09-03-2009, 01:50 AM
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#40
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Banned
OVR: 14
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mount Ulla, NC
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Re: Last Time I Promise- A Vikings Franchise
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-0) CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-0)
Well Viking fans, you don't have to wait too much longer for the 2009-2010 season to get underway. This Sunday will feature the first game of the Vikings season, when they travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns in the Dawg Pound.
The Viking's preseason was pretty abysmal, going winless in four games. But Coach Childress insists that the team will be ready for the season opener, and that preseason means nothing.
Coach Childress-"I have already stated that nobody gets a trophy for the best preseason record. We don't even run a quarter of our playbook and we do not gameplan whatsoever either. Believe me when I say that this team will be ready for the season opener."
We will get our first chance to see if 40 year old quarterback Brett Favre has still got some left in the tank to lead the Vikings to the superbowl. Favre has shown at least that he has fully recovered from shoulder surgery in the preseaon passes, firing passes with some high velocity.
Brett Favre-"I feel good. The guys have been real supportive here and believe me when I say this, this football team is ready to play. The receivers and I, I feel, are on the same page now and Adrian is as good as I have ever seen him."
Favre's talking about Pro Bowler Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 1,760 yards and ten touchdowns last year, pretty much shouldering the Viking's offense for the season. With Favre taking the snaps now, the Vikings look like they have found the missing piece to their puzzle.
On the other side of the field, are the Cleveland Browns now under the coaching of former Jet's coach Eric Mangini. The quarterback spot was the question mark as well coming in, with Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson competing with one another in preseason play. Mangini named Quinn the starter yesterday, giving the reigns to a guy that has only thrown for 563 yards and two touchdowns in his career, along with two interceptions to go along with it. Quinn has shown inconsistency through his brief career, with hints of brilliance to go along with it. The offense however is in a state of flux, especially at receiver. Where tightend Kellen Winslow (traded to Tampa Bay) and wide receiver Donte Stallworth (suspended) are Steve Heiden and Brian Robiske, who doesn't bring to the table the level of talent and consistency.
Behind Quinn will be the aging but dangerous Jamal Lewis. Lewis is coming off an down year, rushing for 1,002 yards and only four rushing touchdowns after rushing for over 1,300 yards and nine touchdowns the year before. Lewis is out to prove that last year was just a fluke.
Jamal Lewis-"I feel good this year and I am ready to go. Last year I don't think this team was ready to be called a contender after going 10-6 the year before. This year I feel that this is a better football team. We have a great coach, and great coordinators, and we are ready to go. They will need to be with an incredible rushing defense with the Pat and Kevin Williams anchoring the line.
INJURIES
MINNESOTA- RG #79 Artis Hicks (Partial MCL Tear) 2 Weeks; RG #64 Anthony Herrera (Herniated Disk) 9 Weeks
CLEVELAND- TE #84 Robert Royal (Torn Tricep) Season; RG #75 Floyd Womack (Dislocated Elbow) 2 Weeks; HB #35 Jerome Harrison (Meniscus Tear) 2 Weeks
Last edited by hatisback; 09-04-2009 at 11:41 PM.
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