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We're only a couple of weeks away from the start of training camp, and while the uber-talented Vikings might not have a lot of overwhelming roster drama to take note of, one spot that is going to make folks take some notice is the battle for the third running back slot.  Now, prior to this April's draft, this could have been the battle to see who was going to back-up the NFL's best running back (that Adrian Peterson fellow).  However, the Vikings' selection of battering ram Toby Gerhart pretty much took care of that, as it's understood that Gerhart is going to be Peterson's primary backup.  However, there are a quartet of folks that are going to be vying for the right to be the third running back, and they all bring different strengths and weaknesses to the table.

So who are these gentlemen, and who has the best chance to be that third guy?  Let's take a look at the candidates.

Albert Young - 5'10", 210 pounds
Career Regular Season Numbers - 12 carries, 53 yards

It's only fair that we start with the incumbent in this race, and that would be Albert Young.  He finally got his first NFL carries last season after languishing on the Vikings' practice squad for a couple of seasons, tallying two carries for 13 yards in the victory over the Cincinnati Bengals and 10 carries for 40 yards in garbage time of the season-ending blowout of the New York Giants.

The fact that Young has stuck with the Vikings for as long as he has obviously means the team likes him, and as the incumbent, one would have to think that he's the favorite to retain the job.  Unfortunately, he's still a bit of an unknown quantity at this point. . .we don't know a lot about his running style, nor do we know a whole lot about his ability to pick up blitzes or things of that nature.  We do know that in two pre-seasons with the team, he's carried the ball 79 times for 268 yards (3.4 yards/carry), but that was largely done running behind guys that are currently bagging groceries or selling insurance or something.  It isn't a stretch to think that he could do better behind a starting NFL offensive line.

Ian Johnson - 5'11", 210 pounds
Career Regular Season Numbers - N/A

Coming out of Boise State as a rookie, Ian Johnson was pretty much known as the guy that scored the winning points in the Fiesta Bowl, and then proposed to his super-hot cheerleader girlfriend after the game was over).  And after his first year in the NFL. . .well, that's what he's still known as.  Johnson didn't tally a single carry last year for the Vikings in the regular season.

From all accounts, Johnson and Young are a lot alike. . .they're both smallish backs, and they're both taking time to adjust themselves to the NFL game.  However, the Vikings had this choice to make last season, and when faced with the decision of whether to put Johnson or Young on the 53-man roster, the team chose Young.  That, along with the increase in competition at the position, tells me that young Ian has a bit of an uphill climb to make the big club this year.  The odds are better, I think, that he ends up on the practice squad for another year.

Ryan Moats - 5'8", 210 pounds
Career Regular Season Numbers - 204 carries, 831 yards, 8 TD; 20 catches, 127 yards, 1 TD

The "old man" of the group, Moats is going into his sixth year in the National Football League.  He originally came into the league with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005, where he played for two years.  After missing the 2007 season, Moats played in Houston the past two years.  Last year for the Texans, he carried the ball 101 times for 390 yards, good for second on the team in both categories. . .Houston had one of the worst rushing attacks in football last year. . .and four touchdowns.  He also put together the Texans' best rushing performance of 2009, as he carried 23 times for 126 yards and 3 TDs in Houston's 31-10 triumph over the Buffalo Bills.

Moats is obviously the most proven commodity in this race, which could be both an advantage and a disadvantage.  Yes, the coaching staff already knows what he's capable of, and by that same token they know that he doesn't really have a lot of room for growth.  As they say, he is what he is.  He falls under the same heading as the other backs in this race, in that he's on the smallish side and would be used as more of a change of pace from Peterson and Gerhart.  Will his experience and his familiarity with the offense give him the edge to make the team?

Darius Reynaud - 5'9", 200 pounds
Career Regular Season Numbers - N/A

Hey, remember this guy?  Yes, the Vikings talked of their intention to move Reynaud to running back early in the off-season, and to my knowledge that's still how they plan on using him.  Reynaud has spent the last couple of years being used as a return man, but has shown some receiving skills in pre-season action.  He played a little bit of running back in college at West Virginia, but he's quite a ways removed from that.

It's entirely possible that Reynaud has the most physical talent of the four players on this list.  That being said, he has the farthest to go to be a viable option at the position.  Yes, we know he can catch and we've seen what he can do in the open field.  But he has more to learn about blitz pickup and hitting holes and things of that nature than the other three players on this list do.  He has the talent to be on this roster somewhere, and I suppose it's possible that the Vikings could move him back to receiver if he doesn't work out at running back. . .we'll have to see how things shake out.

So, who do you folks think is going to back up Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart this season for the Vikings?  If I were a betting man, I personally would have to say that the Vikings will stick with Albert Young.  Moats is a solid possibility, Reynaud is a bit of a darkhorse, and Ian Johnson projects as a long shot.  Feel free to discuss it below, and enjoy what's left of your weekend!

Vikings' Pre-Season Broadcast Schedule Announced

Top Five Vikings Training Camp Questions

Yes, it's getting to be the time of year where the latest reincarnation of the Madden football series hits the store shelves.  (And, yes, I realize that it's nothing more than a roster update for the most part, but it's still sells huge.)  So, it only makes sense that this is the point in time where the individual player ratings are released, and ESPN has finally given the Vikings their exposure.  As one would expect, the Vikings are the highest-rated team in the NFC North. . .which is generally what happens when you have the most talent. . .and one of the highest rated teams in the game with an 88 overall rating.

As detailed previously, Jared Allen is one of only six players in the entire game with the coveted 99 overall rating, and Adrian Peterson is right behind him at 98.  In fact, the Vikings have eight players rated at 90 overall or higher. . .they are:

DE Jared Allen - 99
RB Adrian Peterson - 98
LG Steve Hutchinson - 97
DT Kevin Williams - 97
QB Brett Favre - 92
K Ryan Longwell - 92
WR Sidney Rice - 90
LT Bryant McKinnie - 90

Playing with the Vikings in Madden this year will be an enjoyable experience once again, as its been for the past few years.  Crushing defense and a high-flying offense generally make for the best Madden teams, and the 2010 Minnesota Vikings will have plenty of both.

Speaking of video game football, I still want to get a review of Backbreaker up here at some point, but I have another PS3 game I'm trying to get finished off before we move out west.  I'll see if I can't get both knocked out here in the near future.  Until then, continue enjoying the rest of your Tuesday, and we'll see you back here again soon!

Say 'what' again. Say 'what' again, I dare you, I double dare you

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It's crunch time.  Favre is being held at Brock Lesnar's house against his will, the opening kickoff is getting closer, and our gang of heroes still need to make it to New Orleans for kickoff.  Can they do it?

CUT TO THE DODGE PICKUP, DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, HEADING TOWARDS LESNAR’S HOUSE. 

HUTCH:  Hey guys, when’s the next Halley’s Comet?

AP:  Who cares man?  I still have this damn football taped to my hand.  It’s damn near impossible to drive.  And we don’t have his holocaust ring!  You should be caring about that!!

BEVELL:  I don’t think it’s for another…60 years, big guy.

HUTCH:  But it’s not tonight, right?  I mean, with the game in the Superdome, I don’t want to miss it, that’s all.  (As Hutch talks, the tiger awakens and begins to thrash about wildly.  As they try to avoid the tiger, the truck weaves in and out of lanes, hitting several cars, getting all banged up.  They manage to leave the vehicle unharmed, and Hutch punches the tiger in the face, knocking him out and knocking out a tooth.  Okay, I think this is under control.  Don’t worry about the ring.  Let’s get to Lesnar’s.  Bev, you two look alike.  Hahahahahaha!!!! Classic!!

AP:  Man, our luck is finally changing for the better.  We’ve got the tiger, we’ll figure it out about the ring, and we’re going to get Brett back.  WE ARE BACK, BABY!!  We should come back to Biloxi next week!

BEVELL:  Let’s focus on getting Brett back and getting to New Orleans.  The game is in six hours.

HUTCH:  I’ll come back next week.  Oh, wait.  The Jonas Brothers are in town next week.  But any week after that, I’m good.  And you know what?  We’re the three best friends that anyonecouldeverhave, the three best friends that anyonecouldeverhave.   We’re the three best friends that anyonecouldeverhave, and we’re going to get Brett back and we’re going to win the Super Bowl!!

CUT TO BROCK LESNAR’S HOUSE, OUTSIDE, IN A MASSIVE YARD.  AP, HUTCH, AND DB ARE BY THE TRUCK, WITH THE TIGER IN THE CAB, STILL UNCONSCIOUS.  LESNAR APPEARS AT THE FRONT DOOR, WITH BRETT FAVRE.

AP:  All right, here’s the tiger. 

LESNAR:  Fair enough.  Now show me the ring.  Or I F-5 him, and then I F-5 all of you motherfuckers.  And then I take it!

AP:  Look, we don’t have the ring.  We didn’t steal it, so there’s no way we could—

LESNAR:  You’re all dead!! (Lesnar runs towards the Viking players, closing the gap fast.  From the truck stereo, some familiar music begins to play, which begins with the sound of glass breaking, and a mean guitar riff).

BEVELL (Or is it JR Ross?):  OH MY GAWD, THAT’S STONE COLD’S MUSIC!!

FROM THE BACK SIDE OF THE YARD, STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN APPEARS, RUNS TO THE PASSENGER DOOR, RIPS IT OFF, AND THEN HITS LESNAR OVER THE HEAD WITH IT JUST AS HE GRABS AP’S FOOTBALL LADEN HAND, RIPPING THE TAPE LOOSE.

AP:  It’s about time that started to come loose.  Shit was KILLING me!!

THE TRUCK DOOR OVER THE HEAD STUNS LESNAR, AND AUSTIN GRABS HIM AND ADMISISTERS A STONE COLD STUNNER, KNOCKING OUT LESNAR.  AUSTIN GRABS TWO BEERS OUT OF THE BED OF THE TRUCK, OPENS THEM AND STANDS ON THE FRONT BUMPER, FLIPPING OFF NO ONE, YET EVERYONE AT THE SAME TIME.

BEVELL:  That was freakin’ awesome!!

AUSTIN:  Looks like I put my roody-poo foot up his roody-poo ass!

AP LOOKS AT HIS WATCH, AND REALIZES THEY PROBABLY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE IT TO NEW ORLEANS, AND MAKES THE CALL FROM THE OPENING SCENE.  AS HE HANGS UP THE PHONE, FAVRE WALKS UP.

FAVRE:  AP, we’ll make it on time.  You gotta drive though.  You’re the only one who regularly drives at over 100 mph.

AP:  But we still got get to the stadium, get changed into our uniforms, we don’t have time.

FAVRE:  Look, I am the King of last minute stuff.  Let me make a few calls, just finish pulling off that damn football and let’s get on the road.

AUSTIN (Walking up to the group of Vikings):   Let me tell you guys what's gonna happen.

FAVRE, AP, HUTCH, BEVELL:  WHAT?!

In about five hours, I'm going to turn on the TV for the 2010 NFL season premiere...

FAVRE, AP, HUTCH, BEVELL:  WHAT?!

and Al Michaels is going to say here lies the New Orleans Saints, the biggest fluke of a team that ever walked the face of the earth...

FAVRE, AP, HUTCH, BEVELL:  WHAT?!

And the reason they’re laying here...

FAVRE, AP, HUTCH, BEVELL:  WHAT?!

 is because Vikings 3:16 says you just whipped their gold and black ass!! 

FAVRE, AP, HUTCH, BEVELL:  WHAT?!

And that's the bottom line because Stone Cold said so!  Gimme a HELL YEAH!

EVERYONE:  HELL YEAH!

AP:  Everyone get in, we got some driving to do. (AP rips off the football, and the holocaust ring is on his finger.  Everyone does a cheesy, 1970's-era end of the show group laugh  Favre is on the cell phone, talking to someone).

CUT TO DODGE PICKUP BARRELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, 120 MPH.  MISSISSIPPI STATE PATROL HAS AN ESCORT CAR IN FRONT AND BACK, AND A MINNESOTA VIKINGS TRAINER VAN PULLS UP ALONGSIDE.  THE DOOR SLIDES OPEN, AND IN THE DOORWAY IS FRED ZAMBERLETTI, THE LONGTIME EQUIPMENT MANAGER FOR THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS.

FAVRE:  Fred!  I knew you wouldn’t let us down!

ZAMBERLETTI(Grabbing a package in brown wrapping paper):  No worries!  Here, catch!!

ZAMBERLETTI THROWS THREE PACKAGES INTO THE MOVING CAR.  INSIDE THE PACKAGES ARE THE UNIFORMS, PADS, SHOES, AND HELMETS.  FAVRE, AP, AND HUTCH BEGIN CHANGING.  BEVELL’S PACKAGE HAS A HEADSET, A BASEBALL HAT…AND THE COVETED LAMINATED GAME PLAN WITH A NOTE FROM CHILLY THAT READS:  IF YOU MAKE IT BACK IN TIME, YOU’RE CALLING THE PLAYS.  GOOD JOB, CHILLY.

CUT TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE LOUISIANA SUPERDOME, 10 MINUTES BEFORE GAME TIME.  DODGE PULLS UP, SCREECHING TO A HALT AS THE FRONT BUMPER FALLS OFF.  AT THE ENTRANCE IS TEAM OWNER ZYGI WILF.

WILF:  Boys!  You made it!

FAVRE:  Was there ever any doubt I’d play?  I mean, I thought I was pretty clear all along.  Can I have a two year extension?  I could play until I'm 50.  This is fun!!

WILF:  Sure, no problem.  This really hasn't been the distraction that everyone thought it would. 

And so, our saga ends.  The Vikings went on to win the game 56-3.  Adrian Peterson ran for 200 yards, three TD’s…and no fumbles.  Brett Favre threw for three TD’s, threw no picks, and was named the game MVP.  Ironically, it was the night Halley’s comet made an unexpected orbit, and when Steve Hutchinson found out he missed it, he took it out on the entire New Orleans defense. 

And Darrell Bevell called the game of his career.

The Beginning…

More photos » Fred Greaves - AP

Yeah, I'm serious about sending out the military to find Favre. I mean, it's not like you guys are busy or anything, right? What's that? TWO wars? Oh...never mind.

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As our Merry Band of Heroes try and piece together what happened the night before, they stumble across a clue, and head to the satellite clinic of renowned sports doctor Dr. James Andrews.  While there, they get another clue as to the whereabouts of the missing Brett Favre, erstwhile quarterback, part super hero, and one of the five most indecisive people in the history of the world.  With game time approaching, our superstars...and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell...must move fast if they are to find Brett and get to New Orleans in time for the game.

CUT TO DESTROYED HOTEL ROOM AT THE BEAU RIVAGE.  IN THE CENTER OF THE ROOM, AT A GRAND PIANO, IS FORMER VIKING TRAINING CAMP INVITEE BROCK LESNAR, THE PHIL COLLINS CLASSIC ‘IN THE AIR TONIGHT’ BLASTING IN THE BACKGROUND.  CUT TO OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR, AS AP, HUTCH, AND BEVELL PREPARE TO WALK IN.

Bevell:  Did we leave the radio on?

HUTCH:  Be careful, the tiger is still in here somewhere.

AP:  I keep forgetting about that goddamn tiger.  How did the tiger get in there? 

BEVELL:  I’d tell you, but I can’t remember anything. 

HUTCH:  It’s one of the side effects from the purple kool aid.

BEVELL:  You’re literally too stupid to insult right now.

AP (Walking in the door):  Did we leave the radio on?  Brock Lesnar?!

LESNAR:  Hey, everybody shut up.  This is my favorite part. 

Lesnar mimics the mean drum riff right before the final chorus, and begins singing along with the lyrics.  I can feel it coming in the air tonight…hold on…I been waitin for this moment, all my life..hold on…hold on.

As the drum solo begins again, Lesnar begins to air drum, moves towards Hutch, and throws a vicious right.  Hutchinson is apparently unfazed.

Hutch:  There’s a reason you MMA wussies can’t play in the NFL.  No arm strength.  I donkey punched your mom harder last night.  At least I think I did.  I can’t remember anything.  Hahahaha!!!  Classic!!  (Hutch immediately falls to the ground, unconscious).

AP:  Whoa whoa WHOA!!  That was COMPLETELY unnecessary!

LESNAR:  Really?  Then why the hell did you steal my tiger last night?

BEVELL (Who is becoming emotional, on the verge of tears):  Look, we were really drunk last night, we can’t remember anything, and we can’t find our starting quarterback, so if you want to go ahead and kill us now, go right ahead, because I don’t even care anymore.

LESNAR:  Now tell me why you’d steal my tiger or I stand Fat Jesus up and punch him again.

AP:  Look, we tend to do dumb shit when we’re drinking the kool aid.  Hey, how did you find us?

LESNAR (taking a Brett Favre Vikings jersey out of a Wal Mart bag):  I have who you’re looking for.

AP:  That was Brett’s!!

LESNAR:  You’re lucky he didn’t end up eaten like Chester Taylor.

BEVELL:  Eaten?  Oh, sweet Jesus…

LESNAR:  Look, don’t worry.  Chester’s in a better place.  If you were looking at a season playing for the Chicago Bears with Jay Cutler as your teammate behind that offensive line, or being eaten by a tiger, what would you choose?

BEVELL:  Good point.  Hey, this may seem like asking a lot, but can we follow yout back to your place and and pick him up? 

LESNAR:  Bring me the tiger in one hour, and you get Brett. 

BEVELL:  Wait a minute, you’re holding him...hostage?  Well, isn't that about as wrong as two boys kissin'... 

LESNAR:  Yeah, I have Brett.  We were gambling at the Beau Rivage last night, and we all went back to my place to drink some more.  We even invited Daunte Culpepper, but he was going out on a boat with some guys later.  One of you bastards stole my tiger, and my Grandmother’s holocaust ring.  It’s bad enough that the Vikings cut me after I left the WWF a few years ago, but stealing her ring was too much.  Your team has pissed me off for the last time.   

AP:  I didn’t know they gave out rings for the holocaust.  Is it bigger than a Super Bowl Ring?

LESNAR:  Bring me the ring, and the tiger, in one hour, at my house, and you get Brett.  If not, I give him an F-5 and I ruin the Vikings season, and then…HERE COME THE PAIN!!  (Lesnar storms out, while DB pees in his pants).

DB and AP move towards Hutch, who is beginning to stir.  He sits up, shakes his head, and looks around.

HUTCH:  Who peed themselves?

AP:  Bevell did.  Look, we gotta get that tiger back to Brock Lesnar’s house in an hour, or he’s He's gonna give Brett an F5.  He also thinks we stole some stupid ring or something, so we have to give that back along with the tiger.

HUTCH:  Okay, let me go knock out the tiger.  Give me a couple of minutes.

BEVELL:    You just got knocked out by Brock Lesnar, and you think you can take on a tiger?

HUTCH:  Sure.  I’ll just spike a raw steak with pain killers and pepper.

BEVELL:  Pepper?  Tigers don’t like pepper, you idiot.

HUTCH:  Tigers love pepper.  They hate cinnamon.

HUTCHINSON GOES TO THE REFRIGERATOR AND GRABS A RAW STEAK, PUTS SOME MISCELLANEOUS PILLS IN IT AND SPRINKLES IT WITH PEPPER.  HUTCH THROWS THE STEAK IN THE BATHROOM, AND YOU HEAR THE TIGER GROWL AS HE BEGINS TO EAT IT.

AP:  Well, what do we do now?

HUTCH:  We wait.  (Bevell moves over to the piano, and begins to sing while he plays a soft ballad)

BEVELL (SINGING):  What do tigers dream of, when they take a little tiger snooze?  Do they dream of mauling zebras or Halle Berry in her Catwoman suit?  Don’t you worry your pretty stripe-ed head, we’re gonna get you back to Lesnar and your cozy tiger bed.  Then we’re gonna find our quarterback Brett, and the folks in Min-ne-so-ta will no longer fret.  Brett, BRETT, Brett, Brett, Brett’ty Brett Brett…but if you’ve been murdered by crazy ass Packer fans…then we’re shit outta luck (sound of tiger falling over in the bathroom, knocked out cold).

Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion tomorrow!!

More photos » Rogelio V. Solis - AP

Hundred bucks says I drill the fat kid with the ice cream cone thirty rows up on the bleachers.

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When we last left our interpid heroes, it was gameday and they had lost Brett Favre after a wild night on the Redneck Riviera, also known as Biloxi, MS.  They woke up with no memory of the previous night, and the only clue they have is that at some point they were at the Biloxi office of Dr. James Andrews. 

CUT TO THE BILOXI OFFICE OF DR. JAMES ANDREWS.  PETERSON, HUTCH, AND DB ARE IN HIS OFFICE AS DR. ANDREWS SITS BEHIND HIS PLUSH MAHOGANY DESK.  ON THE WALLS ARE PICTURES OF VARIOUS ATHLETES.  IN THE SAME FRAME ARE THE MRI’S OF THE JOINTS THOSE ATHLETES HAD WORKED ON BY DR. ANDREWS.  IMMEDITELY BEHIND THE DESK CHAIR IS A PICTURE OF FAVRE AND THE SHOULDER MRI.  BELOW THAT IS ANOTHER PICTURE OF FAVRE, WITH THE ANKLE MRI.

DR. ANDREWS:  Look, I already told you, you came in here with a mild concussion, a football, and some duct tape.  No big deal.  None of you could really articulate what you wanted, I decided to tape the football to Peterson’s hand.  It seems like it’s the only way you can hold on to that ball, son.

Peterson:  For the love of Jesus, I get it!!  I WON’T FUMBLE AS MUCH THIS YEAR!!!

Bevell:  Was Brett with us when we came in here?

Dr. Andrews:  Uhhh, yeah. He was as a matter of fact.

Peterson:  All right, we’re in business!!  Was he okay?

Andrews (walking over to a sink and then scrubbing his hands):  Yeah, just whacked out of his mind.  You all were.  Look, guys, I really gotta go.  I have a surgery upstairs in about 20 minutes.  Troy Williamson is getting a hand transplant.

Peterson (holding up two sideline passes for the game against the Saints):  Look, Dr. Andrews, we just need a few more minutes of your time.

Andrews (walking out of the office and down a hallway, grabbing a chart as he leaves the office):

Deal. (looks down at chart).  Okay, here we go.  Patient name Brett Favre, 2:45 arrival, sore ankle, a little bruised ego, pretty standard.  Oh, this is interesting.  You guys had a lot of purple drank in your system.  You know, the purple kool aid?

Peterson:  What, are you saying we’re going to win the Super Bowl this year?

Dr. Andrews:  Actually I do.  And so do a lot of other people.  Somebody probably slipped you the kool aid last night.  I’m not surprised you don’t remember anything.  Neither will the entire state of Minnesota, if you do go all the way.  That state will burn down from the celebration.  It will make Detroit look like a Nun’s convent.

Hutch:  Hahaha!!  Doc, none of us can remember anything from last night?  Remember?  And when has Detroit had anything to celebrate?  Has it been in our lifetime?

Dr. Andrews:  Look guys, I gotta go.  Just keep drinking the purple kool aid…in moderation…and you’ll be fine.  You’ll go all the way.  (Looking at Peterson).  Just hold on to the football inside the 10 yard line during the NFC championship game, okay?

Peterson:  OH…MY…GOD!!!  I GET IT!!!!  Harvin fumbled too!!  Favre threw two picks!!  Does anyone ever mention those?? NOOOOO!!!

Bevell:  Look, doc, was there anything else?  Maybe someplace where we were going, somewhere we had come from?  Anything at all?

Dr. Andrews:  Yeah, there was something else.  You were talking about this guy, former teammate that got cut a few years ago.  You had just come from his place, laughing that you’d stolen his tiger.

Hutch (Worried look on his face):  I'm not supposed to be within two hundred feet of a school... or a Chuck E. Cheese.

Peterson:  It’ll be okay Hutch.  Doctor, do you have an address for where this team practices?

Dr. Andrews:  Yes I do.  It’s on ‘ Play This Year or Don’t, But Either Way, Make Up Your Mind’ Boulevard.  I’m a doctor, not a tour guide.  Figure it out yourself. 

OUR TREPID BAND OF VIKINGS LEAVE THE OFFICE AS TROY WILLIAMSON IS FILLING OUT FORMS AT THE FRONT DESK.  WITHIN 10 SECONDS, HE DROPS A PEN, A CLIPBOARD, AND A GLASS OF WATER.

Peterson:  Well, looks like Troy hasn’t changed one bit.  Let’s head back to the hotel and get a map.

Bevell:  At least he doesn’t have a football taped to his hand.

PETERSON PUNCHES BEVELL ON THE SIDE OF HIS HEAD

Peterson:  Hold on to that, Mr. big shot offensive coordinator.  Nice smile.

More photos » Hannah Foslien - AP

You should've gone to Biloxi with us, Chilly. It made a grown man cry. Probably would've killed you, though.

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*Any similarities to the movie The Hangover are completely intentional...

A Daily Norseman Play in Several Acts

As OTA's come and go, training camp comes and goes, and the 2010 pre-season comes and goes, there is still no word from Brett Favre (Doug) as to what his intentions are for the 2010 season.  In a panic, Chilly sends down Darrell Bevell (Stu), Adrian Peterson (Phil), and Steve Hutchinson (Alan) to Kiln, MS. What happened over that crazy weekend can now be revealed, before it actually happens (thanks to my Hot Tub Time Machine).  I present The Favreover, coming soon to a theater near you: 

  Its early afternoon in Coach Brad Childress’ New Orleans hotel suite.  From the panoramic window on the far wall, you can see the Louisiana Superdome in one direction, and Bourbon Street in the other.  People are milling about the streets below.  On the wall mounted, flat panel TV an ESPN Sportscenter anchor is discussing the opening night game of the 2010 NFL season, a rematch of the 2009 NFC Championship game between the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings.  In the room, head coach BRAD CHILDRESS and team owner ZYGI WILF are sitting on a couch, looking at the TV:

TV ANCHOR:

 …and so, it all comes down to this:  Is Brett Favre going to be suited up tonight for the Minnesota Vikings?  The sporting world awaits.”

CUT TO

frontal shot of Wilf and Childress side by side on the couch, TV behind camera shot.  Wilf is dressed in a custom made, black pinstripe Armani suit, purple and gold striped silk tie, expensive Italian shoes, hair well coiffed, sipping a cup of coffee from an expensive teacup.  Brad Childress is wearing a black Vikings Polo shirt, black jeans, and is holding a multi-colored placard over his mouth.

WILF:  Have you heard from Adrian?

CHILDRESS:  No, he called a couple days ago and said him, Hutch, and DB almost had him convinced, but they were going to take one more ride on that damn tractor—

WILF:  For God’s sakes, Bradley, would you take that damn placard away from your mouth?  I can’t hear a freakin’ thing you’re saying. (Childress’ cell phone rings)

CHILLY:  Sorry, boss.  Lemme get this.  (Answering phone)  Hello?

CUT TO

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, somewhere on a dirty street, cellphone to his ear.  Heat waves rise off the road and he is standing in front of a beat up, Vikings colored Dodge pickup truck.  It's scratched, dented, filthy - - and missing its passenger side door.  Slouched inside are Steve Hutchinson and Darrell Bevell, also looking like hell.  Peterson’s shirt is torn, a football is duct taped to his other hand, and he hasn’t slept in days.  

PETERSON:  Coach, it’s All Day. .

CHILLY:  (Concerned, yet monotone voice) Hey AD!  Where the hell are you guys? 

PETERSON:  Listen, coach, convincing Brett to play got a little out of control and, well...we lost Brett.

CHILLY:  (placard drops to the floor, stunned look overtakes Chilly’s face) What? So, he’s not playing, huh?

PETERSON:  No, he’ll play.  It’s just that we…physically misplaced him.  He’s lost.  We can’t remember where we put him. 

CHILLY:  What?  Our season opener starts in five hours!

PETERSON:  Yeah…that’s not gonna happen.

CUT TO 72 HOURS EARLIER, I-10 FREEWAY, AFTERNOON

The sun roof open, “Skol Vikings" fight song blasting from the stereo, the Dodge pickup with Minnesota Vikings colors rockets down I-10 towards Biloxi.  At the wheel is Brett Favre, wearing Wrangler jeans and a sweat covered Nike hat.  Sitting shotgun is Steve Hutchinson, offensive lineman and a guy that’s just…not…right.  Behind Hutch sits Adrian Peterson, best RB in the NFL and an all around great guy.  Next to Hutch is Darrell Bevell, late 30's, the anal retentive offensive coordinator. He's currently applying sun screen to his forehead. 

PETERSON:  We need you on this team, Brett.  Look, we were one bad throw from going to the Super Bowl.  Hutch’s back is better, I’m the best RB in football, and Bev’s got a ton of new plays drawn up.

BEVELL:  Yeah, Brett, this year, you get to run the whole offense, from the word go.  We even have some formations where we line up twelve guys in the huddle.  It’ll be awesome!

FAVRE:  I thought 12 men in the huddle was illegal.  The refs seemed to think so.

HUTCH:  It’s not illegal, it’s just frowned upon.  Like masturbating live on NFL network.

FAVRE:  I’m pretty sure that’s illegal, Hutch.

HUTCH:  Yeah, maybe after the labor negotiations got so sensitive.  Thanks a lot, Goodell.

FAVRE:  Either way, we have to be pretty smart to get away with 12 men in a huddle.  It’s not easy.

HUTCH:  Okay, well why don’t you tell that to Mike Tice, who did goofier things than that all the time and went to the playoffs, and he was a ra-tard.

CUT TO HOTEL ROOF BEAU RIVAGE, BILOXI.  HUTCH, FAVRE, AP, AND BEVELL ARE STANDING IN A CIRCLE, GETTING READY TO TOAST FAVRE’S RETURN TO THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS

FAVRE:  Well, I’m glad you guys aren’t pissed.  I just hate training camp, especially in Mankato.  I’ve never been to Mankato, but I haven’t heard many good things about it.  I thought Green Bay was bad, having to ride those gay ass bicycles from the locker room to the practice field, but I’m a grandpa now, and I really don’t want to practice twice a day.  Thanks for understanding.

PETERSON:  This is awesome!  If all we needed was a quick road trip to Biloxi to get you to come back, we’d have done this months ago.  Let’s toast---

HUTCH (Rudely Interrupting):  I wanna say something.  You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack. But when Chilly signed Favre, I knew he was one of my own. And my wolf pack... it grew by one. So there... there were two of us in the wolf pack... I was alone first in the pack, and then Darrell joined in later. And two years ago, when Darrell introduced me to you guys, I thought, "Wait a second, could it be?" And now I know for sure, I just added two more guys to my wolf pack. Four of us wolves, running around Biloxi, looking for stick ‘em and a Vince Lombardi trophy. So tonight, I make a toast! (Hutch pulls out a knife and cuts himself on the hand).  Blood Brothers!!  (A horrified AP and Favre look away…Bevell sharts himself).

CUT TO DESTROYED SUITE INSIDE THE BEAU RIVAGE.  BEVELL STUMBLES INTO VIEW, LOOKING AWFUL, MISSING A FRONT TOOTH.  FROM BEHIND A BAR, HUTCH EMERGES, AND BEGINS TO STAGGER TOWARDS THE BATHROOM, WEARING A ‘PACKERS SUCK’ T-SHIRT BUT NO PANTS.  HE STUMBLES OVER PETERSON, ASLEEP IN THE HALLWAY WITH A FOOTBALL DUCT TAPED TO HIS LEFT HAND.  AS HUTCH ENTERS BATHROOM AND STARTS TO PEE, A TIGER GROWLS FIVE FEET FROM HUTCH.  HUTCH SCREAMS, RUNNING OUT OF THE ROOM.  HE TRIPS OVER PETERSON, WAKING HIM UP.

PETERSON:  Hutch, what the hell?  Will you get control of yourself?  And damn, put on some pants.

HUTCH:  DO NOT go in the bathroom!  There is a TIGER in the bathroom.  A JUNGLE CAT!!

PETERSON:  Calm down, I’ll go check it out. (He opens the door to the bathroom).  HOLY HELL!!  How did a freakin’ tiger get in the bathroom?  That’s awesome!!

PETERSON (TO BEVELL):  DB, do you feel all right?

BEVELL:  No, this is the worst I’ve ever felt.  Worse than the time Chilly told me he was going to let me call the plays and then didn’t…hey, do you know you have a football duct taped to your hand? 

HUTCH:  What are we going to do about the freakin’ tiger?

PETERSON:  Hutch, would you please put some pants on?  I feel weird having to ask you twice.  Look, we gotta get Brett and head to New Orleans.  Season opener is tonight.  DB, go wake him up.

BEVELL:  I already checked.  He’s not in there. (Feeling his upper jaw with his tongue)  Am I missing a TOOTH?  HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

PETERSON:  Well, we gotta find him.  (Flips open cell and dials number, presumably Brett’s.  Distant phone ringing can be heard).  Is that coming from the closet?  (Sound of a baby crying begins).

BEVELL:  Is that a baby?  In the closet?

ALL THREE MEN RUN TOWARDS THE CLOSET, FLINGING OPEN THE DOOR.  AS THEY OPEN IT UP, AARON RODGERS IS PASSED OUT, WHIMPERING SOFTLY, WITH EYEBLACK BENEATH EACH EYE.

HUTCH:  How the fuck did a he get in the closet?

PETERSON:  Rodgers has been in the closet since high school---not that there’s anything wrong with that.  He’ll come out of the closet when he’s ready.  What in the HELL happened last night?  I can’t remember a goddamn thing!!  (Hutch and DB nod in agreement as all three walk back to the living room and sit down, leaving Rodgers in the closet, still whimpering).  Wow, Brett’s gone.  We gotta find him.

BEVELL:  Look, let’s try and remember what happened.  What’s the last thing anyone remembers?

PETERSON (Looking disgustedly at his duct taped hand):  Well, I remember toasting on the roof, and then we did dinner at Shoney’s.  Then we played craps back at the Beau Rivage…man, I don’t think I’ve ever been this hung over.  Okay, we’ve got up until about 10 pm, which gives us a twelve hour window in which we could’ve lost him.

HUTCH (Pulling DB’s tooth out of his pocket):  What is this?

Bevell (Reaching over to grab it):  That is my TOOTH!!  WHY DO YOU HAVE THAT?!?!  What else do you have in there?

Peterson:  No no no—this is a good thing.  Everyone check your pockets, we might find some clues.  Anybody have anything?

AP, Bevell, and Hutch begin emptying their pockets onto the coffee table.  AP tries to use his left hand, and looks down disgustedly to the football taped to it.

Bevell:  Okay, I have an ATM receipt from the Beau Rivage at 11 pm last night for $72, 000 DOLLARS.  I’m just an offensive coordinator, not a player!!  CHILLY IS GOING TO KILL ME!!

Hutch:  I have a valet parking ticket that shows we got in at five this morning.

AP( Rubbing forehead with right hand):  Holy crap, we drove last night?  I hope it wasn’t me that was driving, because we probably did over 100 mph to get back here.

Hutch (pointing to hospital bracelet):  Hey, what’s that on your wrist?

Bevell:  Jesus, AP, you were in the hospital last night.

Hutch:  Are you okay?

Peterson:  No, I’m not fine, you dumbass.  I’ve got a football duct-taped to my hand, and it’s really starting to piss me off.  I GET IT—I put the ball on the ground a little too much last season.

Hutch:  Hahahahaha.  Football duct taped to your hand.  Classic.

Peterson:  Look, this is actually a good thing.  This is our first lead, a clue.  We can go there, and maybe someone will remember us, and we can find Brett.

Hutch:  Well, what hospital does it say on the wristband?

Peterson (looking at band, eyes squinting):  The Dr. James Andrews Sports Clinic of Greater Biloxi.

Hutch:  Let’s go!!

Stay tuned for act II tomorrow!!

CBSSports.com is an SB Nation partner and paying sponsor of the SB Nation football communities. This post is one of a series of sponsor endorsed posts related to the CBSSports.com Fantasy Football Commissioner League.  If you would like to check out CBSSports.com Fantasy Football Commissioner AND get a 14-day free trial, not to mention an awesome 50% discount, be sure to hit this link right here.

Alrighty, folks, I've gotten the league together, and things should start flowing here before too much longer.  Unfortunately, Ted will not be able to be in the league due to other commitments (something about having a life or something), so those of you that are in will have to be happy with getting beaten down by Eric and myself rather than all three of the main writers here at DN.  I'm sure you guys can cope.

The draft is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, 28 August at 11:00 AM Central time.  By then, the pre-season should pretty much be concluded, we'll be able to accurately account for any injuries, and I should be well and truly set up in our new digs.  The draft is going to be 16 rounds, active rosters are going to have nine spots (1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 D/ST, and one "Flex" spot for another RB/WR/TE), with seven bench spots for your roster.

We'll be awarding six points for rushing/receiving touchdowns, four points for passing touchdowns, deducting two points for every interception thrown or fumble lost, one point for every 25 passing yards or every 10 yards rushing/receiving, and various points based on how many points defenses allow and things like that.

Based on the voting from last week's poll, this will be a 12-team league, which means that there are 10 readers that will be involved.  Those readers are as follows:

RevVike
speedlod
MAJTwister
Odin
dukeallstar
TEXVIKE
REVENGE4FAVRE
i_am_pure_barbarian
noblepete
skolman2

(If your name isn't on the list, I apologize. . .those were the names I randomly picked out of the ones that expressed interest in last week's post.)

The invitations have been sent out to those individuals, and they should start joining the league at their earliest convenience.

Thanks to everybody for their interest in the league, congratulations to those that were selected, and apologies to those that didn't get in this year.  Remember, you can set up your own league through CBSSports Fantasy Football Commissioner at a 50% discount off of the regular rate by hitting the link up at the very top of the post.

We'll have more later here, ladies and gentlemen. . .we've got a tropical depression/storm heading this way, so I think I'll be spending a lot of time indoors this afternoon.  (Here's hoping that the power stays on.)  Everyone else, continue enjoying your weekend!

We've talked ad nauseum about the circumstances that led Brett Favre to the Minnesota Vikings via the New York Jets.  We've detailed the fact. . .and, at this point, it's hard to believe that it's anything but a fact. . .that Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson fabricated tampering charges against the Minnesota Vikings to attempt to distract everybody from exactly how badly he had screwed up the entire Favre situation.  (Charges that were completely dismissed, most likely due to the complete absurdity of the charges in the first place.)


Now it turns out that Thompson might not have even been straight with Favre about where he was getting traded to.  According to our friends over at the National Football Post, Favre tells of the following exchange between himself and Packers brass in an interview that will be published in Men's Journal magazine in the near future.

"There was just silence. I said, 'Well, what are we gonna do?'" Favre recalled from the meeting when he announced he was coming out of retirement. "They made it pretty clear I wasn't going to play there, and I said, 'How about the Vikings or even the Lions?' I wanted to stay in the same division. They said that wasn't going to happen, but maybe Tampa.

"I said, 'Fine, trade me to Tampa. I'll whip your asses in week four.' Maybe that was a mistake. I'm flying back to Hattiesburg thinking I'm going to the Bucs, and I get off the plane and (agent) Bus (Cook) tells me I've been traded to the Jets. I said, 'Bull,' but they were smart; they released the news so I'd look like an ass if I backed out."

So, to me, it sounds like either a) the Packers told Favre that they were trading him to Tampa, and then turned around and dealt him to the Jets after he had left Green Bay for Mississippi, b) they told Favre they were still "working" on a trade, said trade took place while Favre was en route to Mississippi and the Packers just didn't feel the need to tell Favre themselves, or c) the Packers had already dealt Favre to the Jets prior to telling him he was going to Tampa and just didn't have the testicular fortitude to tell him.

Whichever it is, it's pretty pathetic and sad.

Then again, when it comes to Tamperin' Ted's Travellin' Salvation Show, we should probably learn to temper our expectations a bit.  Honestly, is there anything that's beneath this guy?  He's lied to the league about the Minnesota Vikings tampering with Favre, he's lied to Favre about where he was getting traded to. . .why in the blue hell would anybody believe anything this guy says about anything?

But I guess we should thank Ted for this. . .after all, had he stayed true to his word and dealt Favre to Tampa, the odds are pretty good that he wouldn't have made his way to Minnesota in 2009.  He would have been playing for a team that he had asked to be traded to, playing for a coach that he likes (Jon Gruden) as opposed to a schmuck that he really had no respect for from the beginning (Eric Mangini), and who knows what could have resulted from that?

I, personally, am quite thankful for Ted Thompson's dishonesty.  It seems to have worked out for the best for Minnesota thus far.

More photos » Rogelio V. Solis - AP

Well, yeah I'm coming back, but I gotta make it look like my ankle's bad. That way, I don't have to go to Mankato. It's called skipping, son. You don't do that in school anymore?

Browse more photos »

Well, with training camp just a couple of weeks away, the Vikings appear to be one of the most talented teams in the NFL, and are on just about everyone's short list for the Super Bowl, especially here in this little corner of the Internet.  But all of those predictions are made with one assumption--the return of Brett Favre for one last hurrah, and the expectation that his 2010 performance will match his 2009 performance...minus one fateful throw, that is.

Now I know, and you know, and I know that you know that I know Favre's coming back, and this latest 'well, my ankle isn't where it needs to be' stuff is a smokescreen for 'well, I don't want to come to training camp until the two a days in Mankato are over', but let's peek behind the curtain for a minute, and see what happens if Brett Favre shocks everyone and actually doesn't play in 2010?  Where does that leave the Vikings?

Well, surprisingly better than most people would seem to imagine.  In 2008, the Minnesota Vikings were 10-6 and division champions with Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte as the two quarterbacks.  They had a dominating running game, a dominating defense, and were able to compete week in and week out. 

I see much the same if Jackson is the quarterback for 2010, and not Favre, but I think they'll be better than the 2008 version for a couple of reasons:

1)  Tarvaris Jackson has had a year to sit and watch from one of the best of all time, and it couldn't have hurt at all.  When I watched Jackson in 2009, he seemed a lot more comfortable with the offense.  Now granted, it could've been because he was playing when the game had long been decided, but his decision making seemed quicker, and more assured. 

2)  I would like to think that part of his renewed confidence was in his receiving corps.  Sidney Rice matured, and Percy Harvin flourished.  I don't know that you can say that would've happened if Jackson had been the starter, but a year with Favre helped them learn the offense in ways they probably wouldn't have with Jackson.  That's not a knock on TJ, but you can't quantify the experince Favre brings in this offense.  And that was evident almost from week one.  Before, Jackson and Rice were learning at essentially the same time, and neither was developing at the rate they should have been.  That learning curve was accelerated last year, and now the receivers and quarterbacks have a new level of knowledge about the nuances of the offense they might not have otherwise received without Favre.

3)  Almost everyone else is back and healthy.  My only concern from an injury perspective is Cedric Griffin.  We don't know when he'll be back, and how effective he'll be when he does make it back to the field.  A reasonable assumption would be a starting tandem of Antoine Winfield and either Lito Sheppard or Benny Sapp, but that is still unsettled as we line up on final for Mankato.

Can the VIkings be as good a team without Brett Favre in 2010?  WIth a more difficult schedule, the kneejerk reaction is to say no way, but it's not that simple.  Minnesota has a potent offense, a potent defense, and one of the most accurate kickers in the game.  The mediocre wide receiver corps of 2008 is one of the most dynamic as we enter 2010, and I don't think we'll see the same indecisive, inaccurate Tarvaris Jackson, either. 

The Vikings, with or without Brett Favre, will still be one of the teams to beat in 2010. 

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Peter King. . .who I like, really. . .has returned to his Monday Morning Quarterback column after spending time covering the World Cup and other things.  In today's column, he spills who he's tabbed for Super Bowl XLV.

It's early, very early, but I haven't backed off a San Diego-Green Bay Super Bowl.

Awesome. . .this should be a load off of the mind of every Viking fan.  Why?  Well, let's take a look at King's prediction for the NFC's Super Bowl representative for the past couple of years.

Prior to the 2009 season, King tabbed the Chicago Bears as the NFC favorite for the Super Bowl.  That's right. . .he got snookered into thinking that Jay Cutler was actually going to lead a team to not just a winning record (which he hasn't done since his senior year. . .of high school), but that he was going to give a team a chance to play for an NFL championship.  How hilarious is that?  But, as we all know, the Bears not only didn't represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, they didn't even manage to finish over .500.  Shocking, I know.

In 2008, King's team of choice was the Dallas Cowboys.  And for a while, it looked like a promising choice, as Dallas went into the month of December with an 8-4 record.  However, they dropped three of their last four, including a 44-6 throttling at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles in the season finale (a game in which a win would have gotten them to the post-season), to finish 9-7 and out of the playoff picture.

In 2007, King tabbed the New Orleans Saints to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. . .which made sense, with the Saints coming off of an NFC Championship loss to the Bears the previous year.  The Saints responded to their status as NFC favorites by dropping their first four games (losing the first three by an average of 21.7 points/game).  They wound up finishing the season 7-9 and, yes, missing the post-season.

With a track record like that, King's prediction of a Packers/Chargers Super Bowl should make Viking fans quite a happy bunch.  After all, there's plenty of debate. . .in some circles, anyway. . .that the Packers aren't even the best team in their own division.  This probably has something to do with the fact that. . .well, they're not the best team in their own division.  The Minnesota Vikings are, and will continue to be until somebody else proves otherwise.  Frankly, all that's missing right now is for a fish wrapped in newspaper to find its way to Mike McCarthy's front step.

Ahhhhhhhh. . .Training Camp starts Friday, ladies and gentlemen, and not a moment too soon.

Minnesota Sports By The Numbers: 1-5

Mark Chmura to Enter Packers Hall of Fame

Johnny Jolly Suspended for "at least 2010"

In the 'Hey I Was In the Area So I Thought I'd Drop In' Department...

More photos » Chris Pizzello - AP

"OK guys, I gotta go...see you in late August. I mean, uh, ow, my ankle. Or something."

Browse more photos »

Our very own Brett Favre was on hand at the ESPYS last night both as a presenter and an award winner, but don't expect him to come rushing back to football right away.

Favre presented the Arthur Ashe Courage Award to the family of late Iowa high school football coach Ed Thomas. The popular coach was tragically killed by a former player last year, and the award presentation was definitely one of the most emotional parts of the show. You can watch the presentation on the video playlist here.

Of course, everyone asked Favre whether or not he's coming back, and of course, he gave his typical vague answers. His ankle still doesn't feel good, we'll have to see, blah blah blah...we all know he's coming back and we all know it won't be until around the end of training camp. Let's just move on.

The Gunslingin' Grandpa took home the Best Play ESPY for his incredible last-second toss to Greg Lewis in the back of the endzone against the 49ers in Week 3 last year. Pretty easy pick if you ask me. Just for fun, let's take a look at the awesomeness of that play one more time with Paul Allen's radio call:

Yep, just as I suspected...still awesome. OK now I'm even more fired up for the 2010 season to start--how about next year Favre & Co. take home the Best Team ESPY like the Saints did this year?!

CBSSports.com is an SB Nation partner and paying sponsor of the SB Nation football communities. This post is one of a series of sponsor endorsed posts related to the CBSSports.com Fantasy Football Commissioner League.  If you would like to check out CBSSports.com Fantasy Football Commissioner AND get a 14-day free trial, not to mention an awesome 50% discount, be sure to hit this link right here.

Yes, it's been a while since the last time we discussed this year's Daily Norseman Fantasy Football League, and for that I apologize.  There were a couple of hiccups with the folks at CBSSports.com, but those have all been ironed out, and I'm very much looking forward to bringing this league to all of you.  The leagues have been a success ever since we started doing them, and I would expect this year's league to be even better, thanks to us making the transition to the CBSSports.com Fantasy Football Commissioner.  With all the features that the league gives us, including mobile updating of your roster and just an overall better quality of software than what we've had in the past, we're going to take a good thing and make it even better.

By the way, if you want to use the CBSSports.com Fantasy Football Commissioner for your league, please feel free to do so by using this link.

I want everyone to use this thread to let me know whether or not they're interested in joining the league.  I'm not sure of the exact date for the draft yet, but I can tell you that it will be in the second half of August, because. . .well, I've missed the draft the past couple of years, and with Mrs. Gonzo and I making a big move cross-country in a couple of weeks, I'm putting the draft later in August so I don't miss it this year, too.

How many teams are there going to be?  Well, I'm going to leave that up to you folks, thanks to this handy-dandy little poll here.  This is either going to be a 10-team league or a 12-team league.  (Eight team leagues are too small, and 14 and 16-team leagues dilute the talent too much, in my opinion.  If you want to get super crazy, CBSSports.com Fantasy Football Commissioner will even let you put together a 30-team league.)  Keep in mind that three of the spots are reserved for Ted, Eric, and myself.  So there are either going to be seven or nine spots open for the good readers of The Daily Norseman.  So that's what I want to ask you folks tonight. . .what is the best number of teams for a good, solid fantasy football league?

Vote in the poll, and use the comments section to express your interest.  I'll leave the poll open for about a week, and once we've determined how many teams are going to make up the league, I'll come up with a completely and totally scientific way of filling the other spots in the league.

Enjoy the rest of your Saturday night, folks, and we'll see you back here tomorrow!

More photos » Jim Mone - AP

Is this man unhappy with his contract? Not from anything I. . .or anyone else. . .has heard. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Browse more photos »

It's about three weeks before training camp gets underway, and the media outlets out there appear to be in full-blown "let's just throw crap at the wall and see what sticks" mode.  In this case, the distinction is a co-honor shared by Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk and Michael Lombardi of NFL.com.  In his column the other day, Lombardi posted this little blurb:

The next player to complain about his contract will be Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who missed the mandatory minicamp due to a scheduling conflict.

And that's it.  Nothing about what this is based on or anything like that, other than missing a mandatory mini-camp due to going to Adrian Peterson Day in Palestine, Texas a couple of months ago or so.  PFT then decided it would speculate on the possibility of AP being a contract issue as well.  Of course, they said that Sidney Rice's hip injury was the same thing. . .maybe all the Vikings will hold out until they get new contracts.  Who knows, really?

(Maybe I can get the Vikings to re-do my deal, too. . .after all, 25 years of getting your heart ripped out on an annual basis has got to be worth something, right?)

Anyway, while it's good for Florio and Lombardi. . .both guys I generally enjoy reading, despite the issues I occasionally have with them. . .to speculate on things and wax philosophical about the Beloved Purple on such matters, in this case I think it's pretty obvious that there's no there there.  I mean, why on earth would Sidney Rice complain about his deal?  Yes, he had the standard "third-year wideout awakening" that receivers at the NFL level sometimes have, but he caught more passes last season than he had in his previous two years combined.  He's really not in a position to make noise about his contract.

As far as Peterson is concerned, I really don't think he's going to be an issue at this point, either.  Sure, he might see Chris Johnson and his one good season holding out for more money and say to himself, "Hey, I've been better than that guy."  And he has been.  But AP doesn't strike me as that sort of player.  He has two years left on his rookie deal, and has been pretty decently compensated for a guy that's been one of the best running backs in the league since his first game in the NFL against the Atlanta Falcons in 2007.

Until either Peterson or Rice, or one of their agents, actually says something about dissatisfaction with their contracts, I really don't think there's anything to read into this sort of thing.  There has been absolutely nothing to indicate that either player is unhappy.

Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner is sketching out a plan for a new Vikings stadium that would have the team paying 40% of an estimated $900 million project.

It's the summer day die-hard Vikings fans wait all year for. Some... even camp all night on concrete.

In the NFL, you never know who is going to break through or who will falter. Stars are made and born each Sunday on the gridiron with flashy plays or stunning performances.

Mark Anderson, Tramon Williams and John Sullivan are among the NFC North players who must step up for their teams because there are few appealing options behind them.

When Vikings coach Brad Childress visited Brett Favre last week in Mississippi, he got a taste of Southern hospitality and stayed at Favre's 400-acre ranch.

Oklahoma running back DeMarco Murray finally made it through a season without getting hurt last year.

Brad Childress spent Monday in Hattiesburg, Miss., visiting with Brett Favre but one thing the Vikings coach did not do was press the quarterback for a timeline on when he might make a decision about playing in 2010.

That was probably a wise thing considering Childress almost certainly wouldn't have gotten an answer. Favre continues to deal with issues related to his surgically repaired left ankle.

"The deadline? I don't know," Favre told USA Today. "There obviously comes a point where you've probably gone too far, where you just have to move on. He hopes I make the right decision for myself—one way or the other."

The Vikings will hold their first practice in Mankato on July 30.
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Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Rob Hahn is proposing an expansion of state-backed gambling to build the Minnesota Vikings a new home.