While people are discussing about Brett Favre’s decision on his possible return or retirement, the Minnesota Vikings backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson is preparing for any possible situation with or without Favre.
After getting a new contract from the Vikings to get out of free agency, Jackson has made it clear that he is happy to continue wearing Vikings jersey. Saying that he used to think about change for a while but finally found his best choice is to stay with the Vikings, Jackson told reporters that Vikings are the only organization he had ever known and the only team that could offer him best opportunity. The opportunity very likely refers to the chance of being starting quarterback in case Favre does not return.
As about the situation without Brett Favre, there has been consensus that Jackson would compete for the starting job with the other backup Sage Rosenfels. It’s also commonly recognized that head coach Brad Childress would prefer Jackson to Rosenfels as he already won the job once last season but had to move back to back up because of Favre’s sudden mind change.
Talking about this season, Jackson made it clear that this time he won’t be caught off guard, as he is prepared for either playing as backup or starter. He added that he thinks Favre will any way return with the team. Well, whatever, that’s a good attitude for a No.2 quarterback of the Vikings.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Saints saved money in re-signing safety Sharper
Now we all know that veteran safety Darren Sharper will put on the No.12 New Orleans Saints jersey for one more season on a one-year contract. Well, some people said the Saints signed the veteran back because he is necessary to the team’s defense, but if so, why did not they put the franchise tag on Sharper earlier this offseason?
Placing a franchise tag on Sharper will also keep the safety with the Saints for another one year, but the cost would be $6.455 million, even higher than the $5 million Sharper previously asked for to match his performance in 2009 season. So the Saints actually saved as much as about $5 million by re-signing Sharper with a one-year contract worth about $1.5 million, 0.2 million less than the $1.7 million contract signed last offseason. The offer was made after Sharper received no big offer from other teams, so the Saints held the initiative to set the price, and they did not offer much.
The new contract also includes a $75,000 signing bonus and additional $1 million for roster bonus, which is usually avoided by teams before the due time. So, even though Sharpe managed to be selected to the Pro Bowl and had a league-high nine interceptions last season, his age and knee injury issue still prevented him from making more money.
Placing a franchise tag on Sharper will also keep the safety with the Saints for another one year, but the cost would be $6.455 million, even higher than the $5 million Sharper previously asked for to match his performance in 2009 season. So the Saints actually saved as much as about $5 million by re-signing Sharper with a one-year contract worth about $1.5 million, 0.2 million less than the $1.7 million contract signed last offseason. The offer was made after Sharper received no big offer from other teams, so the Saints held the initiative to set the price, and they did not offer much.
The new contract also includes a $75,000 signing bonus and additional $1 million for roster bonus, which is usually avoided by teams before the due time. So, even though Sharpe managed to be selected to the Pro Bowl and had a league-high nine interceptions last season, his age and knee injury issue still prevented him from making more money.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Undrafted free agent Sherels is trying his chance with Vikings
Becoming an undrafted free agent after the 2010 NFL draft ended more than a week ago, former Rochester John Marshall cornerback is now wearing Minnesota Vikings in the team’s rookie training camp to try out his chance of joining an NFL team. And he is confident that he would be with the team after giving impressive performance.
"It's the next step after college, all you can ask for is a chance. Yes, I was a little disappointed that I didn't get picked up or drafted.” Said Sherels, “But now, here is the time, everyone's equal, you have to prove everyone wrong, it's time to step up... whoever makes the most plays and impresses the coaches."
Sherels had a brilliant college football career with the John Marshall and the University of Minnesota and has been famous for his quick feet. As every standout college player wishes, Sherels also expects to start his professional NFL career to have more significant achievements. Whether he will get the chance to put on the Vikings jersey will depend on how much he impressed team coaches during the three-day rookie camp. If he makes it, it would be like long-time dream coming true and the relatively short man would definitely do his best to maximize what he can do for the team.
"It's the next step after college, all you can ask for is a chance. Yes, I was a little disappointed that I didn't get picked up or drafted.” Said Sherels, “But now, here is the time, everyone's equal, you have to prove everyone wrong, it's time to step up... whoever makes the most plays and impresses the coaches."
Sherels had a brilliant college football career with the John Marshall and the University of Minnesota and has been famous for his quick feet. As every standout college player wishes, Sherels also expects to start his professional NFL career to have more significant achievements. Whether he will get the chance to put on the Vikings jersey will depend on how much he impressed team coaches during the three-day rookie camp. If he makes it, it would be like long-time dream coming true and the relatively short man would definitely do his best to maximize what he can do for the team.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Saints UFA safety Sharper is on the way to new team
Remaining an unrestricted free agent even a few days after the 2010 NFL draft ended the New Orleans Saints star safety Darren Sharper is not taking action to find a possible new team, among a few potential suitors like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys. Actually, Sharper is already having a plan to visit the Jaguars.
According to reports, there are not many teams having interests in Sharper, who is 35 years old, recovering from an offseason knee surgery, and had 71 tackles and 9 interceptions for the Saints last season. What makes it possible for him to go Jacksonville is that the Jaguars happened not to pick a safety in the three-day draft. There are also reports that the Dallas Cowboys are interested in adding an experienced veteran safety like Sharper, so the Dallas city could the next stop on Sharper’s travel for new team.
However, analysts have not ruled out the possibility of Sharper wearing back Saints jersey. After all, he had just played with the team for only one season and managed to earn a Super Bowl ring. The problem is Sharper is asking for a price that the Saints may not be willing to offer. If any side wants to keep the relationship, there would be a long-time contract negotiation.
According to reports, there are not many teams having interests in Sharper, who is 35 years old, recovering from an offseason knee surgery, and had 71 tackles and 9 interceptions for the Saints last season. What makes it possible for him to go Jacksonville is that the Jaguars happened not to pick a safety in the three-day draft. There are also reports that the Dallas Cowboys are interested in adding an experienced veteran safety like Sharper, so the Dallas city could the next stop on Sharper’s travel for new team.
However, analysts have not ruled out the possibility of Sharper wearing back Saints jersey. After all, he had just played with the team for only one season and managed to earn a Super Bowl ring. The problem is Sharper is asking for a price that the Saints may not be willing to offer. If any side wants to keep the relationship, there would be a long-time contract negotiation.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
The Saints stole CB Robinson from Vikings?
While previously many peopled expected the New Orleans Saints to add some new outside linebackers and defensive tackles in early draft with their late round picks. However, the Saints made somewhat surprising choice by firstly picking cornerback Patrick Robinson, who was believed to be a target of Minnesota Vikings.
The story went like this. With the 30th overall pick in hands, the Vikings had already planned to draft Robinson when the draft began on Thursday night. With belief that the Indianapolis Colts, Saints and St. Louis Rams had no interest in drafting a cornerback, the Vikings traded their first round pick to the Detroit Lions for second- and third-round picks. However, they were wrong in believing that other teams would follow their plans and the Saints drafted Robinson as their first choice in the draft. So the Vikings had to move back and use the 34th overall pick to draft the perhaps second best cornerback on board, Chris Cook in the second round.
However, such guess does not make much sense considering Vikings’ trade for late picks. If they were really targeting at Robinson, how could they take the risk of losing him to other teams with previous picks? On the other side, it makes much more sense if we consider the Saints’ need of a healthy cornerback. Saints veteran cornerbacks Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer and Randall Gay all have injury issues and missed much time last season because of injuries. To have younger and healthy backup put on Saints jerseys at the position is really a necessary move to the defending champion team.
The story went like this. With the 30th overall pick in hands, the Vikings had already planned to draft Robinson when the draft began on Thursday night. With belief that the Indianapolis Colts, Saints and St. Louis Rams had no interest in drafting a cornerback, the Vikings traded their first round pick to the Detroit Lions for second- and third-round picks. However, they were wrong in believing that other teams would follow their plans and the Saints drafted Robinson as their first choice in the draft. So the Vikings had to move back and use the 34th overall pick to draft the perhaps second best cornerback on board, Chris Cook in the second round.
However, such guess does not make much sense considering Vikings’ trade for late picks. If they were really targeting at Robinson, how could they take the risk of losing him to other teams with previous picks? On the other side, it makes much more sense if we consider the Saints’ need of a healthy cornerback. Saints veteran cornerbacks Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer and Randall Gay all have injury issues and missed much time last season because of injuries. To have younger and healthy backup put on Saints jerseys at the position is really a necessary move to the defending champion team.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
As expected, Vikings’ first pick is a cornerback
Quitting the first-round draft on Thursday night, the Minnesota Vikings finally made their first choice with their picks in early second round. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen was not the one who put on new Vikings jersey, instead, cornerback Chris Cook was.
The tall, long-armed cornerback from Virginia has been equally to Clausen to Vikings’ pick if they did not trade the 30th overall pick to the Detroit Lions. According to reports, the team could use him either at cornerback or free safety as his size of 6-2 in height and 212 pounds in weight fit well at both positions and his running skills are better than most players in his size. Despite injury and academic issues, Cook still managed to have a solid senior season with the Cavaliers and had a speedy 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine. The Vikings could have been interested in picking him for long and therefore did not hesitate in drafting the cornerback with the 34th overall, the second pick in second-round.
However, as a rookie, there are inevitably problems with Cook, whose main problems are with his instincts and ball skills. But if he is to stay at cornerback, the problems won’t affect his performance much. Even if he is moved to free safety, he could still receive great help from veterans. Already having several experienced veterans at cornerback, Cook is likely to be the forth or fifth cornerback behind Cedric Griffin, Antoine Winfield and Lito Sheppard.
The tall, long-armed cornerback from Virginia has been equally to Clausen to Vikings’ pick if they did not trade the 30th overall pick to the Detroit Lions. According to reports, the team could use him either at cornerback or free safety as his size of 6-2 in height and 212 pounds in weight fit well at both positions and his running skills are better than most players in his size. Despite injury and academic issues, Cook still managed to have a solid senior season with the Cavaliers and had a speedy 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine. The Vikings could have been interested in picking him for long and therefore did not hesitate in drafting the cornerback with the 34th overall, the second pick in second-round.
However, as a rookie, there are inevitably problems with Cook, whose main problems are with his instincts and ball skills. But if he is to stay at cornerback, the problems won’t affect his performance much. Even if he is moved to free safety, he could still receive great help from veterans. Already having several experienced veterans at cornerback, Cook is likely to be the forth or fifth cornerback behind Cedric Griffin, Antoine Winfield and Lito Sheppard.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Archie Manning does not mind being underachiever in family
Being the father of two current star quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, Archie Manning himself was also once a star quarterback with the New Orleans Saints but never made as great achievements as his sons’, to be exactly, winning a Super Bowl game with any team he used to play for.
As the No. 2 overall pick in the 1971 draft, Archie Manning spent eleven seasons of his NFL career with the Saints and the last two respectively with the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings, which was beaten by Archie’s home team Saints in the NFC championship competition game. The Saints won their first Super Bowl championship following the 2009 season with Drew Brees being the starting quarterback. Archie could feel regretful that it never happened during the years when he was the team’s starting quarterback. But people still remembered what he contributed to the team and shoed great respects for the former star quarterback in New Orleans. No. 8 throwback Archie Manning jersey could be seen here or there in celebrating crowds in No. 9 Drew Brees jersey.
By comparison, both Peyton and Eli were number one overall draft pick when they were entering NFL. Peyton led the Indianapolis Colts to a 29-17 Super Bowl XLI victory over the Chicago Bears in 2007 and Super Bowl XLIV appearance in 2010 against his father’s old team Saints, and Eli led the Giants to Super Bowl XLII win against the New England Patriots in 2008. Thus Archie Manning becomes the only former NFL quarterback without a Super Bowl ring, but that has never made Archie feel bad as he has never been considered to be less great than his sons. Actually he was a better college quarterback than either Peyton or Eli and is the greatest father ever in football world. When the Saints were going to play against the Colts for a Super Bowl title, he did not hesitate to show support for his son instead of his old team, and when the Saints won the historic game, he was just as happy as any true Saints fans.
As the No. 2 overall pick in the 1971 draft, Archie Manning spent eleven seasons of his NFL career with the Saints and the last two respectively with the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings, which was beaten by Archie’s home team Saints in the NFC championship competition game. The Saints won their first Super Bowl championship following the 2009 season with Drew Brees being the starting quarterback. Archie could feel regretful that it never happened during the years when he was the team’s starting quarterback. But people still remembered what he contributed to the team and shoed great respects for the former star quarterback in New Orleans. No. 8 throwback Archie Manning jersey could be seen here or there in celebrating crowds in No. 9 Drew Brees jersey.
By comparison, both Peyton and Eli were number one overall draft pick when they were entering NFL. Peyton led the Indianapolis Colts to a 29-17 Super Bowl XLI victory over the Chicago Bears in 2007 and Super Bowl XLIV appearance in 2010 against his father’s old team Saints, and Eli led the Giants to Super Bowl XLII win against the New England Patriots in 2008. Thus Archie Manning becomes the only former NFL quarterback without a Super Bowl ring, but that has never made Archie feel bad as he has never been considered to be less great than his sons. Actually he was a better college quarterback than either Peyton or Eli and is the greatest father ever in football world. When the Saints were going to play against the Colts for a Super Bowl title, he did not hesitate to show support for his son instead of his old team, and when the Saints won the historic game, he was just as happy as any true Saints fans.
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