Tuesday Open Thread: June 26, 2018

Merry Tuesday, everyone!

We’re trudging onward through the muck of the off-season. Thankfully, we have summer to keep us occupied while we wait impatiently to see the purple and gold hit the field again. If we didn’t have fishing, yard projects, and warm weather, they’d just have to make it a year-round NFL season. Kinda like North Dakota’s fishing season, it never ends.

Around the DN since our last open thread:

Chris continues his series where he highlights the NFL records that the Vikings hold, and they added another in last year’s playoffs with the only walk-off touchdown in NFL playoff history.

Chris digs in to the 2017 PFF O-line pass blocking grades to see how the good guys fared, and they did quite well, according to PFF (grab a salt block, it’s O-line grades). 13th is quite an accomplishment when you consider where they were the previous year(s). Something that PFF doesn’t consider (at least not that I saw) is the change at offensive coordinator, and I honestly think that was the most significant contributing factor.

Adam Thielen has launched a charity foundation, per Chris. The foundation’s focus will be to, through a variety of means, help children reach their full potential.

The early ratings on Madden ‘19 have the Vikings looking pretty strong.

Vikings news from other sources and news from around the rest of the league:

At Vikings.com, watch Kirk Cousins and Wobby talk about football stuff, and see the Jaguars’ Jalen Ramsey on NFL Network talking about the Diggs/Thielen duo.

Ben Goessling at teh Strib takes a peak at how Kirk Cousins is passing the time in the off-season.

Kirk Cousins loves his vehicle, and it’s probably not what you’re picturing. From NFL.com, he still happily drives around in an 18 year old van that he bought from his grandmother. The van is a GMC, so Cousins just moved up a few notches in my book.

ESPN reported that Jameis Winston’s suspension will be for three games. I wonder if the opposing teams’ cornerbacks can appeal his suspension, their stats will be hurt worst by Winston’s suspension.

La’Veon Bell says talks with the Steelers are ‘closer than last year’, per NFL.com. That’s not really saying much, but I suppose some progress is better than none.

We come to today’s media selection:

Since we had a story about Jameis Winston, let’s play this one from Weezer entitled “Crab”. Enjoy!

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 anything you read is 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 head cheese