A look at the key departures, and what their absences have allowed for the Vikings in this above-average season.
The Minnesota Vikings are thriving despite three deconstructed knees and five constructive “nos.”
When the history of the Vikings’ 2017 season is written, the second or third paragraph will cite the team’s ability to overcome injuries to Sam Bradford, Teddy Bridgewater and Dalvin Cook — two franchise quarterbacks and a budding star running back.
What may not be mentioned, yet could be just as important, is the Vikings’ willingness to part with five people who only a couple of years ago were considered vital to the franchise.
Here are the key departures, and what their absences have allowed:
1. Norv Turner: When the Vikings offensive line and season went south in 2016, Turner quit. Instead of devastating the program, Turner’s departure opened the door for Pat Shurmur, who is much more creative and adaptable, and has helped this year’s team go 10-2 with a backup quarterback, backup running backs and a remade offensive line. 
2. Matt Kalil: The third pick in the 2012 draft, Kalil produced one excellent season, then a series of disappointments. Even when healthy, he didn’t produce like a top draft pick, and his replacement, Riley Reiff, has become one of the most indispensable players in the league, turning a position that was a black hole into a brick wall.
3. Adrian Peterson: Even at his best, Peterson made the Vikings offense predictable and one-dimensional. As he went into decline yet expected the same role, he became a potential problem. 
4. Alex Boone: Desperate to improve their offensive line play in 2017, the Vikings released their most experienced offensive lineman, Boone, during their final cuts. With Boone out of the way, the Vikings remade the middle of the line with rookie Pat Elflein and former centers Joe Berger and Nick Easton, giving them three smart, versatile players working together. 

5. Cordarrelle Patterson: As a receiver, he was a less-accomplished version of Peterson, a player whose physical skills were so impressive that not giving him the ball always seemed to be a lingering problem for the front office and coaching staff. But you can’t play receiver in the NFL if the coaches and quarterbacks don’t trust you.
Without Kalil and Boone, a top pick and an expensive free agent, the Vikings line is far better. Without the renowned Turner, the offensive coaching is far better. Without Peterson and Patterson, two remarkable talents drafted in the first round, the offensive production is far better.
The 2017 Vikings offense is a triumph of intelligence and cohesion. Credit Rick Spielman and Zimmer for making tough choices and remaking their team on the fly.
http://www.startribune.com/vikings-multi...463075003/

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Sean Payton’s message was clear in this sideline exchange with Davonta Freeman.


https://twitter.com/uSTADIUM/status/938980490459123712

The Minnesota Vikings have matched up with a number of versatile running backs this year and locked them all down.
According to Football Outsiders, the Vikings rank sixth in the NFL against running backs in the passing game, giving up just 35 yards through the air to running backs per game. And that’s coming against some of the best receiving running backs like Alvin Kamara, Chris Thompson, Duke Johnson and Theo Riddick.

But this week will be a different type of challenge as they face the Carolina Panthers and first-round pick Christian McCaffrey. Pro Football Focus has tracked McCaffrey as lining up at the running back position for 379 plays, in the slot 93 times, at wideout for 43 snaps, fullback 34 times and even once at tight end.
“You have to be patient with this offense,” linebacker Anthony Barr said. “That’s the biggest thing. You can’t see ghosts because there will be a lot of window dressing, a lot of misdirection, you really have to read your keys this week more than most weeks. They do so much shifting and movements and motions across the screen and flashes and fake handoffs and all sorts of stuff.”
McCaffrey has been targeted 90 times, catching 64 passes for 501 yards. He ranks as PFF’s No. 2 running back in receiving, only behind Kamara.
http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2017/1...challenge/

Vikings' successful season built in part by working savvy deals with PanthersOffseason moves with Panthers aided rebuilding by Vikings. 
Last spring, as both teams sought to rebuild their rosters from 2016 seasons that began with high hopes and ended in disappointment, the Vikings and Carolina Panthers engaged in a series of moves that functioned as a series of coincidental trades.
On March 9, the Panthers signed left tackle Matt Kalil to a five-year, $55.5 million contract that included $25 million in guaranteed money. The Vikings gave former Panthers tackle Mike Remmers a five-year deal worth $30 million March 10. That same day, the Panthers signed former Vikings wide receiver Charles Johnson. And on March 11, cornerback Captain Munnerlyn turned down an offer to return to the Vikings, instead opting to rejoin the team that drafted him and signing a four-year, $17 million deal with the Panthers.
The moves were part of busy offseasons for both teams, and as the two clubs meet at Bank of America Stadium this weekend, the Vikings are closing in on a first-round bye at 10-2 while the Panthers are in the hunt for a playoff spot at 8-4. But as players on both clubs prepare for reunions this weekend, it’s worth noting how adroitly the Vikings have navigated replacing players it appeared they might miss.
http://www.startribune.com/vikings-succe...462924813/

Vikings DT Tom Johnson assumes unsung stalwart role once held by Gary LarsenThere were 255 players taken in the 2006 NFL draft and Tom Johnson was not among them but now is on on a defensive line made to win.

There are 11 players who made their careers with the Vikings in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and four are defensive linemen: Alan Page, Carl Eller, John Randle and Chris Doleman.
Jared Allen will make it in due time, and he spent six of his 11 NFL seasons and had 85½ of his 136 sacks with the Vikings. And some day, the veterans committee will do the right thing for Jim Marshall, as it finally did for Mick Tingelhoff, and the NFL’s ironman of line combat will gain a place in Canton.
As you go through the Vikings’ 57 years, all moments of glory have included excellence along the defensive line — most notably, of course, the Purple People Eaters that first carried and then helped the Vikings to their four NFL/NFC championships from 1969 to 1976.
Marshall was an original Viking in 1961; former Gopher Carl Eller joined as a first-round draft choice in 1964; Gary Larsen arrived in a 1965 trade that sent reluctant first-rounder Jack Snow to the Los Angeles Rams and, as the pièce de résistance, Alan Page came in 1967.
Marshall, Eller, Page and Larsen played every game alongside one another from 1968 through 1973, with all four making the Pro Bowls of 1969 and 1970. Doug Sutherland did a three-year apprenticeship and replaced Larsen as a starter at the tackle opposite Page in 1974.
“Gary Larsen … I’ve been told about that man,” said Tom Johnson, current Vikings defensive tackle. “People say that I’m like Larsen, the ‘other guy’ on a great defensive line.”
http://www.startribune.com/vikings-dt-to...462924783/

This is only one scenario.  I am not suggesting this IS what they will do, I'm just curious as to the feasibility of this scenario.  The Browns seem like a good option, but I'm not sure if Rick would be sympathetic to Teddy.  Is Teddy's feelings more important to him, or is the draft more important to the team?

Me personally, I'd sign case to a four year deal with only two meaning something, and start looking for someone to compete with Sloter to start in two to four years ( I don't care if we draft a 1st round pick and he sits for a year or two).

Just thinking out loud.

so i got an email from Sassy the other day. 

heres the cliff notes version.

1.  They were able to get their house sold in tuscon and have moved up to the kingman area as they had been hoping to for quite a while.  They are currently renting and looking for a house to buy,  but after paying off their other debts... things are pretty tight so their pickings are limited and they dont want to just settle on a dump.

2.  They are near some excellent fishing and other outdoors opportunities,  those that know Sass know that this is an absolute must for her and Don.

3. The girls are in a much better situation in terms of schooling.  Sass says they are very happy in their new location.

4. Don is still battling and is getting along,  but is in a lot of pain,  but as considering the alternative for those with his condition... 

There is more,  but I cant do it all for her,  hopefully she finds her way back here sometime,  but she says she is living a pretty computer free lifestyle these days... enjoying the most beautiful sunsets she has ever seen.

My apologies for the lack of submissions, lately...the good and bad is that every facet of my life got much more involved and time-consuming recently, as well as dealing with some craptastic viral junk ('tis the season), so...yeah, I've only been able to post in the short bursts of random attention I have, nowadays.

That said...

...I've been pretty damned astounded by our team this season.  When Sam went down and we looked so very milquetoast in the two losses, I was doing the same cringing most of you were, watching another promising season be torpedoed by seemingly wrathful football gods.  While I'd liked Case in preseason, I was very aware that he was a journeyman that had failed to consistently impress, and some of that showed in a few of the earlier games.  As Sam's return got less a and less likely, it got very odd to follow the storylines of an improving Case Keenum while Teddy Bridgewater triumphantly returned to...the sidelines.

Meanwhile, our defense kept rolling over our opponents and our offense quietly climbed the rankings...and the wins kept coming.

Harry is everywhere on the field, every game.  Kendricks is the explosive whirl of hair and purple we've come to know and love.  Griffen keeps grinding out the sacks, while Hunter, Joseph, and the rest up front are harassing QBs and stuffing RBs.  Rhodes has all but marginalized many of the NFL's best receivers, Waynes has become a great open-field tackler, and even Sandejo is stepping up and into the level of play our defense is known for.

Thielen is packing on the yards every week, Diggs and Rudolph are dangerous everywhere, while the duo of Murray and McKinnon are making plays and grinding out the tough yards on a constant basis.  The offensive trenchmen (excepting Remmers, whose back continues to be an issue) are keeping Keenum, Murray, and McKinnon cleaner than not...it's all working.

I'll admit that, even in the throes of offseason purple-Kool-Aid chugging, my best prediction for our regular season record was 12-4.  I saw what everyone else saw in the latter half of our schedule: Washington (beat us last season), Detroit (swept us last season, beat us earlier this season), Atlanta (most recent NFC champs), Carolina, etc etc etc.  It was concerning as hell, as every analyst pointed out when our wins began stacking up.  We (supposedly) weren't as good as Philly, we maybe looked good for a Wild Card, and so on.

But the wins kept coming, against more and more winning teams...at home, on the road, wherever.

I have to say that this is the most balanced Vikings team I've been able to watch and comprehend, as I was awfully young in the '70s.  This team looks more complete than the '98ers, better balanced (and much, MUCH less obnoxious) than the Burt Favor years, and truly seems to keep its focus on the NEXT GAME; it's always about the next game.

I'm a lifelong fan in my mid-40s, and I've had as many laughs as I've had profane snarls over time.  I've gotta say, though...as much as I'm not one to yell "it's our year" before we prove it, there isn't a single opponent that really worries me...even going into February.

This team is the real f***king thing, and I don't think they've really peaked yet.  All that matters is the next game, so bring on Fig Cam Newton.  We're the better damned team.

SKOL VIKINGS!!!!

Is Remmers back? Have not heard anything about our injuries going into Carolina. Are we all hands on deck?