NFC North Preview: Minnesota Vikings (Well, it’s kind of a preview…)

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With the preseason finally underway in the NFL, it seems as good a time as any to start previewing the upcoming season, mainly the division of most importance to me: the NFC North. This week is the Minnesota Vikings.

You can find the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears previews here and here.

Let me apologize right now; this is not a preview about football. Well, it’s not about football in the sense that I won’t be looking into the receiving corps or how I think the defensive line will hold up.

I don’t think about those things with this team because I really hate everything about the Minnesota Vikings.

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NHL Central Division Offseason Outlook

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The Central Division is always one to watch in the NHL.

With the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, and the Columbus Blue Jackets, winning the division is never as easy as it might seem.

Each team has some great talent; but with talent also comes problems.

In this Central Division outlook, we’ll look at some of the more pressing offseason issues for each team.

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Clady to return to practice on Wednesday

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Update: The Associated Press is reporting that Broncos All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady will practice on Wednesday for the first time since tearing the patella tendon in his left knee in a pickup basketball game this past spring. Said head coach Josh McDaniels: “This isn’t one of those things where he’s going to go out there in a hat and kind of go through a walkthrough. He’ll be out there and we’re going to go ahead and bring him along just like you would any player that’s coming off of an injury where he’s been away for a period of time.” McDaniels said of the prospects of Clady playing Week 1 in Jacksonville: “The goal is for him to be as ready to go for as long as he could be in the opener.” “Feeling a lot better,” was what Clady had to say about his predicament.

Fantasy Impact: For a team that’s been riddled with adversity from top to bottom throughout the offseason, this is very good news. With an offense that no longer features Brandon Marshall or Tony Scheffler, Clady becomes the offense’s best player and the only way quarterback Kyle Orton (or possibly Brady Quinn or, for the future, Tim Tebow) can succeed with this revamped receiving corps and a suspect backfield is with the All-Pro blindside protector lined up in front of him. I would say it’s not necessarily imperative for Clady to be in the lineup Week 1, given that the Broncos are facing a Jaguars defense that only racked up 14 sacks last season and that does not offer a particularly intimidating secondary, but nonetheless, for the duration of the season, Clady’s arrival certainly boosts the value of Orton and whatever value running backs Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter had.



Jets’ Mangold gets new contract worth $55 million

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Update: NFL.com is reporting that New York Jets C Nick Mangold signed a new contract Tuesday. The All-Pro center got a seven-year deal worth $55 million with $22.5 million guaranteed, making him the NFL's highest-paid lineman. Mangold reported to camp on time despite being unhappy with his rookie contract, which had one year remaining.

Fantasy Impact: With Mangold and LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson signed to new contracts, all eyes now turn to CB Darrelle Revis. ESPN's John Clayton reports that a new deal is close to being done although no meetings between Revis's agent and the Jets have been set up.



Hillis displaying toughness and hard-running

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Update: Browns running back Peyton Hillis, in his first season with the team following an offseason trade with Denver, has contributed to the tough, hard-nosed, blue collar style of play that head coach Eric Mangini has tried to imprint on this team, with a couple of very impressive preseason performances. Hillis began his preseason in Lambeau Field, against the league’s 2nd-ranked defense from last season, and gained 37 yards on 5 touches. In Cleveland’s home opener against the Rams Saturday night, Hillis gained 63 yards on 14 touches, including one play in which he broke six tackles on a slick surface that had recently absorbed a rainstorm, gaining nine yards on the play. Center Alex Mack said of the play, “We got fired up seeing that. Anytime you see one of your guys running downhill, running over people, you just love it.” Said Mangini: “It was good to see the things he can do as a runner. It was good to see him do things you remember him doing, which were reasons for the trade. He gives you a spark as a tough, physical guy.” Said starting quarterback Jake Delhomme: “He’s the epitome of tough, rugged football.”

Fantasy Impact: With rookie Montario Hardesty’s health and future availability in question, Hillis should have plenty of opportunities to prove his worth. One thing about Coach Eric Mangini is that not only does he bring in and provide opportunities to his former players with the Jets, but also guys who have hurt him in the past. This includes tight end Benjamin Watson, who was a consistent thorn in Mangini’s side when Watson’s Patriots faced Mangini’s Jets and quarterback Seneca Wallace, who completed 18 of 25 passes for 175 yards, 1 TD, and no turnovers to lead his Seahawks to a victory over Mangini’s Jets in Week 16 of a 2008 season in which the Jets underwent a devastating late-season collapse that ultimately cost Mangini his job in New York. Hillis also falls in this category, having rushed for 129 yards and 1 TD in a 2008 Week 13 Broncos victory over the Jets that began said collapse. The support and respect of one’s teammates and coaches for any player trying to make a name for himself is vital as well. I like Hillis, particularly in the red zone, and like him as a bargain toward the end of the draft or possibly off of the waiver wire.



Hillis displaying toughness and hard-running

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Update: Browns running back Peyton Hillis, in his first season with the team following an offseason trade with Denver, has contributed to the tough, hard-nosed, blue collar style of play that head coach Eric Mangini has tried to imprint on this team, with a couple of very impressive preseason performances. Hillis began his preseason in Lambeau Field, against the league’s 2nd-ranked defense from last season, and gained 37 yards on 5 touches. In Cleveland’s home opener against the Rams Saturday night, Hillis gained 63 yards on 14 touches, including one play in which he broke six tackles on a slick surface that had recently absorbed a rainstorm, gaining nine yards on the play. Center Alex Mack said of the play, “We got fired up seeing that. Anytime you see one of your guys running downhill, running over people, you just love it.” Said Mangini: “It was good to see the things he can do as a runner. It was good to see him do things you remember him doing, which were reasons for the trade. He gives you a spark as a tough, physical guy.” Said starting quarterback Jake Delhomme: “He’s the epitome of tough, rugged football.”

Fantasy Impact: With rookie Montario Hardesty’s health and future availability in question, Hillis should have plenty of opportunities to prove his worth. One thing about Coach Eric Mangini is that not only does he bring in and provide opportunities to his former players with the Jets, but also guys who have hurt him in the past. This includes tight end Benjamin Watson, who was a consistent thorn in Mangini’s side when Watson’s Patriots faced Mangini’s Jets and quarterback Seneca Wallace, who completed 18 of 25 passes for 175 yards, 1 TD, and no turnovers to lead his Seahawks to a victory over Mangini’s Jets in Week 16 of a 2008 season in which the Jets underwent a devastating late-season collapse that ultimately cost Mangini his job in New York. Hillis also falls in this category, having rushed for 129 yards and 1 TD in a 2008 Week 13 Broncos victory over the Jets that began said collapse. The support and respect of one’s teammates and coaches for any player trying to make a name for himself is vital as well. I like Hillis, particularly in the red zone, and like him as a bargain toward the end of the draft or possibly off of the waiver wire.



Nick Roach Expects To Be Ready For Opener

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Update: Chicago Bears LB Nick Roach expects to be ready for the regular season opener after undergoing an arthroscopic debridement on his left knee, Larry Mayer of the team's official website reports. Roach is battling Pisa Tinoisamoa for the starting strong-side linebacker spot.

Fantasy Impact: Roach played in 16 games in 2009, starting 10. During the year he was very sold, recording 75 tackles, 2 sacks, and forcing 3 fumbles. This injury might give Tinoisamoa the edge for the start of the season, but Roach will still have an opportunity to earn playing time.



Nick Roach Expects To Be Ready For Opener

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Update: Chicago Bears LB Nick Roach expects to be ready for the regular season opener after undergoing an arthroscopic debridement on his left knee, Larry Mayer of the team's official website reports. Roach is battling Pisa Tinoisamoa for the starting strong-side linebacker spot.

Fantasy Impact: Roach played in 16 games in 2009, starting 10. During the year he was very sold, recording 75 tackles, 2 sacks, and forcing 3 fumbles. This injury might give Tinoisamoa the edge for the start of the season, but Roach will still have an opportunity to earn playing time.



Vikes’ Rice to have surgery, Walker signed

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Update: ESPN is reporting that Minnesota Vikings top WR Sidney Rice will undergo hip surgery and may miss up to half of the regular season if not more. Rice declined the surgery at first, hoping the hip would heal on its own, but it has become obvious that it won't. The Vikings have signed former Favre teammate WR Javon Walker in order to help out a thin WR group.

Fantasy Impact: Rice is coming off the best year of his career in which he had 83 catches for 1,312 yards and eight TD's. With Rice gone and WR Percy Harvin having migraine issues, Walker will need to perform like he did in Green Bay before his knee injury as opposed to the way he played in Oakland if the Vikings want to meet their Super Bowl expectations.



Vikes’ Rice to have surgery, Walker signed

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Update: ESPN is reporting that Minnesota Vikings top WR Sidney Rice will undergo hip surgery and may miss up to half of the regular season if not more. Rice declined the surgery at first, hoping the hip would heal on its own, but it has become obvious that it won't. The Vikings have signed former Favre teammate WR Javon Walker in order to help out a thin WR group.

Fantasy Impact: Rice is coming off the best year of his career in which he had 83 catches for 1,312 yards and eight TD's. With Rice gone and WR Percy Harvin having migraine issues, Walker will need to perform like he did in Green Bay before his knee injury as opposed to the way he played in Oakland if the Vikings want to meet their Super Bowl expectations.



Trindon Holliday Out For Year

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Update: Nick Scurfield of houstontexans.com reports that WR Trindon Holliday will miss the entire 2010 season. Holliday will undergo season-ending thumb surgery.

Fantasy Impact: Holliday was not expected to see the field much with the offense, but he would have provided a boost to the special teams. Holliday is ultra fast and could have been a very good return man this year.



Trindon Holliday Out For Year

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Update: Nick Scurfield of houstontexans.com reports that WR Trindon Holliday will miss the entire 2010 season. Holliday will undergo season-ending thumb surgery.

Fantasy Impact: Holliday was not expected to see the field much with the offense, but he would have provided a boost to the special teams. Holliday is ultra fast and could have been a very good return man this year.



NFL approves sale of Rams

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Update: Yahoo! Sports is reporting that the NFL's finance committee has approved Stan Kroenke's bid to buy the St. Louis Rams. Kroenke already owns 40 percent of the team and is looking to buy the remaining 60 percent. Owners will vote on the sale Wednesday along with discussing other major topics such as an 18-game regular season.

Fantasy Impact: The Rams haven't made any big moves in free agency in the past few years due to the ownership situation. With a new owner and a very wealthy new QB in Sam Bradford, there's nowhere to go but up in St. Louis.



NFL approves sale of Rams

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Update: Yahoo! Sports is reporting that the NFL's finance committee has approved Stan Kroenke's bid to buy the St. Louis Rams. Kroenke already owns 40 percent of the team and is looking to buy the remaining 60 percent. Owners will vote on the sale Wednesday along with discussing other major topics such as an 18-game regular season.

Fantasy Impact: The Rams haven't made any big moves in free agency in the past few years due to the ownership situation. With a new owner and a very wealthy new QB in Sam Bradford, there's nowhere to go but up in St. Louis.



Keep an eye on Vikings’ Webb

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Update: Vikings rookie quarterback Joe Webb, a sixth round pick out of UAB, has opened eyes thus far in preseason not so much for his passing (which has yielded an efficient but unspectacular 11 completions in 20 attempts for 84 yards, 1 TD, and no picks) but more for what he has done with his legs, notching 77 yards and 1 TD on 6 carries. This is less surprising for a certain number of people within the Vikings organization who had proclaimed to be the best athlete on the team during offseason workouts.

Fantasy Impact: Anyone who can be called the best athlete on a team that has Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice, and Visanthe Shiancoe must have some pretty special ability, and when you add in that he’s a quarterback, that makes his promise all the more mouth-watering. My first instinct on Webb was to leave him alone for this year outside of keeper leagues. However, looking more in-depth at the Vikings offense, you see Sidney Rice out until at least midseason as he recovers from hip surgery, Percy Harvin arousing plenty of concern as he copes with migraine headaches, an aging offensive line that has likely seen its best days, and Brett Favre unlikely to match the career year he had in 2009. Brad Childress is a creative offensive schemer and game-planner, if nothing else, and if the 2010 version of this Vikings offense isn’t putting a sufficient number of points on the board, don’t put it past Chilly to use his young quarterback in special defined packages to give the unit a spark. I would say it’s too presumptuous to use a mid or late round pick on Webb but off the waiver wire, especially after the first couple weeks if the Vikings offense is struggling, don’t be afraid to claim him.