I can’t believe that we are this far away from the annual snooze fest that is the NFL’s Pro Bowl and that we already have four fun storylines to chat about. The Vikings have four Pro Bowl players (at least) and each is in a unique situation.
ADRIAN PETERSON
Everyone’s favorite running back, Adrian Peterson, has been selected to his fifth Pro Bowl and gives us all a reason to watch. Despite the risks associated with Peterson doing anything other than spending the offseason in a deep freeze like Han Solo, Peterson always plays at a high level in the annual skirmish.
This year, almost certainly to the dismay of any AFC defenders, Peterson vows to do now different.
“I’m going to play hard,” warned Peterson. “It is hard for me to play down because when you play down, you put yourself in jeopardy of getting hurt going through the motions. So I won’t be playing down.”
With how Peterson has played this season, coupled with the lackadaisical nature of this game, would anyone be surprised to see Peterson break 300 yards? 400?
500?
Peterson plans on having his abdomen, which had been bugging him near the end of this season, examined a little closer following the Pro Bowl.
JARED ALLEN
Some would argue that Jared Allen, who has been plagued by injury more than ever, was really only voted into the Pro Bowl based off of his name value and not his 2012 production. That might be partially true, but he still played pretty darn good football this season.
Allen, who played with a torn labrum this season, plans to wait until after the Pro Bowl to have surgery on it, which will be the first surgery he has had during his football career. Allen related making the Pro Bowl and not going to going to an ice cream shop and not getting to try any.
“I played the whole year,” he said. “I’m going to enjoy the Pro Bowl. I figure I’ll at least get some warm weather and a pseudo-free vacation.”
Unlike Peterson, however, Allen has said that going full speed at the Pro Bowl and risking an injury that could cost him millions is not worth it. He said he will play down. He also noted that he once played against Peterson in the Pro Bowl and knows the guy is incapable of performing at any lower level of play.
BLAIR WALSH
Rookie kicker Blair Walsh, also known as the best kicker in the NFL, also plans on making his first trip to the Pro Bowl after being elected to the honor.
What is more, Walsh is planning on paying all the costs for long snapper Cullen Loeffler to go with him and hopes to get him on the Pro Bowl roster.
“He obviously came through and he’s like, ‘Yeah, definitely. I’m appreciative for everything that you’ve done,'” Loeffler said of Walsh. “He’s just been a great guy.”
JEROME FELTON
In addition to making a trip to Hawaii, Jerome Felton’s offseason will consist of contract negotiations, and it sounds like he wants to remain a Viking. After helping Adrian Peterson to a 2,000 yard season, it sounds like the Vikings want him back to.
“Obviously you never know how it’s going to turn out. I know it’s a business and all that,” Felton said of being a pending free agent. “I feel good about being here, so I hope that they get something done before that. That’s my goal.
With so many executives, scouts, coaches, agents and players in Hawaii at once, it might just present the perfect opportunity to get those talks rolling.
View Comments
Geez, its hard to keep up on the threads here lately. Just when we get a good one going, YOU start a new one. Who the hell do you think you are. . .Oh, wait. . .
Seriously tho, you said it earlier; Incredible, how happy we all seem to be after being beat and knocked out of the playoffs by our arch rivals. Weird, huh?
Well, I am glad to hear the pace is ok :). I feel like I've been struggling to keep up with all the news!
Keep it coming Adam, we'll be right here.
Landry Jones is awesome. That is all.
Honestly, I don't know if that's sarcasm or serious. In the 4th round he would be awesome.
No to L. Jones.
By the way, I just clocked on that T-shirt ad that pops up sometime where the Amazo ad is sometimes. You guys should go there and click on T-shirts. Some of the funniest stuff I've read.
"Clicked"
I cant find the t-shirt add Fran. When does it pop up?
Sometimes it's where the Amazon ad is and sometimes it's where the Huluplus ad is at. Not sure what triggers the changes but I'll bet Adam or Brett do. I'm not necessarily trying to get you guys to click on the ads, all though it does create a bit of revenue for the site when you do, I'm pointing out the T-shirt ads, which are really funny.
The ads are based on your own browsing history - they are different for everyone most times. The Amazon ad is permanent, though. (By the way, if you click on our amazon link and purchase anything from Amazon, we get a little cut of it at no cost to you. So... yeah.)
How about the ads that want us to vote for or against someone?
Other than the one Amazon ad, the rest are spaces on the page that we have granted permission to Google to place as they see fit.
For those of you that don't follow the news too much, or at least this type of news, google pretty much knows everything you look up on your computer and will tailor ads to you specifically.
If you visit news sites, you'll get political ads. Sports sites get you under arm our ads or Nike or whatever. If you buy a lot of, say, pet rocks... You'll probably end up getting pet rock ads. In fact, if you visit amazon all of our ads might be for amazon the next time you visit.
The ads may not seem relevant to you, and that's because this is essentially a logarithm that can make errors.
We do not have a special relationship with any of the advertisers on this site, except for Amazon and Google, but we can influence what type are allowed to show up (we did finally get rid of the Asian mail order brides, which I think PFT still struggles with).
We intend to be open and honest with our revenue (using that term loosely) strategy, and have no problem discussing it.
We intend for the ads to be unobtrusive and tasteful, and would gladly field emails from anyone if there are ads that don't belong.
To be honest, Brett and I made about enough to pay for our registration fees and stuff in 2012. We'd love to see that grow, but not at the expense of our readers enjoyment of the site.
So, please, if any concerns come up let us know. We both agree that each of you are as big of a part of VT as either of us!
i think you can change that, by opting out of google's tracking method
Yes, thanks Cal, I should have mentioned that. Sounds like you might know more about that than I do though? Got details?
it's in google's account and privacy area, when you've signed in for a google acct.
I'll probably watch this turd called the Pro Bowl just to see a few of the Vikes play but this game has turned into a joke. Please no injuries to Vikes players.
Yeah Johnny, they should just turn it into a skills competition. They're there for fun, not to knock the hell out of each other. Although, that can be fun as well.
I always watched it after the Superbowl, Still think it's dumb before it.
Guys that are in the superbowl can't play...
ware out, greenway in
now sully next, pls. saturday is a joke
And Kalil. I forget who the LTs are ahead of him?
All I know is I'm gonna root for the AFC!
For the Percy supporters out there, Spielman doesn't sound like someone who is shopping Harvin when he says, "...we have no issues with Percy Harvin." Now, I know that could be an effort to improve his trade value, but I do think the "rift" was more media created than it was in actuality. It will still come down to what Percy wants vs. what Zygi will pay, but I think the Vikes clearly want him on the roster next year.
Oh no Coach you did it again, you are gonna root for the AFC? Against the 5 Vikes playing in the game?
No, johnny... against the Packer players. I'm "all in" on this anti-Packer thing now. I even mute the Aaron Rodgers commercials.
too late for tonight, johnny, he's in bed by now. 3am wake up requires one to go to bed early
prolly eats dinner around 2pm. with his pants pulled up around his chest, hehe
Wrong, wrong, and really wrong.
...but I probably should be going to bed earlier. I slept past 4:30 one morning this week.
ya know, nothing good goes on at 4:30 in the morning
ok, 3:30 then
And now Mularkey is gone, too. I TOLD him to get his hair cut, but oh no, he couldn't do that. There it was, all visible and sticking out from under his cap. Well Mike... I hate to tell you I told you so, but...
My guess is the Jags won't hire another former Viking player as a head coach. 0 for 2 on that.