My Rant: Tarvaris Jackson haters : Minnesota Vikings
Every year I seem to get more and more into football. Every year I seem to spend more time scouring the internet looking for articles on the Vikings, reading forums and newsgroups, talking to NFL fans. More and more I figure out that most people look at generic stat lines and think they know a team inside and out.

Wilson understands Cutler’s challenge (AP)
Dallas Cowboys assistant Wade Wilson sought out Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler to impart some advice after one of their teams‘ joint workouts this week. It wasn’t about avoiding blitzes, reading defenses or mastering a play book. The Cowboys‘ quarterbacks coach and 19-year NFL veteran signal-caller wanted to speak to his fellow Type 1 diabetic about managing his disease along with the…

Jackson hurts knee during Vikings’ win over Ravens (AP)

Tarvaris Jackson put up some impressive numbers against the Baltimore Ravens. Far more important was that the Minnesota Vikings quarterback left the stadium with just a bruise on his tender right knee. Jackson was removed in the first quarter of Saturday night’s 23-15 win over the Ravens with a knee injury, but a potentially devastating moment for the Vikings turned out to be far less harrowing…

All systems go for Minnesota Vikings‘ defense

The Vikings maintained all along that nothing was seriously wrong with their defense.

NFL Preseason Preview - Pittsburgh

The Minnesota Vikings could be minus the services of starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson on Saturday, when the team plays host to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third preseason warm-up for each club.

Vikings Fall 12-10 In Final Seconds
The Vikings found a solid first-team defense and an offense that did just enough with without three key starters to leave the game with a lead. However, the Steelers’ four field goals were good enough to give them the 12-10 win.

Notebook: One Scary Moment
Injuries can happen at any point, but to lose the crown jewel of the trade market in a preseason game would have been disastrous. Instead, the Vikings were able to laugh about a play that turned into comedy instead of tragedy. Plus, get notes on surprise starters, substitutes, former Vikings and reaction to the penalties.

Injuries keep most starters on sideline for Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens‘ trend of fielding an injury-riddled lineup continued in the second preseason game Saturday night against the Minnesota Vikings.

Peterson to challenge Ravens‘ defense

He may only carry the football a few times, but the Baltimore Ravens are still thinking about how to defend Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson tonight at M&T Bank Stadium.

Notebook: Tale of Varying Success
The Vikings‘ 12-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers Friday was a tale of two games for the Vikings - a defensive effort that shut down the Steelers starters and didn’t allow a touchdown, and an offense that looked out of sync much of the night.

Nance making strong push for Vikings roster spot (AP)
Martin Nance has always looked like a receiver. At 6 feet 3 and 212 pounds, he is the most physically imposing pass catcher on the Minnesota Vikings roster. Yet he didn’t make the Buffalo Bills out of training camp as an undrafted free agent in 2006 and spent the next two years on the Vikings practice squad while he struggled to learn the playbook and perfect his routes.

Jackson Says Knee Feels Better, But Still Stiff

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson’s sprained right knee was still stiff and lacking full range of motion on Monday, though he said he’s feeling better.

This was supposed to be the year when Johnnie Johnson was going to regularly get to see his son, Spencer, play football.

Robison says he’ll be ready to return in two weeks (AP)
Brian Robison was back on the field to watch part of Monday afternoon’s practice, though his leg felt tight and sore. The next step will be running, expected next week. After that it’s a return to full practice, perhaps in two weeks. The Vikings defensive end, slotted as Jared Allen’s backup following a productive rookie season, had surgery last week to repair a varicose vein problem in his left…

Vikings Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson missed the Vikings‘ third preseason game because of a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee but said he had “no doubt at all” that he would be ready to go for the regular-season opener Sept. 8 in Green Bay.

While that could be considered good news, the Vikings would have liked to get a long look at the second-year, and still unproven, starter in the exhibition game that is considered the final dress rehearsal for the regular season.

Jackson played well in limited time during the Vikings‘ first two exhibitions, completing 15 of 22 passes for 200 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 127.1 passer rating.

He was injured in the first quarter of the Vikings‘ 23-15 loss Aug.

Last week of preseason brings decisions for Vikes (AP)
The week before the regular season in the NFL becomes a game of roster roulette, and the Minnesota Vikings are busy calculating their risks and potential rewards. They released four players Monday, offensive tackles Sean Dumford and Brock Pasteur, receiver Daniel Davis, and linebacker Derrick Pope. That trimmed the roster to 75, and it must be at the regular-season limit of 53 players by Saturday.

Offensive line injuries have Packers, McCarthy scrambling (Yahoo! Sports)
Pretty soon the shuffling will end and the Green Bay Packers ‘ starting five will take their places on the…

Sore toe has Vikes’ Berrian unsure about Saturday (AP)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Bernard Berrian has a sore toe on his right foot that has limited him in practice for the past week. The injury kept him out of Saturday’s exhibition game at Baltimore. After Tuesday’s practice, Berrian said his condition is “a day to day thing” and that he’s not sure whether he’ll play Saturday against Pittsburgh.

Loss of father stuns Bills DT

This was supposed to be the year when Johnnie Johnson was going to regularly get to see his son, Spencer, play football.

Adrian Peterson has displayed a maturity that makes him seem far beyond his 23 years since the day the Vikings made him the seventh-overall pick in the 2007 draft. Despite the fact he has established himself as one of the NFL’s best running backs, Peterson’s focus is almost always on the team and he isn’t one to point fingers.

With that in mind, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that when Peterson sat down this off-season and watched film of his final four games, he came to a simple conclusion.

The reason he failed to rush for 100 yards in any of those contests wasn’t because of something his offensive line did wrong or the fact the offense failed to stretch the field and make defenses respect the pass.

Loss of father stuns Bills DT

This was supposed to be the year when Johnnie Johnson was going to regularly get to see his son, Spencer, play football.

Injuries keep most starters on sideline for Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens‘ trend of fielding an injury-riddled lineup continued in the second preseason game Saturday night against the Minnesota Vikings.

Missed block puts Steelers‘ Batch out of action (Yahoo! Sports)
Preseason openers are a breeding ground for mistakes and missed assignments, especially for a free-agent running…

August 21st, 2008 1:42 PM by Mark Craig Vikings center Matt Birk, one of Gene Upshaw’s many critics over the years, said he was “shocked” Thursday morning when he heard the NFL Players Association executive …

Robison says he’ll be ready to return in two weeks (AP)
Brian Robison was back on the field to watch part of Monday afternoon’s practice, though his leg felt tight and sore. The next step will be running, expected next week. After that it’s a return to full practice, perhaps in two weeks. The Vikings defensive end, slotted as Jared Allen’s backup following a productive rookie season, had surgery last week to repair a varicose vein problem in his left…

Culpepper still waiting for another shot

Submitted by SHNS on Mon, 08/18/2008 - 15:42. During several e-mail exchanges this week, former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper explained why he turned down offers from Green Bay and Pittsburgh, …

Jackson hurts knee during Vikings’ win over Ravens (AP)

Tarvaris Jackson put up some impressive numbers against the Baltimore Ravens. Far more important was that the Minnesota Vikings quarterback left the stadium with just a bruise on his tender right knee. Jackson was removed in the first quarter of Saturday night’s 23-15 win over the Ravens with a knee injury, but a potentially devastating moment for the Vikings turned out to be far less harrowing…

Vikings not fretting about ever-ready Gus Frerotte (AP)

Gus Frerotte was talking about his 15-year career as an NFL quarterback, when some wise guy interrupted to tease him about the gray in his once-black hair. “It comes with age, and kids, and four dogs,” Frerotte said, flashing a sly smile and barely flinching. That’s the type of cool and collected demeanor necessary for a role as the veteran backup — two words linked as frequently in pro football…

Two Former Vikings Suggested For NFLPA Post
Two former Vikings were mentioned in league circles as being viable candidates to eventually take over the lead job at the NFLPA after the passing of Gene Upshaw.

Gus Frerotte was talking about his 15-year career as an NFL quarterback, when some wise guy interrupted to tease him about the gray in his once-black hair.

Eagles trying out Hunt as a fullback

Eagles running back Tony Hunt played so well against the Carolina Panthers last week that the Eagles want him to play fullback.

Steelers‘ Ward says players asked to do too much (Yahoo! Sports)
The Pittsburgh Steelers ‘ first teams will get their most extensive look Saturday night when they play the…

Sore toe has Vikes’ Berrian unsure about Saturday (AP)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Bernard Berrian has a sore toe on his right foot that has limited him in practice for the past week. The injury kept him out of Saturday’s exhibition game at Baltimore. After Tuesday’s practice, Berrian said his condition is “a day to day thing” and that he’s not sure whether he’ll play Saturday against Pittsburgh.

Bob Sansevere: Grabbing Guc Frerotte was a good move for Minnesota Vikings

Item: Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson sprains his knee but is expected to play in the season opener.

Vikings TE Shiancoe tries to get back on track (AP)
For all the emotion and energy that emerges on NFL fields, the league has a cold, scripted side that can lead to drudgery. Visanthe Shiancoe did what he could last season to find the creative outlets he needed to maintain mental health. He needed the escape. It was a rough year. “It keeps you sane, man.

Steelers‘ Ward says players asked to do too much (Yahoo! Sports)
The Pittsburgh Steelers ‘ first teams will get their most extensive look Saturday night when they play the…

Hasselbeck, Seahawks, gash Vikings defense (AP)

The Minnesota Vikings spent plenty of money to upgrade their defense in the offseason, giving defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier all kinds of flavors to work with. They kept things simple in their preseason debut on Friday night, and Matt Hasselbeck and the Seattle Seahawks had no problem with that.

Eagles trying out Hunt as a fullback

Eagles running back Tony Hunt played so well against the Carolina Panthers last week that the Eagles want him to play fullback.

With Williams hurt, Vikings look at other safeties (AP)
Though the addition of Madieu Williams was overshadowed by the headliner acquisition of Jared Allen, the Vikings were excited about the versatile safety they signed on the first day of free agency. Given a six-year contract worth as much as $33 million, including nearly $13 million guaranteed, Williams left Cincinnati to join a Minnesota defense coming off a strong season but searching for…

Eagles trying out Hunt as a fullback

Eagles running back Tony Hunt played so well against the Carolina Panthers last week that the Eagles want him to play fullback.

Robison says he’ll be ready to return in two weeks (AP)
Brian Robison was back on the field to watch part of Monday afternoon’s practice, though his leg felt tight and sore. The next step will be running, expected next week. After that it’s a return to full practice, perhaps in two weeks. The Vikings defensive end, slotted as Jared Allen’s backup following a productive rookie season, had surgery last week to repair a varicose vein problem in his left…