Felton and Rudolph, just 2 of the success stories of the 2012 season

As each season begins I am so hopeful the Vikings can go to the Super Bowl. If the team does not make it I love to see how many Vikings can get a Pro Bowl invite. As each camp comes and goes and the position battles are fought and won you just never know who will make the Pro Bowl in the end.

The Vikings were represented well in Hawaii.  Two of the players that made it were a pleasant surprise to me. Is this the start for these two to get more respect in the league?

Jerome Felton

Felton came into Minnesota as a free agent in 2012 and made the team beating out such players as Ryan D’Imperio and Lex Hilliard. He not only made the team but became a huge part of the success the Vikings had in the running game. I can remember the days of Naufahu Tahi  as the lead back from 2006-2010. It never seemed to be a go. Peterson did not seem to like this method but last year things changed for the better.

Felton not only made the Pro Bowl but scored a touchdown and scored again in the offseason by signing a 3 year contract for 7.5 million dollars. What a winning year for this free agent. Who would have known this success was coming. A compliment to the Vikings organization for finding Felton as a free agent and keeping him for 3 more seasons in Purple.

 

 42-Jerome Felton

 

Kyle Rudolph

Rudolph might be one of the best finds in the draft in quite some time. He is 6’6” and weighs 258 along with monstrous hands that will be huge every game.

Let’s look at his improvement:

2012     Rec    Targets    Yards     TD’s

              26      39            249           3

2013     Rec    Targets    Yards     TD’s

               53     93             493          9

What an improvement and only 23 years old. Do we have a star in the making or what? If this can guy can stay healthy the sky is the limit.

Rudolph gets am invite to the Pro Bowl and all he does Is bring home the MVP trophy. The NFL linebackers and defensive backs had better get ready for a headache for years to come.

    82-Kyle Rudolph

 

 

 

 

Adrian Peterson, Chad Greenway, Blair Walsh, Jared Allen and Matt Kalil made it as well. It was a great year both record wise and individual honors. Love my Vikings

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Next up:  A look at 2 rookies who made the Pro Bowl. How will year 2 treat them?

 

 

 

 

        

Hard work can really pay off, just ask 2 of the 2012 Vikings

The path to the NFL is tough and even tougher when a player goes through the draft weekend and does not get their name called until the day after. This we have come to know as rookie free agents.  The odds are tough but the ability to show hard work, care and commitment and that rookie free agent just might find his name on the 53 man roster. I find myself pulling for these guys to make the team.

I will look at two who made the Vikings roster in 2012 and who I hope to see make it again in 2013.

48-MATT ASIATA

 Asiata had tried out for the Vikings in 2011 was cut. He was brought back in 2012 to try it again. He was successful and made it as the teams 3^rd running back behind Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart. Asiata is 5’11” and weighs 220 pounds. I love it when a team even though they release a player thinks enough that they bring him back for one more shot.  I look forward to see him compete with the new running backs come into camp. He knows how hard it was to make the team and must continue the work ethic. Good Luck, Matt

 

        

           

                                                                                       48-Matt Asiata

4-MCLEOD BETHEL-THOMPSON

The shock of camp last year came with the release of veteran, Sage Rosenfels was announced and keeping the McLeod Bethel-Thompson. I watched a ton of practice and loved what I saw out of Bethel-Thompson.  The arm strength is incredible. My concern came knowing the team would only keep 3 quarterbacks on the roster. My fear was if Bethel-Thompson was released we may never see him again. The Vikes made a decision and although I like the veteran experience of Rosenfels the team has made the youth movement declaration and with that comes a young quarterback.

Bethel-Thompson has been on 2 NFL teams prior signing with the San Francisco 49ers as a rookie free agent in 2011 and later that year landed on the Miami Dolphins practice squad. He got invited to Minnesota Vikings training camp last year and made it.

McLeod is 6’4” and weighs 230 pounds.

  

   

                                                                                        4-MCLEOD BETHEL-THOMPSON

Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel will be on the roster but it is my hope to see Bethel-Thompson get another shot and get some valuable time in preseason games. Good Luck McLeod

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

                

 

 

Carlson looking to rebound in 2013

89- JOHN CARLSON

 

Friday May 31^st marks 100 days until the start of the Vikings season and on this day I will take a look at tight end, John Carlson today. I believe he is due for a better 2^nd season after a forgettable 1^st year campaign wearing the purple.  It is my hope he will show Vikings fans why the tem team thought so highly of him to give him the big bucks.

John came to Minnesota as a free agent signing 5 years for 25 million. He is 6’5 “and weighs 248. He was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota and attended Litchfield High School and then onto college at Notre Dame.

I was so excited when we signed him in the 2012 off season and excited to see him live in Mankato at Training Camp. He got injured in camp and after that just seemed to have a bad luck year.

In 2012 he had career lows in number of receptions, yardage and touchdowns. John renegotiated his contract after the season and will make a little less this season. I am so glad the Vikings are giving him more time.

My heart tells me John will have a strong season and become a great asset along with Kyle Rudolph at the tight end position. They are both tall making great targets for Christian Ponder.

John, a veteran player along with being born in Minnesota, playing high school football in Minnesota and now plays for the Vikings. How can you not pull for a local guy to make it big?

As many players as I met through the years in Mankato John came across as  first class act as he took time to talk to fans and take pictures with fans along with signing for them as well.

Good Luck John in year 2, may you have a breakout season.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

Hoping Childs can make the comeback

85- GREG CHILDS IN 2012 TRAINING CAMP



The Vikings have starts such as Adrian Peterson, Chad Greenway, and Jared Allen just to name a couple that get a ton of press. I would like to look at a few players over the next few days I would like to see have a good camp with the hopes of making the team.

In 2012 Greg Childs with the 134^th pick in the 4^th round out of the University of Arkansas. The combine in Indianapolis before the draft in 2012 Childs ran a 4.53 40 yard dash. He also had a 36 ½ vertical jump and 10’5” broad jump.

He stands at 6’3 “and weighs 217 pounds. Sidney Rice and Randy Moss have come and gone. The draft provided the Vikings with the next big athletic man in hopes. The unthinkable happened in Training Camp when he tore both torn patellar tendons and was out for the season.

I will never forget being in attendance at the scrimmage on August 2^nd when we saw him down. It was a scene I will never forget. We did not know of course until later the damage. I had so much hope for this big man to be a big contributor especially in the red zone. Childs was out for the year and never played a down.

I am extremely excited what he is capable of doing in 2013 camp. My fingers are crossed we will see positivity. I am pulling for you Greg to make the comeback. If he can just start out slow and work his way back I will be very pleased. The Vikings do have one of the best in the business in Eric Sugarman, head athletic trainer, who may just be Childs best friend. Only time will tell

Thanks for reading

Purplestick



BIG NEWS VIKINGS FANS!!!!!!

TRAINING CAMP ENTRANCE AT MINNESOTASTATE UNVERSITY

FANS GET READY TO INVADE MANKATO FOR GLORIOUS TIMES

Tuesday May 28^th, some of the important days were announced so fans can make plans to come to Training Camp.

It is the time of year like no other. The Super Bowl ends and the countdown to Training Camp begins for me.

Thursday July 25^th the Vikes report to Mankato. The difference this year is they will not report to Gage towers as so many previous seasons. The Gage towers will be imploded late June. The Vikes will get to stay in a recently built dorm.

Fri July 26^th is the first day of practice

Sat Aug 3 is a scrimmage open to the public. I recommend highly making the trip for this one. There will be more info as time draws near. We just know the date for now.

Camp Ends Thursday August 15^th

3 weeks of glorious time begins before we know it.

There will be more specific times as it gets closer but for now we know the beginning and the end.

Hope to see you there

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

                                                        

81- Jerome Simpson, will it be his year?

81-JEROME SIMPSON- A PERSONALITY AND PLAYER I AM PULLING FOR IN 2013

  

The 2013 season is just around the corner. We have seen the NFL draft completed and now mini camps are starting to gear up on a more regular basis.

The hot summer weather brings with it another heat. The battles for positions are hotter than the August sun. The guys thinking they have it made have got to watch their backs at all times. I use the example of Bryant McKinnie. A former first round pick by the Vikes was cut early in camp. A first round cut should set a stage to players that they had better come ready to work.

The position I am anxious to see amongst many is the wide receiver battle. The signing of Greg Jennings was huge in my eyes. The play of Jarius Wright at the end of 2012 season was encouraging. The 2013 offseason move of Joe Webb going from quarterback to wide receiver will be a project to watch. The drafting of Cordarrelle Patterson will be a rookie looking to turn heads as well.

The man I am most interested and does not seem to be talked about much is Jerome Simpson. I may be in the minority but I believe this man is going to have a big season.

The first 4 games being suspended in 2012 hurt, but the team survived. I witnessed last camp the speed and athleticism from Simpson that makes me eager to see how he does this camp.

The jumping ability has been exhibited at times. He drew some pass interference penalties last season. His stats were nothing to speak of. It is a feeling of mine that he will impress the fans of Minnesota.

It was just last season this position was thought of very little by many Vikings fans I talked. 2013 season I am so excited to see this pool of talent produce and quiet the critics. I am not saying Hall of Fame but I am offering a thought of much improvement from the 2012 season.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

      

Training Camp just around the corner

    2012 DRAFT CLASS

The Vikings minicamp starts Tuesday May 28^th and goes to Thursday May 30^th. It is one step closer to the public being able to see the men trying out for the 53 spots that will play every week this upcoming season.

It would be unfair to leave it at that because guys also have a chance if not making the active squad they have a chance to make the practice squad which is great as well. We never want an injury but it does happen the practice squad guys may have a chance to be one of the 53.

We are getting closer to late July when the guys roll into camp and fans can start making their journey to Mankato.

It is a chance to meet the guys. This will be my 20^th year of making the trip to Mankato. I have met every draft choice since 1998 in camp except for one.

1999 the Vikings had 2 number 1 picks, Daunte Culpepper and Dimitrius Underwood. It was the first practice for the team and after that Underwood left camp. It is the only number 1 choice I did not get a picture of.

The rush of getting an autograph from a player is not the same thrill it used to be for me. I love watching people put every effort forth to try. I have found a new passion and that is asking for a picture with a player.

I have taken pictures with over 400 different players through the years. The only one who has ever turned me down was in 1998 when Randy Moss was a rookie. It is their right and I respect that but if a guy says sure, what a neat feeling to get a picture taken with a player. I did get a picture of him which was a thrill as well.

I never will in a life time guarantee success. I say you have nothing to lose and much to gain.

Come on over and try your hand at watching practice followed by a chance to meet the guys.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick