The most valuable players on the Minnesota Vikings roster

With Vikings training camp well underway, many of us Vikings fans have started getting geared up for the upcoming season. Yay fall! Yay football! Yay Vikes! Am I wrong? I didn't think so. Anyway, with that comes thinking about the Vikings roster. And the players that this team just can't afford to see get hurt this season. My list:

1. Jared Allen: Obviously. Without Allen, the entire dynamic of the defensive squad changes significantly. This section of the team is built around this player - which could ultimately lead to success (if he stays healthy) or failure (if he gets injured). Generally speaking he's not a guy to sit out a game, so let's just hope that continues this season. Knock on wood.

2. Jasper Brinkley: there is no one that can viably back him up if he gets hurt, which leaves us with a very open hole at middle linebacker. He may not be the best in the league, but he's the best thing we've got.

3. John Sullivan: He's an elite center. He calls out the plays. He just signed a contract with the Vikes for $25 million over five years. Since the team has so much invested in him, there's obviously not a fall back guy that can do the job like he can. And since he's such an integral player to the success of this team - both as a player and a leader - he needs to stay healthy.

4.  Matt Kalil has shown himself to be a necessary addition to the team - an anchor to the offensive line. If he goes down - which is highly possible, given this is his first year playing on a professional level - there is no backup plan. Literally.

2012 Vikings Cheerleaders

The Vikings are away at training camp, which means it's time to really start thinking about the upcoming season. So that's what I did: I sat down and thought about it. And then I realized that I never actually sat down to look at the Vikings cheerleaders that made the cut over the winter from the auditions at the Mall of America. I kind of forgot how awkward it is to look at cheerleader photos. Everything is so...posed and overdone. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure all of these girls are lovely and talented people. But there's just something that's so glamour-shots-esque about looking at cheerleading photos. Don't believe me? Check out the Vikings cheerleaders bios and then tell me what you think...

Vikings Training Camp: and so it begins

Well, it's officially training camp time. And if you're a TRUE Vikings fan, you're in Mankato watching the team. Right? SIKE. Most of us have jobs and families and lives that keep us out of Mankato for training camp. Although I do give props to anyone who heads down there to check out the team - I'm with you in spirit!

Anyway, with it being Training Camp time, let's look at some underdogs to watch for - aka they have a strong potential to be added to the Vikings roster.

1. Tyler Nielsen - he's rated in the top 20 undrafted players in the nation.
2. Robert Blanton - fifth round draft pick of the Vikings in this year's draft.
3. Everson Griffen - one of ESPN's top 20 draft picks

Who are YOUR must watches of the upcoming season?

Gopher Football Beer Sales

Ok guys, I know that this has nothing to do with the Vikings - my usual football team of choice. But I have to say that I can't neglect to post something interesting when it happens to come along about my alma mater - the Golden Gophers. After some serious battles over the past few years when it comes to alcohol sales at the new TCF Bank Stadium, there was a bill passed in the Minnesota legislature over the winter that would allow the school to sell alcohol at the stadium. And the school has finally agreed to allow sales at the stadium starting this year. They have made it very widely known, however, that there will only be liquor sales at two concessions counters on the West end of the stadium - the area furthest away from the student section.

You may be wondering - if the school has been SO opposed to allowing alcohol sales for the last several years, what's prompting them to all of a sudden go along with it? My guess is that this is a two fold answer:

1. The school has been receiving a lot of public backlash for not letting alumni have a beer while they watch a game. You have to remember that the majority of football fans - at least in this part of the country - are alcohol drinkers. And they don't want to be told by the school that while they are paying for their ticket, they can't choose whether or not they are going to have a beer at the game. The school is going to choose for them.

2. The U of M needs money. And without raising event ticket prices, there's one big way that they can easily raise money: by selling booze. They'll obviously over charge for it like every other venue does - $7 a beer makes them a TON of money in the long run over the course of a season. Hell, it will also encourage more acts to perform there.

My opinion: I think it's TIME that the U of M decides to let the fans choose their beverage of choice. It's a good financial decision and a good public image decision for the school. And it makes me super excited to get my Gopher football tickets this year!

New Vikings Stadium: what about the roof?

When it comes to a new Vikings stadium, you can bet your bottom dollar that fans are interested in one major thing: the ROOF.

A stadium roof is always a hot topic in a state that has a brutally cold winter season, but it's especially relevent after the roof caved in at the Metrodome two seasons ago.

Vikings management has made it clear that there WILL be a roof on the new stadium, but they've also hinted at the possibility that part of it will be retractable and open up to see part of downtown. While that will be an extra cost, if it's just a portion of the roof that's retractable they can definitely keep the cost lower than what it would be with a fully retractable roof. In addition to that, it would be awesome to have a view of downtown without obstruction while hitting up a game on the Vikings schedule.

So what do you think? Should they have a retractable roof? A full roof? No roof at all? Inquiring Minnesota minds want to know!

Pending Issues before training camp

While we're well on the road to victory this season - I only say that because of the approval of the stadium (helloooo team motivation) and the early practices - the Vikings roster has several issues to work out before the end of training camp and *gasp* the start of the pre-season in August. The biggest of these issues include:

1. Adrian Peterson's knee - which is actually just going to require a lot of rest before the regular season starts up.

2. Building the second line - yes, a team can have a great first line, but the guys that go in when the first line is tired or injured need to be just as solid. Aka if they're not worked just as hard as the first line, we'll have another season like last year.

3. Keeping the defensive line one of the best in the league - which will require a lot of motivation and continued beefing up. Did I mention that whenever I think about the defensive line and food I think of Campbell's Chunky Soup? From their NFL player commercials? I'm weird, I know.

Chris Kluwe of the Vikings Roster for Marriage Equality

Chris Kluwe of the Vikings roster has come out asking fans to support marriage equality on the current bill being presented to Minnesotans for a vote on the issue. This is the first sports star in the state to ask for fan support in either direction of the bill. In a recent interview Kluwe says:

"I’ve always believed that people are inherently the same and should have the same rights and equal protection under the law. It really doesn’t matter what you do with who or whom as long as you’re not infringing on someone else’s rights. Everyone should be free to live their own life however it makes them happy."

It's quite a statement for an athlete to become political over such a controversial issue. But good for Kluwe for standing by what he believes in and asking his own fan base to keep an open mind over this issue. 

Wait, what's going on with Percy Harvin of the Vikings roster?

Just when we all thought that things were setting up to be on track for the upcoming Vikings season, something gets thrown into the mix to clog the forward motion. This time, it's Percy Harvin, who is unhappy with his current contract - basically he thinks he should be making a lot more money. He's not just saying he's unhappy - he's acting on it. He asked to be traded and didn't show up for yesterday's mandatory mini practice. He did appear in practice today, but his non-attendance yesterday is a little ominous.

So what should the Vikings do? Nothing, in my opinion. Caving to one player's pouting and temper tantrums is bad business. It's sets the expectation that if the players want something, they just have to act like a three year old to get it. And what does any good parent do with a naughty three year old? They put him in a time out.

Until Harvin can learn to be a grown up and negotiate his contract at the right time instead of refusing to show up for mandatory practices and act like a big ol' baby, then he should be treated exactly how he's acting. The management at the Vikings needs to not give Harvin attention for acting out. There's a time and a place to re-negotiate a contract, and a month before training camp is not that time.

Oh, and right now Harvin? You're a member of the Vikings roster - so start acting like it. Over and out.

Vikings schedule has officially been released

Well the wait is over, ladies and gents. The Minnesota Vikings schedule has been released and it's a doozy. Aka not all of the awesome games I was hoping for. It's actually kind of a crappy schedule - the only good game is a regular one: the Vikings Packers game. Here's what we've got coming, folks:

8/17 Vikings vs. Bills
8/24 Vikings vs. Chargers
9/9   Vikings vs. Jaguars
9/23 Vikings vs. 49ers
10/7 Vikings vs. Titans
10/21 Vikings vs. Cardinals
10/25 Vikings vs. Buccaneers
11/11 Vikings vs. Lions
12/9 Vikings vs. Bears
12/30 Vikings vs. Packers

Will the Vikings be competitive this year?

According to Bleacher Report, our Minnesota Vikings are going to be the team to watch this year. After the season they had last year - especially with that final loss to the Washington Redskins - I'm mighty glad to hear it. And now I'm just hoping that this actually pans out. You see, the Vikings have the talent. They have the right people in the right places. They have the right coaching and the right future (with the new Vikings stadium). The biggest thing that they're missing is cohesiveness and DRIVE. And this year I really believe they're going to have that. After the way the season panned out last year and how the season has kicked off this year - with them getting a new stadium in Minnesota and the early team practices - I think they're really going to make a go of winning more games than not - now we just have to wait and see what teams land on the Vikings schedule...something that should be out soon! Another thing that will be out soon: my Vikings tickets. And man oh man, I surely can't wait for that day!

Vikings roster rehabbing together

In case you haven't heard, the Vikings roster has started practice already. That includes formerly injured members of the team Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson - both of whom had surgery during the off-season. While the rest of the team was hard at work practicing, Harvin and Peterson would jog from one end of the field to the other and race up a hill. This whole thing puts a smile on my face for a few reasons:

1. Two athletes rehabbing with each other competitively this early means they're going to be in tip top shape for the upcoming season.

2. The rest of the team is practicing together, too - which means they're taking this season very seriously. A good thing for us taxpayers that will be helping to fund the new Vikings stadium that was officially passed last week.

3. We're finally getting close to Vikings Training Camp!Which means...we're about two months away from my Vikings tickets arriving at my house. EXCITED!

Want to check out the training for yourself? There's a Harvin-Peterson training video from the other day on the Vikings website.

New Vikings Stadium Passes final hurdle

The Vikings stadium passed it's final hurdle this week: getting past the Minneapolis City Council. The Council voted FOR the stadium in a 7-6 vote: this thing passed by the grace of ONE person. That's really interesting to me, because it took so long for this to get through the state legislature. It went back and forth between party lines, the house, the senate AND the governor. All of the issues got worked out over the course of TWO YEARS. And all of that work could have gone straight in the garbage because of a couple of people on the city council, people who had no part in the work that went into the bill (and let's be honest, could have very vocally voiced their opinions during that time) could have completely derailed all of that work. As a Vikings fan, I obviously support this bill. I also understand that there are people who oppose it, and I respect their opinions. That being said, there's a time and a place to oppose a bill that's as giant as this one, and it's not in a city council meeting. It's when the bill is being created, debated and discussed for two years at the capitol. Bravo, Minneapolis city council for passing this bill. But to be honest, it shouldn't have been a city council issue, anyway.

Vikings Training Camp

If you're an avid Minnesota Vikings fan, then you're used to the training camps that seem to shrink in length every single year. But this year: Behold, Vikings fans. A FULL three week training camp in Mankato! I'm not sure if it's in response to the fans, or the passing of the stadium bill, or what, but the Vikings management has made this news official. This means a few things for the team:

1. They have lots and lots of time to practice and perfect their ball skills prior to the start of the season this year. This means the Vikings roster should be in tip-top shape to kill it this year.

2. They have lots of time to pull together as a team. Which means their game play should start off more fluid than it has in the past. Always a bonus.

3. The fans will be happy. After just getting a stadium from the State, the Vikings are showing both the legislature and the fans that they're striving to be a stronger team in the future. Always good to keep the people that keep you in business happy.

A New Vikings Stadium

It's Friday, and I just have a couple of notes on the Vikings for all you Vikings fans to check out!

1. The Vikings ALMOST have their new stadium. The bill passed in the house and the senate, now it just needs to be passed by Governor Dayton. He's set to sign the bill early next week (with the fishing opener this weekend, apparently he's too busy to take care of it today). That being said, they're supposedly holding a special ceremony for this bill signing. Interesting.

2. I found out that the Vikings cheerleaders manager posts videos of the girls online on the Vikings website. Most recently was the "swimsuit" portion of the Vikings Cheerleaders PAGEANT. You heard that correctly, a pageant. And if you watch the video, please answer me this question: why do these girls look more like they're competing for a Hooter's swimsuit competition than a legitimate pageant? I'm so confused.

New Vikings Gear for Summertime

Necessary for any Vikings chick during the summertime: some lightweight gear that you can wear in warm weather. Enter: the Minnesota Vikings tank top. I love how this shirt looks kind of vintage - the duo-tone color scheme is perfect for this vintage shirt loving gal. I'll wear it all summer on my days off while I'm out running errands. And it's totally perfect for heading down to training camp in late July - when it's so hot out, sometimes it can be hard to find a great piece of Vikings wear for the weather! Even a t-shirt can be too much while you're standing outside all day cheering on the team and trying to get autographs from the Vikings roster - late July can lead to 90 degree days, which means t-shirts are sweat magnets. Tanks are definitely the way to go.

Minnesota Vikings Stadium Update

For those of you that are constantly watching the news, twitter and facebook for updates on the battle for a new Minnesota Vikings Stadium, you don't have too much longer to wait. The bill in the Minnesota legislature has suddenly gained new life and become the hot topic (yet again) across all of the news stations. The problem with the whole bill is two fold:

 1. The financing is super complicated.

 2. If Minneapolis is getting something special, it's sister city St. Paul wants something special. Almost like the State Legislator is playing parent to it's two child cities. A weird analogy, but true.

 Personally, I support the money for the stadium coming from the gambling profits. It's simple, it makes sense, and it's paid for by people that are choosing to spend their money that way. Another option is to create an additional tax on the people that use the most: season ticket holders, single game buyers, concession items, etc. I support this as well, but I do think that if they're going to impose an extra use tax on these people, that same usage tax needs to apply to the unofficial jersey and memorabilia sellers as well. Don't forget, these guys will profit just as much as the other guys if a new stadium goes through. It's going to be an interesting race to the finish. With the legislature almost calling it quits for the year, they sure did wait until the last minute to deal with this bill. And if they don't pass it, I think we can all agree that we'll be saying Bye Bye Vikings in the very near future.

Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader Tryouts

In case you didn't hear, yesterday were the 2012 Vikings cheerleader tryouts at the Mall of America. My facebook was alight with people talking about it - kind of creepy, considering the fact that these girls are parading around in their undies for any passerbys to see. Nonetheless, it is an athletic event, and being a part of a professional NFL cheerleading team is something that many girls aspire to. I couldn't find any video of yesterday's event to share, but I do have one from the 2010 auditions. And let's face it - it's pretty much the same deal. Check 'er out:

Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders

Have you ever thought about what it takes to be a Minnesota Vikings cheerleader? Well, it takes a lot more than just showing up for game days. There's tons of photo shoots, meet and greets and events that they have to attend. For example, they put on a holiday show at the Mall of America that included THIRTY routines that have been performed at games throughout the season. They also brought in their Alumni dance team ND the youth all stars who both performed at the show. Check it out:

Vikings Stadium Bill Moving Forward

In an interesting turn of events this week, the Vikings stadium proposal has taken on an interesting new potential investor: The White Earth Nation. They've offered a $400 Million deal in exchange for the ability to place a casino in the metro area. They would continue to split revenues with the State on a 50-50 basis, continuing to generate money for the state. There is a split feeling around the Capitol about this plan, some believe that it would bring much needed revenues to the state, some believe that it's essentially equivalent to the state investing in a casino which could have severe ethical implications long term. While that may be true, it is also true that the state wouldn't actually be investing any money in the project AND they wouldn't be part of running the casino, they would just be receiving money for allowing the casino to operate. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, in this girl's opinion. If people are going to gamble, they're going to gamble. Why not let it help support valuable needs within the state at the same time?

Stay Motivated for the Vikings Schedule to Come Out

Yep, I know what you're thinking about these days. LAST YEAR at this time, the Vikings schedule had already been released. Last year at this time I knew how to plan out my fall. Last year at this time I was already getting excited for training camp, even though it was still months away! But don't fret - I have something that will keep your morning cheery about the Vikings until they announce that schedule - this awesome Vikings toaster. It imprints the team logo on your toast - how cool is that?! Pretty amazing, if you ask me. And it'll keep you busy until that coveted day when the schedule comes out.

Asher Allen of the Minnesota Vikings Roster

As a 24 year old, he was born on January 22, 1988.
Shirt says he's #21
Has a cousin that played for the Dallas Cowboys - Michael Irvin.
Eats a lot, but still weighs under 200 lbs.
Really enjoyed playing college ball at Georgia.

American Football Cornerback.
Loved being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2009.
Lists his first NFL interception as a throw by Matt Hasselback.
Eeek! He's totally adorable!
Not from Atlanta, but from Tucker, Georgia.

I Heart The Minnesota Vikings Roster

Oh yes, I am a BIG Minnesota Vikings roster fan. Which is why I'll be bringing YOU the best info and fun updates on all of the players this season! You definitely don't want to miss out on any of my informational posts. Stay tuned to my blog for weekly updates on my favorite things about my favorite players in the NFL!