Off-The-Field Issues

Greenway’s Absence Understandably Due To Father’s Illness

June 13, 2012, by 4 comments

The Minnesota Vikings have had good, spirited attendance at OTA’s so far this year by all accounts.  A few veterans have stayed away, including Percy Harvin after his shoulder presumably started to act up after attending the very beginning of OTA’s.  Jared Allen has also been away, which is not really a surprise given that is pretty much the norm for number 69.

One player that has been somewhat of a mystery has been Chad Greenway whose absence has been attributed to the vague reason of “family situation” up until this point.

According to reports, however, Greenway is indeed dealing with an unenviable and difficult situation.  His father, whom we can all remember for his words after Greenway was drafted, has been battling leukemia and is currently getting hospice care.

“I talked with him a few days ago and I don’t know if we’ll have him back for mandatory minicamp,” Leslie Frazier said. “His family situation is something he’s dealing with so we may or may not have him back for that but it’s understandable, what he’s experiencing.”

According to the reports, a number of South Dakota farmers have banded together to help Alan Greenway out by bailing his hay this season.

We here at VT would like to pass along our best wishes to Alan, Chad, and the whole Greenway family. This is surely the most trying of times for the Greenway family, and I know many of you would be eager to help out, but I have been unable to find any sort of fund being organized for Mr. Greenway.  If I find one I will be sure to pass that along.

In the meantime, Pennies for Patients has always been a standup organization to support in the battle against leukemia.

[UPDATE: It should be noted that the sixth annual Greenway's Gridiron Gallup will be held this Sunday, Father's Day, in Minneapolis.  The 5k run helps to raise funds for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board youth athletic programming.  For more details, you can click here.]

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.

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.