Interesting Female Perspective on Jared Allen Trade

Found this article while surfing the web.. "Jared Allen: When Good Girls Love Bad Boys"
It was posted by a blogger

The Minnesota Vikings traded away a first round pick and two third round picks to get Jared Allen from the Kansas City Chiefs last week. (And they still managed to get the Booty in the draft.) His contract could be worth up to $74 million over six years if he reaches certain incentives, including a guaranteed $31,000,069. (His jersey number is 69.) The signing bonus was $15.5 million. (He had 15.5 sacks last year). He is 26 years old, 6′6″, 270 lbs., he used to compete in rodeos and he owns riding horses. All the other hot, and not so hot, stats and information after the jump…

In addition to leading the NFL in sacks last season, despite the fact he was suspended for the first two games of the season, he was also an All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl. The team now has arguably the best defensive line in the league.

However, Allen comes with some downsides, in particular in his personal life. He was suspended for two games at the beginning of last season for multiple drunken driving arrests. Although he claims he no longer drinks alcohol, if he were to be arrested again, he could face a much longer suspension - probably a year. Of course, that’s the Minnesota Vikings for you. They’ll take a huge risk that could pay off big but could have a big downside. (Hopefully Carl Eller won’t be showing Jared around the Twin Cities when he arrives.)

With this move, Allen joins the Williams “brothers,” Pat and Kevin, on a Vikings’ defensive line that will hopefully take us back to the glory days of the Purple People Eaters. Allen is expected to greatly assist the Vikes in not only pass-rushing and sacks, but helping out against the run as well. He has a football instinct for making plays and a reputation for working every down to do so.

Allen’s father Ron was reportedly on the Vikings training camp roster once, and Jared looks like he’ll bring enthusiasm to the team as well.

Allen also brings with him impressive breadth of play, as he has a reputation for fumble recoveries, forced fumbles, and even has significant experience as a long-snapper (when drafted, it was originally for this purpose, but he soon proved himself in many other respects as well). He received Kansas City’s Mack Lee Hill award in 2004 for best rookie or first-year player and earlier was recognized as the Buck Buchanan Award Winner in 2003 for premier defensive play in NCAA Division I-AA football.

He also serves as a spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and raises funds through his “Sack Diabetes” program. In the NBC Sunday Night Football player introductions on December 17, 2006, when introducing himself and the school he attended, he said, “Home School, thanks Mom.” Awww! The question is: Can he stay on the sweet side and continue to perform at such a high level with the Vikings to help them get all the way to the Super Bowl?

A lot of fans who continue to support the Vikings through thick and thin hope so, myself included. But one thing’s for sure, he looks good in purple and by all accounts has a heart of gold.

Draft Day Vikings Party. MGD & a Victory Voyage

I went to my first ever Vikings Draft Party sponsored by Miller Lite at Winter Park yesterday. I don't think it will be my last.

The highlight of the day was meeting and reuniting with all the great tailgaters, and Vikings fans. Saueey and I started the day out looking for bars that opened before 11 a.m. Unsuccessful, we headed over to the Vikings Training facility and waited in line for 30 minutes in the freezing, wind-whipping cold air of a Minnesota spring day in late April.

"Global Warming my ass!!," commented one disgruntled fan in the line ahead of us, "Open the gates and let us in already!"

Once inside, Saueey and signed up at the KFAN booth to win a really neat Vikings kids bike for our sons.

"Geez, I can't write my name, my hands are still frozen solid," commented Saueey.

We headed over to the Party Zone, and started to enjoy our beverages. The music was loud, festive and inspirational. Then I saw my former co-worker and current Vikings cheerleader Brita walking with her teammates. She came over to say hi, and we chatted about the good old days. It's always nice to know that one of your friends is a Vikings cheerleader.
It was great meeting the gang from the Vikings Victory Voyage, a community on the Wearevikings.com site. Kevin "Pure Purple" from Arizona is the real deal, a diehard Vikes fan. Darin from South Carolina promised to meet us in Tennessee for the Vikings road trip. My hats off to Janelle for her help organizing the event, and Skolt for being such a presence on the wearevikings.com social world of cyber purple. Everyone who we met today was great.

Jared Allen showed up to the draft party wearing his sh*tkickers and cowboy hat, and jeans. The modern day Marlboro Man is now our defensive end. He wooed the crowd with his personality, sold tons of #69 jersey. It made Zygi look comfortable for spending 71 million dollars.

The Vikings provided a great environment with plenty of food options, prizes and affordable $5.00 beers. I would say that the draft party at Winter Park is a great way to spend a few hours.

So There I was in Kansas City Last Year...

Several of the gang from Vikingstailgate.com all headed down to KC last year for the Vikings game with the Chiefs. It was a great time, but losing 13-10 to a team that ended up 4-12 sucked.

In the Arrowhead Parking Lot, hours before game time, I can't count how many times that Chiefs fans kept pointing out that there "Superstar" #69, Jared Allen would be returning for this game, and the Vikings would get whooped.

It was sickening. It seemed like every time we'd strike up a conversation about the game, a Chiefs fan would "nuke us" with a "Jared's back, and you'll be sorry!" line. After hearing this ad nauseam, and seeing a sea of Red #69 jersey's walking all over the lot (most of them on women), I snapped,

"WHO THE F IS JARED ALLEN? AND WHY SHOULD I CARE?"

Admittedly, I was not familiar with this KC icon, and I my loud comment drew laughs of assurance from my Vikings brethren, and gawks of "You call yourself an NFL fan?" from stunned Chiefs fans. I mean really, who ever heard of this guy, hidden in the small markets of KC?

It became sort of a running Joke with my tailgate friends the rest of the year. We would spam each other with quotes from KC newspapers all lauding the great Jared Allen. As the e-mails became more frequent, we started seeing his sacks totals, and tackles add up. Then, we learned that he was named to the Pro Bowl, prompting one of my friends to write,

"WHO THE F is Jared Allen? He is the best damn defensive player in the AFC, playing on a cruddy team."

Well, the off-season came, and in late February, we jokingly prodded each other with more e-mails.

"Jared Allen is a restricted Free-Agent. Maybe Zygi should cough up the $ and 2 first round picks and go get him. Problem solved."

Last week, we got an e-mail from Notre Dame Dan,

"HEY, I Think we are Actually Going After this guy, Is this real?"

The e-mail cited a hot NFL rumor that the Vikes and Bucs were going after the star."

Today, it all came to a sudden, pleasing end.

"Who the F is Jared Allen?"

"He is your starting DE for the next wave of the Purple People Eaters, 'Purple Peeps Part Deaux"

I am amazed. Who ever thought this running joke between tailgating hard cores would lead to the actual acquisition of this Super Star? I mean, he is EXACTLY what this team, this town needs. He is good ol football in a town that sorely needs this character. He's the type of guy that shows up to a team MVP dinner, a black tie affair, wearing a fake tux t-shirt, cowboy hat and jeans to pick up his "Player of the Year Award."

I love it. This is my kind of football player. I dig what this team is trying to do. This is Fantastic.

See you all at the draft.

It's Never to Late: Bring Moss Back...

Every year that passes since Moss was traded, it gets easier to deal with the fact that Vikings messed up.

I have stated several times, several ways, that Superfreak was great, the best ever, one of my favorite Vikings etc.

Today, just a few days befor the 2008 NFL draft, and the dawning of new era in Purple Dominance, I am sent a brand new "Bring Back Randy" campaign.

I must post the links, and share the campaign with you out there in the Vikingstailgate.com Parking Lot. The Campaign is being run by Beck DeRobertis, and he wrote me stating:

Hey Fellow Vikings Enthusiast,

BRING MOSS BACK is the Art Campaign Dedicated to returning Randy Moss to
the Minnesota Vikings! The campaign was created by Beck DeRobertis and
includes videos, a blog, a petition, women's fashion, and more! Check it
out!

BRING MOSS BACK Blog:
http://bringmossback.blogspot.com

BRING MOSS BACK YouTube Channel:
http://youtube.com/artheadmagazine

Direct Link to Our Petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bringmossback/

BRING MOSS BACK MySpace Page:
http://myspace.com/artheadmagazine

Please pass the word along to your readers. Help us Bring Moss Back to
the Vikings!

84ever!

We Are Vikings.com

This might be old news for all you hard core Vikes fans, but for those who are looking for some more hands on Vikings Social networking at draft time, you may want to know about the site called "Wearevikingsfans.com"

http://www.wearevikingsfans.com.

The site has been up for almost 8 Months now, and is growing fast. I have a profile set up under Mookie, so feel free and sign up as a teammate, and start meeting people from all over purple cyberspace. It's also a great way to stay in touch with all your fellow Tailgaters during the off-season. All you need to do is create a password, and start networking. It's that easy.

Make sure you check out and join the following Communities created by Vikingstailgate.com members & friends once you log in:

1. Packer Jokes & Border Rivalry Stories (currently 80 members)
2. From the Tailgating Lot (also 80 members strong)
3. Viking Victory Voyage (130 members strong)

See you at the draft party!!!!!

Jared Allen- Rumors Update (1st and 2nd Round Picks in 2009?)

Defensive end Jared Allen, the Kansas City Chiefs' designated franchise player, has scheduled visits with two NFL teams even though he doesn't have any assurance the Chiefs would even consider trading him.

According to a source, Allen is in the process of scheduling trips to the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the next week. Because he is an unsigned franchise player, Allen has the freedom to meet and talk to teams, but the current price tag for a team wanting to sign him is two No. 1 picks, which is a price most teams aren't willing to consider.

Negotiations between the Chiefs and Allen are at the very beginning stage and no deal is close. ESPN's Michael Smith reported that according to league sources, the Chiefs don't intend to re-sign Allen and expect to deal him before they pick fifth overall in the NFL draft.

Should the Chiefs be willing to listen to a trade, it creates an interesting scenario. The Chiefs currently have the No. 5 pick in the draft and are in need of offensive linemen. If the Chiefs would consider a trade of Allen, they could select Vernon Gholston or Chris Long to help them at defensive end and then take an offensive lineman with a first-round pick acquired in a trade.


Smith reported that according to sources, the Vikings appear to be a front-runner because they have, and are willing to deal, Kansas City what it wants most -- draft choices.

Tampa Bay only has five picks in this year's draft and, according to sources, the Bucs are reluctant to include more than a first-round pick for Allen. The Bucs have offered their first-round pick and a fifth-round pick next year, and their proposed deal could also include defensive lineman Jovan Haye, Smith reported.

Meanwhile Minnesota is considering offering its first-round pick and a second-round pick in 2009, while the Chiefs would prefer to deal for picks in this year's draft, sources told Smith.



John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. ESPN reporter Michael Smith contributed to this report.

Chiefs' Allen talking with Vikings, Bucs

Last year in KC, a Chief's fan came up to me and said, "and you guys are toast today, because Jared Allen is coming back off of a suspension."

My reply at the time:

"WHO THE F is Jared Allen?"

I have spent the last year learning that Allen is in fact the most dominant DE in the AFC. He is a Pro Bowler, with 15.5 sacks. He is the kind of guy who "shows up at a black tie awards event to pick up his team MVP trophy wearing cowboy boots, jeans and a classy tuxedo t-shirt."

I have learned to really like this "Jared Allen guy" and today, my buddy who went to KC with me last year, ND Dan, e-mailed me the following info from Jay Glazer:

Jared Allen's days with the Chiefs appear to be numbered.

Allen, the NFL's reigning sack leader, told FOXSports.com that the Vikings and Buccaneers have held trade talks with the Chiefs and he anticipates a deal will get done prior to next week's draft.

"It's a situation that works out best for both sides," Allen told FOXSports.com. "I can go to a team that is competing for a championship right now. The Chiefs can get valuable draft picks to rebuild with."

Allen said he is flying to Minnesota and has a visit set up with the Vikings by this weekend. He is tentatively scheduled to meet with Tampa Bay next week. The Jacksonville Jaguars had previously inquired with Allen's camp as well.

The Pro Bowl defensive end is the Chiefs' franchise player, but re-signing in Kansas City will be a problem as the team is looking to stockpile draft picks.

Allen said the two sticking points are working out terms of a deal with a new team and the Chiefs agreeing to compensation for a trade. A package of first- and second-round picks or one of first- and third-round picks in the upcoming draft have been discussed as possible terms. It's unclear at this point what it will take to get the deal done.

Allen, a four-year veteran, led the league in sacks in 2007 with 15.5 and has 13 forced fumbles in the past three seasons.

2008 Schedule for Vikes: Roadtrip to Tennessee?

The Vikings will be heading to Tennessee on Seeptember 28, and if we have our way, the Tailgaters from our Parking Lot will be following them there.

Preseason

Week 1 – vs. Seattle – August 8 – Metrodome – KSTP – 7 p.m.
Week 2 – at Baltimore – August 16 – M&T Bank Stadium – KSTP – 6:30 p.m.
Week 3 – vs. Pittsburgh – August 23 – Metrodome – CBS – 7 p.m.
Week 4 – at Dallas – August 28 – Texas Stadium – KSTP – 7 p.m.

Regular Season

Week 1 – at Green Bay (Monday) – September 8 – Lambeau Field – ESPN – 6 p.m.
Week 2 – vs. Indianapolis – September 14 – Metrodome – CBS – 12 p.m.
Week 3 – vs. Carolina – September 21 – Metrodome – FOX – 12 p.m.
Week 4 – at Tennessee – September 28 – LP Field – FOX – 12 p.m.
Week 5 – at New Orleans (Monday) – October 6 – Superdome – ESPN – 7:30 p.m.
Week 6 – vs. Detroit – October 12 – Metrodome – FOX – 12 p.m.
Week 7 – at Chicago – October 19 – Soldier Field – FOX – 12 p.m.
Week 8 – BYE
Week 9 – vs. Houston – November 2 – Metrodome – CBS – 12 p.m.
Week 10 – vs. Green Bay – November 9 – Metrodome – FOX – 12 p.m.
Week 11 – at Tampa Bay – November 16 – Raymond James Stadium – FOX – 12 p.m.
Week 12 – at Jacksonville – November 23 – Jacksonville Municipal Stadium – FOX – 12 p.m.
Week 13 – vs. Chicago – November 30 – Metrodome – NBC – 7:30 p.m.
Week 14 – at Detroit – December 7 – Ford Field – FOX – 12 p.m.
Week 15 – at Arizona – December 14 – University of Phoenix Stadium – FOX – 12 p.m.
Week 16 – vs. Atlanta – December 21 – Metrodome – FOX – 12 p.m.
Week 17 – vs. New York Giants – December 28 – Metrodome – FOX – 12 p.m.

Draft Countdown

I'm hoping for Limas Sweed, I don't think he will slip to the 2nd Round like some boards are predicting. I saw him play at Texas, and he strikes me as a potential game breaker, ala CC. Other than that, I am just hoping for best value. If the Vikings wait and see if he slips, then I like Philp Merling DE from Clemson in Round 1 or Derrick Harvey from Florida. In round 2 Like Darrel Robertson, DE Georgia Tech or Fred Davis, a TE from USC. I think having two third rounders in this draft will be the best thing we could possibly ask for. Here we have a great chance to add some talent that will be around for years to come. I like DBs in the 3rd Round. Marcus Griffin from Texas, Justin King from Penn State, Tom Zbikowski from Notre Dame or even a WR, Eddie Royal from Va Tech.

Patriot Envy to Vikings Future?

Man, I am sitting at home on a Minnesota Sunday night, watching CNBC, and they are airing a show called "Touchdown, The Patriots and the Business of Winning."

I am envious of that franchise. They have everything that we Vikings fans aspire for; Randy Moss, 3 World Championships in the bank, an 18-0 season, a genius head coach, and most important, a passionate owner who will do anything to support winning.

Bob Kraft and his family, bought the land that houses the new Patriot Stadium, and even has ponied up the cash the buy more land near the stadium, and is now developing a huge shopping center on the stadium grounds. That place is a tailgaters dream; parking lots galore.

I know the team has been busted for spy gate and all that, but the fact that they care about their fans, and will do anything to win, just makes me envious.

The Vikings need to up their ante if they are ever going to be the franchise that Zygi Wilfe has promised to his fan base.

We old time fans aren't getting any younger, but we pay for the hope that our team will do what it takes to win. Right now, at this point in time, I don't see any better franchise in all of pro sports.

People who aspire to be winners, should always look at the top and find out what the current champs are doing to be successful. If they are serious, they will figure out a way to do it better, faster and stronger, and be able to put their own brand on it.

Well Vikings fans, players and owners, the blueprint is right there in New England. If you want it, go frickin get it.

For All the Cowboys Fans Out There

For All The Sad Eyes in Green Bay Today

We are not sorry for your big loss yesterday. You should know by now that #4 "Captain Intercepto" is about as clutch as a treadless Buick in a snowstorm. It sucks losing a NFC Championship at home huh? Anyway, to help ease your pain, enjoy some humor. This is how you know you are still a Packers fan:

1. The Halloween pumpkin on your porch has more teeth
than your spouse.

2. You let your twelve-year-old daughter smoke at the
dinner table in front of her kids.

3. You've been married three times and still have the
same in-laws.

4. You think a woman who is "out of your league"
bowls on a different night.

5. Jack Daniel's makes your list of "most admired
people."

6. You wonder how service stations keep their
restrooms so clean.

7. Anyone in your family ever died right after
saying, "Hey watch this."


8. You think Dom Perignon is a Mafia leader.

9. Your wife's hairdo was once ruined by a ceiling
fan.

10. Your junior prom had a daycare.

11. You think the last words of the Star Spangled
Banner are, "Cheeseheads start your engines."

12. You lit a match in the bathroom and your house
exploded right off its wheels.

14. The bluebook value of your truck goes up and
down, depending on how much gas is in it.

15. You have to go outside to get something from the
fridge.

16. One of your kids was born on a pool table.

17. You need one more hole punched in your card to
get a freebie at the House of Tattoos.

18. You can't get married to your sweetheart because
there's a law against it.

19. You think loading a dishwasher means getting your
wife drunk.

20. Your toilet paper has page numbers on it.

21. Your front porch collapses and kills more than
five dogs.

22. Your quarterback pisses away his and your last chance to lose another Superbowl by throwing interceptions! haha

Pats’ Moss hit with restraining order

A temporary restraining order has been issued against Patriots [team stats]’ receiver Randy Moss, after a Florida woman alleged he beat her and then refused to allow her to seek medical attention on Jan. 6, according to court documents.

Rachelle Washington, 35, of Fort Lauderdale, filed a petition for a restraining order in Broward County on Monday. A temporary injunction was issued Monday against Moss by the Broward County court, ordering him to stay at least 500 feet away from her, her home and her car.

At Gillette Stadium this morning, Moss addressed the allegation, saying he’s “never laid a hand on a woman in 30 years.”

He asked fans not to rush to judge him.

A hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 28 at the Fort Lauderdale courthouse on the restraining order and the woman’s allegations.

In the court papers, Washington says the alleged incident occurred on Jan. 6 at her home. Washington alleges Moss committed “a battery upon (Washington) causing serious injury. (Moss) refused to allow (Washington) to seek medical treatment.”

Washington claims the two have been in an “intimate relationship since 1997.” She also claims in the papers that Moss has guns and has “a drug or alcohol problem.”

On Jan. 6, the Patriots were in the midst of their bye week, preceding their first playoff game on Jan. 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars [team stats].

Moss had one catch in the 31-20 win over the Jaguars. The Patriots are currently preparing for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the San Diego Chargers.

The story was first reported by Rozzie Franco of radio station WDBO in Orlando.

Reminiscence of Viking Glory & Tribute to Wally Hilgenberg

Here is a worthy event, and I just might be able to attend:

Reminiscence of Viking Glory & Tribute to Wally Hilgenberg
StraightTalk Breakfast
Thursday, January 17th @ 7 am
Sheraton Bloomington Hotel


Please join us for an exciting morning as we take a trip back to the days of Viking glory. Not only will you enjoy video of some of the finest moments in Viking history, but you will hear some of the inside stories from Viking greats like Jim Marshall, Paul Krause, Bobby Bryant, Chuck Foreman, Matt Blair and scores of others. Perhaps most meaningful of all, Wally Hilgenberg, who is battling the debilitating disease of ALS, will offer some personal reflections about his Viking experience, his current physical condition and how his faith is especially relevant today. We encourage you to attend and to bring a friend!

Cost for breakfast $20
Reservations call 952.929.0628

Big Games, Better Records, The Playoff Chase 2007

I have heard a lot of talk about the Vikings losing record against teams with winning records lately. Most of this talk comes from the holier than Cowboy fans and Packers fans, who are sitting with homefield advantage for the upcoming playoff rounds. Well, they should be happy. Their teams are in. Both the Packers and Cowboys have 4-1 records against teams with winning records. This would explain their "catbird" seat and smug fans.

But did you know that the team with the third best winning percentage against winning teams this season is the VIKINGS? Cue the horn.

I don't know what it means, but it certainly paints a playoff picture worth discussing. The Vikings are 2-3 (their only losses coming against the Cowboys and the Pack), and the Saints are 2-4 (obviously a tougher schedule for them). But if anyone is going take the Seahawks (1-2), Buccaneers (1-3), Giants (0-4) or Redskins(1-5) as serious playoff threats, they better check their track record against better teams.

This is why tomorrows game with the Redskins is THE SEASON for the Vikings. It is on National TV in a playoff atmosphere during the country's biggest Holiday Season for a Football viewing audience. It will feel like a playoff game. Should the Vikings win, they would have a great shot at not just making the playoffs, but also finding success on the road as #5 or #6 seed against Seattle or Tampa Bay.

The good news is the Vikings will know where they stand before the game starts. If the Eagles beat the Saints, and the Giants lose at Buffalo, the NFL might be the Vikings Oyster come playoff time. I don't want to get too crazy and start predicting a Vikings at Green Bay NFC Title game, but it sure would become a possible scenario. I have written before, that I would LOVE to go back to Green Bay and seek revenge to all the Cheeseheads who laughed us out of town back in November. It would make for good NFL drama, an easy story to sell, and well... again, let's just keep it real and 1-0 this weekend.

Enjoy the big day. I will be there at 12 noon for some tailgating. Peace to all Vikings all over the World.


NFC Playoff Contenders records against teams with Winning Records:
Feel free and use this for speculation, high jinx, bold predictions, ignorant banter or otherwise. These records mean NOTHING when it comes time to suit up in the elements called playoffs.

1. Cowboys (4-1)
Giants (9-5) W, 45-35
Patriots (14-0) L, 27-48
Vikings (8-6) W, 24-14
Giants (9-5) W, 31-20
Packers (12-2) W, 37-27

2. Packers (4-1)
Giants (9-5) W, 35-13
Chargers (9-5) W, 31-24
Vikings (8-6) W, 23-16
Vikings (8-6) W, 34-0
Cowboys (12-2) L 27-37

3. Vikings (2-3)
Packers (12-2) L, 16-23
Cowboys (12-2) L, 14-24
Chargers (9-5) W, 35-17
Packers (12-2) L, 0-34
Giants (9-5), W, 41-17

4. Saints (2-4)
Colts (12-2) L, 10-41
Buccaneers (9-5) L, 14-31
Titans (8-6) L, 14-31
Seahawks (9-5) W, 28-17
Jaguars (10-4) W, 41-24
Buccaneers (9-5) L, 23-27

5. Seahawks (1-2)
Buccaneers (9-5) W, 20-6
Steelers (10-5) L, 0-21
Browns (9-5) L, 30-33

6. Bucs (1-3)
Seahawks (9-5) L, 6-20
Colts (12-2) L, 14-33
Titans (8-6) W, 13-10
Jaguarts (10-4),L, 23-24

8. Redskins (1-5)
Giants (9-5) L, 17-24
Packers (12-2) L, 14-17
Patriots (14-0) L, 7-52
Cowboys (12-2), L, 23-28
Buccaneers (9-5) L, 13-19
Gaints (9-5) W, 22-10
Vikings (8-6) TBD
Cowboys (12-2) TBD

8. Giants (0-4)
Cowboys (12-2) L, 35-45
Packers (12-2) L, 13-35
Cowboys (12-2) L, 20-31
Vikings (8-6) L,,17-41
Patriots (14-0), TBD

Redskins Games Past & Present- My Fondest Memories

How many of you can really remember the details of your very first experience attending a Minnesota Vikings game? It was three decades ago for me, and I still remember that first game like it was yesterday. It was December 18th, 1976 when the Vikings beat the Washington Redskins 35-20 in that Divisional Playoff Game at the Old Met Stadium.

I was what you'd call a serious Viking fanatic. Roaming the farm prairies of Watertown, SD, I was always decked out in my Vikings sideline jacket, the old school purple stocking cap with a blank purple helmet on the front, and I was always wearing my JC Penney #10 Tarkenton jeresy,

Knowing I was diehard, my Dad somehow managed to score tickets from his boss in Minnesota, for the first round playoff game. Of course he kept this a secret from me. Our trip to Minneapolis was diguised as a trek into the big city for a Father-Son ice fishing contest. Despite the offer of bonding from my dad, I was refusing to go on the trip because I wanted to see the game on TV at home. Well, I was assured that we would be able to see the game because My dad's boss, I was told, had a mini-tv that we could borrow and it had "great reception!"

Hell, I figured we would have the best of both worlds- fishing out on the lakes with the old man, and watching the Vikes on TV. When we got to the cities, my dad drove us to his bosses house to get the TV. Guess what? He came out of the house with nothing but an envelope. I was crushed because I was thinking I would miss the game. My dad starting reading a letter of apology on the envelope,

"Sorry the TV is broke. To make up for it, please consider the compensation in this envelope as my apology."

I was pissed, and on the verge of tears when my dad asked me to open the envelope and read it. In complete disgust, I ripped open the envelope, and found four shiny tickets for that days Playoff Game!

I was so excited I could hardly keep dry pants. What a great way to go to my first Vikes game! My dad knew all along that we were going, and he kept it a secret!

I remember the drive from Minnetonka to Bloomington could not be fast enough. I had never been to a big city, and every tall building I saw, I kept hoping to see the light poles of Metropolitan Stadium. I still remember all the aesthetic details of arrival to the parking lot. As we walked toward our gate, I could smell all of brats, and sausages on the tailgaters grill's.

They had vendors in the parking lot, and one of them was selling a huge poster of Fran Tarkenton, in his white jersey, setting up to pass in the snow at a game earlier that season in Buffalo. I stared back at the poster and pointed at it, declaring,

"Dad you gotta get me that Tark poster!"

At that same instant, with my head turned to the poster, I bumped into somone, who smiled and said,

"Ya, dad, you gotta get him the poster."

The man was wearing a leather coat, and one of those "Boogie" Winter Caps that Tom Brady has recently made famous. That man was THE Fran Tarkenton himself. No lie. He was walking into the stadium with Mick Tinglehoff at the same time I was pointing down his poster. I felt a rush in my stomach, a feeling like I had never felt before, and I swear I have been chasing ever since. It was a remarkable coincidence. It was perfect.

As we walked toward the gates, the smell of cigars and cigarettes filled the Met Stadium air. Once we made it inside for the pregame warm-ups, I soaked in everything. I watched the High School Cheerleading Parkettes on the sidelines, and was amazed by the distance and accuracy of Mark Mosley and Fred Cox's straight on kick.

It was 35 degrees at game time on a bright sunny day. The popcorn was poping, the beer vendors were hawking, and the Public Address announcer was booming. The Vikings band was playing Skol Vikings and other classic pep band songs, the light from CBS's pre-game show were bright, and I had never seen so many TV cameras rolling back and forth on sidelines. It was first and only big "Instant Classic" and the game had even started yet.

The Vikings jumped to a 35-6 lead by the end of the third quarter, led by running backs Chuck Foreman and Brent McClanahan who each rushed for more than 100 yards. McClanahan's 41-yard run on Minnesota's first play of the game set up quarterback Fran Tarkenton's 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Stu Voigt. Then after Washington kicked a field goal, Tarkenton threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Sammy White, who managed to catch it after it was tipped in the air. Foreman added two rushing touchdowns and White caught a second touchdown pass. By the time Redskins quarterback Billy Kilmer completed two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, the game was already out of reach.

During that game, we made acquaintance with Ed White's best friend, who took us down to the players exit after the game. Because of him I was able to get autographs from Fran Tarkenton, Jim Marshall, Carl Eller, Fred Cox, Nate Wright, Sammie White, Ed White, Wes Hamilton, and Matt Blair.

Back then, I was in 6th Grade and wore a purple Fran Tarkenton jersey. My biggest concerns in life were math homework and getting good grades at Roosevelt Elementary School in Watertown, SD. We lived in the country, so we didn't have cable TV, and I was never allowed to watch a Monday Night Football game on ABC past the Howard Cosell halftime report.

To fuel my Vikes addiction, my father would bring home the Minneapolis Tribune from work, so I could read up on the latest news and actually see pictures of the team. My brothers and I would watch all Sunday afternoon games that were televised on CBS or NBC. When the Vikings lost we would burn the football cards of the opposition in some sort of sick sacrificial ritual of young purple witch doctors.

Now in 2007, I have new much larger Tark jersey (thanks e-bay), the team plays in the dome, but the game is still played between the stripes. Instead watching the tailgaters, I am one in the diehard groups that set up in the parking lots hours before game time. (We are the kids of the Met Stadium Tailgaters, we all say). The cheerleaders are professional dancers (one, Brita, a former co-worker of mine) and the players again are fighting for playoff survival.

Tomorrows game will be do or die for both the Redskins and Vikings, but every time those teams match-up at this time of year, I always think of that first game right before my twelfth Christmas on planet earth. It was a very special Holiday memory for me, and I sincerely hope the tradition continues on December 23rd, 2007.

ESPN.COM - Vikings Bears "Bread & Butter" Plays for Monday Night

Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings, ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET

Chicago: Play-Action TE Post
With as much turnover at QB as the Bears have had this season, the one constant has been the Play-Action TE Post. Chicago loves this play and it is perfect to run against a Cover 2 defense.

Bears: Play-Action TE Post

Minnesota: Halfback Blast
It's not very flashy, but it sure is effective. The Halfback Blast has been the Vikings' signature play and a big reason they're closing in on a playoff spot.

Vikings: Halfback Blast

Someone on the Chicago Bears Nailed Lisa Lampanelli?

From a site called:The BigLead.com
Just in time for Monday Night Showdown with the Bears, here's some fun (spoof or not enjoy):



"Lisa Lampanelli, easily the funniest female comic we’ve ever heard, went on Howard Stern’s Sirius show Tuesday and blabbed about sexual relations with a young (”in his 20s”) member of the Chicago Bears who (all the quotes are hers):

* has tattoos
* isn’t a starter but isn’t on the practice squad
* is black (”mocha latte”)
* is southern
* at some point this season, he had an injured ankle

Lampanelli is a 46-year-old admittedly overweight white woman. The encounter took place in Philly in October. The unidentified Bears player (she said he was a rookie, and then recanted that; just our opinion, but we think he’s a rookie and she tried to cover it up) tracked her down through her website, and the two set up a rendezvous after she lied and told him she’d be in town. To paraphrase her: “I texted him from the McDonald’s, he ran out of his hotel to my Toyota Camry, we went to a Marriott Courtyard (he paid) and we banged for 45 minutes. He asked me, ‘is this your first NFL dick?’ He had a very bent penis.”

So far, rampant speculation includes: Trumaine McBride or Kevin Payne, or possibly Garrett Wolfe or Josh Gattis. This is something that must be solved today, before it gets buried under the Mitchell Investigation avalanche."

Vikings fined for having Adrian Peterson wear Chester Taylor’s uniform

Funny Spoof from serioussportsnewsnetwork.com (a fun hilarious blog) that made me chuckle:

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — It’s been a year of deception in the NFL.

Only months after the New England Patriots got the league’s largest ever fine, the Minnesota Vikings received a $250,000 fine for having standout rookie Adrian Peterson swap uniforms with Chester Taylor during the Vikes’ 27-7 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

“I have Adrian Peterson in my big-money fantasy league,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. “So I’m scanning through the boxscores, checking to see how my team is doing, and I see that Adrian Peterson is getting shut down by San Francisco. Red flag. Then I see that Chester Taylor is going off. Double red flag! I immediately demanded to see the game film.”


Goodell was stunned by what he saw.

“Here is AP going for 3 yards on 14 carries,” Goodell said. “AP! I couldn’t believe my eyes. He’s going for negative yards, he’s showing no burst, he’s going down at first contact. Then I see Chester Taylor go off for 101 yards, including an 84-yard score. Well, it wasn’t hard to figure out what was going on.”

Indeed, it turns out that the Vikings had encouraged Taylor to dress up as Peterson, and Peterson to dress as Taylor. Both players agreed, though Peterson was reluctant; however, Taylor convinced him that it would really “ease the pressure, if only for a week.”

“It was probably an error in judgment,” said Vikings coach Brad Childress. “But we really wanted to give Adrian a little breather from the watchful eyes of the nation. I mean, everyone is tuning in, expecting him to do something great every play. So we just thought, wouldn’t it be nice if we could give him a game of total anonymity? Then it hit us – BAM! Let’s dress him up as Chester Taylor.”

Goodell was furious.

“In this league, you play every game as hard as you can, and you wear your own jersey,” he said. “A lot of bad things can come from dressing up as a teammate. You may get hurt, and we might bill the wrong health insurance. You may get pegged for an endorsement, and the money could go to the wrong person. Or maybe you go off for 124 yards of total offense and a touchdown and your commissioner might get the giant screwjob in his fantasy league because of your stupid, insensitive, immoral and outrageous actions. It’s just a bad, bad thing to do.”

Purple Fans Holier Than Thou?

Everyone has the right to their opinions, be they negative or positive. It's not only the right of the fans to freely express themselves, it is also "protected" in the Bill the Rights.

That being said, it bugs me when other Vikings fans start inferring that they are more loyaly than other Vikings fans. Case in point, a recent MySpace blog, titled "Where Were You?" was sent out to other self-proclaimed Vikings fans on that same web site.

In the article, the author infers that "negative" Vikings fans had turned their back on their team, spewing out proclamtions to Fire Childress, throw games, and mail in the season.

"Did you gripe about how terrible your Vikings were? When the faithful called for you to have patience did you turn your back and vomit ugly empty words?
Where were you?"

The author goes on to suggest that loyal Vikings fans like himself (we call these fans the "rose color glass wearing, purple kool aid drinking loyalists") would never turn their back on their team or doubt their management. These fans, the true fans, were always loyal, and it was now up to them to decide if they could let other fans back on the "Viking bandwagon" again.

"Will you climb aboard again, or will you lay in wait like a vulture. Perching there on your self made pedestal with mouth dripping for another chance to rip into your own. Or will you have learned and choose faith and fanship?"

To this I write, these critcial words, "huh?"

I am not ashamed for calling for Childress departure, nor am I ashamed for doubting the offensive decisions that were happening ALL OF LAST YEAR and INTO THIS YEAR. The fact is the Vikings were 3-6, coming off a 34-0 ass whipping to the Packers (the 4th loss in a row to the Cheeseheads under Childress by the way) and at their lowpoint.

I wrote then, that this team had hit rock bottom. It was embarrasing to be in Lambeau being offered sympathy beer by Packers fans. If the author of this blog could have been there in Lambeau, seeing the smug ass cheese fans jumping on top of Vikings vheicles, starting fights in the lot, and being holier than thou, NFL fans, maybe he/she could understand the frustration of Vikings fans with "not so stellar" opinions of the 2007 season circa November 11th.

The team was gutless, heartless, and passionless in Lambeau that day, and if anyone could have come out that day at Lambeau with a positive word about the team, I would have personally driven them to the insane asylum. The team was pathetic.

I do agree with the author when he/she writes

"Playoffs or not, Superbowl or not, this has been a good year and we have seen our worst days."

I am NOT a "Rose-colored glasses kind of fan." I pay big money for season tickets, roadtrips, and tailgating parking. If I see someting in my team I don't like, I gotta say it. Yes, I was jaw-jacking about the lame ass purple effort this season through November 11th. I am not the type of person who likes losing, and I do not accept 34-0 or 41-0 games lightly.

I have a right to express my feelings (drunken or sober), so I will. If it takes sucking and embarrasment to motivate your team, well, congrats to Childress for figuring that out. I am very happy for the Vikings coach who used this negative start, the piss poor record, the embarrassment of another doughnut and spin it into motivation for a 4-game winning streak. Kudos to the adjustments that were made to put the Vikings into the playoff picture. That is great.

But, the fact is the team is 7-6 and hasn't done anything yet. Arizona and New Orleans are right there breathing down the necks. I have always had very high expectations for my team. I do not like 2-5 and 3-6 records. I am a product of the Purple Power Years, when it was our "right" to win the NFC and go to the Bowl every season. Anything less, is "settling" and I for one, will not apologize for being PISSED at the mismanagement of this team early in the year and most important losing 4 games to the F'N Packers in 2 years? NO WAY.

Monday Night the Vikings get to play on National TV in their first meaningful game at home in many years. I hope the winning streak continues. I will be there cheering and tailgating, and doing my part to help. I will drink my dome beers, buy a program, and maybe some peanuts, you know, buy stuff that puts money in their pockets. Hopefully that will help them be happy.

What makes me happy is to be entertained. I pay for that right, and like most Vikings fans I am nost entertained by winning in a competitive game. I don't pay money to see through "rose color glasses." I don't pay money for autographs, and quite frankly I don't think NFL Players are heroes. They are hard working entertainers, and are compensated for it handsomely. We pay them (indirectly) to entertain US, to represent US. I don't pay to kiss anybodys ass ass (unless her name is Ginger, and she works the pole at Dream Girls; but that's another story...)

Upsets are Planned By the People Who Make Them

It has always been a silent desire of mine to be a fan of "that team." You know, the sleeper? The squad that comes out of the blue and makes their run at the end of the season to sneak into post-season, then piss the whole league fan base off by pulling off the unpopular trip to the promised land.

It started for me when I was young. I always played on crappy little league teams for regular season, but somehow, someway we would manage to eek our way into championship games. My high school coach used to tell us, "Upsets are planned by the people who make them."

Then I watched the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team, and saw them upset the Russians in the "Miracle on Ice." After that improbable gold medal run, I was hooked on the under dog. I started to figure out the formula; a team that no one likes (maybe they have less talent, maybe they are disfunctional, maybe they hate the coach, maybe they are whiners, whatever the reason for losing) is as dangerous as the cause that unifies them. The key is to get everybody believing in a cause, any thing that they can all agree on. Good leaders will find a way to sell the formula to their teams.

I watched Tom Kelly sell "Even keel, one day at a time" to the 1987 & 1991 World Champion Twins baseball teams. I watched the North Stars make a run at the Stanely Cup all the way to game 6 in 1991, and I saw the Wild make it all the way to the 2003 Conference Finals. A team that peaks at the right time is the most dangerous team of all.

I have coached many little league baseball teams to league championships over the years, played on a few state champion softball squads, and even hung around long enough to be part of a world championship softball team. No matter what level a team plays, the team that wins the title always knows to take every team they play serious. They need to play every game like it's the last chance they might ever get to play. There is never a tomorrow, they have to play for the now, no matter the condition, mood, mindset. It's NC State '83 and Villanova '86, survive and advance baby. That's it. Assume the other team wants it more than you do, so go out there and take it from them. Do whatever it takes to prevail.

Simple words, simple formula, but the bottom line is no champs are crowned by accident.

The Vikings could be that team if they want to. Last year they lost 9-3 at San Francisco. At that time it was an opportunity for them to post a 5-3 record at the midpoint of the season. It was game that would set the tone for the rest of the season, and they lost it. They finished 6-10. This year, the result of the Niners game will tell the league how far the team has come in 2007. The question is, do the Vikings know if they have a cause?

I sure do hope so, because a win, a big win, a dominating win would be what a sleeper team with post season aspirations would do.

Hmmm... Could, This, Be Happening?

I can't remember the last time and almost forgot what it is like to win two games in a row. It feels good to see the Vikings crush a team like the Giants, and to see Zygi smiling on the sideline, but I am still a bit hesistant to pronounce that our purple have "turned the corner."

After being so harsh, and calling for a regime change, I have to give Coach Childress alot of credit for getting this team focused. He took a really bad situation after the Packers debacle, and somehow managed to use it to help motivate his team. If he has truly succeeded in getting his team's ears, then it should show this weekend when the Vikings face the Lions.

If the Vikings are able to flush Detroilet this weekend, I will have a smile as big as our owners, but no game in this league is a cake-walk. Last time the Vikes played the Lions, a damn crossbar got in the way, so I am hoping that this weekend the Vikings will be able to play themselves out of situation where a late kick will determine the outcome. I guess I am saying that the team should kick the Lions up and down the field, and when they do, that Dome will be as loud as ever.

"All Day" will return to the Vikings line-up, and the fans will go absoultely ape when he is announced. In recent history, the Vikings haven't been in situations where they could play themselves into playoff contention. The fans know what is at stake, and it is amazing what a 2-game win streak can do for perceptions of a fan-base. I really think this weekend that the Dome will feel as close to a playoff atmosphere as we have seen in the last 3-4 years. I win at home means that momentum could carry this team further than the talent it might have. In the words of the late Chris Farley, "That would be awesome."

Look at the schedule. If the Vikes win, they would be 6-6 overall, the same as Detroit (who currently holds the 6th playoff spot). They Vikings just trashed the Giants, a team who currently holds the 5th playoff spot. A win would almost put the Vikings in control of their destiny with just 4 games remaining against "beatable" teams (San Fran 3-8, Chicago 5-6, Washington 5-6 and Denver 5-6). Holy Opportunity.

But, let's just take it one game at a time, one Adrian or Chester yard at a time. If the defense plays like they did today in New York, well... let's just say it's my hope to return to Lambeau in January and try to stay undefeated against the Cheeseheads in playoff games.

Stay tuned, try to stay positive, and cheer your ass off this weekend. Why not us? It starts on Sunday, and what I am saying right now is that "there's a chance in hell" afterall.

Packers Playing Dirty? Bounties for Taking Out Players Like Adrian? League looking into report of Packers players' 'bounty' offers

Why does this not surprise me? Those dirty bastards in Green Bay took a shot at Adrian's knee last week, and the fans in the stands near me were cheering, hooting and hollering UNTIL... we could all hear AP screaming in pain, writhing on the field. It got quiet with guilt. Packers players started signalling for Vikings trainers to come out immediatley and the mini-party on the Packers bench subdued. Fans near me sat down, and was able to finally see the NFL's best new rookie laying on the Lambeau field. I was sick to my stomach. Now I see the following posted on ESPN.com's automated news wire and want to puke:

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- NFL officials are investigating whether Green Bay Packers players offered payments to teammates for achieving specific defensive goals.

League rules prohibit teams and players "from offering or accepting bonuses to a player for his or his team's performance against a particular team, a particular opposing player or players, or a particular group of an opposing team."

League spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed the investigation Monday.

ESPN reported that Packers defensive backs offered to pay the team's defensive linemen $500 each if there were able to hold Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson under 100 yards rushing two weeks ago, and another $500 for holding Carolina to under 60 yards rushing as a team on Sunday.

Peterson was held to 45 yards rushing before he left the Vikings' Nov. 11 loss to the Packers with an injury. But the Panthers rushed for 131 yards in Sunday's loss to Green Bay.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Monday morning he was not aware of the situation, but had not yet spoken to general manager Ted Thompson.
IMAGINE THAT.
"I have no knowledge of that," McCarthy said. "I have not been made aware of that. I haven't talked to Ted today, so if it's something that happened this morning, we have not spoken."

Packers players were not available to the media on Monday after their 31-17 victory over Carolina.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

The Low Point of 42 Years in Vikings Loyalty

So Lambeau Field was pretty cool. The game sucked, and it's pretty damn bad when a Vikings fan for 42 years of life, has to be felt sorry for by Packers fans. I have never seen a football program look so clueless as I witnessed at Lambeau last weekend. 0-8 on third downs (or was it 0-11, I lost count after the third free beer from empathetic Packer fans) is unacceptable.

The Vikings are 0-4 against the Packers under Coach Brad Childress. That fact itself is unforgiveable and grounds for divorce. There is no way in hell the Vikings are supposed to be swept twice in consecutive years by our biggest rival when over the entire history of the franchise, the games were dead even when the new Coach took over. It's tough to be a Viking fan with a team that plays in a Dome (I know Zygi is trying like heck to change that, and I will support that however I can) and has done very little to restore the Pride that was once known as the Purple People Eaters. Our history has always been one of losing big games, but we were at least competitive enough to put a team together that could win and put themselves into a position of playing in championships. Right now, I would take a 41-0 ass whipping at Giant Stadiums in the NFC championship game. Apparently those were the glory days.

The loss in Green Bay was especially hard to take, because it was almost worse than that moment in early 2001. I kept telling Packer fans, "Anything but 41-0" when it was so obvious that our coaching staff was so inept at countering anything the Pack threw at them. It was that bad.

It's now officially true that for the first time in team history, the purple product on the field is completley inferior to everyone it plays. That being the case, an embarrasing realization has taken hold: The Vikings are at their lowest point and needs to make a change. Childress has to be bought out, and replaced. I am sorry to write that, because I think another regime change is like taking a step back. To me, the definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and I actually believe that Childress should be comitted.


I have ALWAYS been loyal to the Vikings, and will continue to do so until I stop breathing, but as a very passionate fan, I have spent too much energy supporting the status quo; a team that is whitless, passionless, and quite frankly ignorant on how to win games. Rumors abound on various Viking web boards, Myspace and fan sites, that Zygi Wilfe is contemplating buying out the remainder of current head coach Brad Childress' contract.

I have to write, for the first time ever (including Tice, Steckel, Green and even Burns) that I would support this decision if it does occure. The rumors speculate that a buyout would "elevate current defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to head coach for the remainder of this season. Wilf is said to be displeased not only with Childress' on-field results but also with the second-year coach's lack of appeal among the fan base."

If it was my team, I would make a change. Then next year look for a proven Head Coach (not some first timer) to take over the reigns, groom an heir to the coaching job from their system, and put this team back on course. The Viking ship is sailing rudderless, the Captain is stubborn and unwilling to listen to sane people, and it's to dock this thing back home with a new leader.

I hate being anti-anything Viking, but supporting things they way their are, well, I guess that would make me insane. I am still tailgating as normal this weekend, and the only reason I would even consider walking into the dome would be to see Daunte Culpepper in silver & black. The past two years have been very brutal, and I have walked out of games shaking my head in disgust way too many times. Besides, if this game is blacked out, I'd rather use my ticket after tailgating instaed of driving to South Dakota to watch it on TV.

Good Grief.

Hating Your Enemy: Vikings Edition (From a Packer Blog)

Found this on a Green Bay Packers Blog, while was searching Google for "All-Time Vikings Game Dominance"


Oh its that time of year, folks. The leaves are changing, there's a chill in the air, and the Green Bay Packers are in first place in the NFC North. Something about all of this just feels right . Of course, this weekend is my favorite enemy, the Minnesota Vikings.

I'm actually a little excited that they won in such a dominant fashion last week. The excitement that the "W" over San Diego has some Minny fans talking playoffs (insert Jim Mora joke here). I'll say this now for all the world to hear... if Brooks Bollinger leads the Vikings to the playoffs, the universe will immediately collapse upon itself. That's called sarcasm, Minnesota fans... which means its not gonna happen. It should be loads of fun kicking you back down to the cellar with the Bears. I wonder what it smells like down there? Probably like ass and Lions fans...
Let the snark begin. Do to redundancy's sake, I'm not going to pronounce members of the Purple Pecker Checkers as "D-Bags."

Ragnar


Do you know that this snitz is from Wisconsin? I wonder what he does during the offseason. I'm pretty sure he runs around in his purple Fruit of the Looms in his appropriately colored purple trailer and punishes himself. I never knew that the Vikings were able to conquest northern Europe using Segways and sparklers!

Darren "Hey everybody, I went to William & Mary" Sharper


Something about this guy never sat quite right with me. He was supposed to be the leader of the defensive secondary when Butler retired, and bought into his own athletic superiority a little too much. He's too much of a dainty safety in my opinion. Did you know his middle name is Mallory? As Packers fans know, Darren's a guy who will get his picks every year against inferior competition, make the Pro Bowl, but disappear in the big games. Vikings fans love him. Maybe its because they've never been in a big game while he's been on the team. He likes to talk a lot of trash, and has been burned several times against the Pack, which has been very satisfying. I have a feeling that when he retires, he'll do the whole Tiki Barber thing and continue to annoy us all for years on T.V. with his air of superiority. Before his first game with the Vikes, he exclaimed "Man, I look good in purple!" Yes you do Darren, yes you do..

Robert "Turd" Ferguson

Are you starting to see the trend? Minnesota has a knack for signing ex-Packers players who are on the the downside of their careers. Unfortunately, Ferguson never realized the upside.

Ryan "Laces Out" Longwell


Ever popular with the media and an extremely accurate kicker while with the Pack. However, there were two extremely annoying attributes that caused Green Bay to not even attempt to sign their all-time leading scorer. First of all, he could never reach the end zone on kickoffs (leading to regular outstanding field position for the opponent) and his excuse making for every kick he missed wore thin on Packers coaches/players. Longwell seems to be more anal about the hold on the kick then any kicker I've ever seen. And I'm including the fictional character Ray Finkle from "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective." Now he can kick in a dome at least eight games a year. Good riddance.. Mason Crosby could kick his ass.

Brad "Chester the Molester" Childress

As rumor has it, Childress was pretty high on the list of candidates to coach the Pack after TT fired Mike Sherman at the end of the 2005 season. Brad wouldn't even oblige Green Bay with an interview and almost immediately signed with the Vikings. Inside sources state that Childress chose Minnesota because they would be a much better team. We all should probably thank the guy, as he may be an even worse coach then Mike Tice, who at least identified who his playmakers were and tried to get them the ball (remember the ridiculous Randy Ratio). Brad also has a general creepy appearance. I'm 90% sure he spends time at Disney World by himself, wearing his fanny-pack, and just watching the kids walk by.

Vikings Fans in General

I could add a couple players who've been arrested for Minny here (Cedric Griffin, Chester Taylor, etc.) but that's not going to make this All-Star List. Vikings fans, I know you're trolling around out there somewhere, are the most insecure, back-handed, band-wagon, envious, negative pieces of (edited) that you can find in the NFL. Yes I'm including Oakland Raiders fans, at least they stay passionate when their team is losing. They have an absolute unhealthy obsession with the Brett Favre and the Packers in general. A common comeback in a trash-talking duel with the Vikings usually includes "Haha Favre takes Vicodin." Alright guys, think of something new.. that stopped before the 1996 season. Eleven years ago. When you eventually lose your franchise, there's a pretty good football team in Northeast Wisconsin, you might want to check them out.

Posted by BobbyOShea (http://www.packerforum.com/index.php?name=Your_Account&profile=BobbyOShea) Thursday, November 08, 2007 (03:20:54) (618 reads)

Lambeau Field Here We Come

Tomorrow we are taking a roadtrip to venerable Lambeau Field in Green Bay Wisconsin to stop by and say hello to Captain Intercepto and his 7-1 Packers.

This will be our third trip to Dairyland, and so far each trip has been great. If you never made the trip, you gotta do it. Packer fans are loyal to their team, the tailgating is on par with Kansas City, and the entire town centers around the Pack. In the past Vikings fans have made the trip in droves, and this year with Adrian Peterson leading the purple, we are looking forward to meeting many new Vikes fans, and schmoozing with the Cheese.

Tailgate Lot Debacle; Storm Troopers & New Rules