley's missed tackle count of eleven, although Smith's missed rate was lower due to having more solo tackles. Kevin Williams led all defensive linemen with six misses. Overall, the Vikings defense missed 5.7% of tackle opportunities, which was tenth worst in the league.

None of the other Vikings players were either sufficiently good or bad at missed tackles to maerit mention in the article.

Urlacher & Vikings?

2013-05-14T15:36:50Z

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000169369/article/brian-urlacher-reportedly-leaning-towards-vikings

I am ok with this move if it happens after June 1st and is a cheap contract. I love our youth movement but having some veteran guidance is a key part of the development process. If you look at any All-Pro - they normally talk about someone taking them under their wing, teaching them about the game and being a professional on and off the field. This move could very easily be key in developing Mauti as the future MLB of this team! It also is an immediate upgrade to our current MLB situation and would help in the success of the upcoming season. Personally I think this team is a couple years away but hey they sure surprised us last year. What are your thoughts if this move happens?

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000169369/article/brian-urlacher-reportedly-leaning-towards-vikings

CP's Role in 2013

2013-05-14T05:50:00Z

KR -- done, correct?

PR -- potential, but what about the details on catching, fair-catching, etc.? I think he has the upside, but what about potential for mistakes and taking big hits?

WR -- Big question. I think he can grow into the Percy-type role on short plays given his YAC ability, but has so much more to offer in the mid to deep passing game. It looks to me as though he can run a go, skinny post, deep post, slants, flares, crossing routes and other one-move routes. I see where he struggles is sharp cuts without the ball (ie, ins, outs, comebacks, busted plays, double moves, etc), but that should be Jennings role. In addition to getting him the ball in or close to the line in space, I think he can and do some of these other routes quite easily and hope to see them to be an actual WR in year 1.

Thoughts?

Looking for DN Experts' opinion on the matter (ie, Arif), but after viewing highlights and lowlights of CP84, as well as reading various scout reports, I don't think his role should be or will be so limited. KR -- done, correct? PR -- potential, but what about the details on catching, fair-catching, etc.? I think he has the upside, but what about potential for mistakes and taking big hits? WR -- Big question. I think he can grow into the Percy-type role on short plays given his YAC ability, but has so much more to offer in the mid to deep passing game. It looks to me as though he can run a go, skinny post, deep post, slants, flares, crossing routes and other one-move routes. I see where he struggles is sharp cuts without the ball (ie, ins, outs, comebacks, busted plays, double moves, etc), but that should be Jennings role. In addition to getting him the ball in or close to the line in space, I think he can and do some of these other routes quite easily and hope to see them to be an actual WR in year 1. Thoughts?

Will Aaron Rodger's historical player contract change the game of football?

2013-05-13T19:50:55Z

I was commenting on another post about the changes we have seen in football with the lack of continuity and team loyalty of players for their teams, and how excessive financial contracts have negatively affected the game, with great disparity between the elite and non elite players. Someone commented that free agency has enabled the NFL franchises to draw on fantasy football fans love for individual players, by paying huge amounts to the elite players, and rather than pay older vets and middle of the road players what they are worth, the draft has become key to building young teams. I do agree that this seems to a pattern, that young men that can be had for song for 4-5 years without renegotiation is a tremendous advantage for the franchise, and can bump out players that in the past might have stayed with the team. The point was made that this "classism" created by such disparity, and the subsequent lack of loyalty by management and players is the inevitable outcome of free agency, and nothing can likely be done about it. It was said what we remember about player loyalty and cohesiveness to their teams is a thing of the past. When my response to this comment grew, I decided to create another post for discussion.

The entire question is, has Roger's contract created a precedent that will erode things about football we have held dear, such as the loyalty and commitment, of the team and player for one another? And if there is a decrease in such loyalty, will it impact our enjoyment for the game? My take on this is that what matters most to those of us who are fans will not be lost, for we are the ones who choose where we invest our time and money. Loyalty is a value that we as a society do not take lightly. I believe sports entertainment that lasts also has in it basic values that are supported by the fans who keep the entertainment alive. Football, and the NFL institutions that have supported it, are supported by guys like you and me, and we historically care for is fairness in sports competition and in the workplace.

Guys like us are like most people in this country, we care about our families, our communities, our nation, and in a general sense, the well-being of the world. Guys like us know right from wrong, good from bad, the truth from lies, and justice from injustice. We see what evil is, and we care about the well being of those who matter to us, as described above. So if "we" are the ones that create the institutions, the institutions have no power without us. We are the good guys because we care about justice. Ambition, power, and the desire for wealth can be misguided by some, even all for a season, yet for the most part, guys like us are satisfied with working hard and staying within the means we have. Guys like us keep the misguided and power-hungry or wrong doers in line, whether the president, our children, or NFL franchises.

Nature inherently stays in balance, and the institutions that are man-made follow the same laws of balance. When we are close to a situation we see only a part, and if that part is in decline, it seems like it will be forever. Yet looking from the broad perspective of time and history, all things balance out, even the wrong actions of a few. Some say business is driven by profit, and businesses will continually explore ways to gain profit, even at the expense of consumers. Yet even this catches up with the institutions men create to gain profit. What we see as powerful, only receives power from those willing to give it. The checks and balances of our government reflect the checks and balances of nature and of human behavior such as in marriage. Each member has their own needs and goals, and all members are in constant negotiation to work together to attain their goals. So business while focused on profit, must also meet the needs of consumers. What is the need of a football fan? To focus on that one player we like for our fantasy team? Or to be a part of a NFL team that is successful in winning, not just one game or one season, but successful for many years. I think the latter outweighs the former. As so, the fan has much more power to change the values and goals of the NFL than he may believe, for as all business people know, the consumer's demand will be met or the business will fail.

I bring up Aaron Roger's incredible and historic contract. What will be the outcome in the long run of this contract on the game? Putting it into perspective, it puts emphasis on only a few high salaried players, and creates dependence on each draft to be successful in raising up quality players who strengthen the team. There are many unpredictable factors that can influence this style of growth that also have the potential to undermine a team's success. The strength or weakness of each draft class, the skills of the GM or coach in selecting players, the money available to teams to have a competitive management and scouting department, the attitudes of current players toward rookies having a negative impact on the longevity of their careers, and the fans attitude toward teams that cut popular players. The one thing that I believe can be predicted however, is that in the imbalance of money and power created within the team members, will negatively impact both team unity, and team success on the field. This is a team game.

Within the collection of franchises themselves, they must stay competitive with one another, or they all lose. One cannot have advantage over another because of the rules. If so, the rules change to bring balance. ie. The field being shortened to prevent elite KRs from gaining the advantage for their team. Some GMS are great in the draft, and some are not. This could also be balanced by rule changes, perhaps a cap on coaches and management salaries?

What is the outcome of paying one to three players excessive amounts, and lowering the level of play from the remainder of the team? Bottom line? Wins and losses. I believe the team that finds balance between the highest paid, and lowest paid will have the greatest balance, and the most well rounded team. This is a team game, not an individual sport. Balance will bring success, wins, and greater fan satisfaction, which translated, brings greater revenue to the franchise. Winning is the key in sports entertainment, and while teams may experiment as they are with the disparity of wages between players, I believe it won't work in the long run because individual players do not entertain us as a winning does. We loved watching OJ's highlights, or other great players, yet their losing teams had a hard time filling seats, and this in the end matters most to the owners.

At the present time, the five year contract top rookies sign gives the advantage to ownership. Why? because these first five years are the prime year for many of the players that play the game. The average career span for NFL football players is much less than five years. When that fourth or fifth year comes up, they be can be cut, or take a much smaller contract because of injury, a down year, or a glut of similar players in their position. Vets have lost advantage with the new rule changes, except for those who are elite and don't get injured. If I were an NFL player, I would not be very happy with how these rules have changed to undermine my career. Only a very small few have gained from it, and their gain is for themselves, not the team, it doesn't make the game better. I believe Tom Brady took a lower contract because he wants success for his team. It was unusual, but a classy thing to do. Rogers didn't need the amount he finally got, and I believe he weakened his team's success by demanding what he did. Down the road, others will grow stronger as GB gets weaker because they limited their salary cap. Teams will learn from the mistake of the teams that have put an excessive focus on their franchise QBs and skill players. No one player can win games, no matter how good they are. We learned that paying high school sports.

Poll

How will excessive salary contracts by elite players affect the game?

I have a bad feeling about this...

2013-05-13T17:54:30Z

As the off season continues to plod onward, I find myself in the same sad condition as many other frothy mouth unwashed basement dwelling fans. I am bored. I am bored of hearing what team may or may not want to employ Tim Tebow and why this is or is not a grand master plan. It fills me with a compulsion to bang my head repeatedly upon the desk when I hear the preposterously inaccurate and unfathomably early reviews of any given teams draft selection. I am overcome with a desire to drown my mind in bourbon at the sight of the multitudes of fantasy football pre-draft publications that will be out of date long before the first snap of the preseason.

So I asked myself, what can be done to pass the time among my friends at the DailyNorseman? And there came a reply from out in the blue...There can be no better investment of my time than putting together an opinion piece re-casting the characters of the nerdgasm that is the Star Wars universe with members of the proud purple. This friends and neighbors is what happens when Elvis hits the bottom of the boredom barrel.

First, there can be only one choice for the role of our Vikings own Luke Skywalker. Christian Ponder, entering his third season as a starter finds himself at a crossroads. He began in the league as a wide eyed rookie and is a constant source of positive thinking. Hell, he even suffered an injury to the arm... at the end of the season... in a big game changing moment... to the nemesis Galactic Packer Empire.

To reboot the charming Scoundrel, Han Solo, who better than Jared Allen? Is there any doubt that Jared would have shot Greedo first, putting an end to that ridiculous discussion? even after an off-season encased in carbonite, Allen will get more sacks than Clay Matthews!

I see Phil Loadholt reprising the role of Chewbacca. He's big and can pull your arms off if he loses.

How about Jonathan Vilma as the relentless bounty hunter Boba Fett? Too soon?

Mike McCarthy and Andy Reid can fill in for the younger and older versions of Jaba the Hutt.

I think no member of the NFL can truly stand in for the evil emperor except for Bill Belichick. This leaves Tom Brady as the clear choice for underling Darth Vadar, an amazingly gifted natural talent. If only his power could be used for good!

So...I have given several of my own opinions for splendid re-casting choices. In the comments section, be sure to belittle my selections, or just the sole premise, but also give an idea of who you think would fit the theme. Please note that Protagonist characters will be played by Vikings, antagonists will be from other, clearly lesser organizations.

I see Phil Loadholt reprising the role of Chewbacca. He's big and can pull your arms off if he loses.

How about Jonathan Vilma as the relentless bounty hunter Boba Fett? Too soon?

Mike McCarthy and Andy Reid can fill in for the younger and older versions of Jaba the Hutt.

Patterson scouting report you may not have seen...

2013-05-13T17:16:21Z

Q.A.B 7.5

Quick Feet 7.5

C.O.D 7.5

Flexibility 7.5

Coordination 7.5

Patterson is an excellent athlete. He is very versatile on the field and can do just about anything because of his athletic ability. Patterson is fast, quick, and changes direction in the blink of an eye. He is just one of those guys that is a purely gifted athlete. Just on his athleticism alone he is going to be capable of at least a couple of big plays a game.

COMPETITIVENESS

SECTION GRADE:

6.5

Toughness 6.5

Clutch Play 6.5

Production 6.5

Consistency 5.5

Team Player 6.5

Pride/Quit 6.5

Patterson is a tough player and does not shy away from going after the ball in traffic. His elusiveness and speed has allowed him to come up with some of the biggest plays on some of the biggest stages. Patterson's production at Tennessee is very good as an all purpose player. His consistency as a receiver is kind of all over the place which can be attributed to how he is used in Butch Jones' system at Tennessee. Patterson's willingness to do just about anything on the field and play through pain makes him a team player with very little quit.

MENTAL ALERTNESS

SECTION GRADE:

6.0

Learn/Retain 5.0

Inst/Reaction 6.5

Concentration 6.5

I don't see Patterson as the brainy receiver; he is not going to read and pick apart a defense's scheme for openings, however he will kill you with his natural instincts and his athletic ability allows him to react very quickly to the defense. Patterson's ability to lineup all over the field and make plays shows that his concentration is very good throughout the game.

STRENGTH/EXPLOSION

SECTION GRADE:

5.5

Body Type 5.0

Durability 5.5

Explosion 6.0

Play Strength 5.5

Patterson has adequate size but needs to increase his upper body strength. His strength, especially upper body, is in question because he struggles in the blocking game as well as getting off the ball when jammed. Patterson is explosive when he finds a crease and bursts right through it using his quickness but is not going to run anyone over. His durability is a bit in question because he did get banged up a little bit this season and missed some practices and one game.

My apologies for throwing you for a loop, but as you might have noticed at the end, this is not a scouting report for Patterson, it was a scouting report for Percy Harvin with all of the names replaced. Lots of similarities, huh?

The only difference between the two coming out of college, in my mind, is Patterson's added size and strength.

It doesn't mean, by any means, that Patterson will have the same game changing potential as Harvin, but at least we don't have to deal with any more 'migraines'.

Can't wait to see this dude play!

Q.A.B 7.5

Quick Feet 7.5

C.O.D 7.5

Flexibility 7.5

Coordination 7.5

COMPETITIVENESS

SECTION GRADE:

6.5

Toughness 6.5

Clutch Play 6.5

Production 6.5

Consistency 5.5

Team Player 6.5

Pride/Quit 6.5

MENTAL ALERTNESS

SECTION GRADE:

6.0

Learn/Retain 5.0

Inst/Reaction 6.5

Concentration 6.5

STRENGTH/EXPLOSION

SECTION GRADE:

5.5

Body Type 5.0

Durability 5.5

Explosion 6.0

Play Strength 5.5

The only difference between the two coming out of college, in my mind, is Patterson's added size and strength.

It doesn't mean, by any means, that Patterson will have the same game changing potential as Harvin, but at least we don't have to deal with any more 'migraines'.

Can't wait to see this dude play!

Magic 8-Ball Poll -- Greg Childs Edition

2013-05-13T13:37:51Z

via gridironfans.com

The Magic 8-Ball gave me conflicting information the last time I shook it up... so this time around, I'll let the DN decide the outcome as we take a look at whether or not Greg Childs will see the field this season.

Not to start off pessimistically (read: realistically??), but let's consider a couple huge things that aren't going in Childs' favor:

1) This isn't the first time Childs has had a knee injury. He injured his right patellar tendon in 2010 at Arkansas.

2) Returning from bilateral patellar tendon ruptures is, well, unprecedented. To my knowledge, only two players have suffered this type of dual-knee injury (Wendell Davis and Gary Baxter), and they never played another down in the NFL.

The simple odds certainly appear stacked against Childs. But, I'm more of a beer-glass-half-full-(well-i-actually-drank-it-all-but-bartender-refill-it-halfway-full-please) kind of guy, and there are plenty of things to be optimistic about:

a) Returning from bilateral patellar tendon ruptures is, well, unprecedented. Yes -- you read that copy-and-paste job correctly. Just because it hasn't been done before, doesn't mean it can't happen.

b) He has Eric Sugarman in his corner now. Consider what Sugarman did with EJ Henderson and Adrian Peterson (amongst others) -- they each had gruesome injuries, and returned to the field far sooner than anyone anticipated. (Furthermore, Childs' mind is in the right place, [insert obligatory comment about his Twitter feed here], and has been from the start when he hold Frazier he would work hard to be back. His type of positive attitude is presumably a huge contributing factor to successfully returning from a severe injury -- again, see: AD. Mind over matter and all that.)

c) His rehab is apparently coming along faster than his previous patellar tendon injury. I'm quite certain Sugarman is to credit for that, but perhaps the surgical procedure itself also had something to do with it. Team physician Dr. Joel Boyd, according to Childs, "did something a little different than I had done the first time, which basically tightens it up and strengthens my knee. So, I'm not really worried about this happening again." He's running and cutting, which is certainly further along than I think any of us would have thought he'd be a mere 9 months ago.

d) There's no pressure. Even if Childs returned tomorrow, he'd be behind Jennings, Simpson, Wright, and maybe even a rookie in Patterson on the depth chart. The team did a fine job shoring up the WR corps this offseason, so there's no rush in bringing Childs back to contribute right away.

Now, the simple facts:

i) Per Childs himself, he isn't close to 100%, and we won't see him suit up until he's at that stage. "There's no sense coming back 80, 90 percent", he said.

ii) There is no timetable for his return.

Which begs the question, what is a reasonable expectation for a return??

Better yet -- is there even an expectation at all??

When you break it down, there are essentially three options in play:

- Childs plays this season.

- Childs play next season.

- Childs doesn't ever play again.

Let's take those in reverse order. I don't want to suggest that Childs will never see the field again, but it's possible in the event he doesn't return to 100% (or, heaven forbid, he does and gets injured again). Childs has to do what's best for him long-term, which might end up being bowing out far too soon.

We could also put Childs on IR again, to allow him to get fully up to speed (again, with no pressure). This is a likely option, and it would presumably be foolish to use the designation-to-return tag on a player who hasn't played a meaningful down in his career. This might also be the prudent play, in the event Simpson struggles again and we cut ties with him after his second 1-yr deal, we can develop Childs behind Jennings, Wright and Patterson -- that's still a very decent WR corps.

But the interest is in whether or not Childs will play this season -- and if, in a few months, he's close to 100%, we have the option to start Childs out on the PUP list for the first 6 weeks of the regular season. He could always end up on IR anyway, but this would at least give the option to have him back around mid-to-late October, if he's ready to contribute.

It's still early in the process, and a lot can happen between now and August -- and while the dual-knee injury is a rarity, there is still some hope if history is any indicator for those who had a single patellar tendon rupture:

In 19 of the 24 injuries, the player returned to participate in at least 1 game in the NFL. Players who returned were drafted, on average, in the fourth round ... Of those players who returned to play, the average number of games played was 45.4, with a range of 1 to 142 games.

...

Patellar tendon ruptures can occur in otherwise healthy professional football players without antecedent symptoms or predisposing factors ... Although this is usually a season-ending injury when it occurs in isolation, acute surgical repair generally produces good functional results and allows for return to play the following season.

So, DN, time for some fortune telling -- what say you?? Give the Magic 8-Ball a shake...

via gridironfans.com

Not to start off pessimistically (read: realistically??), but let's consider a couple huge things that aren't going in Childs' favor:

1) This isn't the first time Childs has had a knee injury. He injured his right patellar tendon in 2010 at Arkansas.

Now, the simple facts:

i) Per Childs himself, he isn't close to 100%, and we won't see him suit up until he's at that stage. "There's no sense coming back 80, 90 percent", he said.

ii) There is no timetable for his return.

Which begs the question, what is a reasonable expectation for a return??

Better yet -- is there even an expectation at all??

When you break it down, there are essentially three options in play:

- Childs plays this season.

- Childs play next season.

- Childs doesn't ever play again.

In 19 of the 24 injuries, the player returned to participate in at least 1 game in the NFL. Players who returned were drafted, on average, in the fourth round ... Of those players who returned to play, the average number of games played was 45.4, with a range of 1 to 142 games.

...

Patellar tendon ruptures can occur in otherwise healthy professional football players without antecedent symptoms or predisposing factors ... Although this is usually a season-ending injury when it occurs in isolation, acute surgical repair generally produces good functional results and allows for return to play the following season.

So, DN, time for some fortune telling -- what say you?? Give the Magic 8-Ball a shake...

Poll

Daily Norseman: FanPosts

Hodges and Mauti questions from a Penn State fan

"The Quarterback of the Defense"

A) Brian Urlacher

B) Erin Henderson

C) Michael Mauti

A) Brian Urlacher

B) Erin Henderson

C) Michael Mauti

Assuming all of these scenarios are a possibility, which one would YOU like to see?

Who are the Best Current Minnesota Vikings Outside of Adrian

Who do you think the 2nd best player on the Vikings is right now?

The Name Game

RANDOM VIKING OF THE WEEK: May 16, 2013

Former Viking Round-Up

The Quarterback "Situation"/Vandy

NFL Symphony Orchestra - Part 1, the NFC

NFC Teams -Woodwinds and Brass

NFC Teams -Woodwinds and Brass

Missed Tackles by Defenders

Urlacher & Vikings?

CP's Role in 2013

Will Aaron Rodger's historical player contract change the game of football?

How will excessive salary contracts by elite players affect the game?

I have a bad feeling about this...

Patterson scouting report you may not have seen...

Magic 8-Ball Poll -- Greg Childs Edition

Will Greg Childs start the season on the PUP list, with a chance to eventually see some action on the field, instead of IR?? Magic 8-Ball says: