One of the hallmarks of Minnesota Vikings Training Camp over the years has been the selection by football nerds aficionados of which player receives the title of “Mr. Mankato.” The criteria for being named Mr. Mankato is that you have to be drafted in the third round or later (or go undrafted) and put on the best performance of Training Camp, one that will invariably land you on the 53-man roster.
It appears that a conference of media folks was convened somewhere and the title is going to remain “Mr. Mankato,” despite the fact that the Vikings are not holding Training Camp there any more. I can only presume that’s because “Mr. Mankato” is a lot catchier than “Mr. Eagan” or “Mr. Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center.” So, we’ll roll with that as well.
There have been odds posted for this informal competition over at 1500 ESPN, courtesy of Matthew Coller (who got the odds from Chris Long of KSTP). Here’s how they handicap the field going into the first day of camp on Saturday:
- CB Holton Hill: 3/1
- WR Brandon Zylstra: 3/1
- K Daniel Carlson: 4/1
- WR Korey Robertson: 5/1
- TE Tyler Conklin: 6/1
- QB Kyle Sloter: 8/1
- RB Mike Boone: 10/1
- RB Roc Thomas: 10/1
- WR Cayleb Jones: 10/1
- DT Jalyn Holmes: 16/1
- WR Chad Beebe: 20/1
- DE Ade Aruna: 20/1
- WR Jeff Badet: 30/1
- DL Ifeadi Odenigbo: 30/1
- CB Jack Tocho: 30/1
- Field: 40/1
A couple of things. . .
Personally, I wouldn’t have Odenigbo or Tocho on here, as they both had their opportunities last year and both apparently missed. Jones, too, for that matter.
Also, I’m not sure if Carlson should really be here, either. Yes, I know that the Vikings say that there’s going to be a kicking competition, but c’mon.
C’mon, y’all, seriously.
There’s no actual kicking competition here, absent an injury to Carlson. The Vikings didn’t trade up to draft the guy so that they could cut him for Kai Forbath. Unless Carlson, for some reason, starts kicking the ball in the opposite direction that he’s supposed to, the kicking job is his.
As far as the players that are listed, if I were a betting man, my money would go on Conklin. As the 1500 ESPN article says, John DeFilippo apparently loves him some two-tight end sets, and that’s going to give him plenty of opportunities to make an impact. There are plenty of solid cases to be made for some of those other players, too, but that would be my pick.
So, for the first ever “Mr. Mankato that’s not actually in Mankato” competition. . .WHO YA GOT, folks?
Poll
Now that the "official" odds for Mr. Mankato have been posted, WHO YA GOT!?
This poll is closed
-
32%
CB Holton Hill (3/1)
-
27%
WR Brandon Zylstra (3/1)
-
2%
K Daniel Carlson (4/1)
-
1%
WR Korey Robertson (5/1)
-
6%
TE Tyler Conklin (6/1)
-
4%
QB Kyle Sloter (8/1)
-
2%
RB Mike Boone (10/1)
-
5%
RB Roc Thomas (10/1)
-
0%
WR Cayleb Jones (10/1)
-
2%
DT Jalyn Holmes (16/1)
-
1%
WR Chad Beebe (20/1)
-
5%
DE Ade Aruna (20/1)
-
2%
WR Jeff Badet (30/1)
-
0%
DL Ifeadi Odenigbo (30/1)
-
0%
CB Jack Tocho (30/1)
-
2%
Field (40/1, please specify)