Training Camp 2011

2011 MINNESOTA Vikings

Training Camp Issue

Page 2 • MSU Reporter

2011 Minnesota Vikings

THE 2011 MINNESOTA VIKINGS: A NEW DIRECTION

TABLE OF CONTE NTS Here comes Donovan...............3

Percy Harvin...........................13

what is Joe Webb’s role?..... 22

frazier’s first season ............4

Will Allen bounce back? ..... 14

What’s up with Williams.......23

new coordinators....................5

The Henderson bros..............15

Fantasy preview.....................24

Christian Ponder.....................6

Schedules................................16

Bittersweet camp................25

A new kind of player...............7

Depth Chart............................17

Nfc North breakdown..........26

A.P. leading the way.................8

A lot to prove.........................18

Jumps................................... 27-28

Visanthe Shiancoe...................9

A new weapon....................... 19

Other Vikings news.......... 29-31

Chad Greenway......................10

the wideouts...........................20

Phil Loadholt a veteran....... 11

did we make the right move?.21

Cover photo by Jim McIsaac/ Getty Images Photo illustration by Nick Spaeth/ MSU Reporter

Training Camp Issue

MSU Reporter • Page 3

The Steady Hand of a Veteran LEE HANDEL

sports editor Only one week into his tenure as a member of the Vikings, Donovan McNabb is already making an impact in Minnesota. After two straight years of endless drama surrounding the quarterback position in Mankato, McNabb arrived in town on time for training camp on Sunday and has brought with him a sense of calmness and stability to both players and fans alike.

Coming off a 6-10 season that began with Super Bowl aspirations and ended with the team at the bottom of the division, the Vikings biggest question mark heading into the 2011 season was who would start at quarterback. The acquisition of McNabb, a 12-year starter and six-time Pro-Bowler in the NFL with Philadelphia and Washington, has answered that question.

First-year head coach Leslie Frazier has confirmed that McNabb will be his starter, with rookie Christian Ponder and second-year pro Joe Webb serving as his backups. Even though McNabb has yet to take a meaningful snap in purple, he is already doing his best to change the outlook for both the organization and its fans after a tumultuous 2010.

“It’s a new day for me,” McNabb said. “I don’t regret any decisions that were made and for this opportunity to play here with this group of guys, I’m excited.”

McNabb, 34, spent his first 11 seasons in the league with Philadelphia and experienced his fair share of ups and downs.

Despite putting up some big numbers and leading the Eagles to a 92-49-1 record, five NFC Championships and a Super Bowl, McNabb always fell a step short and never hoisted the Lombardi trophy. Even with all of his and the team’s accomplishments, McNabb was constantly scrutinized by the Philly fan base throughout his 11 years with the organization.

“In Philadelphia it’s like that every year,” he said. “They’ll like you and then they won’t like you, but the thing about it is it’s the game of football.”

Although McNabb led Philadelphia to the playoffs and had a passer rating of 92.9 in 2009, the Eagles wanted to go a different direction at quarterback and traded McNabb to the Washington Redskins in the offseason.

The first seven games with Washington went great for McNabb. He went 4-3 and led the team to victories over

eventual NFC playoff teams Philadelphia, Green Bay and Chicago. Things went downhill in a hurry after that, and head coach Mike Shanahan even benched McNabb for the last three games of the season.

“There’s ways of learning from it and there’s things you can take from it as well as things you can throw away and kick it over the building.

But still it makes you stronger mentally,” said McNabb.

One factor benefitting the veteran quarterback as he tries to learn a new system is his close relationship with Coach Frazier, who was with McNabb in Philadelphia from 19992003. Frazier used this previous relationship to help convince McNabb that he was genuinely wanted by the Vikings to be their starter.

“My familiarity with him and vice versa, so as we were going through this process in talking to his agent and talking to him, that made a difference,” said Frazier.

Those around the NFL have offered their opinions of whether or not McNabb still has anything left in the tank.

Some people say he’s washed up and out of shape and others

McNabb/ page 27

wale agboola • msu reporter The Vikings traded for Donovan McNabb almost immediately after a new CBA was reached. Minnesota gave up two sixth round picks.

Page 4 • MSU Reporter

2011 Minnesota Vikings

Starting a New Chapter: The Leslie Frazier Era The new coach is ready to put his stamp on Vikings football. He hopes a lot of winning is involved. staff writer

Despite so much change in such a short amount of time, Leslie Frazier, the recently promoted head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, has maintained a cool, confident demeanor through the first few days of training camp.

Frazier has already had to overcome the headaches of the lockout, a shortened offseason and the messy situation that led to his hiring midway through last season. There is also the nightmare caused by the Metrodome collapsing, and a roster full of many new faces and questions.

But none of that has shaken Frazier. In fact, simply put, Leslie Frazier is just happy to be here. “[I’m] just happy that we were able to get together again as a team,” said Frazier following Monday’s practice, the first time the Vikings had been together since the January 2 loss to the Detroit Lions that seems like a lifetime ago.

As the newest head coach of

ferent team than the one that finished 12-4 and lost in the NFC Championship Game the previous season.

But Frazier is happy to leave the 2010 season in the past and have the chance to fix the team he already feels is his own.

“I do feel that it’s our team,” said Frazier. “It’s a team myself and the rest of the other coaches are able to put our stamps on and just the way the guys have responded here at the very start has been so positive. It just gives me the impression that we’ve moved on past 2010 and we have opened up a new era.”

As a starting cornerback of the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears, Frazier has established a history as a winner. He demonstrates a strict win-in-spite-of attitude and hasn’t allowed anything, even one of the wildest seasons in the history of NFL football, to keep him from reaching his goal of becoming a head coach in the NFL.

Hoping for a shake-up

TIGE HUTCHESON

1992-2001 - Dennis Green : 97-62 2001-2005 - Mike Tice: 32-33 2006-2010 - Brad Childress: 40-37 2010-? - Leslie Frazier: 3-3

shannon rathmanner • msu reporter The Vikings named Leslie Frazier interim head coach last season after the firing of Brad Childress.

the Minnesota Vikings, Frazier certainly has his work cut out for him. The Vikings finished 23rd in total offense, 26th in passing yards, 27th in receiving yards, 19th in total tackles,

24th in rushing yards given up, 23rd in passing yards given up and 24th in receiving yards given up. Most disappointing, however, was that the Vikings looked like a completely dif-

“All of our coaches who have worked during this offseason, they’re excited, our organization [is excited] and I know our fans are,” Frazier said.

Now that Frazier is permanently in charge, he is focused on getting his team ready for the regular season opener and nothing else.

“One of the good things, if there’s anything good about this lockout, is the fact that every team in the league is operating under the same parameters,” said Frazier. “We’ll do the things that are necessary in the weeks to come in the conditioning standpoint, from a learning standpoint, but the goal is to find the best 53 to line up against San Diego.”

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Training Camp Issue

MSU Reporter • Page 5

You’ve heard it before. The guy plays video games, is in a band and is very popular among his Twitter followers. We’re forgetting something here, though. He’s also one of the league’s best punters.

KYLE RATKE

editor in chief

I know, I know. You’ve heard it all before. The Vikings might have the nerdiest player in the league. He’s a huge fan of World of Warcraft (although, he admits he hasn’t played in six months because the game has become too easy.) He’s in the band Tripping Icarus, which he made Donovan McNabb drop five times in order for him to take Kluwe’s No. 5 jersey. Kluwe said the number’s just a number. Nothing more.

Last year, Kluwe agreed to join us on our weekly podcast here at Minnesota State University, Mankato. It was a way for him to promote Tripping Icarus, as they were playing at Red Sky during the first week of training camp. Did I care if it was a promotional, pity appearance? Obviously not. I’m a stinkin’ college kid.

While going through my phone last week, I noticed Kluwe’s number still in there. So, I gave him a call to see if he’d want to join our show again. He said yes. I asked him if he’d like to join us in studio. He said yes. During our radio interview, we discussed the McNabb jersey “contract.” We talked about his gaming career and how popular he’s become over Twitter after recent statements about the CBA and speaking what everyone was thinking. It was refreshing, no matter if it was coming from an every down player or a punter.

Near the end of the interview, we realized we forgot something. We forgot that Kluwe has nearly every record for a Minnesota punter. Last season, Kluwe had 83 punts and 32 of them landed inside the 20 yard line. He averaged 43 yards per punt. He hasn’t dipped below 42 yards per punt since becoming a Viking.

While we may laugh at special teams, we fail to realize for every 30 great punts Kluwe has, it just takes one to cancel it out. Gary Anderson was a great kicker for the Minnesota Vikings, but I still remember his missed field goal against the Atlanta Falcons. He was perfect throughout the season, but I will forever remember him for that. The job’s not as easy as it sounds.

We are distracted by the things he does off the field, but yet, he’s not an “off the field distraction” type of player. He hasn’t gotten arrested. Hasn’t gotten suspended. The reason we are “distracted” is because he’s a normal dude.

He can go into a radio studio with three college students and sit and talk for 20 minutes. I think we need more “distractions” like this around the league.

7

web photo Chris Kluwe made Donovan McNabb drop his band’s name in order to snag the No. 5 jersey from him.

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Page 6 • MSU Reporter

2011 Minnesota Vikings

THIS ROOKIE IS

Doing Everything He Can

The Vikings have said he’ll wait and learn during his rookie season. Don’t tell Christian Ponder that, he won’t listen.

KYLE RATKE

editor in chief

A rookie quarterback starting in the NFL. The odds are already against him. The players that we call “success” stories, certainly had their bumps and bruises.

Many consider Peyton Manning’s rookie season a success. He threw 28 touchdowns. We forget to remember he threw 28 interceptions.

So when the Vikings drafted Florida State’s Christian Ponder at No. 12 in this year’s draft, many were surprised. How could a team that was one pass away from the Super Bowl two seasons ago, simply give the keys to a rookie quarterback?

Well, it turned out that the Vikings had a plan to sign a veteran to teach Ponder the ropes. That veteran turned out to be Donovan McNabb, who coach Leslie Frazier announced will be the starter, but Ponder has made it known he’s not going down without a fight.

“The guy deserves the starting job,” Ponder said.

“He has been in the league for awhile, but my mentality is still to go in and compete and try to get that job from him. He deserves being the starting quarterback and

somewhere down the raod I’m going to push to take that over and we’ll see.”

McNabb threw for a career-high 15 interceptions last season, but has been on the Vikings radar ever since the Eagles made him available two seasons ago. Ponder has a chance to do what guys like Aaron Rodgers have done in the past: Sit and learn. And then hopefully win.

“I think there’s an advantage to being thrown in early and trying to get playing time and that’s the answer everyone wants, but there’s an advantage to sitting back and waiting and learning from a guy like Brett Favre or Donovan McNabb. Obviously those guys are successful and you can learn something from them,” Ponder said.

Maybe the Vikings don’t think they’re giving up on 2011. If Ponder were to slide into the starting role, many think he would do the best of the rookie quarterbacks and is the most NFL ready.

That has yet to be seen, but with players such as Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin on the offensive side of the ball, Ponder will have the tools necessary to compete if need be.

The criticism won’t be

thrown around as much as it would have had Ponder started week one, but it’s a general consensus around the league that the Vikings reached for Ponder at No. 12.

In the Vikings eyes, Ponder was the quarterback they wanted. Could they have gotten him later in the first round? Sure, but they weren’t about to trade out of the spot with the possibility of losing him.

Before the 2010 college football season, the Seminole was a candidate to win the Heisman Trophy. Ponder fell a bit short, but he still threw for 20 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.

The Vikings fell in love with his athleticism, along with his smarts, which can never go unnoticed at the quarterback position (Ex. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees). He ultimately became their guy and now for the first time since Daunte Culpepper, the Vikings have a young quarterback to build the team around.

The Vikings also drafted a weapon for Ponder to grow up with, by drafting Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph in the second round. Rudolph will likely be a back-up as

Ponder / page 27

wale agboola • msu reporter Christian Ponder was the fourth quarterback taken in the 2011 NFL Draft.

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Training Camp Issue

MSU Reporter • Page 7

The Drama on the Offensive Line

Injuries, question marks and cuts have made the news for the offensive line so far this training camp.

LEE HANDEL

sports editor

With the NFL lockout finally over and training camp underway, Minnesota Vikings’ guard and player rep Steve Hutchinson is back to working outside on the field with the rest of his offensive line mates instead of inside a building with a bunch of men in suits.

Hutchinson spent the majority of his offseason representing the Vikings as part of the NFL Players Association while working with the owners on a new collective bargaining agreement that would bring an end to the lockout.

After months of deliberation, the owners finally approved the new CBA by a 31-0 vote on July 21. The NFLPA gave its approval four days later and the lockout was lifted. Each player on every team also had to vote whether or not they were in favor of recertifying as a players union once they arrived at training camp.

“I printed out cards that were emailed to me and distributed them throughout the locker room this week, so I know we officially were recertified,”

Hutchinson said.

The lockout hurt the Vikings offensive players especially because they are learning a new system and were not able to take part in OTA’s.

“We were able to distribute playbooks earlier this spring when we had the temporary lift of the lockout and guys were able to review them for most of the summer,” said Hutchinson Now that all the business is taken care of off the field, it’s time for every unit on the football team to get back up to speed. Despite showing age and struggling at times last season, the Vikings offensive line was supposed to be one of the few areas on the team returning all of its starters.

However, due to some bizarre occurrences, the O-line already has a vastly different look to it just a few days into training camp. After going months with no contact with the coaching staff, nine-year veteran Bryant McKinnie appeared to arrive at camp out of shape and was on the sidelines during the first practice.

The same day McKinnie stood and watched, the Vikings

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signed tackle Charlie Johnson, who had started his fair share of games the past five seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. This raised some questions that McKinnie was on bad terms with head coach Leslie Frazier and the coaching staff, but Frazier dodged all questions and said the matter was being addressed.

The team proceeded to put McKinnie on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, and cut the former All-Pro the following day. Although McKinnie never missed a game due to injury, he had regressed the past couple seasons and the Vikings’ quarterbacks, particularly Brett Favre, were paying the price.

“This decision, while not an easy one, is in the best interests of our football team as we move forward preparing for the season,” said Frazier.

Couple the loss of McKinnie with starting guard Anthony Herrera’s recovery from ACL and triceps surgeries and only three-fifths of the starters from last year have been able to take the field in 2011. Herrera has been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to

Offensive line / page 27

shannon rathmanner • msu reporter Phil Loadholt, John Sullivan and Steve Hutchinson take a break on day two of training camp.

Page 8 • MSU Reporter

2011 Minnesota Vikings

In a league of his own There are few things Adrian Peterson hasn’t done. This season a lot of things for the Vikings are up in the air. One thing that’s not is the running back position.

REECE HEMMESCH | staff writer

Three weeks ago Vikings we didn’t even know if there was going to be a season. Now that the NFL is on and ready to go, there are more questions that we cannot answer about the offense.

Questions about the quarterback situation or how new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave will work out. The one certainty we do know about the offense is four-time pro bowler Adrian Peterson is still here and ready to lead this offense.

Peterson is coming off his lowest rushing total last season with less than 1,300 yards for the first time in his career. But with a new quarterback and a new group of receivers, Peterson will be the key player in this offense. It’s no more of him being the running back in a pass heavy offense as he was the last two years with Brett Favre at quarterback. This is his offense and it should not be lofty for him to get 330 carries this season. With our passing game, guess what Minnesota?

He’s our main offensive weapon.

“We’re going to explore,” Head coach Leslie Frazier said about his options on offense.

“One of the things that Bill (Musgrave) mentioned to our offensive players was that we’re going to do our best to explore the talent we have with this offense.”

Stop the exploring Leslie, Peterson’s your man. NFL network just recently ranked Peterson as the third best player in 2011. If this is the case, why are eight other running backs getting the ball more than him?

Peterson should be in the top three in rushing attempts every year.

Last year Peterson only carried the ball 283 times, ranking him ninth among running backs for total carries. If he would have gotten the ball as many times as Michael Turner, Stephen Jackson, or Arian Foster,

Peterson / page 28

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wale agboola• msu reporter

Training Camp Issue

MSU Reporter • Page 9

New Offense=New Opportunities

New offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave plans on opening things up for the tight ends this season.

Visanthe Shiancoe likes the sound of that and hopes his numbers improve from last season.

JOEY DENTON

staff writer

This offseason gave the players more off time not being with the team, but that didn’t stop the Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe from working hard and getting better this offseason. With his time, all he has been doing is getting ready for this optimistic season.

“I’m feeling good. All I had time for is to work out, eat, sleep, run, lift weights, scratch my ass and chill out,” said Shiancoe. “Thank god that this lockout is done. It was like pulling teeth.”

Shiancoe had a little drop in productivity last season, especially compared to his 2009 season. With his receptions, yards, and touchdowns dropping a little, he has come to Mankato ready to go the extra mile to have a superb season.

“I’m just glad to be here. I’m over here running routes on a high school field, and it’s fun to run routes here with my teammates, and where it really counts,” said Shiancoe. “I’m going to be here every day doing something extra, doing ball drills and footwork to get ready for when my number is called.”

After having a great experience catching passes from Brett Favre the

last two seasons, he will have another possible hall of fame quarterback to line up with in Donavon McNabb. Even with the very limited amount of reps they have had, he talks very highly of him.

Shiancoe has a unique opportunity to be coached by McNabb and to coach the young guns the Vikings drafted this offseason, quarterback Christian Ponder and tight end Kyle Rudolph. After a few practices, Shiancoe was impressed with their technique and work ethic, and he can’t wait to see them develop.

“When I see Rudolph running his routes, he looks pretty crisp and he’s catching the ball pretty good. Ponder has great footwork and he’s putting a little velocity on the ball. They both seem to be ready to go,” said Shiancoe.

It’s a good thing the Vikings picked up these two youngsters, because after Donavon McNabb decided he was going to sign with the Vikings, wide receiver Sidney Rice decided to take his talents to the west coast and joined the Seattle Seahawks with teammate and former Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. With the additions of the draft picks, Shiancoe believes they, and the other young players, can help replace that loss.

Shiancoe said of Rice: “There will be a little void to be filled, but we have a lot of talent on this team. I’m pretty sure our offensive coordinators will put something together to fill that void with the talent we have.”

This season Shiancoe will have a lot of new players around him and even some new coaches. Obviously one of them is the new head coach Leslie Fraizer, who is planning on running a west coast style of offense, which according to Shiancoe is very player friendly, and it will help Donovan McNabb get acquainted with the Vikings system quicker. Another new coach is the offensive coordinator, Bill Musgrave. He was last year’s quarterback coach for the Atlanta Falcons, and he used their future hall of fame tight end Tony Gonzalez a lot, which makes Shiancoe very excited for this season.

The Silver Spring, Maryland native could and is aiming to have a bounce back season with the Vikings as they look to take back their division title.

He is surrounded by other veteran players and up-and-coming NFL stars, so there is a good chance for Shiancoe and the Vikings to reach that goal and have success in the future.

wale agboola• msu reporter Shiancoe caught just two touchdowns last season.

Page 10 • MSU Reporter

2011 Minnesota Vikings

A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

TIGE HUTCHESON | staff writer

shannon rathmanner • msu reporter Chad Greenway led the Vikings with 144 tackles last season.

Welcome to Mankato!

It’s time for Chad Greenway to start making a little noise.

Coming into the 2011 offseason, the Vikings faced one of the toughest free agency dilemmas in the NFL: who to use the franchise tag on. On one hand you have a dynamic, former Pro Bowl wide receiver that, when healthy, is among the best in the league. On the other you have a steady, reliable linebacker that’s one of the best kept secrets in the NFL. Who would you choose?

The Vikings waved a reluctant goodbye to wide receiver Sidney Rice that, while still unfortunate, consequently validates all of the hard work of your franchise tagged linebacker.

That linebacker is Chad Greenway, and receiving the franchise tag cemented his status as one of the cornerstones of the Vikings defense.

“It feels good,” said Greenway. “I’ve given everything I have to this organization and have worked hard to improve, so for [management] to react that way is huge.”

Greenway is coming off the best season of his career. He easily led the Vikings in total tackles (144), solo tackles (109), and assisted tackles (35), and managed to weather the injury

plague to start all 16 games for the Vikings.

The only problem is that, until this summer, it seemed as if nobody even noticed. Greenway has yet to make the Pro Bowl and perpetually takes the backseat to teammates like Jared Allen. Antoine Winfield, and the Williams Wall when it comes to media coverage and attention.

But when the Wilfs made the decision to secure Greenway rather than Sidney Rice with the franchise tag proved that the Vikings hadn’t overlooked him.

Most NFL players have grown to hate the franchise tag, viewing it as a shackle to one location and one inflexible salary that takes away all bargaining power that a player may have as a free agent. Greenway, for example, could be poised to rake in the big bucks as one of the top free agent catches in this year’s market.

But to Greenway, it’s not the money that’s important—it’s the show of faith. “[I’ve] played my whole career here and they’ve done nothing wrong to me, so I don’t feel slighted in any way,” said Greenway. “When I got the franchise [tag] I was humbled by that and thought it was a good thing.”

While the franchise tag is slated to keep Greenway with the Vikings only through this season, Greenway’s agent and the Vikings are already working on a long-term deal that would keep Greenway in Minnesota for the foreseeable future.

“We are in the process of trying to negotiate a long-term deal with Chad, and hopefully that’s going to get done,” said Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier.

But that’s for his agent to worry about.

“It’s a big deal for my future but I’m not too concerned about it at this point because I’m worried about what’s going on here at training camp and trying to learn what’s going on,” said Greenway. “That’s my concern and if I start worrying about [contract negotiations] I’ll be taking away from our team.”

Coach Frazier believes the team is in a position to win now and insists that the Vikings are not in rebuilding mode.

“You want to know that the organization is committed to winning, and I think we are,” said Greenway. If that’s true, then a confident and vocal Chad Greenway is going to be a key piece of the puzzle.

Greenway / page 27

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Training Camp Issue

MSU Reporter • Page 11

LOAD ‘EM UP

After the release of Bryant McKinnie, more attention will be paid to thirdyear offensive lineman Phil Loadholt. The big man thinks he’s ready.

REECE HEMMESCH

staff writer Vikings right tackle Phil Loadholt is trying to smoothly make the transition from young linemen to one of the more veteran players on the line, even though he doesn’t believe so. “ It doesn’t really change at all, we’re all starting new,” Loadholt explained. “The only difference is I have couple years under my belt.”

Considering this 6’8 343 pound right tackle started every game last season and 15 of 16 his rookie season, in his third year with the team, Loadholt is part of an offensive line that struggled last season to say the least. But with all of the starters returning besides Bryant McKinnie, the chemistry has to be up on a team that will need the line for its run heavy offense.

“Chemistry is big,” Loadholt said after day one of training camp. “We lost a few backups and got some new guys so I’m excited to see how everyone does.”

The line is about the only spot on the offensive side of the ball which most things keep the same. With a pair of new quarterbacks plus a brand new offensive coordinator, things are different for the linemen this time.

“Everything changes, brand

wale agboola • msu reporter

Phil Loadholt has been consistent on the offensive line, starting 31 out of 32 games in his career.

new offense, new terminology it makes it a lot different. We’re all coming in starting from scratch, so we need this time to learn it all brand new,” Loadholt said.

With Bill Musgrave taking over the play calling on offense, the scheme will stay the same with the west coast, but new coach means new play names

and different audibles to learn before the start of the preseason.

Add that with the quarterback controversy of Christian Ponder and veteran Donovan McNabb, who will bring their own tendencies to the table, things will take awhile for the line to learn.

Another change that will affect his position is the difference in tight end use between

former offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and Musgrave.

Bevell believed that the main use of a tight end was for blocking schemes on the offensive line, Musgrave is a coach that uses the tight ends as more of a receiver than a blocker, giving Loadholt nobody on his outside to help him contain the defensive end on most passing

plays, but a third-year player like himself should have no trouble adjusting to all these new changes. If Loadholt can adjust to everything new in this offense, along with keep his streak of starting in games going on — don’t be surprised to see him turn this offensive line into dominance again after a somewhat disappointing 2010 season.

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Page 12 • MSU Reporter

2011 Minnesota Vikings

Training Camp Issue

MSU Reporter • Page 13

THE MAIN TARGET

With the loss of Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin has emerged as the team’s No. 1 option at receiver.

TIGE HUTCHESON

staff writer

The decision not to place the franchise tag on Sidney Rice was not an easy one for the Minnesota Vikings.

In the end, it came down to two factors, really: that Chad Greenway was more valuable to the team and that Rice has had injury concerns since the day he entered the league. But there’s a third factor that many people forget to consider: the potential of third-year wide receiver Percy Harvin as Rice’s replacement.

Clearly the Vikings front office is confident in Harvin’s abilities as a number one receiver, and as reassuring as that is, it’s a lot of pressure to put on a 23-year-old kid, isn’t it?

“I had a lot of good things I took out of last year,” said Harvin. “I’m confident in my game and confident in the system so there’s no added pressure at all.”

During Rice’s breakout season in 2009, Harvin fit in perfectly as the Vikings number two starting receiver, finishing second on the team with 60 receptions for 790 yards and six touchdowns.

Harvin’s eventual Offensive Rookie of the Year Award was overshadowed by Rice’s first career Pro Bowl selection and the seemingly perfect chemis-

try between Rice and former quarterback Brett Favre.

But in 2010, Rice was sidelined for much of the season, rehabilitating from hip surgery he sustained the previous season. Not only that, but the Vikings were forced to shut down Brett Favre after 13 games, leaving a oncedangerous passing game in the hands of a pair of inexperienced quarterbacks with whom the Vikings’ wide receivers had little chemistry. Despite so much change in such a short period of time, Harvin stepped up and led the Vikings with 71 receptions for 868 yards and five touchdowns.

Despite his success, there are still a few question marks surrounding Harvin, the biggest of which regards the migraine attacks that knocked him out of three games last season. But Harvin insists the migraines are behind him and, frankly, he’s sick of talking about it.

“I’m not going to address it anymore but I’m a hundred percent healthy,” he said.

Another question mark surrounding the entire offense is new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave’s offense. Harvin assures the team is doing well with learning and applying the new terminology and system, but one of the biggest differences is that the new system essentially makes all

Percy Harvin caught 71 balls for 868 yards and five touchdowns last season.

the receivers interchangeable, lessening the importance of a ‘number one and number two receiver.’

“It’s all interchangeable,” said Harvin. “To be a number one receiver here really doesn’t matter because you’re going to play inside and you’re going to play outside.”

Another important piece in rebuilding the Vikings broken passing game will be the addition of veteran quarterback

Donovan McNabb, who Harvin is excited to play with.

“Donovan [McNabb] is an established veteran and probably a Hall of Fame quarterback who has led his team to a lot of divisional championships,” said Harvin. “We’re confident that we’ve got a good general that knows how to lead his army.”

Coach Musgrave will be forced to reignite Minnesota’s passing game, which dropped

wale agboola • msu reporter

from eighth in 2009 to 26th in 2010. But even with interchangeable receivers and a veteran quarterback, everyone knows who is the Vikings most dangerous receiving weapon, and the success of the Vikings passing game ultimately rests in Harvin’s hands.

“We’re expecting to be great this year,” said Harvin.

“We’re not basing anything off of last year.”

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Page 14 • MSU Reporter

2011 Minnesota Vikings

Ready to Rebound

Jared Allen and the rest of the Minnesota defense struggled last season. With a mystery on the offensive side of the ball, it’s up to Allen and Co. to guide the Vikings in 2011.

Reece Hemmesch

staff writer

After week seven of the 2010 season, things weren’t going so hot for Vikings defensive end Jared Allen. The oncepromising Vikings were off to a miserable 2-4 start, and Allen was held to a mere one sack.

The 24-28 loss to the Packers that week must have been the breaking point for Allen, who went on to amass 10 sacks in his last nine games, giving him a season total of eleven, tenth best in the NFL. Even though it was not a bad season statistically for Allen, it was his lowest sack total as a Viking, after 14.5 sacks the two previous years. It also was the defensive line’s low point during his three-year tenure, as they were second and first in his two previous years, respectively, in rush defense and fell to ninth in 2010.

Last season was also the first year the team averaged giving up more than 100 yards rushing a game. Add all that to a 6-10 record and a last place finish in the NFC North.

“We just got to let it go. We learned a valuable lesson that no person is bigger than the team,” Allen said about the struggles of last season. “We need to learn from that. Our coaches made some changes to help that, we got a lot of new players on both

sides of the ball and we just need to remember that feeling of how bad that sucked last year.”

If the Vikings don’t want a repeat of last year on defense, they’re going to need Allen to step up his game earlier in the season rather than week seven.

With Pat Williams more than likely playing somewhere else, and Kevin Williams facing possible suspension early on in the year, that leaves only the defensive ends. Allen and Brian Robison from last season. Robison collected only two sacks last seasons playing in all 16 games.

If the Vikings want to compete on defense; they’re going to have to get the rush defense down to less than 90 yards allowed a game. Expect teams to pass heavily on the Vikings with a somewhat young defensive backfield. If the aerial attack is working for the opposing teams, the line is going to need to stop the run to get some sort of defensive positioning. They cannot afford to give up 100 yards on the ground to go with 200 yards in the air.

If Allen himself can start the season like he ended the last and end up around the 15 sack mark, there’s no reason why he can’t return to Hawaii for his fourth Pro Bowl and the defense can return to its prowess as one of the top run stoppers in all of football. In 2008 and 2009, the

J.A. THROUGH THE YEARS

2008: 14.5 sacks 2009: 14.5 sacks 2010: 10 sacks

Vikings defense was known as a rock solid bunch of players. The offense during those years was at times a rollercoaster, where each week you didn’t know how many points they were going to score.

For the Vikings to even get back to above the .500 mark, they need to return to this type of football.

As for Allen, he looked fit and ready during the first two days of training camps. The three-time Pro-Bowler claims he has been working out in the offseason as if everything was normal.

“I had all my trainers with me down in Arizona helping me out.

I worked out just as status quo,” Allen said. “Coming in with a relatively new head coach, a new offensive coordinator and plenty of new position players, I feel like we’re behind the eight ball. But we are all professionals and when that whistle blows we’re going to be ready to play.”

wale abgoola • msu reporter After peaking in ‘09, Allen and the rest of the defense had a rough 2010 season.

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Training Camp Issue

MSU Reporter • Page 15

The Henderson Bros.

With E.J. being the star linebacker, little brother Erin Henderson was just an afterthought.

Now, it looks like both Henderson brothers might be starting at linebacker for Minnesota.

JOEY DENTON

staff writer

People will often go out to football games and get to see two brothers playing on the same team. This happens a lot in Pee Wee football, high school football, and on a rare occasion college football. But it is like finding a needle in a haystack to find two brothers starting on the same team in NFL history, let alone the same position. The Vikings’ E.J. and Erin Henderson will have that opportunity this season, and it will be a lot of fun for them and for the fans.

The two have been on the Vikings together for three seasons already, but it is getting pretty interesting now, because due to some cuts and Erin’s vast improvement, he will have the opportunity to start at outside linebacker alongside Chad Greenway and his brother EJ. The two brothers know that it is a possibility, but E.J. isn’t putting more pressure on Erin than he already has.

“I don’t think he has been putting extra pressure on me,

just tries to throw me some hints, letting me know that you know what you got to do,” said Erin. “He makes sure that I’m working to get to that point. He doesn’t want to put any extra pressure on me. I have enough of that on me already. I know what I have to do. I know what I have to take care of, and I’m ready to go out there and handle my business.”

According to head coach Leslie Frazier, Erin is penciled in as the starter right now, but it is a competitive spot. The coaches are also looking at Jasper Brinkley, Kenny Onatolu and Ross Homan.

E.J. is astounded by Erin’s development as a player and as a person, and he is glad Erin has the opportunity to play with him in the NFL. “I’m not pushing for it as much as anybody, but I hope he comes out and proves himself this camp and gets the opportunity to more playing time and be out there next to each other,” E.J. said.

Growing up in Aberdeen, Maryland, home of Cal Ripken

Jr., the Henderson brothers never thought about playing in the NFL together, because they had never been on the same team ever. They are six years apart, so they were never on the same high school team or at the University of Maryland at the same time. No matter how they happen to be teammates in the NFL, they are both glad it happened.

“I never really thought about that, but it’s been fun and great. When you come out here your rookie year, you don’t really know a lot of people. You kind of got to figure things out on your own, but I was fortunate enough to have somebody out here that I grew up with and know very well,” Erin said. “It was a great plus to have my brother on the team. You got a friend and someone to talk to, and I am excited to get out there and actually play with him this year.”

Erin definitely looks up to his older brother E.J. and is glad to have had him on the Vikings when he became a rookie in the NFL. E.J. helped

wale agboola • msu reporter E.J. Henderson has been consistent for the Minnesota defense over the last five seasons. His brother, Erin, hopes to do the same starting in ’11.

him ease into the transition in to being in the NFL, but he knows Erin isn’t a kid anymore.

“I hope he looks up to me.

I try to be a role model, but he’s 25 now. He’s a grown man and has a family of his own, so we are more of best friends

than older brother and younger brother now,” said E.J. By the end of these two linebacker’s careers, hopefully the town of Aberdeen, Maryland will be known as the town of Cal Ripken Jr. and the Henderson brothers.

Page 16 • MSU Reporter

2011 Minnesota Vikings

2 011 V i k i ng s SCH EDU L E PRE-SEASON 8/13/11 8/20/11

7:00 p.m.

9.00 p.m.

@ Tennessee Titans @ Seattle Seahawks

8/27/11 9/1/11

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

11/14/11 11/20/11 11/27/11 12/4/11 12/11/11 12/18/11 12/24/11 1/1/12

7:30 p.m.

Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon

Dallas Cowboys Houston Texans

REGULAR SEASON 9/11/11 9/18/11 9/25/11 10/2/11 10/09/11 10/16/11 10/23/11 10/30/11

3:15 p.m. @ San Diego Chargers Noon Tampa Bay Bucs Noon Detroit Lions Noon @ Kansas City Chiefs Noon Arizona Cardinals 7:20 p.m. @ Chicago Bears 3:15 p.m.

Green Bay Packers Noon @ Carolina Panthers BYE WEEK

2 011 n fc nort h schedule

CHICAGO BEARS

PRE-SEASON

8/13/11

Buffalo Bills

8/22/11 @ New York Giants

8/27/11

@ Tennessee Titans

9/1/11

Cleveland Browns

REGULAR SEASON

9/11/11

Atlanta Falcons

9/18/11

@ New Orleans Saints

9/25/11 Green Bay Packers

10/2/11 Carolina Panthers

10/10/11 @ Detroit Lions

10/16/11 Minnesota Vikins

10/23/11 @ Tampa Bay Bucs

BYE WEEK

11/7/11

@ Philadelphia Eagles

11/13/11 Detroit Lions

11/20/11 San Diego Chargers

11/27/11 @ Oakland Raiders

12/4/11 Kansas City Chiefs

12/11/11 @ Denver Broncos

12/18/11 Seattle Seahawks

12/25/11 @ Green Bay Packers

1/1/12

@ Green Bay Packers Oakland Raiders @ Atlanta Falcons Denver Broncos @ Detroit Lions New Orleans Saints @ Washington Redskins Chicago Bears

@ Minnesota Vikings

DETROIT LIONS

PRE-SEASON 8/12/11 Cincinnati Bengals 8/19/11

@ Cleveland Browns

8/27/11

New England

9/1/11

@ Buffalo Bills

REGULAR SEASON 9/11/11

@ Tampa Bay Bucs

9/18/11

Kansas City Chiefs

9/25/11 @ Minnesota Vikings 10/2/11

@ Dallas Cowboys

10/10/11 Chicago Bears 10/16/11 San Francisco 49ers 10/23/11 Atlanta Falcons 10/30/11 @ Denver Broncos BYE WEEK 11/13/11 @ Chicago Bears 11/20/11 Carolina Panthers 11/24/11 Green Bay Packers 12/4/11 @ New Orleans Saints 12/11/11 Minnesota Vikings 12/18/11 @ Oakland Raiders 12/24/11 San Diego Chargers 1/1/12

@ Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY PACKERS

PRE-SEASON 8/13/11

@ Cleveland Browns

8/19/11

Arizona Cardinals

8/26/11 @ Indianapolis Colts 9/1/11

Kansas City Chiefs

REGULAR SEASON 9/8/11

New Orleans Saints

9/18/11

@ Carolina Panthers

9/25/11 @ Chicago Bears 10/2/11 Denver Broncos 10/9/11 @ Atlanta Falcons 10/16/11 St. Louis Rams 10/23/11 @ Minnesota Vikings BYE WEEK 11/6/11

@ San Diego Chargers

11/14/11 Minnesota Vikings 11/20/11 Tampa Bay Bucs 11/24/11 @ Detroit Lions 12/4/11 @ New York Giants 12/11/11 Oakland Raiders 12/18/11 @ Kansas City Chiefs 12/25/11 Chicago Bears 1/1/11

Detroit Lions

Training Camp 2011

MSU Reporter • Page 17

2 011 V i k i ng s Dep t h Ch a rt free safety

cornerback

26 A. Winfield 31 C. Cook

39 H. Abdullah 37 E. Frampton 13 1

weakside linebacker

4 3

defensive end 96 B. Robison 97 E. Griffen

74 B. McKinnie 60 S. Kooistra

guard

10 8

wide receiver 12 P. Harvin 84 M. Jenkins

8

kicker

R. Longwell

3

Bomar, Rhett

4 5

5 1

76 S. Hutchinson 72 C. DeGeare

FULLBACK

2 8

83 J. Dugan 40 J. Kleinsasser

15

4

25 T. Johnson 33 J. Sanford

middle linebacker

56 E.J. Henderson 54 J. Brinkley

50 E. Henderson 55 K. Onatolu

tackle

strong safety

4 5

10 2

8 13

punter

C. Kluwe

7

93 92 90 98

8 2

K. Williams R. Ayodele F. Evans L. Guion

center

strongside linebacker

52 C. Greenway 59 H. Farwell

defensive tackle

65 J. Sullivan 68 J. Cooper

9 5 6 4

69 J. Allen 67 A. Awasom

guard

4 2

64 A. Herrera 78 S. Olsen

28 A.Peterson 32 T. Gerhart

tight end

13 R 2

running back

5 1

cornerback

23 C. Griffin 21 A. Allen 6 7

81 V. Shaincoe 82 K. Rudolph

8 3

tackle

8 2

71 P. Loadholt 79 P. Brown

2

87 B. Berrian 19 D. Aromashodu

12 P. Harvin

6-2

225

26

2

Sam Houston State

50 Henderson, Erin

OLB

6-3

244

25

4

Maryland

Kluwe, Chris

P

6-4

215

29

7

UCLA

52 Greenway, Chad

OLB

6-2

242

28

6

Iowa

Donovan McNabb

QB

6-2

240

34

13

Syracuse

54 Brinkley, Jasper

LB

6-1

252

26

3

South Carolina

7

Ponder, Christian

QB

6-2

229

23

R

Florida State

55 Onatolu, Kenny

LB

6-2

225

28

3

Nebraska-Omaha

8

Longwell, Ryan

K

6-0

200

36

15

California

56 Henderson, Eric

MLB 6-1

245

30

9

Maryland

9

Whitaker, Nate

K

5-9

185

22

R

Stanford

57 Homan, Ross

LB

6-1

240

24

R

Ohio State

11 Johnson, Jaymar

WR

6-0

176

27

2

Jackson State

58 Washington, Mark

LB

6-3

258

25

R

Texas State

12 Harvin, Percy

WR

5-11 184

23

3

Florida

59 Farwell, Heath

LB

6-0

235

29

7

San Diego State

13 Lincoln, Ryan

WR

6-11 195

22

R

Texas A&M Kingsville

60 Akinniyi, David

DE

6-4

262

23

R

North Carolina State

14 Webb, Joe

QB

6-4

220

24

1

UAB

60 Amituanai, Conan

OL

6-4

335

23

R

Arizona

15 Holmes, Andrew

WR

6-5

206

23

R

Hillsdale

60 Kooistra, Scott

OT

6-6

335

30

8

North Carolina State

16 Arceneaux, Emmanuel WR

6-2

211

23

R

Alcorn

61 Huntley, Rod

OL

6-3

320

24

R

UTEP

18 Johnson, Dominique

WR

6-4

225

23

R

Cal Poly

61 McKinley, Cedric

DE

6-6

282

24

R

Minnesota

21 Allen, Asher

CB

5-9

194

23

3

Georgia

63 Fusco, Brandon

C

6-4

306

21

R

Slippery Rock

22 Castille, Simeon

DB

6-0

203

25

2

Alabama

64 Herrera, Anthony

G

6-2

315

31

9

Tennessee

23 Griffin, Cedric

CB

6-0

203

28

6

Texas

65 Sullivan, John

C

6-4

301

25

4

Notre Dame

24 Parks, Cord

CB

5-10 178

24

1

Northeastern

66 Welch, Thomas

T

6-7

310

24

R

Vanderbilt

25 Johnson, Tyrell

S

6-0

207

26

4

Arkansas State

67 Awasom, Adrian

DE

6-5

280

27

3

North Texas

26 Winfield, Antoine

CB

5-9

180

34

13

Ohio State

68 Cooper, Jon

C

6-2

291

24

1

Oklahoma

27 Booker, Lorenzo

RB

5-10 191

27

4

Florida State

69 Allen, Jared

DE

6-7

270

29

8

Idaho State

28 Peterson, Adrian

RB

6-1

217

26

5

Oklahoma

71 Loadhold, Phil

T

6-8

343

25

3

Oklahoma

29 Torrence, Devon

CB

6-0

199

22

R

Ohio State

72 DeGeare, Chris

G

6-4

325

24

2

Wake Forest

30 Raymond, Mistral

DB

6-1

194

22

R

South Florida

73 Isom, Byron

OL

6-3

302

23

R

Auburn

31 Cook, Chris

DB

6-2

212

24

2

Virginia

74 McKinnie, Bryant

T

6-8

335

31

10

Miami

32 Gerhart, Toby

RB

6-0

231

24

2

Stanford

76 Hutchinson, Steve

G

6-5

313

33

11

Michigan

33 Sanford, Jamarca

S

5-10 200

25

3

Mississippi

78

G

6-5

308

25

2

Iowa

34 Robinson, Alexander

QB

5-9

191

23

R

Iowa State

79 Brown, Patrick

T

6-5

310

24

1

Central Florida

35 Sherels, Marcus

CB

5-10 175

23

R

Minnesota

81 Shiancoe, Visanthe

TE

6-4

240

31

9

Morgan State

36 Burton, Brandon

DB

6-0

185

22

R

Utah

82 Rudolph, Kyle

TE

6-6

259

21

R

Notre Dame

37

S

5-11 205

27

5

Washington State

84 Jenkins, Michael

WR

6-4

217

29

8

Ohio State

39 Abdullah, Husain

S

6-0

204

26

4

Washington State

85 Camarillo, Greg

WR

6-1

190

29

6

Stanford

40 Kleinsasser, Jimmy

TE

6-3

272

34

13

North Dakota

86 Burton, Stephen

WR

6-1

221

21

R

West Texas A&M

41 Adingupu, Chris

S

6-1

197

22

R

Prarie View

87 Berrian, Bernard

WR

6-1

185

30

8

Fresno State

42

Barham, Ed

TE

6-3

260

23

R

North Carolina

90 Evans, Fred

DT

6-4

305

27

6

Texas State- San Marcos

43 Hill, Ryan

S

6-0

205

24

R

Miami

92 Ayodele, Remi

DT

6-2

318

28

5

Oklahoma

44 D’Imperio, Ryan

FB

6-2

241

23

2

Rutgers

93 Williams, Kevin

DT

6-5

311

30

9

Oklahoma State

46 Loeffler, Cullen

LS

6-5

241

30

8

Texas

96

DE

6-3

259

28

5

Texas

47 Gilmore, Jonathan

LB

6-4

295

24

R

Western Oregon

97 Griffen, Everson

DE

6-3

273

23

2

USC

48 Asiata, Matt

FB

5-11 220

24

R

Utah

98 Guion, Letroy

DT

6-4

303

24

4

Florida State

49 Gipson, Marcell

CB

5-10 189

24

R

Wyoming

99 Ballard, Christian

DT

6-4

283

22

R

Iowa

Robison, Brian

8 5

punt returner

QB

Olsen, Seth

1 2

wide receiver

9 R

kick returner 12 P. Harvin

R = Rookie

2 011 V i k i ng s N U M ERIC RO STER

Frampton, Eric

6 9

defensive end

quarterback

5 D. McNabb 7 C. Ponder 14 J. Webb

4 4

2

Page 18 • MSU Reporter

Minnesota Vikings Issue

Ready, Cedí, Go!

Cedric Griffin was the next up and coming cornerback. Knee injuries have set him off, but he’s ready to go back to his 2009 form.

REECE HEMMESCH | staff writer

After only playing two games for the Vikings last season, Cedric Griffin is ready to be back in purple and lead the defensive backs this season. Last season’s week 5 injury of Griffin turned into an ACL tear in his left knee that left him sidelined for the remainder of the season.

But Griffin has had a long offseason with the lockout to rehabilitate his knee and rejoin his team.

“Based on what the doctors have told me, we kind of have to go slow early on. But we want to try to get him ready for that San Diego game,” head coach Leslie Frazier said. “We can’t ask him to do everything that all other players are doing for this early part of camp.”

“I’m fine,” Griffin said about his injuries. “It’s football, injuries happen all the time and I’m ready to go.”

Before his injury, Griffin was one of the key defensive backs for the Vikings NFC championship run in 2009, where he had a career high four interceptions to go along with 60 tackles and three forced fumbles. In order for the Vikings to be a top pass-defending team, they will need Griffin to step up and be a big time defensive back.

Returning to the other cornerback position is

the seasoned veteran Antoine Winfield. The big question with Winfield is whether or not he’s still got gas in the tank? Winfield at age 33 is still one of the best pass defenders on the team, and having 72 tackles last season shows even at his age, he can still step up and make a play. He also provides a mentor for young cornerbacks like Chris Cook and Asher Allen to learn off of until they get comfortable in the NFL. Both of which could also be seeing playing time this year if Griffin is not quite ready to come back from his injury at the beginning of the season.

The key position that needs to step up in the defensive backfield has to be the two safeties positions, filled with inexperienced youngsters who need nothing but playing time to help them out. The safety depth chart could go in a bunch of directions this season as there is no for sure starter at each position.

“It gives opportunities for Jamarca Sanford.

It gives an opportunity for Tyrell Johnson to really show what they’re capable of doing, Frazier said about the young safeties. “Mistral Johnson as well, it creates more competition.”

Expect Tyrell Johnson and Jamarca Sanford

Griffin / page 28

shannon rathmanner • msu reporter Cedric Griffin was a big part of the NFC Championship run two seasons ago, but after two major knee injuries, he will have to prove himself again.

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Training Camp 2011

MSU Reporter • Page 19

A New Underrated Weapon

If Kyle Rudolph could have stayed healthy his junior year at Notre Dame, he likely would have been a first round pick. He plans on playing like one anyway.

KYLE RATKE

editor in chief

Chances are if Kyle Rudolph wasn’t injured last season, he would have been a first round draft pick. The thing is, he still plans on performing like a first-rounder.

“I’m going to do everything I can on offense as well as special teams and whatever is asked of me,” the 21-year-old Rudolph said.

Injuries have plagued Rudolph’s college career as a tight end for Notre Dame as he’s only played in 15 games over the last two seasons due to shoulder and hamstring injuries.

The numbers were still there, however, just a bit depleted. During his freshman year at Notre Dame, Rudolph became the only tight end in school history to start every game. He caught 29 balls for 340 yards and two touchdown.

In just six games his sophomore year, Rudolph caught 33 balls for 364 yards and three

touchdowns. Last season, also playing just six games, he caught 28 balls for 328 yards and three touchdowns.

One must remember that the Notre Dame offense wasn’t exactly on the same page making the transition to Charlie Weiss and then to Brian Kelly.

He’ll have to deal with what all the other rookies have had to deal with: the NFL lockout.

The lockout made it difficult for rookies to get to know the coaching staff, and more importantly to get to know the playbook. Rudolph doesn’t think that will be a problem for him.

“Our first couple days of install I’ve had for a while and I’ve been able to go through those so I definitely feel comfortable,” Rudolph said. “It’s something that I’m familiar with in the past. My freshman year at Notre Dame was kind of the same situation with going in with Coach [Charlie] Weis’ playbook, which is pretty big and pretty specific,

wale abgoola • msu reporter Kyle Rudolph was the first Notre Dame tight end to start every game in his freshman season.

so I think I’ll be alright as far as the playbook goes.”

He was considered the top tight-end prospect in this year’s draft and while many second-guessed the Viking’s decision to take a tight end

when the team had many other holes, Minnesota looked to be making a move offensively for the future revolving around quarterback Christian Ponder, Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin and Rudolph.

Rudolph will sit behind Shiancoe for the 2011 season, but in offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave’s “tight end happy” offense, look for the

Rudolph / page 28

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Page 20 • MSU Reporter

Minnesota Vikings Issue

Replacing Sidney Rice LEE HANDEL

sports editor

web

photo

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Just as Vikings fans were beginning to get excited to see Donovan McNabb spreading the ball around to the team’s plethora of receivers, he lost his number one target when Sidney Rice left via free agency to the Seattle Seahawks.

After extended talks with both the Vikings and Seahawks, Rice chose to follow close friend and former Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson to Seattle and also reunited himself with former Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. Rice and the Vikings had been at odds over his contract for the past year and a half, and in the end the wide-out opted to take more money and sign with the Seahawks.

Coming off a breakout 2009 campaign, Rice was injured for most of 2010 and the Vikings were not ready to pay him what he felt he deserved. The team could have bought some more time to work out a long-term contract by using the franchise tag on Rice, but instead they used it on linebacker Chad Greenway.

Rice’s departure left the Vikings with very few established wide receivers, as the position went from a strength to a weakness overnight. Other than 2009 Rookie of the Year and Pro-Bowler Percy Harvin, the Vikings had nobody else on the depth chart who produced starting wide-out numbers in 2010.

The position also lacked height and a red zone threat.

Despite coming on strong in his first year in Minnesota in 2008 when he led the NFL in yards per reception (20.1), Bernard Berrian was nowhere to be found last season. Greg Camarillo also did very little to capitalize on all the playing time he received.

The Vikings turned to free agency for help, first signing Devin Aromashadu and then Michael Jenkins to fill the void left by Rice. In doing so, the

Vikings passed on some of the higher-rated free agent wide receivers, such as Braylon Edwards, Malcolm Floyd and James Jones.

So who is going to step up and be the guy opposite Harvin?

Berrian and Jenkins have both started before on playoff-caliber teams, and are both trying to get back to where they were a few years ago.

Although it had been rumored that Berrian’s time in purple was almost up, the wide receiver remained positive and ended up restructuring his contract to stay with the Vikings.

“Bernard has a great attitude and so do so many others,” said head coach Leslie Frazier. “I am just enthused about the way he has come to camp and the fact that he has a chip on his shoulder, which should turn out to be good for our football team.”

With a new offensive coordinator and quarterback this season, Berrian has the perfect opportunity to step up and be the guy the Vikings thought they were getting when they gave him that contract in ’08.

“He knows he has some things around him and we have his best interest at heart and he has a chance to really thrive in our offense,” Frazier said.

Jenkins, on the other hand, has the early edge for second on the depth chart, having played under offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and wide receivers coach George Stewart as a member of the Atlanta Falcons. At 6’4”, Jenkins has the frame to be a go-to guy in the red zone, but he only had two touchdowns last season.

“Michael brings a lot of toughness to the wide receiver room,” said Musgrave. “He’ll fit in really well with our mentality, and of course he has size and speed, which will help when we do throw the football down the field.”

No matter who grabs hold of the starting job, the Vikings will need every wide-out to contribute in order to keep pace in the high-scoring NFC North.

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Training Camp 2011

MSU Reporter • Page 21

Did the Vikings make the right move?

Was bringing in Donovan McNabb the right thing to do, or should have the Vikings let Christian Ponder take his bumps and bruises during his rookie season?

JOEY DENTON

staff writer

Even though this offseason wasn’t anything like a regular offseason, training camp for the Vikings will be the exact same.

It’s in Mankato, it’s in the first week of August, and Brett Favre isn’t showing up. The difference is, Favre isn’t going to join the team after training camp this time around (as far as we know).

There is going to be a different seasoned quarterback joining the Vikings this season, and that man is Donovan McNabb.

I really doubt that the organization is going to pay the former Redskin to sit on the bench, at least not this season.

It seemed to be head coach Leslie Frazier’s plan to have first-round draft pick Christian Ponder start this year, until this

summer’s NFL lockout prohibited Ponder from working with the team at minicamps and OTAs. It would have been a disaster to have Ponder go out there this season as the Vikings starter, given the short amount of time rookie quarterbacks get to work with their teams, even with a regular offseason.

Bringing in McNabb was a great move for the Vikings. With

shannon rathmanner • msu reporter Donovan McNabb and Christian Ponder joke around on the first day of training camp.

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a large handful of veterans and players a little past their prime, the team is looking to win now, not in three years. The NFL now is a quarterback-driven league.

When a team has an efficient quarterback, they win.

Despite last year’s fiasco with the Redskins, McNabb has been a very efficient quarterback.

During his 11 years in Philadelphia, he took the Eagles to five NFC Championships and a Super Bowl. When Frazier was an assistant with the Eagles he got to see McNabb play a lot, so he knows what he is capable of.

It was a steal to be able to get a quarterback at his caliber for two sixth round draft picks.

NFL defenses are much faster and way more complicated to read than college defenses and there are only a handful of rookie quarterbacks that can pull off starting right away. Most of those quarterbacks were drafted by teams very early in the draft and are usually in a rebuilding season, like the Rams last year after drafting Sam Bradford.

They were looking to the future.

They weren’t expecting him to take the team to the playoffs last season.

One of the great aspects of bringing the veteran quarterback to the team is he can teach the two youngsters, Christian Pon-

der and Joe Webb. The organization seems to have high hopes for those two, and McNabb would be a great mentor for the next few seasons. When he was with the Eagles, Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick definitely benefitted from being behind him until they were ready to break out and become NFL starters.

Young quarterbacks definitely benefit from watching and learning from All-Pro quarterbacks, just ask last year’s Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers. He spent several seasons under future Hall of Famer Brett Favre.

Rodgers was drafted in the first round, and he wasn’t rushed into the starting role his first season.

He was on the bench and taking in what Favre had to offer him.

Favre showed him how to win, and how to be a great teammate.

Now look at Rodgers, he’s a Super Bowl winner and a valid candidate for MVP every year.

That is what McNabb can offer Christian Ponder. McNabb has the will to do whatever it takes to win, and hopefully it will rub off on Ponder for the future. With all the other positions pretty well stacked on the Vikings, it was a great decision to bring in the veteran to win now and teach the young guns for later.

Page 22 • MSU Reporter

Minnesota Vikings Issue

WHAT DO THE VIKINGS DO WITH JOE WEBB? TIGE HUTCHESON

staff writer As the old adage goes: “Opportunity knocks only once; it’s up to you to answer the door.”

For 24-year-old quarterback Joe Webb, the opportunity to emerge as a for-real NFL quarterback revealed itself last season on December 8, when Webb made his first career start against the heavily favored Philadelphia Eagles.

Webb was drafted by the Vikings in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft as a wide receiver prospect, despite starting at quarterback in 2008 and 2009 for the University of AlabamaBirmingham. Despite natural leadership skills, Webb’s potential as a quarterback was overshadowed by his extraordinary numbers at UAB’s Pro Day, scaring off many NFL teams who viewed him as a player with an undefined position.

After beating out veteran quarterbacks like Sage Rosenfels at Vikings Training Camp, Webb watched most of the 2010 season from the bench, seeing limited action as a kick returner and rarely-used receiver, until starting quarterback Brett Favre and backup Tarvaris Jackson were lost to injury the week of the Eagles game.

Viewed as two touchdown underdogs, the untested and inexperienced Webb surprised the world by outplaying Eagles quarterback Michael Vick and leading the Vikings to a 24-14 upset. Webb scored one rushing touchdown and threw for 195 yards, going 17-for-26 without giving up any interceptions to the crafty Eagles defense.

“I think [Webb] did well especially considering the situation,” said Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier. “All of the sudden he’s our starting quarterback late in the season and I thought he performed very well.”

Despite Webb’s late-season heroics, the Vikings entered the 2011 offseason looking for answers at quarterback. After the “retirement” of Favre and the departure of Jackson, Webb looked to be a serious candidate to be the Vikings starter entering the season. The front office, however, had other plans, drafting QB

• • • •

Christian Ponder with the 12th overall pick and trading for veteran Donovan McNabb, leaving Webb on the outside looking in as the probable third-string quarterback.

But that’s nothing Webb can control, and he understands what he needs to do: not get frustrated and keep competing.

“That’s just the business of the game, and you can’t let it get you down,” said Webb. “The thing you need to do is just compete and show the coaches that you have what it takes.”

Even though he has proven himself capable of being an NFL quarterback, Webb still has doubters everywhere that believe he would be a better fit as a receiver, special situation quarterback, or even possibly a utility defender.

“I really feel I can do anything, but right now coach asked me to be the best quarterback I can be so right now that’s how I’m going to treat it,” said Webb.

While Webb’s future as a quarterback is yet to be confirmed, for now he is donning the same red jersey worn by Ponder, McNabb, and Rhett Bomar. In fact, with free agents, including Donovan McNabb, unavailable to practice until August 4 under the new CBA, Frazier intends to hand the reins to Webb.

“The incumbent, the guy who has the most experience [will be taking first-string snaps with McNabb unavailable]. And right now that’s Joe Webb for us.” said Frazier earlier in the week.

“I’ll do whatever the team asks me to do to help us win games, but as of right now, I am a quarterback,” said Webb.

Most players in Webb’s shoes would view the situation as unfair. Two of the golden rules of athletics--priding yourself in your work ethic and being ready just in case your number is called—have been completely thrown to the side. Webb is an unfair exception to what is supposed to be one of the cardinal rules of athletics.

But Joe Webb understands that sulking in disappointment won’t change his situation.

Only one thing will: competing hard.

“That’s all I’m here to do,” said Webb.

And training camp is the perfect time for Webb to once again begin making his case.

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shannon rathmanner • msu reporter Joe Webb led the Vikings to a memorable win over the Eagles last season.

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Training Camp 2011

MSU Reporter • Page 23

Will he be suspended? How will he do without Pat Williams by him? The defensive tackle has plenty of questions to answer.

JOEY DENTON

staff writer

There will be a lot of changes for Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams this season. The Williams Wall has been brought down for the first time in six seasons due to Pat Williams departure, his suspension is up in the air right now, and his former teammate to the left of him, Ray Edwards, is a Falcon now. It will be a true test this season for the nine-year veteran.

Without the big seam-plugger Pat Williams, the shorter half of the Williams wall continues to work hard and won’t let that affect him. He is excited, and he can’t wait to see who he will be playing next to this season.

“I had a few years where I had Pat [Williams] before and I’m definitely going to miss him and it’s going to take some getting used to,” said Kevin.

Kevin definitely learned a lot from Pat, but there are just certain skills Pat had that nobody can learn.

“I learned you can’t play the nose position the way he plays it. There’s some unique things that he does down there in the middle,” said Kevin. “You don’t want to copy it, you might get ‘dump-trucked.’ The ways he handles guys, I’ve tried it before and I always find myself in bad situations.”

Unfortunately ,this season Kevin Williams could be facing a suspension for the StarCaps

shannon rathmanner • msu reporter

Kevin Williams has 49.5 sacks in his career, but had just one in 2010.

scandal in 2008. He and other defensive players, including Pat Williams, were tested positive for an illegal dietary substance that was not banned in 2008, according to Andy Hutchins of sbnation.com.

Kevin was asked about his suspension, and he doesn’t know what is going to happen. It may disappear or he may have to serve it this season.

“We haven’t heard anything.

[Laughing] Hopefully they forget about it, you know how that goes. Whatever happens, happens,” said Kevin. “I’m just going to go with it. I haven’t heard back from the league, but maybe when the CBA gets settled completely, maybe we’ll hear from them.”

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is for sure, and that is he is ready to rock this season. Last season he had 39 tackles and a career-low one sack. This season he intends to bounce back and compete at a high level.

With Pat gone, the team picked up defensive tackle Remi Ayodele from the New Orleans Saints, and they drafted a defensive tackle from Iowa named Christian Ballard in the fourth

round of this year’s draft. Those two will be competing for the other starting D-tackle spot next to Kevin. With Kevin being next to them, they will learn how to be All-Pro defensive linemen.

“He’s a great coach. He’s been here for 11 years, and he knows all the ins and outs of the game.

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Page 24 • MSU Reporter

Minnesota Vikings Issue

The Reporter’s 2011 Minnesota Viking Fantasy Football Preview Adrian Peterson is a sure thing this season, but what about other skilled position players like Donovan McNabb, Christian Ponder, Percy Harvin, Michael Jenkins and Visanthe Shiancoe?

KYLE RATKE

editor in chief Fantasy football players have spent the last few months holding their breath on whether or not there would be an NFL season. Well, thanks to the football gods and Jeff Saturday, here we are at training camp.

Most fantasy nerds will be having their drafts over the next month, so what better time to grade the Vikings players and where they should go in your upcoming draft with smelly uncle Ted. Here’s the Reporter’s ratings:

Quarterbacks:

Donovan McNabb

McNabb is coming of the worst season of his career, but best receiver last season was Santana Moss and there was a cluster of mediocre running backs. This season he’ll have Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson. Sounds like a huge upgrade? It is, but it still doesn’t make McNabb worthy of draft pick. If anything, McNabb is a waiver wire type of guy to help with injuries.

Prediction: 3,230 yards, 18 touchdowns, 15 interceptions.

Christian Ponder

The guy looks like he could be the next big quarterback in

the league. He’s smart and has the quarterback build. Unless you’re in a keeper league, don’t touch him with a 10 foot pole.

Prediction: 500 yards, three touchdowns, five interceptions.

Running back: Adrian Peterson He’ll probably be the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft and rightfully so. If you have a topthree pick, Peterson better be in your radar. Having McNabb helps, but losing Sidney Rice hurts. If the Vikings can’t get a decent pass game going, expect defenders to stack the box against the Vikings. Don’t expect them to take down Peterson, who’s rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his five seasons. If anything’s a sure thing in 2011, it’s that when healthy, Peterson will be great.

Prediction: 1,600 yards, 14 touchdowns. 340 yards receiving, two touchdowns.

Wide receievers: Percy Harvin When healthy, Harvin was a lock as a fantasy team’s No. 2 receiver last year. That’s the thing, though. Harvin is rarely healthy and when he is, he’s a “questionable” healthy (the

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wale agboola • msu reporter Donovan McNabb had a rough 2010 season, throwing for 3,377 yards, 14 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

worst kind of healthy there is.)

Harvin is worth a gamble as your No. 3 receiver and will perform like a No. 1 at times.

It’s all about the health. Harvin will also be affected by Rice’s departure as he will be unable to sneak underneath Rice’s fade routes.

Prediction: 75 catches, 1,000 yards, eight touchdowns.

Michael Jenkins The goal is for Jenkins to fill in Rice’s role. That might

be wishful thinking. In an explosive offense with the Falcons last season, Jenkins caught for just over 500 yards.

The good news is he is familiar with offensive coordinator and former Falcons quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave. Still, Jenkins is not worth a selection in your draft.

Prediction: 40 catches, 450 yards, four touchdowns.

Tight end: Visanthe Shiancoe

During the Brett Favre Era, Shiancoe was a main target in the red zone. McNabb has been known to like his tight ends also, but don’t waste a pick on Shiancoe. You’ll be able to pick him up in free-agency.

And if you can’t, someone else reached for him.

Prediction: 50 catches, 600 yards, six touchdowns.

Training Camp 2011

MSU Reporter • Page 25

A BITTERSWEET TRAINING CAMP

This year’s training camp is the 10 year anniversary of Korey Stringer’s death.

TIGE HUTCHESON

staff writer

web photo There is an institute named after Korey Stringer that researches heatrelated sickness at the University of Connecticut.

Training camp is supposed to be an exciting time; it’s a blank slate for every team in the NFL, marking the beginning of an unwritten chapter in NFL history. Teammates are reunited with one another, buzzing with anticipation and excitement about the endless potential in store for the upcoming season. Every team is a Super Bowl contender and every player is a legitimate candidate for MVP. Yes, these are happy times across the NFL. Unfortunately, training camp is also a yearly reminder of one of the greatest tragedies in NFL history, and it happened right here in Mankato.

August 1 marked the 10-year anniversary of the death of talented football player, but more importantly beloved teammate, Korey Stringer.

“We just wanted our players to take a moment to remember Korey [Stringer],

a guy who was affable and loved by so many,” said Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier, an assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles at the time.

Stringer, the Vikings starting offensive tackle and former first round pick in 1995, was coming off of a Pro Bowl season in 2000 and was one of the most respected leaders on the Minnesota Vikings roster heading into the 2001 training camp. Unfortunately, Stringer’s career was cut short when he suffered complications brought about by heat stroke.

And while his team and fans would much rather still have him back in purple and gold, Stringer has somehow managed to keep protecting his teammates even from the grave. Information revealed from a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Stringer’s widow against the NFL brought about the creation of a heat illness prevention program, and shed light on other factors contrib-

uting to Stringer’s death in hopes that no NFL player after him would be lost.

“So, you feel bad for what happened, but the league has definitely changed when it comes to how we practice and how we emphasize hydration with our players and a lot of it has to do with what happened to Korey,” said Frazier.

Ten years have passed, but players still remember Stringer as a great guy and a great leader. With No. 77 painted onto a practice field in his honor, Stringer will always be a Minnesota Viking and seemingly has yet to stop his work on the football field.

“Everyone misses him and wishes he could come out and practice today, but in a way I felt like he was there today,” said Frazier after Monday’s practice. “I just feel like he lives on in a number of ways through the pride our players have and a lot of people miss him.”

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Page 26 • MSU Reporter

Minnesota Vikings Issue

BREAKING DOWN THE NFC NORTH LIONS, PACKERS AND BEARS, OH MY!

LEE HANDEL

sports editor After ruling the North in 2009, the tables were turned on the Vikings in a big way in 2010. The Purple went 6-10 and fell from first to last place, tied with the lowly Lions at the bottom of the division. The other two teams from the Black and Blue division, the Packers and Bears, battled each other for a spot in the Super Bowl, with Green Bay defeating Chicago and going on to become Super Bowl champions.

Although it was likely hard to see their fiercest rivals win the whole thing, the Vikings know that 2011 is a new year and the division is looking as competitive as it ever has. For the first time since the Barry Sanders days, the Lions look like a legitimate contender.

Many associated with the NFL are also referring to the North as the toughest division in football.

Here is how the division stacks up:

they put together a winning streak at the end of the season that ended with a Super Bowl Championship. Head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers finally figured out how to win the big games and now the Packers are heavily favored to win the North again in 2011.

The Packers’ offense was solid last season, but figures to be even more dangerous this year. Freakish athlete Jermichael Finley is fully healthy again at tight end for Green Bay and might be the best receiving tight end in the NFL if he stays healthy this year. Ryan Grant will also be back at running back to compliment James Starks, who came up big in place of Grant in the playoffs last year.

Green Bay Packers The Packers might be even more dangerous this season than they were last season.

One must remember that the Pack was in danger of missing the playoffs all-together before

Starting wide-outs Greg Jennings and Donald Driver are back, and so is big play threat James Jones after testing free agency.

The defense lost Cullen Jenkins and Nick Barnett, but has suitable replacements already in place and figures to be one of the best in the NFL again this year with linebacker Clay Matthews and corner Charles Woodson leading the way.

When all is said and done it will be hard for the other three teams to keep the Pack from becoming NFC North champs.

Prediction: 11-5.

Chicago Bears

One thing to remember is the Bears are actually the defending NFC North champs and had a first-round bye in the 2010 playoffs. The Bears offense finally put it all together last year. Quarterback Jay Cutler finally seemed to gain a handle on Mike Martz’s schemes and the team also received big contributions from running back Matt Forte and wide receiver Johnny Knox.

The Bears took a flyer on a couple of Dallas Cowboys castoffs this offseason, signing former Minnesota Gophers running back Marion Barber and wide receiver Roy Williams, who will be counted on to give the

should give quarterbacks in the North nightmares for the next decade.

Bears the power runner and possession receiver the team was lacking last season.

The defense is aging, but seemed to come up big time and time again in 2010 and is led once again by pass rusher Julius Peppers and linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs.

Prediction: 8-8 Minnesota Vikings

Prediction: 9-7 (no playoffs) Detroit Lions Optimism abounds for the first time in years in Detroit.

The Lions finished 6-10 last year, but were competitive in nearly every game. This was without emerging young quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was injured in the third game of the season after getting off to a hot start.

Stafford’s number one target, Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, has emerged as one of the top wide-outs in the league.

Second-year running back Jahvid Best looks to be a keeper as well. Throw in former Viking Nate Burleson and tight end Brandon Pettigrew and the Lions should be able to keep up with anybody on offense this season.

The defense is also on the rise, as the Lions have drafted defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley in the past two drafts. They will anchor a defensive line that

One would assume the Vikings can only improve in 2011. The trade for Donovan McNabb and his arrival to training camp is already a sign of progress. New head coach Leslie Frazier seems to have created more of a positive vibe around camp than predecessor Brad Childress and the players hopefully are buying in.

The talent on offense is there, with Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin and Visanthe Shiancoe returning. If the offense can learn all he nuances of and excel with new coordinator Bill Musgrave’s system, the Vikings should be able to score some points. Newcomers Michael Jenkins and Kyle Rudolph will need to contribute, as well as the revived Bernard Berrian.

The defense has star power as well, and Jared Allen needs to get back to playing at an All-Pro level. If Kevin Williams avoids suspension and the linebackers and corners stay healthy, the defense should once again be the strength of the team.

Prediction: 8-8

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Training Camp 2011

MSU Reporter • Page 27

OFFENSIVE LINE “We got PONDER “Did the Vikings reach for Ponder? During the draft, everyone thought so. But Ponder’s done everya pretty good core coming thing he’s been able to during the offseason to make us think otherwise.” back,” Hutchinson said. continued from 6

continued from 7

start training camp.

Johnson, 27, who had started 54 out of 74 games with the Colts and protected Peyton Manning’s blind side, figures to take over for McKinnie.

“He’s a guy that I am familiar with from our days in Indianapolis and of course watched him progress and we’re fortunate that he was available and we’ll just see how he fits in,” Frazier said.

Third-year tackle Phil Loadholt and fourth-year center John Sullivan are improving each year and Hutchinson is a Pro-Bowler, but the other two spots are in question right now.

Assuming Herrera is ready for week one and Johnson fits in nicely, the Vikings offensive line could have a bounce-back year.

“We got a pretty good core coming back.”

Hutchinson said.

GREENWAY “The linebacker has to prove he was worth the franchise tag, as the Vikings passed on putting it on wide receiver Sidney Rice who ended up signing for the Seattle Seahawks.” continued from 10

“There’s no reason not to believe that we can fight our way back into a playoff situation this year,” said Greenway. “We feel confident about that and we don’t really care if anybody else thinks that way or not.”

well, but he thinks McNabb coming to Minnesota will be a great thing for Ponder.

“Anytime you can get a guy that’s been there before, to be able to teach and kind of bring him along, it’s definitely great for Christian [Ponder]. I know he’s very excited as well,” Rudolph said.

Did the Vikings reach for Ponder?

During the draft, everyone thought so. But Ponder’s done everything he’s been able to during the offseason to make us think otherwise. His body

language, his media appearances and organizing team workouts have fooled us into thinking Minnesota has finally drafted its guy. Maybe his play on the field will fool us, too.

Even if it’s not this season.

Ponder is ready to learn, but he’s also ready to play. After the McNabb deal was announced, Ponder tweeted, “Excited to have McNabb join. Will learn a lot from a Pro Bowler. But that doesn’t mean I’m not still fighting to start week 1.”

Maybe four years from now in-

stead of asking whether or not the Vikings reached for Ponder, people will wonder who the quarterbacks were taken ahead of Ponder and why he fell so far. Ultimately, it’ll all be up to Ponder.

So far, so good. No matter who starts for the Vikings, the future is Ponder and he couldn’t be more excited to fast-forward to then. Until then, he’ll wait and learn. And then hopefully win.

McNABB “I’ve moved past that whole something to prove deal,” McNabb said. “For me, it’s about going out there, being who I am and doing what I do.” continued from 3 his still has many productive years left in the league. Everyone associated with the Vikings organization is confident in the latter, and McNabb wants to make it clear that he has no chip on his shoulder.

“I’ve moved past that whole something to prove deal,” he said. “For me, it’s about going out there, being who I am and doing what I do.”

Not only did the Vikings only have to give up two sixth-round draft choices for McNabb’s services, but the veteran quarterback’s presence will also keep

Ponder and Webb’s feet out of the fire until they are truly ready to be starters in the NFL. “I’ve been in their shoes before,” McNabb said. “We will continue to work together and help each other, push each other and challenge each other and make each other better as we continue on.”

Ponder, the team’s first round pick in last April’s draft, tweeted after the trade that he still plans to compete for the starting job for week one. That being said, he has had nothing but good things to say about McNabb since the trade

was made.

“The biggest thing that I’m going to soak up from him is his preparation,” said Ponder. “How he handles being an NFL quarterback.”

No matter what lies ahead for the Vikings this year, McNabb is here and trying to set the right tone from day one.

“That’s what the mindset is all about, of having an opportunity to play with a team with a lot of veterans who have won and had success and I’m looking forward to getting back to that winning edge.”

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Page 28 • MSU Reporter

Minnesota Vikings Issue

CEDRIC GRIFFIN “All four starting defensive backs will have something to prove at the start of this season... Griffing needs to show people that he is no long just a starter at cornerback, but one of the best defenders on the team.”

KYLE RUDOLPH “While Shiancoe has proven to be a red zone threat over the last three seasons, Rudolph will give him a run for his money.”

continued from 18

continued from 19

to both be going hard for the starting safety position during training camp, they both had under 15 tackles last season so hopefully it pushes those two to become better players, but as of right now, strong safety is the Vikes’ low point on the defensive side of the ball. “The more competitive we get, the better we’ll be,” Sanford said about himself and Johnson going for the top spot. Free safety Husain Abdullah is coming

off a decent 2010, where he racked up 50 tackles and three interceptions.

“It’s a different approach every year in training camp for me.” Abdullah said after day one of training camp.

“This year I want to be a starter.”

Frazier believes the future is bright for young Abdullah; they just need to find someone to go alongside him. Mistral Johnson could also be looking at some playing time behind

Abdullah at free safety.

All four starting defensive backs will have something to prove at the start of this season. Winfield has to show everybody even though he’s 33; he still has enough to be one of the top corners in the NFL. Griffin needs to show us that he is no longer just a starter at cornerback, but one of the top defenders on the team, and the safeties are out to prove everybody wrong.

athletic Rudolph to be used for passing plays.

While Shiancoe has proven to be a red zone threat over the last three seasons, Rudolph will give him a run for his money. Rudolph has something in common with another great tight end in the league — Antonio Gates — in that both players are very talented at basketball.

Rudolph was ready to play basketball at Wake Forest before deciding to play football at Notre Dame.

If Rudolph can have a career anything like Gates’, he’ll be happy. The good news is that he will definitely have the opportunity.

PETERSON “If he can remain healthy and the Vikings continue to give him the ball, Peterson should be a leader in almost all stat categories.

He should receive about 330 attempts on the ground... which brings him to 1,583 yards, which should put him at the top of the list.” continued from 8 the top three attempts leaders last year; Peterson would have been second in the league’s rushing yards instead of sixth.

Another stat Peterson has improved on is his fumbling down from the 2008 and 2009. Those two years he had a combined sixteen fumbles that drove all Vikings fan’s crazy, which

looks bad compared to his one fumble from last year.

It wasn’t as if he wasn’t running hard anymore either, he still showed his power and agility but kept the ball in his hands all but one time in the year, major improvement from year’s past. He is also turning into more of a veteran player than years before, he’s com-

ing into himself as a player and is not just a young kid anymore; he’s been on the offense just as long as any other offensive player has been, it’s his turn to be a leader.

If he can remain healthy and the Vikings continue to give him the ball, Peterson should be a leader in almost all stat categories.

He should receive about 330 attempts on the ground.

Keep that up with his 4.8 career yards per carry that brings him up to 1,584 yards, which will put him on the top of the list. Due to the fact that Toby Gerhart is used as a goal line running back, you have to take a few touchdowns away from Peterson; he might get

them to the goal line but Gerhart will bring them in.

A safe bet would be thirteen touchdowns on the year.

Add three or four fumbles in there, and A.P. ends the season right where he should, the top of the list.

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Training Camp 2011

Wilf still optimistic about stadium

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said Wednesday that he remains hopeful that there will be a special legislative session in the fall to consider a stadium bill for the team.

Wilf said the team is still working on its $1 billion plan for a new stadium in the Twin Cities suburb of Arden Hills, but remains confident that they are getting closer to presenting it to lawmakers for approval.

“We still have some work ahead of us to put all the pieces in place, but we’re very confident that we will have something worked out in the near future,” Wilf said at training camp at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

“Hopefully that could be addressed in a special session.

But we’re very confident in our location and the future of the franchise in a new stadium in Arden Hills.”

Gov. Mark Dayton said last month that the Vikings plan was “incomplete and unsatisfactory.” The Vikings initially were hoping to be included in a special session this summer to address the state’s budget shortfall, but the ensuing government shutdown forced the stadium issue to the back burner yet again.

Dayton did say he would seriously consider calling another special legislative session later this year if he sees a stadium plan that’s a “good deal for Minnesota.” He says this “takes every partner” and “that hasn’t occurred yet.”

The Vikings’ lease at the Metrodome expires after the upcoming season, and the team has been pressuring Dayton and the legislature to address the issue and ensure the franchise’s long-term viability in Minnesota.

The team and Ramsey County officials have at times expressed frustration with the process, with vice president of stadium affairs Lester Bagley saying in July that the team was “assessing its options.”

But Wilf said on Wednesday that he has not reached a breaking point in the process and that the team remained committed to getting this deal done.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us and it’s an ongoing process,” Wilf said. “We want to make sure when it’s all said and done that the facility works out for everybody

who is a partner in the venture and that it’s a venture that everybody can look forward to and utilize for the best benefit of everybody in Minnesota and for our fans.”

Wilf also expressed relief and excitement that the NFL’s labor battle with the players ended before the start of training camp. While Commissioner Roger Goodell and representatives from the players’ union were still working on the finishing touches of the new collective bargaining agreement on Wednesday, Wilf said he was pleased that the focus was shifting from the courtroom back to the field where it belongs.

He said he was very pleased with the addition of new quarterback Donovan McNabb, whom he called “a consummate professional and an exceptional quarterback.”

Wilf and his brother Mark addressed the team after the second practice of the day on Wednesday, and both said they expected big things after a disappointing 6-10 finish last year.

“We’re all very excited to get going here and compete,” Zygi Wilf said. “That’s always been our goal, to win championships. We start out all even and hopefully we’ll be on top when it’s all over.”

MSU Reporter • Page 29

Vikings cut McKinnie

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — Leslie Frazier insists he wasn’t trying to send a message when left tackle Bryant McKinnie, a fixture on the Minnesota Vikings offensive line for the past nine years, was abruptly released two days into Frazier’s first training camp as a head coach.

Even if that wasn’t his intent, that was how the move was being received by the rest of the team.

Frazier repeatedly declined to cite the specific reasons for McKinnie’s departure, only saying that it had nothing to do with money and that the former Pro Bowler “wasn’t the right fit” for the team any longer.

“In Bryant’s case, he’s been a terrific player for the Vikings. I love him as a person. We’ve had a great relationship together,” Frazier said. “But at this point, for all parties involved, I just thought it was the right thing to do, and I’m sure he’s going to catch on with a team and he’s going to do well.

“He’s a terrific player right now, but for where we are right now and where we’re trying to go to, it just wasn’t the right fit for the direction that we want to go.”

Actually, McKinnie’s level of play dropped noticeably in the second half of last season. Then, after a summer-long lockout prevented Vikings coaches from working with him in the offseason, McKinnie showed for training camp woefully out of shape and significantly overweight.

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“With so much time off, guys do different things. Some guys relax, some guys travel. Some guys like to party,” cornerback Antoine Winfield said. “But you have to be disciplined. All you have to do is go work out, stay in some kind of shape, and perform.”

Frazier side-stepped questions about McKinnie’s conditioning and extra pounds on Wednesday, but several prominent teammates made it clear that his physical condition played a role in the decision.

“We all understood, everyone as professionals, that all we had to do is come in and come in shape,” Winfield said. “Coaches really had no choice but to do what they did.”

Steve Hutchinson played alongside McKinnie for five seasons on the left side of the line.

The captain of the offense called McKinnie’s situation “disap-

pointing,” but said the team did it in part to prevent McKinnie from any serious injuries or health issues.

Now the Vikings plan to start Charlie Johnson at left tackle to protect Donovan McNabb’s blind side. Johnson just signed on Monday and said he has a lot of catching up to do. He’s had to watch the first three days of practice because his contract will not kick in until the new collective bargaining agreement goes into effect.

“They’ve kind of said come tomorrow I’m going to be thrown out in the fire a little bit,” Johnson said. “I’ve had the three days to go over the playbook and stuff. When tomorrow comes, it’s trial by fire. I’m excited. I’m looking forward to it. It’s a new experience, but something you have to be excited about.”

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Page 30 • MSU Reporter

Minnesota Vikings Issue

Former Viking great announces retirement

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — Randy Moss dominated when he wanted to dominate.

He scored when he wanted to score, cooperated when he wanted to cooperate and acted out when he wanted to act out.

Moss spent 13 seasons doing things on his own terms, which is why perhaps the loudest career the NFL has ever seen — both in terms of the roars he induced on the field and the aggravation he caused off it — ended so quietly on Monday.

No farewell speech from maybe the most physically gifted receiver to don a helmet.

No tearful goodbye from a record-setting performer who changed the way defense is played in the NFL. Just a onesentence statement from his agent saying one of the most colorful careers in league history was over.

“Randy has weighed his options and considered the offers and has decided to retire,” Joel Segal said on Monday.

It was vintage Moss, a revolutionary talent who was never very much interested in doing things the conventional way.

Fans were awed by his once-in-a-generation blend of size, speed and intelligence.

Teammates were charmed by the charisma he showed behind closed doors and coaches were often infuriated by his boorish antics and lack of respect for authority.

“I don’t know if anybody can totally pin down who Randy Moss is,” said Tim DiPiero, one of Moss’ first agents said last year.

If this indeed is the end for Moss, he leaves the game with some of the gaudiest statistics posted by a receiver. His 153 touchdowns are tied with Terrell Owens for second on the career list, and he’s also fifth in yards (14,858) and tied with Hines Ward for eighth in receptions (954).

“In a lot of ways, he was the Michael Jordan of offenses in our league,” Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said. “He was a special player for a long, long time.”

Those numbers, and his status as perhaps the best deep threat in NFL history, will make him a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame. But voters will also be weighing those achievements and his six Pro Bowl seasons against a history of mailing in performances and a reputation as a coach killer.

As Moss himself famously said: “I play when I want to

play.”

And when he wanted to, there was no one better. And when he didn’t, there was no one more destructive.

Trouble off the field in high school prevented Moss from attending Notre Dame or Florida State, so he landed at Marshall and scored 54 touchdowns in two electrifying seasons with the Thundering Herd.

The character questions hurt Moss in the 1998 draft. He fell to the Vikings at pick No. 21 and he spent the next seven years making every GM in the league who passed on him regret it. He scored 17 touchdowns to help the Vikings reach the NFC title game, a season so overpowering that the rival Packers used their first three picks in the following April’s draft on cornerbacks to try to slow him down.

Didn’t do much good. Moss scored at least 10 touchdowns in all but one season in his first tour with the Vikings.

“The things I’ve seen him do, I don’t think I’ll ever see another player do the things he did,” Vikings tight end Jim Kleinsasser said. “Great career.

Tough to see him not playing because I think he had a lot left out there that he could have done for somebody.”

He also got into several controversies along the way, bumping a traffic cop in downtown Minneapolis, squirting

a referee with a water bottle during a game and leaving the field early in a game against Washington, just to name a few.

Sensing a change of scenery was needed, the Vikings traded Moss to Oakland in 2005, where he spent two quiet seasons before his career was revived in New England. He re-emerged as a force with the Patriots, hauling in a singleseason record 23 TD passes from Tom Brady to help the Patriots reach the Super Bowl.

Vikings fans were euphoric at the news of his return last season, but things soured in a hurry. He caught 13 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns in four games back in purple, clashed with coach Brad Childress in the locker room and brought embarrassment to the organization when he berated a caterer at team headquarters.

He hugged former Patriots teammates after a Vikings loss, and then bizarrely stepped to a podium to fawn over the Patriots, criticize the Vikings for ignoring his strategic advice, and announce his plan to interview himself the rest of the season instead of letting reporters do it.

An enraged Childress unilaterally decided to cut Moss shortly after, a decision that helped seal his fate with Vikings ownership.

Moss finished the season with eight games in Tennes-

see, but only caught six passes.

Segal said earlier this summer that the receiver was training hard and determined to prove to the doubters that he could still dominate the game like he had in the past.

The Jets were believed to have some interest in Moss, but Segal declined to elaborate on the options that were available.

“Randy has been a great player for a long time,” said Bob Pruett, Moss’ college coach at Marshall. “He’s choosing this on his own terms and I think that’s good. If that’s what he wants to do, that’s what he should do.”

While many grapple with what Moss’ legacy will be, there is no denying the impact he had on the game. The Cover 2 defense has become a fashionable scheme over the past 10 years, and it was designed

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in large part to prevent Moss from burning opposing defensive backs for long TDs. “He’s a guy who changed defenses,” Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield said.

“You had to put two defenders on him to take him out of the game so it opened up the rest of the offense. Great guy, great teammate, I have a lot of respect for him, he’s brought a lot to this game and I wish him well.”

Whether the 34-year-old Moss is truly done is anyone’s guess. That, of course, appears to be completely up to him.

“He’s one of the best receivers of all time to play this game,” Vikings receiver Percy Harvin said. “I’m sure he hung it up with no regrets, so I wish the best for him. He had a great career and did a lot of great things.”

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