Brought to you by Mr. Cheer or Die and the Vikes Geek, welcome to the
Views and Personal Photos on the Vikes from the Inaugural Hall of Fame fan.
Brought to you by Mr. Cheer or Die and the Vikes Geek, welcome to theDonovin Darius hates Jacksonville. How much so? Remember that time in your youth when you were playing two women at the same time? You were so proud of yourself but eventually it blew up in your face, didn’t it.
Well, now Darius is plainly playing with two different teams, and creating the notion in each city that their team is the one he loves and wants to play for. That’s a dangerous game to be playing and someone is going to get hurt. I just hope it is the Dolphins.
Back on January 31, I wrote that I’d love to see Darius suit up in purple. If for no other reason than to draw the wrath of Packers fans when the team goes to Lambeau. That as a result of the safety laying out Green Bay receiver Robert Ferguson with a clothesline hit that resulted in Darius receiving a $75,000 fine.
The storyline goes like this: Darius recently sent e-mail messages to the media in both Minnesota and Miami, lobbying for a trade to the Vikings and Dolphins.
He 51-word e-mail to the Minneapolis Star Tribune was followed by a 30-minute phone call.
"Tell the fans up there that if I had my choice of any team in the league to play for, it would be the Minnesota Vikings," Darius said. "I've looked at every team in the league, and it's definitely the best fit for both sides."
He also e-mailed an interview request to the Miami Herald.
"Miami expressed some interest in looking into the situation further after my agent contacted them,'' Darius said. "Where that will go, who's to say right now? But I would love it if something could be done . . . I have no more desire to wear the emblem on the uniform of the Jacksonville Jaguars.''
Darius wants out of Jacksonville because the team has used the franchise tag to prevent his exodus for three straight seasons. Most recently, Darius confronted owner Wayne Weaver regarding the tactic.
"I told him he has abused the franchise tag long enough and that I can no longer put on that Jaguars uniform with the same kind of pride I used to," Darius said. "I'm not saying I will never play for them if they don't trade me. But I did tell Wayne Weaver that I lost respect for him as an owner and the entire organization. I said, 'You guys really disgust me.'"
I’m sure to some people in Minnesota and Miami, they might view this pandering to the each locale as he tries to fulfill his only real objective, getting out of Jacksonville.
But I'd love to see him in purple. Wouldn't you?
Burress Back On Table?
I do not want Burress on the Vikings roster next year. Not at any price. If this organization can speak to Randy Moss being a bad influence on the team then in the same breath speak highly of Burress I will go on record that the current ownership is as two-faced as they come.
Burress missed his visit to the Giants on Monday due to a case of the flu. Uh-huh, I’m buying that. Now the New York Daily News reports that the Vikings and Eagles might be entering the bidding for his services.
One guess is that Burress and his agent, Michael Harrison, were hoping to smoke out other teams once word broke of the Giants' intended six-year, $20 million offer. Presumably, the Eagles and Vikings have perked up because they believe that they can compete with such a package.
It's also possible that the Eagles are feigning interest in order to drive up the price that the Giants ultimately pay for his services.
In any event, I’d rather the Vikings look elsewhere for help at receiver.
At Winter Park Today
Cornerback Fred Smoot and tight end Freddie Jones visit today.
Reminder for Vikings Survivor
A reminder to vote in the Vikings Survivor series of polls that started a few weeks ago.
In Week Five of the series to vote one Vikings player off the ship one-by-one, it appears that trade-bait Michael Bennett will walk the plank. But a late flurry of votes could chaneg that as Raider Randy Moss sits just a few votes back!
If you haven't voted yet, get your vote in today!
Then come back Wednesday as I'll repost the poll with one less player and the process will start all over again! We'll be down to five survivors. Who will be the sixth player to be voted off the ship?
Reminder for March Madness Tourney
As stated last week, I have set up an official March Madness NCAA tournament pool. It's totally free and winner receives bragging rights only.
To join my Private Group in this Yahoo! Sports Tournament Pick'em, just go to the game front page and click on the "Sign Up" button to create a team. After completing registration, or if you already have a team, click the "Create or Join Group" button and follow the path to join an existing private group. Then, when prompted, enter the following information...
Group ID#: 12506
Password: purple
This private group is limited to just 50 people. So sign up now!
Links and Tidbits
Bored today. Bored, bored, bored. What to write about? Borrowing on an idea from the Greet Machine, how about a bunch of neat links for y'all to browse while I head over to Winter Park to sit down with Tice and the boys to chart out the Draft Day Big Board?
Enjoy!
The Wife® writes an entertaining entry in her blog about The Boy® suggesting a new Victoria Secret's bra for her. (That's my boy!)
Here's a good way to waste a fine Sunday afternoon.
Worst Superhero ever? Or what male Green Bay Packer fans marry?
An important lesson for guys. Bookmark it for future reference.
Bison Porn? Who is monitoring the people at the Mint?!?!?
Before you go cow tipping (or worse if you live in Wisconsin) please consider this.
What I wanted The Boy® to bring to show-and-tell before The Wife® stepped in.
Remember the bad Super Hero from above? I wonder.....
For all my college student readers...YEEESSSSSSSSS!
I see a Xmas present for Pont and Glynis (my dogs) in the making!
I may be whipped but The Wife doesn't control me THAT much!
From the Sidelines
What is it about the French that draws the ire of other countries? They seem to make good wine and the Maas wine fridge is stocked about 50% French and then a mix of other countries. But other than that, I can't say much good about France.
That might have a little to do with 1987 when I was in Paris. My then girlfriend and I went out to eat. We chose a little bistro. Since no tables were open we were seated next to another French couple at a table for four since two chairs were open. I thought this would be a great chance to strike up a conversation with some locals. Instead, the French couple up and left when they found out we were American. Again, this was 1987. I wonder how we'd be treated now?
Anyway, here are some great quotes that I located that speak volumes about the French throughout history:
"France has neither winter, nor summer, nor morals. France is miserable because it is filled with Frenchmen, and Frenchmen are miserable because they live in France." --Mark Twain
"Only thing worse than a Frenchman is a Frenchman who lives in Canada." -- Ted Nugent
"How can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese?" --Charles de Gaulle
"A Frenchman both common and noble is quite self-assured because he regards himself personally both in mind and body as irresistibly attractive to both men and women. This is why the French are constantly attacked by the Prussians and the English." --Leo Tolstoy
"In France one must adapt oneself to the fragrance of a urinal." --Gertrude Stein
"Basically, the French are all peasants." --Pablo Picasso
1) Great site. Just discovered it. There is a dearth of good critical vikes coverage and your site is now an everyday visit. I can't remember how I found the site.
2) That GWB hitting Chirac is one of the funniest animated GiF's I have ever seen. I agree that there really is no reason to like the French. They hate America, they are rabidly anti-semitic and in general they are simply an enemy of our country. Thank god We narrowly missed having our first French president. We would have all been in trouble having our foreign policy decided at the Hague or in Paris.
Posted by: J. Lichty at March 8, 2005 10:54 AMI'm glad you like the site! It will most likely be updated daily throughout the week and spotty on the weekends. And it may not always be Vikings related so expect some "From the Sidelines" stuff thrown your way to keep it fresh and entertaining.
The blog has only been up since October so I'm still feeling my way. Comments are always welcome!
Posted by: Brian Maas at March 8, 2005 11:29 AMI too agree that Darius would be a solid pickup. I believe the vikings are confident in Offords ability for the future. I think that is why they didn't even attempt to get Kenoy Kennedy. I don't know this for sure, I am just speculating, but I think Offord will start at SS next year and Chavous will be FS.
I too agree that Burress sucks and we should avoid him like the Bubonic Plague.
I'm on board with Willie. He and I exchange the ol 'slash across the throat' before each kick-off. And I then yell to him to run down the field and knock someone's head off. He'll then shake his head in agreement...and then usually responds to my request.
Posted by: Brian Maas at March 8, 2005 02:15 PMI think Offord provides good depth at the position and as mentioned he is a good ST contributor, but he is a not a starter caliber on a defense that needs major upgrades behind the D-line.
You are also forgetting that Ken Irvin (if he has recovered) will make the shift to a safety position. Offord probably will start at SS though he should not and Irvin likely at FS with Chavous as a back-up at both safety positions. Unfortunately I don't see a major upgrade at those positions unless the subtraction of Russell is considered an upgrade (well yes it is).
I think Smoot will likely sign with the Vikes which will be a big help. Need a MLB and a pass rushing end and the defense will be passable.
Posted by: J. Lichty at March 8, 2005 03:38 PMBTW Brian - at least on my browser there is a problem with the frame on the right side of the blog. The left sife of your links and other info on the right side of the blog are cut off. You may want to check the code on that to see if there is a problem.
Posted by: J. Lichty at March 8, 2005 03:41 PMYeah, I don't think Offord is the answer, Darius would be solid. I think Scott and Udeze will be solid ends with the Williams twins in the middle. We just need to sign Smoot or trade for Surtain and get DJ with #7 pick a Safety with #18 pick. Defense would be stellar.
Posted by: ajj90 at March 8, 2005 04:42 PMAJJ:
I think that they are a linebacking corps and another DE away from being stellar if all of the above happens. Scott and Udeze are still a couple years away from being reliable and Johnstone is getting old. I don't think DJ or any other rookie is the answer at LB (much less EJ or Thomas). Smith played well when healthy but he remains a question mark. We need a producer, like Antonio Pierce (oh wait we could have had him if Red wasn't such an SOB).
At this stage I would settle for a defense that does not go 2-13 on third down and maybe stops just a little over half of the other team's thrid downs.
I am sick of this D playing first and second down as if it mattered and third down as if it was an accomplishment to let the other team convert.
Posted by: J. Lichty at March 8, 2005 07:22 PMJL: What kind of browser are you using. The right nav area is fine on mine. I use IE and go through MSN. I do have to adjust my MSN right tool bar otherwise my right nav area "appears" to be cut-off. But once I adjust the MSN toolbar it is fine. Plus, the site is geared for 1028x728 so if you are running like a 800x600 that may be it also. If you continue to have an issue, just e-mail me a screen shot and a bit more info and I'll look into it.
Posted by: Brian Maas at March 8, 2005 09:03 PMSigning Smoot today was a big deal. Can any Viking fan out there remember a tandom as good as Smoot and Winfield with BW playing slot. I sure as hell can't think of it. I support Willie Offord at SS. I also think that Udeze and Scott are going to turn a lot of heads next year. Cotrell started to believe in Scott at the end of the year because he finally caught on to the NFL speed. Scott played a hell of a game against GB in the playoff (Offord played damn good too) and with leadership with Napolean Harris, Fred Smoot and the talent of Antoine Winfield and Kevin Williams, our defense is fine as it stands now. It will become magical if they find an answer for Donterius Thomas. I think E.J. will be fine now that Pat Williams will plug up the middle which alleviates his pressure. If (fingers crossed) the Vikings get DJ with #7 and another DT or DE with #18 to rotate in to the mix, this team will win a lot of games.
Posted by: ajj90 at March 8, 2005 09:05 PM