Thursday Open Thread: February 23, 2017

Happy Friday-eve everyone!

It’s finally Thorsday, as we trudge through another week of the pre-baseball part of this long NFL off-season. There’s still no word on the Peterson situation as the March 9 deadline inches closer and closer.

Here's a full schedule of the combine, from SI.com:

Feb. 28: Day one players arrive: Place kicking, special teams, offensive linemen, running backs.

March 1: Day two players arrive: Quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends.

March 2: Day three players arrive: Defensive line and linebackers.

March 3: Day four players arrive: Defensive backs. Also, day one players begin workouts.

March 4. Day two players begin workouts.

March 5. Day three players begin workouts.

March 6: Day four players begin workouts.

Here’s a schedule of upcoming key dates, also from SI.com:

February 28 - March 6: NFL Scouting Combine

March 1 (4:00 PM ET): Deadline for teams to designate Franchise or Transition players.

March 7 - March 9: NFL teams may begin contract negotiations with the agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents.

March 9 (Before 4:00PM ET):

Deadline for NFL teams to exercise options for 2017 on any player with option clauses in their 2016 contracts.

NFL teams must submit qualifying offers to players with expiring contracts who will become Restricted Free Agents.

NFL teams must submit a Minimum Salary Tender to players who will become Exclusive-Rights Free Agents (expiring contracts and fewer than 3 accrued seasons).

March 9 (After 4:00PM ET): 2017 NFL league year begins, all 2016 contracts expire.

Around the DN since our last open thread:

Arif posted the Norse Code Podcast Episode 174: Combine Preview with Kyle Crabbs.

Ted and Di are back with Roughing the Podcast 21: Back on the Horse.

Vikings news from other sources:

From Vikings.com, Coach Zimmer thinks maybe he didn’t do enough last off season, on the latest addition of Vikings Spotlight.

Around the rest of the NFL:

Yahoo Sports wonders if the Browns should trade for Jimmy Garoppolo.

We come to today’s media selection.

Thanks to fivefingers for today’s selection, Dreams in the dark by Badlands.

Again, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:

-No discussion of politics or religion
-No feeding of the trolls
-This isn't a male version of The View, so leave the gender hatred at the door
-Keep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must
-Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tags
-No pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employer
-If you can't disagree in a civil manner, feel free to go away
-While navigating the open thread, just assume it's sarcasm

With that, the beer light is on and the bar is open. Belly up & tie one on. Don't forget to tip your waitress, & try the chitlins.