Minnesota Vikings News And Links, 10/31

Happy Halloween, everybody! If you've got your own little monsters that you're taking out trick-or-treating this evening, make sure that everyone stays safe. . .after all, you need to get home to be able to watch football this evening, as this week's Thursday night contest features the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins. A week from tonight, it will be the Minnesota Vikings' turn to be on Thursday night, so we have that to look forward to. Or, you know, not.

Since the last time we brought you an Open Thread. . .

-Wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson was recognized as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 8. Congratulations to him!

-CCNorsemen took a stab at an off-season plan to try to clean up the mess that this team currently is.

-We found out that Christian Ponder will be getting the start at quarterback for the Vikings when they travel to Dallas on Sunday.

-Did I say Christian Ponder? That might be incorrect. . .it could still be Josh Freeman, apparently.

From some other sources across the internet. . .

-Jared Allen is apparently happy to remain with the Vikings. Not like he's got a hell of a lot of choice, I guess.

-The Vikings' execution? Sounds like a plan.

-Vikings' center John Sullivan and some teammates made another trip to the Amplatz Children's Hospital.

The rules of the Open Thread are the same as they've ever been, folks. . .no politics, no religion, no feeding of the trolls, and keep the bad language to a minimum/use the spoiler tags if you feel that you absolutely must curse.

More Lou Reed music as our week continues.

With that, the beer light is on and the bar is open for this Thursday, ladies and gentlemen. We'll have more for you, including Eric's NFL picks for the week, as we move forward.