Monthly archive: June, 2012

Banks To Visit Vikings At End Of The Week

June 11, 2012, by 19 comments

A few days back, we passed along the information that linebacker Brian Banks is somebody of interest to the Vikings (and everybody else that follows football) this offseason.

After being exonerated of rape charges that took a decade of his young life, Banks has become quite the celebrity and many are hopeful he will become the feel-good storyline of this season, regardless of where he lands.

According to Sam Farmer of the L.A. Times, Banks will attend a minicamp with the Seattle Seahawks this week.  If he leaves Seattle without a contract, then he is scheduled to visit the Vikings at the end of this week.

The Vikings could be the perfect match for Banks should they choose to offer him a contract.  They are a young team looking to improve but, at the same time, expecting some growing pains.  Plus, they could use some depth at linebacker.

Banks could have the inspired type of play, the will to succeed, that coaches will love in training camp despite the certain obstacles he will have to hurdle in order to succeed in the NFL after such a long time away from the game.

We’ll be sure to keep an eye on this storyline and let you know of any progress as far as the Vikings are concerned.

Simpson’s Suspension Is Now Official

June 11, 2012, by 7 comments

Over a month ago, word emerged that free agent wide receiver received a three game suspension for his drug trafficking arrest during his days with the Bengals.  Shortly after the suspension hit the media, Simpson signed a one year deal with the Vikings.

Today, the NFL made the suspension official, which likely means that the appeal process has run its course.

The NFL indeed has suspended Simpson for three games, and will also deduct one more game check from him.

If I were a betting man, I would guess that the suspension was originally for four games but the league took pity on him, knowing that Simpson was a free agent and a four game suspension would make him much less attractive to teams with a week four bye.  Hence, the additional game check being deducted.

Simpson will miss games against the Jaguars, Colts, and Niners before returning to the team on September 24th.  His Minnesota debut will likely come with plenty of anticipation, as Simpson has generated as much hype as any Vikings player during OTA’s.

The big question with Simpson is whether or not he actually does “get it” and will be able to avoid trouble throughout the rest of his career.  The following quote leaves me doubting him a bit.

“It is because I won’t be out there with my guys playing the game I love,” Simpson said of his frustrations with being suspended, “but it’s the technicality of my situation.”

In what world (besides Amsterdam) is getting nabbed for receiving two and a half pounds of pot in the mail considered a “technicality?”

For the drug charges Simpson had to spend 15 days in jail, received a $7,500 fine, and was assigned 200 hours of community service.  The suspension without pay is expected to cost him $188,235 in game checks, and up to another $178,125 in incentives.

COIN TOSS: A Matter Of Character

June 10, 2012, by 28 comments

This week here at VT we are bringing back our weekly “Coin Toss” column where Adam and I go head to head on a variety of different topics. This week, we’ll be debating the fate of Vikings new fullback Jerome Felton.

We’ve been talking about it a lot here at Vikings Territory, but in case you missed any of that coverage, let me bring you up to speed: Jerome Felton was arrested a few days ago for driving while intoxicated… at a McDonald’s drive-through. Since then, Felton has publicly apologized for his actions and the trouble he got himself into. The team has really taken no stance on Felton’s future with the team giving the typical “we’re waiting to gather more information” line. The NFL on the other hand is currently reviewing the case to determine if Felton should be suspended as this, apparently, isn’t his first run-in with authorities for getting behind the wheel after drinking.

Continue Reading →

Brian Banks Is On The Vikings Radar

June 9, 2012, by 4 comments

After being falsely accused of rape, linebacker Brian Banks is trying to break back into football after an incredibly trying 10 years.  Banks has drawn interest from a number of teams and we can now put the Vikings in that category.

Reports have surfaced, citing Banks’ lawyer as the source, that the Vikings would like to bring Banks in for a tryout to see what he has.

Banks is now 26 and had once made a verbal commitment to attend USC after being highly recruited, but the accusations derailed his life and his football career.  The accuser, Wanetta Gibson, recently recanted her accusations revealing a plot to gain a financial settlement from the school district that both her and Banks attended.

“I think that any team that gives me an opportunity would be really impressed with what I can do despite all of what I’ve been through these past 10 years,” Banks told Ann Curry of Today in May.

Banks has an uphill battle to catch on with an NFL team, but he has certainly caught the attention of football fans (and morning news audiences) and has been a unique, interesting, and inspiring storyline to follow this offseason.

Report: NFL Could Suspend Felton

June 8, 2012, by 2 comments

Jerome Felton’s early morning run to McDonald’s could turn out to be the determining factor in his future in Minnesota.

Brian Murphy of the Pioneer Press reports that Felton’s arrest is being reviewed by the NFL and, since he reportedly has a prior DWI offense, could end up facing a suspension from the league.

While Felton is still practicing with the first team throughout OTA’s, any sort of suspension could seriously hinder his chances of making it past the final cuts.

Everyone Is Entitled To Their Opinion, BUT…

June 8, 2012, by 10 comments

Okay, so, here is the deal.

  1. The Vikings could use an upgrade at wide receiver.
  2. Chad Ochocinco was been released by the Patriots.

So, naturally, Twitter and Facebook are instantly flooded with Vikings fans stumping for Ocho to join the team.

Sound ridiculous?

Well, it isn’t so ridiculous if a guy like Mike Florio of PFT, who actually gets paid lots of money to think about these things, makes a comment like this:

“Look at the depth chart,” writes Florio.  “He’d instantly be the second-best receiver on the roster, behind Percy Harvin.”

So, if Florio wrote this, it must have some merit to it, right?

Wrong.

Now, I like Florio more than many of you do, but I just can’t see how anyone who is paying attention to anything about this year’s Minnesota Vikings can think that there is a place for the 34 year old receiver on this roster.

Last year, playing in one of the league’s best offenses with one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks ever, Ochocinco rarely made any sort of impact.  He played in 15 games, starting three, but managed only 15 catches.  He turned those grabs into 276 yards and a touchdown.

The Vikings receivers had a combination of Donovan McNabb, rookie Christian Ponder, and Joe Webb throwing to them.  Still, many of them managed to out-perform Ocho in 2011.

In 11 games, Michael Jenkins managed 38 receptions for 466 yards and three scores.  Devin Aromashodu had 26 receptions for 468 yards and a touchdown.  With the Bengals, Jerome Simpson had 50 catches for 725 yards and four touchdowns.

I fail to see how the stats, or common sense, could lead someone to believe Ochocinco would “instantly” become the Vikings second best receiver.

The only thing he would instantly become is the Vikings oldest receiver.

Adrian Peterson’s Mom Never Taught Him To Never Bring Up Politics During Dinner

June 8, 2012, by 12 comments

Social media has made it nearly impossible for us to know an NFL player simply for being just an NFL player.

Long gone are the days of cheering for a player when they are on the field.  Listening to some badass sound bites on the evening news in which the player is talking about football.  Then, waiting until next weekend before thinking about (or caring about) what that player will say next.

Now, players have the choice of about six thousand different outlets that will allow them to express themselves, and that can sometimes be good and can sometimes make us cringe.

I won’t comment too much about Adrian Peterson’s recent Twitter adventure, as outlined by Deadspin, but I will make a couple of quick comments after you read through his back-and-forths with readers from an inspired trip to Whataburger.

First:  Did Adrian really try to argue that our country was not founded on, in part, the separation of church and state?

Second:  Many historians would not think twice about telling us that, at least economically, this country was founded on slavery.  I can’t imagine that Peterson, of all people, would argue that every philosophy America was founded on should still be a part of the institution.

Third:  Want to make a gazillion dollars?  Invent a spell-check for Twitter.

Four:  Like Tim Tebow, I have a lot of respect for people that do as they preach, and I think Peterson has proven to be a guy that actually walks the walk.  I’m not sure that he is very gifted in making strong arguments or stating things real well, but if he keeps doing the things he does, then he is a good step or two in front of most of his Twitter followers I bet.

Five:  People should chill out.  If the whole separation of church and state issue were an easily solved one, then it wouldn’t be an issue.  People are entitled to their opinions, people also have the rights to express those opinions, and that is what makes America such a great place to be.

At the very least, this should spark some interesting conversation in the comments sections of many websites… including this one.  Play nice, though.