Lets cross our fingers on that one. The only thing helping that situation now is that the small yardage gains are the most battering anyway so he won't be thrown into that situation too often. I do have to say that I like Culpepper's RB capability when it works though.
He just has dinky hands like Warren Moon and Dave Krieg. Two notorious fumblers.
They re-signed Hunter Goodwin. That means they have both their blocking TE's back from last year. I like they way they are lessening their needs through free agency so that they won't have to depend on a bunch of rookies to fill all their holes. Their rookie experiments last year were a total failure. The guy who could have played from opening day, didn't even sign till the season was in the dumps.
2003 Preseason Date......................Opponent Week 1 (Aug 7-11) Jacksonville Week 2 (Aug 14-18) at Kansas City Week 3 (Aug 21-25) at Oakland Week 4 (Aug 28-31) Arizona
2003 Schedule Date......Opponent Sep 7 @Green Bay 1:00pm Sep 14 Chicago 8:30pm Sep 21 @Detroit 1:00pm Sep 28 San Francisco 1:00pm Oct 5 @Atlanta 1:00pm Week 6 BYE Oct 19 Denver 1:00pm Oct 26 N.Y. Giants 1:00pm Nov 2 Green Bay 8:30pm Nov 9 @San Diego 4:05pm Nov 16 @Oakland 4:15pm Nov 23 Detroit 1:00pm Nov 30 @St. Louis 1:00pm Dec 7 Seattle 1:00pm Dec 14 @Chicago 1:00pm Dec 20 Kansas City 5:00pm Dec 28 @Arizona 4:05pm
2 Sunday night games and, once again, no Monday night games. Come on guys
I don't really care about the lack of Monday night games as long as they play. I do like the fact that they play Green Bay here in November and there in the opener. Makes more sense than playing there in December. I see we play San Fran. That's always a cool game. We almost always play them at least once a year. Last year was an exception. That will be cool playing the Broncos, Giants, Raiders, Chargers, Chiefs, and Rams, too. = )
Vikings To Trade Up? By Viking Update Staff Date: Apr 4, 2003
With three weeks and counting until the 2003 draft, the rumor mill has begun buzzing. One new rumor has the Vikings making a trade on draft day, but not in the direction most have anticipated. Many of us at Viking Update shared the loss that many football insiders felt when draft guru Joel Buchsbaum died last December. Typically much more accurate than the more famous Mel Kiper, Buchsbaum's take on college players -- from Randy Moss on down -- were often uncannily accurate.
With Buchsbaum gone, his employer -- Pro Football Weekly -- has been forced to go it alone when it comes to draft coverage and the paper came up with a doozy. In its latest edition, PFW reports that the Vikings are so enamoured with DT Dewayne Robertson that they are willing to trade up to the No. 4 or 5 spot -- with either Chicago (a division rival) or Dallas (which beat them to Ryan Sims a year ago) -- to asure that they get Robertson.
While VU has been contending for weeks that the Vikings have an enormous interest in Robertson, perhaps even more than they do in DT Jimmy Kennedy, viewed by most as the top DT in the draft, the odds of the Vikings trading up would seem remote at best since it would likely cost the team a third-round pick in addition to make such a deal.
FRIDAY NOTES
From the other crazy rumor department comes this priceless gem. A Twin Cities columnist has speculated that the Vikings will use the No. 7 pick on ... a quarterback! Apparently the ongoing discussions with Daunte Culpepper mean nothing. His rationale (if there is any) is that signing Byron Leftwich or Kyle Boller would be a hedge if Culpepper wouldn't sign. A hedge? It would be a shot off the bow. Either the old guy has lost it or he's trying to be Nostradamus.
From the "Ouch, babe" department comes this: The Vikings got their old expansion teams crossed yesterday. When the team released its 2003 schedule to the media yesterday, it listed dates, times and opponents, starting with the preseason opener vs. the Carolina Panthers. Just one problem. They play the Jaguars in the opener, not the Panthers. A correction was sent out, but some outlets printed the schedule with the Panthers on the docket and weren't too pleased.
Corbin Lacina, who again has been benched as the result of a free agent signing, is in talks with the Buffalo Bills -- the team that drafted him and for whom he played his first five seasons. Lacina wants to stay in Minnesota, but said he understands the league is a business and wants to go where he'll have a better chance of playing.
Remember "The Superstars?" -- the made-for-TV event that pitted athletes in events ranging from swimming to an obstacle course. Well, they're back for a pair of 30th anniversary shows on CBS this weekend and the Vikings' Chris Hovan will be one of the athletes competing. Check your local TV listings for the air time in your town.
Beware the Bears. In looking at the breakdown of the schedules for 2003, the Bears play only one team in the final 12 games that made the playoffs in 2002. That's how the Bears won the division in 2001 and has some optimism flowing through the Windy City.
I have been going over all the mock drafts that are out there. It seems to me this could be a very interesting draft. There are a lot of different top ten picks out there. The Vikes have been predicted to take anyone from Suggs, Newman, Kennedy, Robertson even Trufcant (sp). Others have a lot of trades happening with some teams trading down from the top ten for more draft picks. Looks to be an interesting draft day.
I'll probably watch. I'm a football junkie like that. I like how things unfold, seeing who the Vikings get, what other teams get. I'm anxious for the draft.
A state-of-the-art renovation would enable the Rose Bowl to serve as the home for a Los Angeles-based NFL team. Several teams are facing stadium/revenue issues and considered candidates for a relocation to Los Angeles. Among them are the Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings
.
hot new west coast act: randy goes to hollywood, LOL!
The draft is upon us, and I've been checking the draft previews, mock drafts, what NFL people are saying. Sounds like the Vikings aren't going to trade, and sounds like a good thing. Seems there are slim pickings in this years draft. A lot of boards have the same order for the first 7 or so picks. I don't care about beyond that since I'm just interested in that leading up to the Vikings. Most everyone has the Vikings picking Kennedy, with Trufant a possibility. Sounds good to me. I just hope that we can get some good solid players in the later rounds. If the players available are as people are reporting, scouts are going to earn their money with a draft like this.
First 3 picks were offensive players. Looks like the Vikes will get a stud D player if they stay at #7. Jets are on the clock. Looks like Robertson is going to be the pick.
I think the next two picks will be interesting. Who knows what Dallas does. I also think the direction they go with the pick will show a bit how Jones and Parcells get along. Then after that people say Suggs to the Cardinals, but they may not. We'll see.
I like Culpepper too. If we traded for Culpepper, what we got for him depends on what other teams have available and their chance to sign him to a long term contract. I don't think we draft offense though. A surprise could be a trade with like New Orleans.
I thought I heard a rumor that the Vikes were really interested in Sullivan. If so, then we got screwed a bit. If the Vikes have a trade now, it's with New England. We'll see what happens.
We could have choices. They very well may be deciding between Kennedy, Trufant, Kevin Williams, Suggs. If they move down perhaps the choice becomes a bit easier and they get more in other draft picks.
Lets cross our fingers on that one. The only thing helping that situation now is that the small yardage gains are the most battering anyway so he won't be thrown into that situation too often. I do have to say that I like Culpepper's RB capability when it works though.
He just has dinky hands like Warren Moon and Dave Krieg. Two notorious fumblers.
They re-signed Hunter Goodwin. That means they have both their blocking TE's back from last year. I like they way they are lessening their needs through free agency so that they won't have to depend on a bunch of rookies to fill all their holes. Their rookie experiments last year were a total failure. The guy who could have played from opening day, didn't even sign till the season was in the dumps.
.
.
2003 Preseason
Date......................Opponent
Week 1 (Aug 7-11) Jacksonville
Week 2 (Aug 14-18) at Kansas City
Week 3 (Aug 21-25) at Oakland
Week 4 (Aug 28-31) Arizona
2003 Schedule
Date......Opponent
Sep 7 @Green Bay 1:00pm
Sep 14 Chicago 8:30pm
Sep 21 @Detroit 1:00pm
Sep 28 San Francisco 1:00pm
Oct 5 @Atlanta 1:00pm
Week 6 BYE
Oct 19 Denver 1:00pm
Oct 26 N.Y. Giants 1:00pm
Nov 2 Green Bay 8:30pm
Nov 9 @San Diego 4:05pm
Nov 16 @Oakland 4:15pm
Nov 23 Detroit 1:00pm
Nov 30 @St. Louis 1:00pm
Dec 7 Seattle 1:00pm
Dec 14 @Chicago 1:00pm
Dec 20 Kansas City 5:00pm
Dec 28 @Arizona 4:05pm
2 Sunday night games and, once again, no Monday night games. Come on guys
I don't really care about the lack of Monday night games as long as they play. I do like the fact that they play Green Bay here in November and there in the opener. Makes more sense than playing there in December. I see we play San Fran. That's always a cool game. We almost always play them at least once a year. Last year was an exception. That will be cool playing the Broncos, Giants, Raiders, Chargers, Chiefs, and Rams, too. = )
If it's anything like last year, I like the bye week myself. ;o)
If it's anything like last year, I like the bye week myself. ;o)
word.
That's not a cake walk of a schedule. No game at Tampa Whew>>>>>>>:)
Tough way to open the season @GB.
Yeah, but it will give us a good amount of time to game plan for that game. Plus, think of what it could do for confidence if we win that game.
True. We damn near beat them both times last year. It would be the sweetest of sweet to beat the Pack at thier new home and on the opener to boot :)
I'd have to find Sloop and rub it in.
Oooh that would be good :) The cherry on the proverbial sundae if you will.
If they go 10-6 with a schedule like that, we will know we have a damn good team.
Vikings To Trade Up?
By Viking Update Staff
Date: Apr 4, 2003
With three weeks and counting until the 2003 draft, the rumor mill has begun buzzing. One new rumor has the Vikings making a trade on draft day, but not in the direction most have anticipated.
Many of us at Viking Update shared the loss that many football insiders felt when draft guru Joel Buchsbaum died last December. Typically much more accurate than the more famous Mel Kiper, Buchsbaum's take on college players -- from Randy Moss on down -- were often uncannily accurate.
With Buchsbaum gone, his employer -- Pro Football Weekly -- has been forced to go it alone when it comes to draft coverage and the paper came up with a doozy. In its latest edition, PFW reports that the Vikings are so enamoured with DT Dewayne Robertson that they are willing to trade up to the No. 4 or 5 spot -- with either Chicago (a division rival) or Dallas (which beat them to Ryan Sims a year ago) -- to asure that they get Robertson.
While VU has been contending for weeks that the Vikings have an enormous interest in Robertson, perhaps even more than they do in DT Jimmy Kennedy, viewed by most as the top DT in the draft, the odds of the Vikings trading up would seem remote at best since it would likely cost the team a third-round pick in addition to make such a deal.
FRIDAY NOTES
I have been going over all the mock drafts that are out there. It seems to me this could be a very interesting draft. There are a lot of different top ten picks out there. The Vikes have been predicted to take anyone from Suggs, Newman, Kennedy, Robertson even Trufcant (sp). Others have a lot of trades happening with some teams trading down from the top ten for more draft picks. Looks to be an interesting draft day.
Anyone going to watch the draft this weekend? I am planning on at least watching the first day.
I'll probably watch. I'm a football junkie like that. I like how things unfold, seeing who the Vikings get, what other teams get. I'm anxious for the draft.
Well my guess for who the Vikings pick is Kennedy if they stay at #7. If they trade down, I think they will get Trufcant (sp).
Nice unclaimed Joe Wolvie!
Group's plan hopes to lure team to L.A.
A state-of-the-art renovation would enable the Rose Bowl to serve as the home for a Los Angeles-based NFL team.
Several teams are facing stadium/revenue issues and considered candidates for a relocation to Los Angeles. Among them are the Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints
and Minnesota Vikings
.
BOOOO !
Now why'd ya have to come in and pull a stunt like that on a beautiful Friday?
:O)
The draft is upon us, and I've been checking the draft previews, mock drafts, what NFL people are saying. Sounds like the Vikings aren't going to trade, and sounds like a good thing. Seems there are slim pickings in this years draft. A lot of boards have the same order for the first 7 or so picks. I don't care about beyond that since I'm just interested in that leading up to the Vikings. Most everyone has the Vikings picking Kennedy, with Trufant a possibility. Sounds good to me. I just hope that we can get some good solid players in the later rounds. If the players available are as people are reporting, scouts are going to earn their money with a draft like this.
Well the Bears traded pick #4 to the Jets for their 2 first round picks. Rumor has it the Jets want DT Robertson.
It's draft time! Lets see how this plays out today.
First 3 picks were offensive players. Looks like the Vikes will get a stud D player if they stay at #7. Jets are on the clock. Looks like Robertson is going to be the pick.
Looks like the Vikes will get Suggs, Newman or Kennedy. My bet is Kennedy.
I think the next two picks will be interesting. Who knows what Dallas does. I also think the direction they go with the pick will show a bit how Jones and Parcells get along. Then after that people say Suggs to the Cardinals, but they may not. We'll see.
I would want Kennedy over Suggs.
I do too. Although Suggs could be a guy who falls that really comes back to haunt some teams.
Don't get me wrong, Suggs would be a good pick. Either will look good in Purple. Just if I had my choice I would take Kennedy.
I would too. I think having him could really help free up Hovan more, which also in turn could help free up an outside pass rush from our DEs or OLBs.
Down to Suggs or Kennedy now. Any chance of Arizona taking Trufant? =)
Of course there is. There's also the possibility that we could take Trufant.
Possible, but I see us getting a D-linemen.
Its got to be defense. Unless MN throws a huge curveball and goes offense for someone like Byron Leftwich or Jordan Gross.
If we take a QB, that would mean Culpepper is all but gone after this season.
Yep. Or even gone this season, if they wanted to try and trade him to someone.
We would have to get a first and second round pick at least. I hope not though. I like Culpepper. Culpepper to Moss for the next 10 years!!!!
I like Culpepper too. If we traded for Culpepper, what we got for him depends on what other teams have available and their chance to sign him to a long term contract. I don't think we draft offense though. A surprise could be a trade with like New Orleans.
Guess not. Damn, there's the curveball.
Arizona trades pick to Saints. Saints take Sullivan??????? Vikes on the clock.
I thought I heard a rumor that the Vikes were really interested in Sullivan. If so, then we got screwed a bit. If the Vikes have a trade now, it's with New England. We'll see what happens.
Clock is ticking, are they Vikes talking trade???
They probably are because other teams are shocked with the Sullivan pick and other teams are changing their strategy because of it.
If we trade down we may still be able to get Kennedy.
The Vikes have to be talking trade with this much time going off the clock.
We could have choices. They very well may be deciding between Kennedy, Trufant, Kevin Williams, Suggs. If they move down perhaps the choice becomes a bit easier and they get more in other draft picks.
We may be able to trade down and still get Suggs at say #10. Damn this is fun!!!!!!!!
What the F....?
Hehe, who is working the clock?