Lawmakers introducing Vikings stadium options

by | May 3, 2010 | Business of Football

There are budget deficits and education reform measures facing the Minnesota Legislature during its last two weeks before adjournment but the Minnesota Vikings and the team’s efforts to get approval for a new stadium will at least be discussed, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Low construction costs and the short-term remaining on the team’s lease have lawmakers planning to introduce some options for taking care of the team. The press conference announcing several options comes just weeks after the Minnesota Twins opened Target Field to great acclaim.

There are plenty of obstacles to overcome before a Vikings deal becomes reality. But the team is getting more attention at the Capitol this year, despite huge budget deficits now and projected into the future, than it has in four years.

Raiders’ Russell auditioning for sumo career?

by | Apr 26, 2010 | NFL Random Thoughts

It wasn’t bad enough that JaMarcus Russell was benched for Bruce Friggin’ Gradkowski after throwing three touchdown passes in nine starts.

Or that after Gradkowski replaced Russell, the new guy’s ridiculously journeyman, mediocre level of play immediately made the Raiders competitive (Gradkowski was 2-2 as the starter).

Even the acquisitions of Kyle Boller as a free agent and Jason Campbell during a draft day trade this past weekend weren’t enough incentive for Russell to stay active and prepare for the 2010 football season.

Doesn’t pride kick in at some point?

The top pick in the 2007 NFL draft will soon be approaching Ryan Leaf levels of bust-dom if reports from the National Football Post are true. The publication reports that Russell has ballooned above 300 pounds during the offseason.

Raiders coach Tom Cable indicates that Russell will be able to compete for the starting position with Gradkowski, Boller, Campbell and Charlie Frye. Indications are that he is likely to get cut.

But if he keeps up his eating regimen he might be able to trade his shoulder pads and helmet for a mawashi and compete in a different sport where added weight is almost always a benefit.

Seahawks run game transformed through draft and trades

by | Apr 26, 2010 | 2010 Trades, NFL Draft

Seattle finished 26th in the league last year in rushing, averaging just 97.9 yards per game. They were tied for 25th with a 4.0 yard per carry average and they were tied for 27th with just seven rushing touchdowns.

The NFL is a passing league but the Seahawks’ shortcomings on the ground had to be at least part of the reason why the team finished 25th in the league in scoring with just 280 points.

The Seahawks’ problems in the run game can’t be completely blamed on Julius Jones (leading rusher with 663 yards and a 3.7 yard per carry average. Future likely Hall of Famer Walter Jones missed the season. Matt Hasselbeck missed two games and was certainly not healthy all year. But Jones is hardly inspiring as a team’s top running back option. He’s more typically the type of guy coaches are always looking to replace in the starting lineup (witness Dallas and Marion Barber III when Jones was still there).

(more…)

Teams with two first rounders mostly do well

by | Apr 22, 2010 | NFL Draft

After trades before and on draft day four teams ended up with two picks in round one.

I like best the day the Seattle Seahawks had, which may not be surprising given that they were both in the top 14. The Hawks first nabbed Russell Okung, who will likely step in on day one to replace Walter Jones, when the Seahawks’ star left tackle makes his retirement official. The second pick, safety Earl Thomas, has 4.3 speed and was being talked up by some of the draft experts on ESPN as the best safety in the draft. He’ll immediately make the defense better too.

The San Francisco 49ers had a good day as well. There had been some talk that they might go for a speed back like CJ Spiller to complement Frank Gore. Instead, with the Clemson back off the board early, the 9ers nabbed two stud offensive linemen to make holes for Gore instead. Anthony Davis from Rutgers is a 325 pound anchor who will also help protect whoever ends up at quarterback while Mike Iupati, the guard from Idaho, will also be a road grader.

(more…)

Jags fans can’t be thrilled with Alualu pick

by | Apr 22, 2010 | NFL Draft

The Jacksonville Jaguars struggled with attendance in 2009 enough to the point where rumors had the team several months ago considering drafting Tim Tebow in the first round just to get the locals interested in the team again.

They clearly decided Tebow wasn’t worthy of going with a top 10 pick and based on the reports it’s not surprising. They may still be able to get him in the second round if they want him.

But I can’t see fans in Jacksonville being all that excited about the team selecting defensive tackle Tyson Alualu instead. . That’s not to say the University of California product is a bad player – he may be a very solid lineman. Not that Mel Kiper is the end-all, be-all, but he had Alualu ranked as a late-first or early-second round pick.

Yahoo Sports had him as the 69th best player overall.

The Jags need defensive line help, no doubt. But it seems as though they might have been better off trying to swing a trade to move down eight to 10 spots and safely taking him there.

Either way, it’s hard for me to see this pick putting fans in the seats.