Minnesota Vikings rookie receiver Greg Childs could very well be the steal of the 2012 draft class, but he probably won’t be seen that way this year.

Childs recently said on Vikings Tonight with Mike Wobschall and Paul Allen that he views himself as the steal of the class and that he was overlooked because he came back too early after injuring his knee.

He believes that he’s ready to go and that he will push for a starting spot week one. “I came back entirely too soon,” Childs said. “I’m not concerned about the knee problem at all. I’m 100 percent. There’s no slowing down.”

I commend the rookie for his confidence and eagerness to get out and produce for his team, but I’m just not convinced that he will have an impact right away.

After a sophomore season that netted him 894 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, Childs was considered in the same conversation as Georgia’s A.J. Green and Alabama’s Julio Jones. 

As a part of a receiving corps that also included Joe Adams and Jarius Wright, Childs followed up in his junior season with 659 yards and six touchdowns before a season ending tear to his patellar tendon.

Childs came back in his senior season, catching only 21 passes for 240 yards with no touchdowns. 

Though it may be encouraging that he still averaged 11.4 yards per reception after his injury, the former Razorback was still held out of the end zone all year, which is concerning because he is a deep-threat receiver. 

Sure, the ‘fact’ that he is “now 100 percent healthy” could mean that he’ll produce more than he did in his senior season, but after that much time away from elite competition, it will be very tough for him to compete right away at the NFL level, even in training camp. 

Childs’ best opportunity to show what he’s got will be in the first three weeks of the regular season, while newly signed WR Jerome Simpson serves his three-game suspension.

Sure, the 15th-ranked Indianapolis Colts pass defense might be easier to move the ball against, but when you face the San Francisco 49ers who intercepted 23 passes in 2011 and are returning all 11 defensive starters, and the 8th-ranked Jaguars, who intercepted 17 passes in 2011 with essentially their entire secondary on IR, the Vikings pass offense could be in trouble. 

I’m not saying that it will be impossible for Childs to produce in 2012, but considering the fact that rookie wideouts rarely put up big numbers right away, and for Childs to be considered the steal of the draft, that’s what it’s going to take. 

As a Vikings fan, I truly hope I’m wrong about Childs. But sadly, my 20-year devotion to this team has left me a cynical football fan and a pessimist about the 2012 season. 

Here’s to hoping that I’m wrong. Thanks for reading.

Follow me on Twitter @McAndrewsSports

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

View full post on Bleacher Report – NFL

What Price hasn’t had through his NFL career is good luck of any kind. He’s suffered many different injuries in the last three seasons, had a revolutionary surgery in which both of his hamstrings were re-attached to his pelvis, and has played in just 20 of a possible 32 games. But last season, he played 15 games, starting 14, and racked up three quarterback sacks.

Price’s personal life has been even more difficult. He had previously lost two brothers to shootings, and last week, his 30-year-old sister Bridget was killed in an auto accident in Inglewood, Calif. Price was so distressed, he eventually had to be hospitalized for dehydration.

“He physically broke down,” his agent, Chuck Price (no relation), told the Los Angeles Times. “He had a high fever, was dehydrated, and couldn’t hold anything down. That stress just plays a wicked role.”

Price, who took his sister’s 7- and 9-year-old children to a Dodgers game the night before their mother was killed, now plans to adopt the children.

Through all the difficulties of his life, Price has persisted and tried his best to get back in the game — now, he has even more inspiration to do so.

“This guy has been in pain for literally a year,” Buccaneers trainer Todd Toriscelli said in September of 2011, as Price tried to find his way back after injuries so severe, he couldn’t put on his shoes by himself. “I’m not talking about just mild discomfort. I’m talking about driving home he’s got to sit on those bones, laying in bed, you just can’t get away from it. Certainly trying to play professional football it’s just an absolutely remarkable thing, and a compliment to his drive and motivation. He is a very special person, I can tell you that.”

When I talked to Brian Price, I thought he was pretty special, as well. If you have a few extra thoughts and prayers to send his way, I’m sure he’d appreciate it. View full post on Yardbarker: NFL

Offense—No. 4 rushing, No. 28 passing, No. 18 total.

Defense—No. 11 rushing, No. 26 passing, No. 21 total.

After the Brett Favre experiment, the Vikings expected 2011 to be a transition year. They drafted quarterback Christian Ponder and brought in Donovan McNabb to mentor him. McNabb had a terrible year and gave way to Ponder before being cut.

Ponder was probably thrown into the fire before he was ready. He had a 54 completion percentage, he threw as many interceptions (13) as touchdowns and he won only twice. He also had injury issues.

The Viking were swept by the NFC North while going 3-13, and to make a bad season end worse, they lost star running back Adrian Peterson to a torn ACL late in the year.

New Additions

CB Zack Bowman, TE John Carlson, FB Jerome Felton, RB Lex Hilliard, OT Levi Horn, LB Marvin Mitchell, DE Nick Reed, G Geoff Schwartz, WR Jerome Simpson.

Draft Choices

OT Matt Kalil, S Harrison Smith, CB Josh Robinson, WR Jarius Wright, FB Rhett Ellison, WR Greg Childs, S Robert Blanton, K Blair Walsh, LB Audie Cole, DE Trevor Guyton.

Undrafted Free Agents

DT Chase Baker, RB Derrick Coleman, CB Bobby Felder, G Tyler Holmes, WR Kamar Jorden, DE Eric Latimore, LB Tyler Nielson, DE Ernest Owusu, LB Corey Paredes, G Austin Pasztor, DT Tydreke Powell, DT Terrell Resonno, C Quentin Saulsberry, DE Derrick Shelby, OT Darrion Weems.

Subtractions

S Husain Abdullah, LB Xavier Adibi, RB Lorenzo Booker, WR Greg Camarillo, CB Cedric Griffin, LB E.J. Henderson, G Anthony Herrera, G Steve Hutchinson, S Tyrell Johnson, LS Matt Katula, TE Jimmy Kleinsasser, K Ryan Longwell, LB Kenny Onatolu, S Jarrad Page, CB Benny Sapp, TE Visanthe Shiancoe.

Outlook For 2012

The Vikings had two big problems last year—passing offense and passing defense. They used the draft to address those problems. They spent five of their first seven draft choices on defensive backs and wide receivers.

The Vikings traded back into the first round to pick S Harrison Smith. They also took a pair of receivers from Arkansas, Jarius Wright and Greg Childs. Then they drafted CB Josh Robinson and S Robert Blanton.

The defensive backfield must improve to compete against the quarterbacks they will face in the NFC North.

Percy Harvin is a multi-purpose weapon that must be utilized more to take the heat off of the maturing Christian Ponder. He should also create opportunities for the rookie wide receivers.

With a new stadium on the horizon, head coach Leslie Frazier could begin to feel heat if the team doesn’t begin to show signs of progress in 2012.

There will be two key factors that will determine how far the Vikings can go in 2012—Christian Ponder’s development and a healthy return of Adrian Peterson.

Schedule

Sep.  9    Jacksonville

Sep. 16 at Indianapolis

Sep. 23    San Francisco

Sep. 30 at Detroit

Oct.  7    Tennessee

Oct. 14 at Washington

Oct. 21    Arizona

Oct. 25    Tampa Bay

Nov.  4 at Seattle

Nov. 11    Detroit

Nov. 25 at Chicago

Dec.  2 at Green Bay

Dec.  9    Chicago

Dec. 16 at St. Louis

Dec. 23 at Houston

Dec. 30    Green Bay

There will be opportunities for success early in the year with games against teams that struggled in 2011—the Jaguars, Colts, Redskins and Buccaneers.

They will close with four consecutive dome games. Their only prime-time appearance will be on Thursday, October 25, against Tampa Bay.

Prediction

Every other NFC North team is a playoff contender. Last year the Vikings went 0-6 against Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay for the first time since 1962.

Wins will be just as hard this year. Outside the division they will play Super Bowl contenders San Francisco and Houston.

The final seven weeks will be brutal with six games against playoff contenders.

Expect another last-place finish with less than four wins. 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

View full post on Bleacher Report – NFL

Essex, who was re-signed prior to the draft, has played all five positions on the offensive line since being drafted by the Steelers in the 3rd round of the 2005 NFL draft. Essex was an unrestricted free agent heading into this offseason.

This announcement pretty much backs up the Read more [...] View full post on Yardbarker: NFL

Offense—No. 4 rushing, No. 28 passing, No. 18 total.

Defense—No. 11 rushing, No. 26 passing, No. 21 total.

After the Brett Favre experiment, the Vikings expected 2011 to be a transition year. They drafted quarterback Christian Ponder and brought in Donovan McNabb to mentor him. McNabb had a terrible year and gave way to Ponder before being cut.

Ponder was probably thrown into the fire before he was ready. He had a 54 completion percentage, he threw as many interceptions (13) as touchdowns and he won only twice. He also had injury issues.

The Viking were swept by the NFC North while going 3-13, and to make a bad season end worse, they lost star running back Adrian Peterson to a torn ACL late in the year.

New Additions

CB Zack Bowman, TE John Carlson, FB Jerome Felton, RB Lex Hilliard, OT Levi Horn, LB Marvin Mitchell, DE Nick Reed, G Geoff Schwartz, WR Jerome Simpson.

Draft Choices

OT Matt Kalil, S Harrison Smith, CB Josh Robinson, WR Jarius Wright, FB Rhett Ellison, WR Greg Childs, S Robert Blanton, K Blair Walsh, LB Audie Cole, DE Trevor Guyton.

Undrafted Free Agents

DT Chase Baker, RB Derrick Coleman, CB Bobby Felder, G Tyler Holmes, WR Kamar Jorden, DE Eric Latimore, LB Tyler Nielson, DE Ernest Owusu, LB Corey Paredes, G Austin Pasztor, DT Tydreke Powell, DT Terrell Resonno, C Quentin Saulsberry, DE Derrick Shelby, OT Darrion Weems.

Subtractions

S Husain Abdullah, LB Xavier Adibi, RB Lorenzo Booker, WR Greg Camarillo, CB Cedric Griffin, LB E.J. Henderson, G Anthony Herrera, G Steve Hutchinson, S Tyrell Johnson, LS Matt Katula, TE Jimmy Kleinsasser, K Ryan Longwell, LB Kenny Onatolu, S Jarrad Page, CB Benny Sapp, TE Visanthe Shiancoe.

Outlook For 2012

The Vikings had two big problems last year—passing offense and passing defense. They used the draft to address those problems. They spent five of their first seven draft choices on defensive backs and wide receivers.

The Vikings traded back into the first round to pick S Harrison Smith. They also took a pair of receivers from Arkansas, Jarius Wright and Greg Childs. Then they drafted CB Josh Robinson and S Robert Blanton.

The defensive backfield must improve to compete against the quarterbacks they will face in the NFC North.

Percy Harvin is a multi-purpose weapon that must be utilized more to take the heat off of the maturing Christian Ponder. He should also create opportunities for the rookie wide receivers.

With a new stadium on the horizon, head coach Leslie Frazier could begin to feel heat if the team doesn’t begin to show signs of progress in 2012.

There will be two key factors that will determine how far the Vikings can go in 2012—Christian Ponder’s development and a healthy return of Adrian Peterson.

Schedule

Sep.  9    Jacksonville

Sep. 16 at Indianapolis

Sep. 23    San Francisco

Sep. 30 at Detroit

Oct.  7    Tennessee

Oct. 14 at Washington

Oct. 21    Arizona

Oct. 25    Tampa Bay

Nov.  4 at Seattle

Nov. 11    Detroit

Nov. 25 at Chicago

Dec.  2 at Green Bay

Dec.  9    Chicago

Dec. 16 at St. Louis

Dec. 23 at Houston

Dec. 30    Green Bay

There will be opportunities for success early in the year with games against teams that struggled in 2011—the Jaguars, Colts, Redskins and Buccaneers.

They will close with four consecutive dome games. Their only prime-time appearance will be on Thursday, October 25, against Tampa Bay.

Prediction

Every other NFC North team is a playoff contender. Last year the Vikings went 0-6 against Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay for the first time since 1962.

Wins will be just as hard this year. Outside the division they will play Super Bowl contenders San Francisco and Houston.

The final seven weeks will be brutal with six games against playoff contenders.

Expect another last-place finish with less than four wins. 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

View full post on Bleacher Report – NFL

“I told Delmon Young that if I didn’t hit a homer today, I was going to keep coming back. I hit one out today, but I’m still going to come back and do this again.”

When asked about his high school baseball career, Johnson responded:

“I know I had some history with the Cincinnati Reds, but I don’t know if they drafted me or if they just contacted me about a tryout,” said Johnson, who also was scheduled to throw out the first pitch before Friday’s Tigers-Pirates game. “By that point, though, football h… View full post on Yardbarker: NFL

Now I’m not privy to any confidential information, but I’d hedge my bets that Matt Hasselbeck will start game one for the Titans.

There are a few reasons why I think this is all but assured.

First, the Titans are going to put in the quarterback that gives them the best chance to win. What that really means is the best chance to win game one, which happens to be against the Patriots.

I seriously doubt that the Titans front office will want to let Locker start off his career in a shootout with Tom Brady and the defending AFC Champion Patriots. As good as Tennessee’s defense should be next season, the Patriots will drop a lot of points on them.

That means that the Titans will have to answer with a lot of points. As great as Locker looked last season, I don’t know if he’s ready to hang with the likes of Tom Brady. Hasselbeck, on the other hand, has done it before. He gives the Titans a better chance at upsetting the Patriots.

Another reason I think that Hasselbeck will start is because he had a good season last year. Hasselbeck looked a little worn out at the season’s end, but he still averaged 282 yards per game before his first injury.

Later into the season, Hasselbeck’s age showed a little, but I believe that with a full offseason, he’ll look more like he did in the first part of the season than in the latter part. When you pair that with his experience, he seems like a much better looking option.

Finally, there is less risk with Hasselbeck. Tennessee’s schedule for the first part of the season is brutal. First they host the Patriots, then they go on the road to face the Chargers, then host the Lions, then visit the Texans. That will not be pretty.

Starting Locker, the worst case scenario is that he stumbles out of the gate, the Titans lose all four games and the staff puts Hasselbeck in. If that happened, a small, but very loud group would already start hollering bust.

Even if he didn’t play that badly, four losses right out of the gate isn’t good for anyone’s confidence, and that could hurt Locker’s further development.

However, with Hasselbeck, that worst case scenario ends in Jake Locker coming in to face the Minnesota Vikings shortly before getting to also play the Bills and the Colts. They’d win at least a few of those games, which would be a much better way for Locker to start his career.

After all, this season is probably going to be a throwaway anyway. The Titans are currently the underdog in 10 games and the Texans are coming off a year where they won the division without their starting quarterback. The Titans will not be seeing playoffs next season, so why take an unnecessary risk?

Last, but not least, the Titans staff, if nothing else, is conservative. They want to emphasize the run on offense and prevent big plays on defense. They drafted guys based on motor and intangibles as much as anything else. They are an old school program.

Being an old school conservative group of coaches, I expect them to make the safe move and start Hasselbeck.

As much as Weber says that the decision will come down to a gut feeling, I have a gut feeling that the coaching staff will end up picking what’s tried and true over a big gamble.

That said, you never know what could happen in training camp. Jake Locker could explode and start doing a Steve Young impression, but until then, I’m putting my money on Hasselbeck to get the nod.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

View full post on Bleacher Report – NFL

So, who better to ask about the current state of the organization than three of the most popular players to ever wear the Cowboys uniform?

The Triplets, who have each worked as NFL TV analysts since hanging up their helmets, joined their 1992 teammates at a dinner in Frisco to honor the 20-year anniversary of their first Super Bowl title.

Before the event started, Aikman, Smith and Irvin joined dinner host Rich Eisen of the NFL Network for The Rich Eisen Podcast. After reminiscing about their time together on the field, each took a few minutes to give their opinion on today’s team.

In the third part of a three part series, here is what Irvin had to say.

“The guys and Jason Garrett and Tony Romo have been doing a wonderful job putting up offensive numbers. Wonderful job. The Cowboys addressed what they needed to address in this draft, and that’s get somebody that can make plays to put points on the board on defense. If you look at the Cowboys over the last few years, offensively they’ve been doing enough to get into the playoffs and win playoff games.

“Just like Troy said, the Giants, they were doing good on offense, but that defense really came together. And Dallas’ defense needs to come together at the right time. You have guys now that can get to the quarterback, and you finally got somebody that can make a play on the ball and take the ball back the other way. I think that’s what they’ve been missing the last few years. They just haven’t had interceptions and turnovers from that secondary where they can go back and help the offense put points on the board. That’s the bottom line.”

Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota View full post on Yardbarker: NFL

Still absent from that list, however, is a postseason win.

Carrying an 0-3 playoff record heading into the 2012 season, Smith recently told a local Atlanta radio station that he’s considering changing his playoff approach this year (via NFL.com):  

“Well obviously we have to do it different than what we’ve done in the past,” Smith said via SportsRadioInterviews.com. “We’ve been there, we just haven’t been very successful. So it starts with me in evaluating how I prepare our football team, or we as a coaching staff prepare our football team. And believe me, we’ve done some soul searching. When you go to the places that we’ve been and not have the success that you want in those situations, it’s tough. And I know everybody’s disappointed, but nobody’s more disappointed than I am — I can assure you that.”

Four consecutive winning seasons is great, but it means little if there isn’t any playoff success at the end of it.

Mike Smith knows that. It’s why he’s considering changing his playoff approach this year. 

But what needs to change, exactly?

Simple: aggressiveness. A lot more of it.

No, not on fourth down.  We all know he’s proven to be quite the aggressor then. When it comes to the first three, however, it’s been a different story.

Under Smith, the Falcons have generally seemed to be content to control the clock, not getting beat deep, and most importantly converting third downs.

That works great when applied to over-matched teams, but the postseason is no time to be playing conservatively on offense and sitting back comfortably in zone on defense.

It’s kill or be killed, and the Falcons don’t yet seem to be playing under that mindset.  

It’s what separates the New Orleans Saints, the Green Bay Packers, and the New England Patriots of the league from the rest of the teams.

They play to win.

The Falcons play not to lose.

Don’t believe me? Out of all of last year’s playoff teams, the Falcons were second only to the Baltimore Ravens in regular season third-down attempts with 244 (seventh-highest overall in the league).

While the Falcons managed to convert 44 percent of those (sixth-best in the league), the fact remains that they didn’t move the chains on first or second down as often as the other playoff teams.

That signals either a lack of execution or conservative game-planning. Considering those statistics are over the course of 16 games, my money’s on the latter.

The Falcons live on their ability to convert third downs. They lose when they don’t, and that’s certainly been true in the playoffs. In Smith’s three postseason losses, the Falcons converted a collective 34 percent of their third down attempts.   

It’s a similar story on defense, where Atlanta allowed opponents to convert 44.1 percent of their third down attempts last season—29th-worst in the league. Playing the same soft zones in a 3-3-5 alignment on most of those attempts obviously didn’t help in that regard.

If the Falcons ever hope to become elite, they’ll have to stop aiming for third-down-and-short situations and instead start looking to move the chains on first. A stingy third-down defense wouldn’t hurt, either.

Fortunately, a change in coordinators may just be the difference for Atlanta this year. New defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has never shied away from blitzing and using man-to-man coverage, and on the other side of the ball, Dirk Koetter’s four-vertical offense may finally give the Falcons the chance to be threats to score from anywhere on the field.  

Yes, the Falcons may still come out empty handed come February, and that’s if they even make the postseason in the first place.

After all, aggressiveness doesn’t guarantee victory.  

But it’s certainly worth the risk when the Super Bowl’s on the line.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

View full post on Bleacher Report – NFL

The former North Carolina defensive end, the 16th overall pick, will receive a fully guaranteed deal, according to a league source, for about $9 million.
The contract includes the standard team option for a fifth year.
“(I want to show) that I can compete at the highest level, that I can compete on the national stage, that I can help the New York Jets get t… View full post on Yardbarker: NFL