Tarvaris Jackson Is Making It Harder To Trade Him

Just when we lose all hope in Tarvaris Jackson, he come through and plays great.

In a game when he needed to perform, Jackson answered with a 12-for-15 night for 202 yards and two touchdowns. He also scrambled once for five yards.

He threw a very impressive 64-yard touchdown pass to Darius Reynaud where he split a couple defenders and hit Reynaud perfectly in stride.

On a night that Favre was to debut for his formal rival, Jackson stole the show. He threw nice passes all over the field and more importantly, they were catchable.

When the Vikings played the Colts last week, it seemed that Jackson was out in his own world, barely completing 50 percent of his passes with an interception. Balls were flying everywhere, five to ten yards off target nearly every time.

That obviously wasn’t the case against the Chiefs.

So why is Jackson making it harder to trade him?

After a night that he had, it should raise some interest in teams around the league who are looking for a solid backup.

The team that may not want to pull the trigger on a trade yet is the Vikings.

They have seen signs of brilliance in the young quarterback, but also seen him struggle mightily.

What happens if Favre goes down to injury early in the season? We are left with Sage Rosenfels and John David Booty. Is that really what we want?

I don’t have any faith in JDB to be a quality backup yet. I think Sage could be a great quarterback for the Vikings, but I would feel more comfortable with Jackson as a backup or starting than I would with JDB.

If the Vikings do trade Jackson, will he turn around and bring a team to the playoffs? That is what may scare the Vikings right now.

They’ve given up some big money to Sage Rosenfels and can’t afford to cut or trade him right now. They just drafted Booty and don’t want to give up on him yet.

What will the Vikings do? Jackson has put them in a pickle that could come back to haunt them.

The Complete 2009 NFC North Preview

The NFC North has seen quite an overhaul this past offseason with each team receiving some key players.

The Bears made the biggest move in the history of their franchise acquiring Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler and a fifth round draft choice from the Broncos in exchange for quarterback Kyle Orton, two first-round draft picks (2009 and 2010), and a third round draft choice.

The Packers had an amazing draft picking up two first round draft choices. They used the picks to acquire B.J Raji from Boston and linebacker Clay Matthews out of USC. They will use both players as they transition to a new 3-4 defense.

The Lions added people everywhere on their roster. They added some solid free agents in Grady Jackson, Shaun Smith, Larry Foote, and Bryant Johnson. The also had a great draft picking up two first-rounders in Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford and Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew.

The Vikings didn’t have much of an offseason. They acquired Sage Rosenfels from Houston for a fouth-round draft pick. In the draft, they picked up wide receiver Percy Harvin out of Florida. Their biggest move occurred recently, picking up aging quarterback and future Hall of Famer Brett Favre.

It will truly be an interesting ride. Let’s take a more in-depth look into each team.

Begin Slideshow

Problems Still Lingering in the NFC North

As the regular season nears, many teams are still facing difficult decisions.

The Browns still don’t know who their starting quarterback will be. The New York Jets have a couple players suspended in the opening weeks. The Philadelphia Eagles have some serious injury problems to key positions.

Whatever your favorite team is, there are likely problems. The NFC North is no exception.

 

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears still can’t find a legitimate receiver to help out their new quarterback, Jay Cutler.

Not only that, but Cutler has already started becoming a “me first” player, as seen here. It seems as though it’s everybody’s fault except him, no matter the problem.

Lovie Smith needs to crack down on Cutler and tell him that this is supposed to be a team effort. What is Cutler doing lobbing a ball into coverage with a 5’11” receiver?

The Bears’ defensive woes seem to continue. Their secondary is very thin thanks to injuries, and their line still isn’t getting the job done.

 

Detroit Lions

Is Rod Marinelli really doing his job? This looks like the exact same line that struggled to get pressure on the quarterback last season.

The Lions are in rebuilding mode—we get it. But their problems are a little deeper than that.

The Lions won their first preseason game, but does it really matter? After all, they went 4-0 in the preseason last year and then failed to win a “real” game all season, becoming the first team ever to go 0-16.

But the Lions’ win against the Falcons isn’t as impressive as it sounds. They scored all but three of their 27 points in the second half by people who will likely be fighting for playing time—their starters didn’t get it done on offense.

The defense wasn’t super, either. It failed to get a sack or turnover, but it still managed to hold off the Falcons.

If the Lions want to be anything but another 0-16 team, they need better play out of their starters.

 

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings still don’t know who the quarterback will be. After watching the first preseason game, though, the job should easily go to Sage Rosenfels.

Tavaris Jackson showed that he still has a very inaccurate arm and cannot move the team down the field. He completed just 50 percent of his passes and routinely threw the ball behind his receivers.

Rosenfels looked good with the first team, which was without rookie Percy Harvin for safety reasons.

The defense looked good, sacking Peyton Manning three times, but it also allowed the big play to keep the Colts close. In order for this defense to be successful, it needs to clamp down on the offense.

 

Green Bay Packers

The Packers finally signed first-rounder B.J Raji after a two-week holdout, but it may be too late.

The Packers’ new 3-4 defense looked fantastic in their first preseason game, causing several turnovers and confusing the offense all game long.

If thier success with the defense continues, Green Bay could be a tough team to beat.

The problem here lies with injury concerns, as the linebacking corps of the Packers has been beaten up. Every starting linebacker has had some sort of injury this training camp. They need these guys healthy now, as the 3-4 defense relies on linebackers to get to the quarterback and defend quick routes.

Raji needs to show the Packers that he’s capable of being a 3-4 end, because if he performs well, so does Aaron Kampman. The success of both players lies on the other.

 

The NFC North finished the first round of preseason games going 3-1, with the only loss coming at the hands of the Buffalo Bills.

The North looks to be strong this season, with every team making huge upgrades to key positions minus the Vikings.

It should be an interesting season, should these problems get fixed soon.

Vikings Defense Primed to Bring Back the Purple People Eaters

The Minnesota Vikings featured one of the best defenses in the NFL in 2008.

Leslie Frazier, the defensive coordinator for the Vikings, has transformed what used to be a major weakness in the organization for many years into a powerhouse.

He has done something that no other team has done in the history of the NFL: lead the league in rush defense three years in a row.

While the the rush defense has been supurb, the pass defense had suffered. Until last year anyway.

The Vikings finished 32nd in pass defense in 2007, but jumped 14 spots to 18th in 2008. They’ll look to improve that number this upcoming season.

The defensive line was nearly unstoppable last season.

They’ve got everyone back and in full health. Jared Allen’s shoulder is completely healed as is Pat Williams’.

Ray Edwards is entering his fourth season and second as a full-time starter. While his sack totals aren’t where we want them to be, he is a great run stopper.

Then of course there’s Kevin Williams, the best defensive tackle in the NFL today. His 8.5 sacks ranked him first among all defensive tackles in 2008.

Behind them, you have an underrated linebacking corps that features our “Superman” in E.J Henderson. The guy is healthy and ready to get back in hitting mode.

Chad Greenway proved that he was worthy of his first round draft status compiling 5.5 sacks. That ranked him first among outside linebackers in a 4-3 defense. On top of that, he compiled over 100 tackles.

Finally there’s Ben Leber. He took over play-calling duties when Henderson went down last season. He showed that he’s not afraid to put a hit on and doesn’t fair too bad in coverage either.

The secondary features probably the best tackling cornerbacks in the business in Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin.

As we all know, Winfield had a career year in 2008 and earned himself a Vikings-friendly contract. At over 30 years old, he’s playing his best football.

Cedric Griffin took a while, but finally came around in week five. He put a devastating hit on a Saints player and never looked back. Griffin developed some nasty physical skills that will make it hard for some opposing receivers to get of the line of scrimmage.

Madieu Williams was away from the Vikings for nearly half the season nursing an injured neck. It didn’t seem to slow him down as his first game back was a great one. He compiled ten tackles and provided much needed assistance to Darren Sharper.

Well, Sharper is gone now and in steps his replacement Tyrell Johnson.

Sharper definitely showed signs of aging in 2008 recording only one interception the entire year.

While Johnson is young, he showed promise in his spot-start role for Williams last season. He hits extremely hard, but can find himself out of place. Playing on the same side as Antoine Winfield will help him progress as a player and allow him to make a nice slow transition to the starting role.

The Vikings return all but one starter from last season. That’s definitely something to look forward to.

The Vikings finished sixth in overall defense in 2008 despite injuries to several key players.

Actually, they only finished a whopping .4 yards behind the fifth place New York Giants. That’s pretty good company.

The 2009 Minnesota Vikings defense has the opportunity to be one of the best in franchise history. That’s really saying something considering their vaunted 1970’s defense took them to three Super Bowls.

With a talented Vikings defense and Adrian Peterson leading the way, there’s no reason to believe that this team can’t produce even better than 2008.

Forget About Vick, Favre, and Anderson: Let Sage Play

If you’re like me, you’re sick of hearing headlines about Vick, Favre, or some other random quarterback that the Vikings should get.

It all started with Favre and the possibility of him coming out of retirement for the second time.

We all know how that story ended.

Then, it was Michael Vick’s turn. Why would you want this guy?

Vick has a career completion percentage that is barely touching 50 percent. The only thing Vick has going for him is that he is fast.

In case you haven’t noticed yet, the Vikings already have a similar quarterback to Vick. His name is Tarvaris Jackson.

Jackson is a very mobile quarterback. While he’s not as fast as Vick, he’s more accurate and knows the system better.

The Vikings don’t run with their quarterback. That’s for Peterson and Taylor to handle.

Now there’s articles saying that we should get Anderson or Quinn from the Browns.

What has Quinn done to even acknowledge any sort of trade value? Honestly, his completion percentage is below 50 percent. That’s all I need to know about a quarterback to say he’s not worth anything.

Quinn is a baby who even though was drafted 22nd a couple of years ago, still held out for more money. You are the 22nd pick in the draft for a reason. You have no right for a hold out. You were a rookie who hadn’t proven anything and were drafted in the bottom half of the first round.

Anderson had a Pro Bowl year in 2007, but struggled along with the rest of his team in 2008. His benching was ridiculous if you ask me. Neither of his backups did any better.

My question is, why are all you fans writing Sage off before he’s even taken a snap in a Vikings uniform?

The guy has a very high completion percentage and his football IQ isn’t too bad either.

He has plenty of weapons around him to succeed and has a great arm to match.

For those of you who say he throws a lot of interceptions, what did Frerotte do last season for us other than lead the league in interceptions during his time?

Sage’s four interception performance really dropped his rating down last season. Let’s face it, Sage went up against a very good defense at a very bad time.

He’s mostly known for his helicopter play against the Colts, but he has had more brilliant moments than not. We can’t say that about our other quarterbacks in recent years.

We don’t need a guy who can throw 30 touchdowns. We just need someone who can complete a pass on third down to keep the defenses honest.

The Vikings haven’t had a quarterback complete more than 60 percent of their passes since the Culpepper era.

Sage turned only 31 last March and we only gave up a fourth round pick to get him. Fourth round picks typically end up on special teams only for their entire career. Whether you think so or not, this was a good move.

Let’s see Sage play before we can him. The Vikings have had a great history of turning old “washed up” quarterbacks into Pro Bowlers. Guys that immediately come to mind include Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, and Brad Johnson.

The Vikings can do the same with Sage. Give it time Vikings’ fans.

We’ve seen Jackson play enough to know that he cannot carry this team deep into the playoffs. While I don’t want to get rid of Jackson, I still think he needs to learn how to play the game.

He needs to stop throwing those awkward sidearm balls and learn to throw overhand when being pressured. Until he learns how to keep his composure under pressure, he shouldn’t be starting for a Super Bowl caliber team.

Jump on Sage’s bandwagon and give him your support. LET SAGE PLAY!

The Worst Draft Pick In NFL History: Dimitrius Underwood

When people think of the all-time greatest draft busts, players like Ryan Leaf, Tony Mandarich, and Ki-Jana Carter come to mind.

But at one point, you have to stop and think a little.

While they weren’t worthy of their first round status, they did have an impact on the game.

Ryan Leaf, despite his recent legal troubles, managed to throw for 3,666 yards in his career. His career was plagued by stupid decisions on and off the field.

Tony Mandarich was a drug addict who couldn’t cut it with the Packers. When he signed with the Colts though, he had a decent career.

Ki-Jana Carter was injured for the majority of his career. He did manage to play eight seasons in the league.

Then you have Underwood. He didn’t play much his senior season in college, yet the Vikings were impressed enough to select him with their 29th overall pick in 1999.

NFL scouts across the country were warned of the guy’s mental instability. That hasn’t stopped the Vikings before though.

The Vikings desperately needed a pass-rushing defensive end. Underwood fit the bill perfectly.

At 6’6” and nearly 275 pounds, the guy has a mammoth. He was strong, fast, and downright scary as long as he remained healthy.

After signing a five year contract with the Vikings, Underwood left training camp the first day and never returned.

His excuse was that his faith wouldn’t let him play the game. He had more important things to accomplish outside of football.

Okay, that’s all well. If you love your God and want to devote your life to him, by all means go ahead.

His story doesn’t end there.

He decided that football was the right thing for him. The Dolphins claimed him off waivers after a month and a half out of football.

Well, there was mistake number two for the NFL.

The guy couldn’t focus on the game and constantly muttered chants of his Christian faith. He would even write out scriptures during team activities.

He got injured in the first preseason game, but remained on the Dolphins roster until that December when he took a knife to his throat and tried to kill himself. He would shout randomly that he is not worthy to be in the presence of God on Earth.

He would later be diagnosed with a severe form of bipolar disorder.

The following preseason, the Cowboys signed him to a multi-year deal. Underwood would play for two seasons, racking up a total of four sacks in 19 games.

After the 2001 season, Underwood again tried to commit suicide by running into heavy traffic. He was released later the same month.

He was unheard of for several years before reemerging in the Canadian Football League. He didn’t make the team and was cut during the preseason.

To this day, not much is known about the former NFL defensive end.

It is rumored that his ongoing therapy is being handled well and he is in complete control of his body.

Let’s Be Content With What The Minnesota Vikings Have

The Favre saga is finally over for the Vikings. He’s done with and even he knows it.

While many Vikings’ fans may not be very happy with the outcome of his decision, I think we are all happy that it’s finally over.

We have to more forward with what we have: Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

While the two may not be the typical glamour quarterback that every NFL team wants, they are serviceable.

Jackson has gotten better every season so far and had an incredible four game span to end the season in 2008 included a four touchdown performance that earned him Offensive Player of the Week honors.

I guess what’s bugging me more than anything are all these articles stating that we should go after Michael Vick.

We already have that in Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson makes better decisions throwing the ball and has a higher completion percentage than Vick.

He may not be as fast as Vick, but we don’t need another running back at quarterback.

I’ve even heard of people saying that we should make a play for Jason Campbell come next season.

Well folks, that’s next season. We have to work with what we’ve got.

We haven’t seen anything from Rosenfels. Let’s not count him out of the equation here. He had some pretty solid games for the Texans.

Of course he’s most famous for his helicopter spin that ultimately cost the Texans the game against the Colts, but you shouldn’t have to worry about another play like that. I think he learned his lesson the hard way there.

The time to win doesn’t have to be right now like so many of you fans think.

Our players aren’t ancient and falling apart. Pat Williams is 36 and the next oldest player is 31 and that’s an offensive lineman. Offensive lineman can still play for another six years after that and not lose much.

We have great young talent all around and plenty of time to develop new ones.

If we have to draft a rookie quarterback next season, so be it. I wouldn’t be against it unless one of our quarterbacks goes on a hot streak and takes the NFL by storm.

I don’t want to see a Michael Vick in purple just so we can run the “Wildcat” that was so popular a year ago. We don’t need that offense. It only worked for a small portion of last season anyway.

For now, give your support to the players we have. They have the talent around them to succeed.

The addition of Phil Loadholt will be huge. It gives us a true tackle instead of a backup center trying to fill the void.

Percy Harvin should do enough to dazzle us fans to forget about our problems at the quarterback position.

Just remember, there are worse teams out there with far worse problems than the Vikings face.

Minnesota Vikings: Would the Contract-Year Players Be Worth Trading?

Let me start out by saying that I love some of the players discussed in this article. It’s tough for us fans to part with some of our favorite players.

With players such as Chestor Taylor, Ray Edwards, and Tarvaris Jackson entering contract years, it’s hard to believe that the Vikings will be able to keep any combination of them.

Chestor Taylor wants to start in the NFL. He doesn’t care to be the second back to Adrian Peterson and believes he still has some good years left in him.

Tarvaris Jackson has been a brilliant quarterback at times, but more often than not, he’s terrible. He struggles to hit the easy shots down the field and consistently overthrows his targets.

Ray Edwards predicted he would break the single-season sack record in 2008. He was playing with three Pro Bowl lineman and was entering his third season in the league.

He only came up about 18 sacks short of breaking the record, but it was a close race…

Of the three main players, only one has a legitimate shot of re-signing with the team and that man is Ray Edwards.

Jackson has already stated that if the Vikings sign Favre, he wants to be traded. He has progressively gotten better every season and doesn’t think he needs to sit and watch anymore.

Taylor just wants to be the main guy on the field.

There isn’t really going to be a market for Ray Edwards unless he records 14 sacks next season. I think he’s stuck with the Vikings.

So what do we do with a player that has prematurely demanded to be traded and another that has expressed deep interest to start?

There will be a market for both Jackson and Taylor in 2010. Even if Jackson starts, he has progressed under Brad Childress. It doesn’t seem like much, but he has.

Taylor has proven he can still carry the load at the tender age of 30. He’ll likely command four years and $16 million somewhere else.

The Vikings shouldn’t even consider giving a backup $4 million a year. They need depth in more areas.

I don’t think there’s even the slightest chance that Taylor will be on the roster one year from now.

Brian Robison adds great depth to the defensive end position. After that, there isn’t much to look at.

Robison is ready to start in the NFL and if given the chance, could prove to be a valuable asset in the near future.

Is trading away Ray Edwards this season worth the risk in favor of Robison?

I like both ends, but if something were to happen to either one, the Vikings would be starved for depth.

There isn’t much at the running back position, but undrafted free agent Ian Johnson has shown great promise as the third running back.

After all, it’s because of Johnson that Adrian Peterson failed to win a bowl game in his senior season at Oklahoma.

I think Johnson could take over for Taylor, but I don’t think it’s this year.

Jackson’s status is up in the air. He would command some trade value right now. With Sage Rosenfels and John David Booty, the Vikings have as good a quarterback group as they have had since the Culpepper era.

Well, I guess that’s not saying much.

Jackson could be expendable, but trading him could be a fatal mistake.

There aren’t a lot of places the Vikings need to improve. It’s hard to say what they would get for any combination of these players.

The team lacks depth in some key areas, but all three contract-year players have valuable starting experience.

Is trading away any of the three before the start of the season worth the risk?

AFC West-NFC West: Tournament Bracket Round One

Let the fans decide I always say.

Well, except in MLB All-Star voting. I think we all can find a few reasons why.

I’ve decided to take the best players from each division and put them on a team. The teams from each division will face off each other. You as fans will choose which division goes on.

The rules are simple. I put down the starting teams and fans are able to substitute any players they wish. In order for a specific player to be substituted, fans must reply to the comment seconding the substitution. At the same time, other fans may decline the substitution by replying to the comment. A 60 percent majority vote is required to make a substitution.

Fans can also change the defensive alignment of their division. The same rules apply here as substituting a player.

I will make all the necessary adjustments within two days and give each division a week to square off. I will notify everyone through the comments section when no more substitutions are allowed.

The geographical divisions face off against one another (North vs. South, East vs. West) and battle it out to see which division takes the championship.

The division with the most votes wins and moves on.

Take a look at your teams and make your moves. Vote for the better division roster and ENJOY!

 

AFC West (3-4 Defense)

Strength: Passing Defense

Weakness: Defensive Line

Quarterback: Philip Rivers

Running Back: LaDainian Tomlinson

Fullback: Lorenzo Neal

Wide Receivers: Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson, and Dwayne Bowe

Tight End: Antonio Gates

Offensive Line: Denver Offensive Line

Nose Tackle: Jamal Williams

Defensive Ends: Luis Castillo and Derrick Burgess

Outside Linebackers: Shawne Merriman and Derrick Johnson

Inside Linebackers: Shaun Philips and Kirk Morrison

Cornerbacks: Nnamdi Asomugha and Champ Bailey

Strong Safety: Clinton Hart

Free Safety: Brain Dawkins

Kicker:Sebastian Janikowski

Punter: Shane Lechler

K/P Returner: Jonnie Lee Higgins

NFC West (3-4 Defense)

Strength: Passing Offense

Weakness: Offensive Line

Quarterback: Kurt Warner

Running Back: Frank Gore

Fullback: Justin Griffith

Wide Receivers: Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and T.J Houshmandzadeh

Tight End: Vernon Davis

Offensive Line: Arizona Cardinals Offensive Linw

Nose Tackle: Isaac Sopoaga

Defensive Ends: Darnell Dockett and Patrick Kerney

Outside Linebackers: Leroy Hill and Karlos Dansby

Inside Linebackers: Patrick Willis and Lofa Tatupu

Cornerbacks: Marcus Trufant and Nate Clements

Strong Safety: Adrian Wilson

Free Safety: Oshiomogho Atogwe

Kicker:Orlino Mare

Punter:Andy Lee

K/P Returner: Allen Rossum

 

AFC East-NFC East: Tournament Bracket Round One

Let the fans decide I always say.

Well, except in MLB All-Star voting. I think we all can find a few reasons why.

I’ve decided to take the best players from each division and put them on a team. The teams from each division will face off each other. You as fans will choose which division goes on.

The rules are simple. I put down the starting teams and fans are able to substitute any players they wish. In order for a specific player to be substituted, fans must reply to the comment seconding the substitution. At the same time, other fans may decline the substitution by replying to the comment. A 60 percent majority vote is required to make a substitution.

Fans can also change the defensive alignment of their division. The same rules apply here as substituting a player.

I will make all the necessary adjustments within two days and give each division a week to square off. I will notify everyone through the comments section when no more substitutions are allowed.

The geographical divisions face off against one another (north vs. south, east vs west) and battle it out to see which division takes the championship.

The division with the most votes wins and moves on.

Take a look at your teams and make your moves. Vote for the better division roster and ENJOY!

AFC East (3-4 Defense)

Strength: Passing Offense

Weakness: Passing Defense

 

Quarterback: Tom Brady

Running Back: Thomas Jones

Fullback: Tony Richardson

Wide Receivers: Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and Wes Welker

Tight End: Ben Watson

Offensive Line: Patriots Offensive Line

 

Nose Tackle: Vincent Wilfork

Defensive Ends: Richard Seymour and Ty Warren

Outside Linebackers: Joey Porter and Calvin Pace

Inside Linebackers: Bart Scott and Jerod Mayo

Cornerbacks: Darrelle Revis and Terrence McGee

Strong Safety: Gibril Wilson

Free Safety: Kerry Rhodes

 

 

Kicker: Jay Feely

Punter: Brian Moorman

K/P Returner: Leon Washington

NFC East (4-3 Defense)

Strength: Defensive Line

Weakness: Wide Receivers

 

Quarterback: Donovan McNabb

Running Back: Clinton Portis

Fullback: Leonard Weaver

Wide Receivers: Santana Moss, Steve Smith, and Roy Williams

Tight End: Jason Witten

Offensive Line: New York Giants Offensive Line

 

 

Defensive Tackles: Albert Haynesworth and Fred Robbins

Defensive Ends: Osi Umenyiora and Trent Cole

Outside Linebackers: Damarcus Ware and Rocky McIntosh

Middle Linebacker: Antonio Pierce

Cornerbacks: Terence Newman and Asante Samuel

Strong Safety: Quintin Mikell

Free Safety: LaRon Landry

 

 

Kicker: Nick Folk

Punter: Jeff Feagles

K/P Returner: Felix Jones

 

 

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