What any contending team in the NFL comes to appreciate on the offensive line is a reliable utility man. And at 6-6, 310-pounds, Jeremiah Sirles can play both guards and tackles.There are two NFL changes in the 21st Century that continue to surprise: the need teams feel to rush young quarterbacks into the lineup, and the injuries that tear apart most every offensive line during the course of a season.
For decades, even the best of quarterback prospects generally had to be taught the pro game for a couple of seasons before they were anointed as a starter. As recently as 1999, Vikings coach Dennis Green spent the offseason looking for a veteran option before he finally gave the job to Daunte Culpepper, who had played not at all as the No. 11 overall pick in 1998.
Now, we have teams allowing overmatched rookies such as DeShone Kizer and Nathan Peterman to be humiliated by making starts.
The decimation of offensive lines is more startling. The Vikings joined the NFL in 1961, and for decades it seemed that the groups least affected by injuries here and around the league were offensive lines.
http://www.startribune.com/four-position...464028493/

Last month, Mike Zimmer and Marvin Lewis hung out together at Zimmer’s ranch in northern Kentucky. On Sunday, the two good friends will meet for the first time in the regular season as opposing head coaches.
Zimmer is in his fourth season with the Vikings after spending six years as Lewis’ defensive coordinator in Cincinnati. They will be all business when their teams face off at U.S. Bank Stadium, but the two took time Wednesday to reflect on their friendship.
“I love Marvin Lewis,” Zimmer said. “He’s an unbelievable person, great guy. Heck of a football coach. He’s done tremendous things there in Cincinnati. It happens. You get a chance to play your friends and people who you used to work with. This is a game of I see numbers, not faces.”
It’s awkward timing for Zimmer to go against the Bengals, who are 5-8, creating plenty of speculation that Lewis will be out as coach after 15 seasons.

Lewis is 123-111-3 and has won four AFC North titles. But the Bengals are 0-7 in the playoffs during his tenure, and they are assured of a second straight non-winning season.

“He’s had success,” Zimmer said. “When he first started, they weren’t very good. He got them to (the playoffs seven times). I think he’s a heck of a coach. He does unbelievable things in the community. … In my opinion, he should be able to stay there as long as he wants.”
http://www.twincities.com/2017/12/13/vik...d-friends/

Warning: will cause nausea and light vomiting.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/12/13/aaron-...ay-packers

The Raiders lost 26-15 to Kansas City on Sunday. The game wasn't as close as the score might suggest.
The Raiders are among the most disappointing teams of the year. They're now 6-7 after a number of "experts," myself included, thought they were a Super Bowl contender. I also thought quarterback Derek Carr was going to have a superb year.
I was W-R-O-N-G.
Former Raiders QB Rich Gannon, now working for CBS Sports, put that game—and the Raiders' season—in perfect perspective on NFL Monday QB on the CBS Sports Network:
"Absolutely an embarrassing performance on the part of the Raiders. I mean, they didn't even get off of the bus. That game was over at the half. It's beyond me how you could be unprepared for essentially what was a playoff game.
"They had the chance to be at the top of the division. They laid a big goose egg. Derek Carr was terrible. They didn't run the football. They weren't good on defense. The coaching was bad. It's inexcusable to me. And they've got problems right now in Oakland. And this has been festering for a while."
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/27486...ce=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

It's like an old girlfriend who was once so...well, awesome...and then wasn't.  I am so glad we cut him loose.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21761...eck-injury

Here is the latest edition.  I'm still on my borrowed system and don't have access to all my clips.  "Holiday time" is not the time to be on the road working and trying to find an different system.  I'm just too picky, i guess... 

Warning... the sound isn't normalized so start out on low and go from there.  If you want to appreciate just how far tech has come... go back and use a nine year old less powerful system.  =)

Well enjoy!

&feature=youtu.be

http://www.startribune.com/case-keenum-h...463899853/

Case Keenum has been NFL's best QB outside the pocket this season

As the Vikings work on their offensive line problems, they know that quarterback Case Keenum has been effective on the run.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, Case Keenum has the NFL’s highest passer rating on throws outside the pocket this season, checking in with a rating of 120.6. He’s ahead of Carson Wentz — who might have been a NFL MVP favorite before tearing his ACL on Sunday — as well as past MVPs Matt Ryan and Tom Brady.

Awesome. 

Be honest. The team is currently the #2 seed in the NFC and winnable games in front of them, 2 at home. Still solid? How are you going to feel if, God forbid, they lose to Cincy at home? 

Not looking for fan bravado. Just wondering what your gut is telling you. I think personally, things are fine.....but I get that peeps might be privately a tad nervous. I can admit that there's a very small seed of concern down there for me, however. 

https://www.peta.org/features/tax-meat/


If you tax meat then you better start taxing sugar too.