AngloVike

Anglo's Angle - Circus finally leaves town

With a huge sigh of relief I woke this morning to find that the Favre saga/fiasco is finally over and he is on his way to the Jets.

Apart from knowing a Pats fan, who will be looking over his shoulder, it means more importantly that Favre is NOT coming to Minnesota. I wouldn't have been like some who say they could support a Vikes team including Favre but I would still have smiled every time he was dumped on his butt during the course of a game. Thankfully that is now a moot point as the Favre media circus now rolls into NY and gives the Jets something they won't have been used to for many years - media interest in their team. They've got used to being on the sports pages behind the Giants, Yankees, Knicks, Devils and even the Islanders.

The next bonus now is that the pressure is full on Rodgers, McCarthy & Thompson for the season and especially the opening MNF game against the Vikes. No safety net now of Favre being a possible backup and if things don't go well then how long before " Go Pack Go " changes to to " Bring back Brett" or " Thompson sucks!"..... lets see the TV coverage try to cover that. Course now that the Golden One has left GB then maybe the TV coverage won't be as kind.

By the way has anyone notified the NFL officiating crews?  Only they now need to remember that the many 'roughing the passer' penalties handed out in favour of the Pack now need to be allocated to the Jets. Course the Jet's will have to amend their Training Camp practices over the next few weeks, so that the offense can practice tackling/coverage of the ball carrier after an INT being thrown as I'm sure there will be plenty of those this season.

If you live in NY at all then watch out when you go shopping this weekend as you may come John Madden doing some essential shopping. Just look for an old fool trying to buy a #4 Jets jersey and constantly saying to himself, "  it's not Go Pack Go, its J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets " 

Finally the Vikes season has had that horrible cloud lifted from them and now we look forward to this Friday's first game against Seattle. I hope to see no injuries and us giving away as little as possible as to what the team can do. Lets save those surprises for the regular season.

Least now we can see Jared Allen in purple and get a little idea as to whether TJ has improved in the offseason. This is his make or break season and is what many people, myself included, wanted - which was why we din't want Favre in Minnesota.

Here's to an injury-free game and hope that the players show the coaching staff good things

Skol!

Anglo's Angle - Circus finally leaves town

With a huge sigh of relief I woke this morning to find that the Favre saga/fiasco is finally over and he is on his way to the Jets.

Apart from knowing a Pats fan, who will be looking over his shoulder, it means more importantly that Favre is NOT coming to Minnesota. I wouldn't have been like some who say they could support a Vikes team including Favre but I would still have smiled every time he was dumped on his butt during the course of a game. Thankfully that is now a moot point as the Favre media circus now rolls into NY and gives the Jets something they won't have been used to for many years - media interest in their team. They've got used to being on the sports pages behind the Giants, Yankees, Knicks, Devils and even the Islanders.

The next bonus now is that the pressure is full on Rodgers, McCarthy & Thompson for the season and especially the opening MNF game against the Vikes. No safety net now of Favre being a possible backup and if things don't go well then how long before " Go Pack Go " changes to to " Bring back Brett" or " Thompson sucks!"..... lets see the TV coverage try to cover that. Course now that the Golden One has left GB then maybe the TV coverage won't be as kind.

By the way has anyone notified the NFL officiating crews?  Only they now need to remember that the many 'roughing the passer' penalties handed out in favour of the Pack now need to be allocated to the Jets. Course the Jet's will have to amend their TRaining Camp practices over the next few weeks, so that the offense can practice tackling/coverage of the ball carrier after an INT being thrown as I'm sure there will be plenty of those this season.

If you live in NY at all then watch out when you go shopping this weekend as you may come John Madden doing some essential shopping. Just look for an old fool trying to buy a #4 Jets jersey and constantly saying to himself, "  it's not Go Pack Go, its J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets " 

Finally the Vikes season has had that horrible cloud lifted from them and now we look forward to this Friday's first game against Seattle. I hope to see no injuries and us giving away as little as possible as to what the team can do. Lets save those surprises for the regular season.

Least now we can see Jared Allen in purple and get a little idea as to whether TJ has improved in the offseason. This is his make or break season and is what many people, myself included, wanted - which was why we din't want Favre in Minnesota.

Here's to an injury-free game and hope that the players show the coaching staff good things

Skol!

Anglo's Angle - Superbowl with an * ?

With all the ballyhoo that has going in the last week with all the turmoil amongst our friendly neighbours in Packer land then some of the Purple Faithful have been looking at the possibility of Favre turning out for the Vikes.

However as is apparent by message boards, forums all over the net there is an equally strong voice saying "hell no to that" so lets consider a few points on this. Before doing so let me put down a few statements as a Vikes fan in regard to Favre and the Packers so that I'm not accused as being a Purple fan ranting about an NFL legend.

Firstly we know that he was a good QB in the past and somehow even managed to drag a top season out for his team when least expected last year. Having said that for all his great years in the game he has only one, yes count it one, SB ring to show for a future HoF'er. Admittedly that is one more than any Vikes QB has ever managed  but for all the hype it is the only one that he has. So leaving aside some of the questionable throws that he has made, which has given him the thrown record, it is clear that he is an NFL calibre QB.

So based on the ongoing saga of will the Pack let him go then the media has started to look around for teams that they feel require ( or are desperate ) for a QB of his stature. Also remember that has to be a team that is also has a legitimate shot at the SuperBowl this year - after all you don't want to waste a drop of this talent with a team that is several years off this. Given that criteria then the Vikes spring to mind and consequently many have jumped onto the Bring Brett to Minny bandwagon.

Well sorry to tell that little service doesn't pass through my household and I'll endeavour to explain why. Players come and go to teams as is the nature of the game these days, so the idea having of a QB come from another team if the coaches consider it the last piece in the jigsaw is fine with me. However after the time and energy we as fans have invested in TJ then the moment of truth is at hand and quite frankly he deserves his chance at it. If it works out then we will be set at QB for the forseeable future , if not then it could be our current #4's - Booty - chance to shine and move up.

What do we get if we bring Favre in? assuming the chance arises.   Well we would have a possible chance for long awaited SuperBowl win but by looking at the short term picture. If we did win then Favre would more likely retire - sound familiar? - having gone out on a high. We would then be back to square one in having to develop or obtain a replacement QB with all the problems that go with it and put ourselves out of contention for how long?  If we don't win the SuperBowl, as Favre doesn't guarantee that, we again are looking at QB developing again.

The next point is how bringing Favre in helps team chemistry. He's not been known before to help develop the younger QB's on the roster, so why would he be any different now? So anyone thinking that will help TJ or Booty are way off the mark. He's known first and foremost as a ' me first ' player who looks after #1.. or in his case #4. Again this entire media circus and the associated hype is all down to Favre and his constant craving to have his ego stroked by his adoring fans and media.

So as Vikes fans we need to look and decide if we are that desperate for that first win that we are willing to forgo our dislike of an egotistical player than none have had a good word to say about. We have constantly riled the Packer fans about what a media seeking attention seeker he is and then suddenly, because he may be available, some think we should forget that and embrace him?

Not in my book we don't and not purely for him being a Packer - consider we have Sharper, Longwell and Ferguson and took them on because they would be a plus to the team. Taking Favre on is not going to be a plus despite what people may say.

Last season many were saying that the Pats hould have an * against their SuperBowl record. The question is - based on the man that Favre is and how that goes against what many Vikes fans and players stand for - then is a SuperBowl won with him one that we should mark with an * ?

Anglo's Angle - We Love July !!

Even though it's not part of the season there is one month of the year which is guaranteed to start the purple blood flowing and it has finally come round - welcome July !

Now I know for a lot of people on one side of The Pond that July means Independence Day, Fireworks and BBQ's. Now in my part of the world July brings some slightly different things to look forward to. Firstly my birthday is less than a month away ( cards and presents always welcome ;-) ), secondly Training Camp is starting this month and lastly tickets and flights are booked and sorted for this years trip to the Dome for a game.

Out of the three it's a close call as to which comes top of the list but after much deliberation it has to be the trip. Of course seeing Training Camp starting is a big thing for the team without doubt and the chance to see if we can get answers to the questions that have been posed during the off-season. Will TJ make the step up this season and so secure both his and Childress's future in Minnesota. Just how much of a wrecking crew will the DL become with the addition of Jared Allen?  Can we look forward to seeing the deep pass downfield now that Troy ' hands of stone ' Williamson has gone, knowing that have a chance of the intended receiver catching the blessed thing?

All of those are things which make TC something to look forward to and a sign that the regular season is just around the corner. However I have to say that now that this years trip is now arranged and booked then that is my real countdown timer started as we look forward. Of course we are talking a long countdown, one that even Nasa would struggle to match. The game in question is the SNF game against the Bears which is Thanksgiving Weekend, so we're looking at a 5 month countdown. For those wondering thats approx 153 days or 3672 hours or 220320 minutes or 13219200 seconds .. depending on how you want to clock the time.

So I now have the long wait until that night in November and will be marking the days off on the calendar- MVC calendar of course :-) Between now and then I'll just have to go through TC and seeing all the pics of everyone being there. Then is the absolute torture when the regular season comes and the threads appear in the PP.O forums arranging the various tailgates, even worse are those with the tailgating pics.

Ah the joys of being a Vikes fan overseas - can't beat it despite the distance and the frustrations that go with it.

Skol!

Anglo's Angle - Offseason lull

We're now in that lull time between the Draft and getting the rookies signed ready for Training Camp and so that means that news is fairly slow - especially in Vikings country which is never a bad thing.Having said that there have been a couple of things worthy of note.

The first was AD setting his target for next season and he's not going for an easy option when he says he looking for 2,000 yds next season. You have to admire him for not going for an easy option and just shows that he is not slacking after a successful rookie campaign. I just hope that this year he gets the help from the rest of the offense in order to make his job easier. I'm not trying to start a pro or anti TJack stance but  we all know that TJ needs to step up this season. He has a full season as starter under belt and more experience under Childress's system - as does the rest of the team. In addition we will have an improved WR group, again both with experience and also by adding Berrian as well - so that will help TJ with the passing game. The only thing that we don't have an idea of how it may change is the offensive play-calling, that is the definite X factor in all of the speculation that has been around to this point. It seems that Childress is looking more at ease with the media and fan base in Minnesota
which can only be a good thing.

We've had a couple of years of less than average offensive fire-power and now it is time that we opened things up that much more. Given the top rate RB that we have on the roster who is looking for a 2,000 yd season, then it is only fair that the Vikes make the effort to help him achieve that. Not that I want us to plan just on the basis of AD getting that goal but on the fact that his success will help with the passing game and thereby give us a balanced offense - which is something we have not had recently since the days of Robert Smith at RB and CC/Reed/Moss at WR.

The other point of note is the story coming out that KC originally wanted Brian Robison as part of the Allen trade. Minnesota has always been stingy when it comes to giving away draft picks - Herschel walker trade aside. So the fact that the team wanted to hang onto Robison and give up a trade pick speaks volumes for the level that they consider he is at currently and for what he will become. Based on that I'm expecting Robison to to exceed expectation and become a sack monster on the opposite end of the DL from Allen. Look for good things from this young man this season !

Bring on Training Camp please !!

Bad timing Anglo !

Ever do something which at the time seemed innocent enough but later makes you realise you dropped a clanger? Well that honour falls to me this having agreed with my dear wife to have a long weekend away at friends without realising it was the draft weekend when she suggested it.

So I will be away from from both the TV and net access for what could be a very interesting time for the Purple, both leading up to and Day 1 itself. Of course with all the rumour, counter-rumour and general speculation/wishful thinking then some might consider this to be a good thing. However this year, for the first time on UK satellite TV, SKY are showing the first day of the draft live which makes being away even worse. Add in the fact that my exile starts on Wednesday afternoon and you have the makings of a true PPOer who is not going to know what is going until Sunday evening. In fact the cleaners will be sweeping up in the Radio City Music Hall long before I find out who has selected by the Vikes.

Oh well such is life and, unlike most Vikes fans, I'll still be speculating about who we may have taken until well into Sunday evening. The worst part under present circumstances is wondering whether the Vikes and Chiefs pull the trigger on a trade for Jared Allen. At the moment I'm in favour of trading him as long as we don't shoot ourselves in the foot as happened with the infamous Herschel Walker trade. Having said that I believe our front office is far more savvy these days and won't let themselves get taken advantage of even though most people accept that Allen would be a huge signing to make.

If we don't land him then I expect that we draft a DE in the first round followed by an OT in the second round. Given our resident tub-o-lard's ( that's Bryant McKinnie to you ) predicament and possible suspension that he may acquire then I fully expect the Vikes to do something to cover this shortfall. Personally I'd rather not be taking an OT that high in the draft but this is necessity due to the actions of an overrated and over hyped LT who has no thought for his off the field actions that affect the team.

Still forgetting about that and concentrating on the Draft it is, without any doubt, and exciting time to be a Vikes fan. We have a good defence which could rise up the rankings if we address the passing issues and an offense that is several players and confidence away from being potent indeed.

Bring on the weekend and here's to a good Vikings draft
Skol!

Anglo's Angle - Oh Bryant, you muppet !

In an ideal world McKinnie would spend his time being a pain in the backside to the DTs and DE's that go up against him. So does he do this  - no - instead he just becomes a distraction and nuisance to the team that he is supposed to play for.

A few weeks ago he managed to get himself in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer down Miami way and, if reports are true, was seen by the police to try and reshape said bouncers head with a metal pole. Following the justice system he has gone for a not guilty plea, as is his right, and so we now have to wait for the process to take its course.

So as a result of this 'indiscretion' the Vikes are now looking at the prospect that McKinnie may possibly incur the wrath of the league and get some form of suspension as well. This is something that the team doesn't need and could handicap them from getting a good run together when the season comes round, especially when the NFCN is up for grabs this year.

Once again our resident 'tub of lard' is doing his best to screw the team over by his actions but given that he's been like that since day 1 then I can't say that I'm surprised at that. I went off the guy when we had the holdout that had him miss part od his rookie year - now we know that McCombs was well into his 'cheap is good' phase and that didn't help in negotiations, however I expected McKinnie to at least turn up in some form of playing shape. However he didn't and I was there to see his first game when the fat lump couldn't get into a three point stance due to being out of shape. That set his attitude in my eyes and he has done little since to change my view of him.

So we now have to wait and see what will happen with him, with comments by Childress that appear to be non-commital in terms of his team place, then I would not be surprised if the Vikes ended up trading his sorry butt before Training Camp starts at Mankato. If that happens then I'll be honest and say that I won't shed a tear over his going and hope that what we get in trade can be put towards a good DE or replacement LT.

Skol!

Anglo's Angle - I leave for 5 minutes and this happens...

You can always be sure that any time that I'm out of the loop with PP.O, email or TV covering NFL events then things that have significance to the Vikes will always occur. It's a given and I suppose I should be used to it after the years that I've been following the Vikes.
So it should come as no surprise that I go away for a week and come back to a new S, WR & RB/PR signed, sealed and delivered. The fact that we have managed to get a solid WR via FA is a good move and I'm looking forward to see what Berrian can show in the OTA's, Training Camp and ultimately in the regular season when it will really count. From what we have seen in recent years then Berrian is a big upgrade over Troy Williamson who was not able to produce when it mattered despite all of the work put in by himself and others. It's not that he was a bad player who didn't show commitment or was a problem off-field but just that things never worked out for him in MInnesota. Hopefully it will work out for him at Jacksonville just as long as it is not against us.

Even more annoying than missing the good news of our signings was that of the retirement announcement of the media golden boy across the border. Of course I have managed to catch up on it a little since I got back due to the wonders of SKY+ and a return to a broadband connection instead of dialup, though I wonder why I did. The media hype looks to have been bloody awful and there are several programmes that were instantly deleted - especially the NFL Total Access that started with " and today we dedicate the entire show to Brett Favre's retirement announcement "... that was gone in an instant !

Needless to say this little media show has stirred up comments about the pros and cons about Favre, especially on the PP.O forums. So just to be clear I'll put my views down on public record about him and show my feelings on him.

Firstly he was a good QB without whom the Packers would have sucked even more than they have done since he became their starter, he took his chances some of which he won and some he lost. From a football point of view the Vikings and the rest of the NFCN will be glad to see the back of him as he has been a thorn in the sides of everyone. From a fan point of view, and this is a personal one, I'll be glad to see the back of a player who had become a media and statistics whore pure and simple. This side of the player overshadowed his ability and helped build up the media hype that the majority of non-Packer fans came to loathe. Even Peyton Manning and Tom Brady haven't come close to achieving the ass-kissing that Brett has both enjoyed and encouraged with the media. I'm sorry that we didn't make his last game at the Dome a misery but I'll enjoy that his last play as a pro was to throw an INT which led to the Packers losing a game.

So now to see what happens in the next few weeks leading up to Draft weekend

Skol!