Bleacher Report - Articles by Tanner Thoms

2010 Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft: Will Colt McCoy Fall To Minnesota?

Tanner Thoms — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:17:58 -0500

The NFL Draft is in exactly five months from today (11/28/09). I haven't done a full Minnesota Vikings mock draft in almost eight months now.

This is one of my favorite articles to post out to the world of Bleacher Report.

Typically, I get a good response from my mock drafts because of how accurate and realistic they are.

Enough of my boasting.

Now it's time for the picks!

First round (30): Travis Lewis, Outside Linebacker, Oklahoma

Ben Leber, the Vikings current weakside linebacker has obviously lost a step in his game. Lewis would be the perfect candidate to take over for him in either 2010 or 2011. He has great size at 6'2" and 230 lbs. Lewis is a great tackler and an all around dominant linebacker. He will be able to step in right away to make an impact for an already impressive Minnesota Vikings defense.

Second round (62): Nate Allen, Free Safety, South Florida

For some reason I just can't seem to think that Madieu Williams is a great start at free safety. The reason is simple: It's because he's not. Allen is a great prospect, and would be an excellent pick late in the second round. Will he start in 2010? Doubtful. But he would definitely start if Williams is gone when the 2011 season comes rolling around.

Third round (94): Jay Ross, Nose Tackle, East Carolina

Ever heard of Jay Ross before? I bet only a select few of you have heard of this massive nose tackle. After doing some studying on Ross, I am starting to fall in love with this guy. Pat Williams will likely hang up the cleats within the next one to two years. What will that leave Minnesota with at nose tackle? Nothing. At 6'3" and 320 pounds, Ross is a phenom who recently returned a fumble for a touchdown on national television.

Fourth round (125): Joe McKnight, Running Back, USC

Despite only being a junior, I believe that Joe McKnight will declare for the 2010 draft. He will get way less carries when Stafon Johnson likely gets a medical redshirt for this season and comes back next year. When Chester Taylor becomes a free agent, Minnesota will need a running back that can both run the ball and catch it out of the backfield. Joe McKnight is the perfect fit for those two needs.

Fifth round (157): Brandon Sharpe, Defensive End, Texas Tech

Brandon Sharpe is one of the more underrated defensive ends in the entire draft. Many see him as going in the fifth or sixth round. I think that the fifth round is an appropriate spot for him. In eight games, Sharper has 11.5 sacks. He could end up being the eventual starting left end for the Vikings if Ray Edwards decides not to re-sign after year's end.

Sixth round (189): Dan LeFevour, Quarterback, Central Michigan

Dan LeFevour has had a good year at Central Michigan, but he's not going to be a very high pick. Some have him going as high as the fourth round. I have him going in the sixth due to the fact that he's played some very weak opposition this season. If Favre retires, quarterback depth will be desperately needed.

Seventh round (221): Nate Byham, Tight End, Pittsburgh

Not a huge position of need, but something that Minnesota could use depth in. Nate Byham is primarily a blocking tight end. Jimmy Kleinsasser is aging, and has clearly lost a step in his game. Byham will be good for depth. He should play a solid part in the 2011 or 2012 Minnesota Vikings squad.

Top Five Candidates For Offensive Rookie of the Year

Tanner Thoms — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:44:20 -0500

In my opinion, the offensive rookie of the year award is one of the more prestigious awards that is given out annually. What does it take to be the offensive rookie of the year? Being a year-round phenom for your team as a first year player. The winner of last years award was Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. Who will it be this year? I will be listing my top 5 candidates (in order) to see who can and will win the award at seasons end. Enjoy the show!

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2010 NFL Mock Draft: Rounds 1 and 2 (With Predicted Trades)

Tanner Thoms — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:06:16 -0500

It's for me to once again update my 2010 NFL mock draft. Not too much has changed since the last time I updated my mock a week ago. A few teams have moved down in the order of picks and a few teams have moved up a few nothces. To spice up the pot a little bit, I will be adding predicted trades that could very well end up happening during the draft. As always, the order of picks are based on the teams current record and where I think they'll finish at the end of the season. Don't see a player you think should be in there? Let me know about it. I love all feedback and arguments. Tell me what you think of your teams pick(s).

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NFL 2010 Mock Draft: Rounds 1-3

Tanner Thoms — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:53:19 -0500

Believe it or not, a lot has changed since I posted my mock draft a mere nine days ago. With 21 weeks to go until the 2010 draft, it's time to update my mock. I love doing this stuff. My order of draft picks, as always, is based on the current record of the team, and how I think they will finish at the end of the season. If you don't see a certain player in the mock, ask me about it. There is a good chance I won't have somebody declaring. Enjoy the show!

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2010 NFL Mock Draft: Rounds 1 and 2

Tanner Thoms — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:44:39 -0500

With only 5 months until the 2010 nfl draft, it's time for me to update my latest mock draft. I came out with a one rounder about three weeks ago. This time, I will be adding on a second round to the mix. If you don't see a player that you think should be, let me know. Chances are that I won't have somebody declaring that you believe will be.

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2010 NFL Mock Draft Round 1

Tanner Thoms — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:25:04 -0400

It may sound like a long ways away to the 2010 NFL draft. 6 months. Only half a year, right? Well, I don't really care. Mock drafts are fun to do, and I'm incredibly bored at the moment. I've been going through my fair share of thoughts on who will go where. These are my thoughts typed on individual slides. The order of the picks are based on who I think will win the most games based on the teams current records. NOTE: I do not have Sam Bradford declaring after this season. As a result, he will not be drafted.

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Top 10 Wide Receiver Units in the NFL

Tanner Thoms — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:50:59 -0400

There are many teams in the NFL that have a good 1-2 punch at wide receiver. Do you ever consider the players that have talent behind them? Wide Receivers are known for having some of the biggest egos in the world, but with a large amount of talent to match. Quarterbacks success mostly depends on how good the hands are of the guys they are throwing to. In other words, wide receivers are extremely important to a football team. I will be listing the top 10 wide receiver units in the NFL. I will list the more important ones on the roster, not every receiver on it.

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Seven Predictions For the Minnesota Vikings 2009 Season

Tanner Thoms — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:04:51 -0400

The Minnesota Vikings are one of the better teams in the NFC, maybe even the entire NFL. In 2008, Minnesota finished with a record of 10-6 that got them the third seed in the NFC. In their first playoff game, the Vikings lost in a 26-14 battle with the Philadelphia Eagles. Since then, Minnesota has signed Brett Favre, drafted Percy Harvin, and had the likes of E.J. Henderson come back from injury. Overall, the Vikings are a much improved team looking for revenge and a super bowl trophy this season. I will be listing seven predictions I have for the Minnesota Vikings 2009 season. Please enjoy!

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Minnesota Vikings Thinking Super Bowl In 2010

Tanner Thoms — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:22:02 -0400

Unless you live under a rock, or you have no way to receive updates on the world of sports, you most likely know that Brett Favre is now a member of the Minnesota Vikings.

This move has received some negative and positive from the "so called" experts on ESPN. Truth be told, I can't seem to stay on ESPN anymore because of how biased they are towards east-coast teams. Ever notice how it's basically the Yankees, Giants, and Knicks?

I could care less what people think about the Vikings bringing in Favre. Minnesota's quarterback situation before they brought in the future hall-of-famer was shaky and brought upon a lot of questions.

How is it an even argument of whether or not Minnesota should have made the move? To me, this is ridiculous. This is a match made in heaven. Could the timing be any more perfect?

Minnesota has arguably the best team they have had since 2000 where they went to the NFC championship only to lose by the score of 41-0 to the New York Giants.

The Vikings have impressive amounts of talent on both sides of the ball. Their offense has a leader in Brett Favre at the helm, Adrian Peterson to carry the ball, and three studs in Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin, and Visanthe Shiancoe to receive Favre's bullet-like throws.

Where do I start on defense? Minnesota has had the best run defense for the last three years. This is no easy feat to accomplish. The Vikings consistenly put out a great front seven. This year's front seven will be led by pro-bowlers Jared Allen, and Pat and Kevin Williams.

The Vikings weakness is their secondary that seems to give up at least two or three big pass plays every game. Expect for this problem to be fixed in 2009. Minnesota has two young studs in Madieu Williams and Tyrell Johnson at safety. They also have emerging star, Cedric Griffin and whily veteran, Antoine Winfield to start at cornerback.

Like I said, Minnesota has a lot of talent on both offense and defense. This team has plenty of skill to get them to the Super Bowl in 2010. There have been worse teams that have made it to the Super Bowl. For example, last year's NFC champions, the Arizona Cardinals.

Minnesota, in my opinion, are one of the top three teams in the NFC today, maybe even the top two. New York and Philadelphia seem like the only teams that could give the Vikings a true run for their money next season.

The Eagles signed Michael Vick and he should bring a lot of success to their style of football. Am I the only one who thinks the Vikings mainly signed Favre to match the Eagles signing of Vick?

I will not go out on a limb by saying that the Vikings will make it to the Super Bowl, but it seems as though this is their year to do so. Minnesota is due for a deep run in the playoffs.

Brett Favre, during his press conference said that his daughter wants him to return for one more chance at a Super Bowl ring. It seems like this is a scene from a movie where the old-timer comes back to a contender and brings them the trophy they have been wishing for for years.

Brad Childress has been reported as running the wildcat during practice for weeks now. Teams like the Miami Dolphins of last year have had success running this unique style of play. Percy Harvin could take his game to a whole other level with the wildcat formation.

The Vikings are a tough team to read. Some games they lose to opponents they should beat, and other times they defeat teams that nobody thinks they have the slighest chance against.

2009-2010 schedule:

Week one: Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns, Result: Vikings (win)
Week two: Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions, Result: Vikings (win)
Week three: San Francisco 49'ers vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (win)
Week four: Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (win)
Week five: Minnesota Vikings vs. St. Louis Rams, Result: Vikings (win)
Week six: Baltimore Ravens vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (win)
Week seven: Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Result: Vikings (lose)
Week eight: Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers, Result: Vikings (lose)
Week nine: BYE WEEK
Week 10: Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (win)
Week 11: Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (win)
Week 12: Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (win)
Week 13: Minnesota Vikings vs. Arizona Cardinals, Result: Vikings (lose)
Week 14: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (Win)
Week 15: Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers, Result: Vikings (Win)
Week 16: Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears, Result: Vikings (Lose)
Week 17: New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings, Result: Vikings (Win)

If the season happens to go down like this, the Vikings would wind up with a very impressive record of 12-4. This would get them a bye week in the first round of the playoffs in all likely-hood.

I am confident that the Vikings are in for a big year in 2009. With the team they have there is no telling what kind of things they can do.

Let's just hope that whatever they do it involves a Lombardi trophy.

Will Brett Favre Bring the Vikings Success or a Season Of Mediocrity?

Tanner Thoms — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:22:04 -0400

Yes, another Brett Favre article.

It seems like I've started an article similar to the way I started this one.

Trust me when I say that I'm not a fan of writing about a topic that everybody writes about. I felt the strong need to write about subjects that have been intensely argued for the past couple of weeks now.

Some say that bringing in Favre would be a mistake because he isn't accustomed to the players on the Minnesota Vikings roster.

Others say that bringing in Favre is a huge addition because he is a great quarterback with a cannon for an arm.

One of these two options has to be right.

Personally, I feel like bringing in Favre would be outstanding. Is there any shocker there? Not really.

Brett is easily a future hall-of-famer, but he has a torn bicep that has been surgically repaired that could hold him back. There is a chance that his arm will not be what it once was.

Everybody knows that Brett Favre has been an interception thrower his entire career. He makes decisions that are very stupid at times. Brett takes the gamble and throws into double and sometimes even triple coverage.

Don't be befuddled if you see Brett throwing to Bernard Berrian when he's being double covered a time or two. It's bound to happen.

The good things in Brett Favre outweigh the bad, though. He's a great and well-spoken leader. He is able to control the team from the very get-go. He will make friends right away and know his targets from day one.

The Vikings run a West-coast offense, which is an offense that Brett ran for his entire tenure with the Green Bay Packers.

What does this mean?

It means that Favre will know how the system works. He will read the plays and have them down-pat within a matter of days. He will not struggle to realize what needs to be done to get the points.

Brett can feel safe in knowing that he doesn't have to do the job on offense all on his own. The Vikings have a running back on their roster named Adrian Peterson.

Ever heard of him?

If you ask most people, they will say that Adrian is only the best running back in the league. He has great speed and is able to carry the ball 25 or 30 times per contest.

Favre only had Ahman Green in Green Bay. He was often inconsistent and wasn't a huge player on the Packers roster, although he was the best running back they had. What happened with the Texans, though?

Minnesota has a great offensive line that will be able to block for Brett including arguably the best left side of an offensive line in the NFL today.

At left tackle there is Bryant McKinnie, a former first round pick. At left guard stands Steve Hutchinson, who is easily the best guard in the league.

Now on to Tarvaris Jackson.

A lot of loyal Vikings fans think that Tarvaris should be the starter at quarterback at the beginning of the season.

Wow, how many chances can one guy get?

Clearly Tarvaris isn't working out. He is a bust and will likely never amount to much in the NFL unless he stops choking in the clutch.

Why start this guy?

Because he's familiar with the team? Big whoop.

Brett will be a better leader than Jackson by far and away.

Tarvaris Jackson now claims that he would like a trade if the Vikings sign Brett Favre.

That's really team loyalty you are showing there Tarvaris.

That's like a kid who doesn't get a toy and says that he hates his parents. You really won't get your way by whining and complaining. I can't be the only one who thinks that is a little immature on his part.

There is only one year left on the contract that Tarvaris received after being was drafted in 2006. He will be a free agent after this season.

Minnesota would be able to get a solid draft pick and will be able to free up cap space to make it easier to sign Antoine Winfield to a big money extension.

This needs to get done immediately.

Tarvaris is a good backup, but not a good starter.

Simple as that.

Sorry, but have fun with whatever team you might get traded to.

Favre is not the perfect quarterback, but he is better than what we have by a lot. I will argue anything otherwise until the cows come home.

Breaking News: Quentin Richardson to Minnesota Timberwolves

Tanner Thoms — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:37:30 -0400

Former first-round NBA Draft pick Quentin Richardson is headed to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Sebastian Telfair, Mark Madsen, and Craig Smith according to reports.

Richardson was drafted with the 18th overall selection by the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers traded Zach Randolph to the Grizzlies for Richardson less than a month ago.

In nine seasons in the league, Richardson averaged 11.5 points and 5 rebounds per game. His best season came in 2003, when he averaged just over 17 points with the Clippers.

Minnesota was in need of a shooting guard that can shoot the ball. Richardson is a great three-point shooter. He won the 2005 three-point shootout during the All-Star break.

The Wolves gave up three reserves in Telfair, Madsen, and Smith. Telfair showed signs of potential last year, but with the draftings of Rubio and Flynn, he was no longer needed.

Mark Madsen is a veteran that can provide a good lockerroom presence, but he is nothing more than rubbish on the court.

Craig "Rhino" Smith is a good athlete. He is inconsistent, but when he gets a chance to play, he can be a force in the paint.

All in all, Minnesota won the trade because they got a great shooter and didn't have to give up much to the Clippers to get him.

The deal is not official, but in all likelyhood it will be a done-deal within the next few hours. Tune in to ESPNEWS to find out more details on the trade.

The Impact Of a Savvy Veteran, Marvin Harrison To The Vikings?

Tanner Thoms — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:32:13 -0400

There have been rumblings that future hall-of-famer Marvin Harrison is potentially on his way to the Vikings, a team that he could potentially end his tremendous career with.

Many believe that Harrison needs to just hang up the cleats and realize that his deed to the NFL is done. I, on the other hand, feel that this would be a foolish move on Marvin's part.

Marvin has played in the NFL since 1996, when he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. His college days were spent at the university of Syracuse. His quarterback at the time was Philadelphia Eagles current quarterback, Donovan McNabb.

Behind only Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison is viewed as the second best receiver that the National Football League has ever seen before. Call me a homer, but I feel that Cris Carter deserves that recognition.

Why wouldn't a team want a player like that on their squad?

Yes, he's past his prime, obviously. But what would it hurt to have a target that can provide a locker room presence? A possible leader to the young receivers?

Answer: Nothing

Minnesota is not desperate for receivers, but they are desperate for a receiver that could teach the other ones the ropes.

Minnesota's receivers are all under 30 years old. Percy Harvin is only 21 years old and is a rookie. He, obviously, could use some teaching. Possibly how to not have an ego problem like that of Brandon Marshall or Terrell Owens.

Many wonder if the Vikings have the money to sign both Marvin Harrison and Brett Favre. They do. The con to this is that it will make it even more difficult to have Antoine Winfield an extension.

Winfield has discussed holding out until he receives a new deal. Minnesota cannot afford to lose him. He has arguable been our best defensive player for the past two years.

If it does come down to this scenario, I would say that the Vikings would say no to having Marvin Harrison on the team.

Marvin is a good player, but he's not something we desperately need. Marvin is more of a player that would sweeten our chances of becoming a super bowl contender.

Minnesota is a team that needs to add pieces to the puzzle in order to bring home their first super bowl trophy in team history. I can't be the only one that is hungry to have the Vikings finally be known as a team that has won a championship.

There is no telling how long Harrison can last. His body is clearly not in the shape it once was, but he could be able to make some sort of an effort. This effort doesn't necessarily have to come on the field, though.

In my opinion, the Vikes should make a move to get Marvin. He's talented and is a great leader in the locker-room. Let's get it done for the right price.

Breaking News: Timberwolves Trade Foye and Miller to Wizards For No. 5 Pick

Tanner Thoms — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:06:34 -0400

The Minnesota Timberwolves have traded Randy Foye and Miller Miller to the Washington Wizards for Oleksiy Pecherov, Darius Songaila, Etan Thomas, and the fifth overall pick in the 2009 draft.

The Wolves had been looking to move both of these players. Miller averaged a career-low 9.9 points last season. Foye is in the last year of his contract, as is Miller.

This trade works for both sides because the Wolves get another high pick and they save money. Expect the Wolves to trade the 18th pick and Etan Thomas to the Clippers for center Chris Kaman.

Minnesota wants to be able to move Al Jefferson back to the power forward position where he belongs. This would allow Kaman to start at center.

The Wizards get two good guards who can handle and score the ball. Foye will likely come off the bench. Miller might start at shooting guard, unless DeShawn Stevenson or Nick Young can step it up in a big way.

With the fifth pick, I see the Wolves taking Jonny Flynn from Syracuse. He is a good point guard who can score the ball. With the sixth pick, the Wolves will take Tyreke Evans from Memphis. He's a great scorer who can knock down shots at a high rate.

Cubs Come From Behind, Beat Indians In 10 Innings

Tanner Thoms — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:47:03 -0400

The Chicago Cubs are a team that have faced recent troubles and devastating losses, turning the Cubbies into an average team at best. Today, they performed like a team that wanted and deserved to win.

Down 7-0 to the Indians, Chicago scored their first run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Still, it looked as though the Cubs were long-shots to even come close to winning the ball game.

In the bottom of the sixth, Chicago scored yet another run and brought the game to 7-2. A little hope was raised in the hearts of Cubs fans.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Cubs scored an incredible four runs. They were now only down by one run going into the top of the ninth inning.

The Cubs had one last chance to try and tie the ball game or win it. Derrek Lee came up to bat and slammed the baseball over the fence, tying the game at seven runs each.

Kerry Wood has yet another blown save on the season.

In the bottom of the tenth, Ryan Theriot, who was 0-5 at the time, singled to right and scored Alfonso Soriano for the game winning run.

This game will easily go down as one of the best comebacks in Cubs' history. The game was exciting and showed that the Cubs, when trying, are a team to be reckoned with.

Derrek Lee led the Cubs with three hits and two RBI's. Kevin Gregg, the Cubs closer, picked up his second win on the season. Luis Vizcaino picked up his third loss on the year.

Chicago has an offense that is slumping as of late, but if they can get their bats working for them, I see the Cubs going on a big win streak in the very near future.

Ted Lilly will take the mound tomorrow against the Indians, looking for his eighth win on the season. The game is at 1:05 pm ET.

With Brett Favre, the Minnesota Vikings Will Be the Favorite in the NFC

Tanner Thoms — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:42:20 -0400

What can I say, I love that picture of Brett Favre in a purple and gold uniform. It's been used a hundred times, but it never really gets old, does it?

We are less than two months away from training camp, and less than a few weeks away from saying that Brett Favre is now a part of his once bitter rival, the Minnesota Vikings.

Perhaps I'm jumping to conclusions on the situation. Say what you want, but ultimately, Brett Favre will be a part of the Vikings team one way or another.

Moments ago, I saw Brett talk for nearly 15 minutes on Joe Buck Live. After viewing his appearance there was no doubt in my mind that Brett wants to be a part of Minnesota's team.

When he said if he's going to return to the NFL, Brett simply said "maybe." Let's not pretend like that's what he really means. When Brett says maybe, it typically means "Yes, I am coming back to the NFL again."

Most of you probably read the title and thought "How are they the favorite just by getting Brett Favre?"

I will tell you why if you keep reading.

Minnesota is an 11 win team if they are without Favre. Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson are both mediocre quarterbacks at best, but they would still be able to manage Minnesota to a playoff berth.

They still have a great running back in Adrian Peterson, two talented wide receiver in Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin, and a good offensive line that includes Steve Hutchinson and Bryant McKinnie.

Brett Favre is a good enough quarterback to make the Vikings a 13 win team. He will be able to make the other players around him much better.

He's been running the Vikings style of offense for 16 years when he was with the Green Bay Packers. He will not have to adjust to a different style if he signs with Minnesota. Every piece of the puzzle will be set in place.

The only thing that is ultimately effecting Favre from coming back to the NFL is his shoulder that he had surgery on nearly three weeks ago. Dr. James Andrews said that Favre will be able to throw the ball like he used to in about five weeks from when he had the surgery.

Brett claimed that he can still throw the ball, but he not at 100 percent because his surgery has not yet healed.

If the Vikings want to succeed, they will have to wait another couple weeks to get Brett to make up his mind and come to a decision. That decision will likely be a resounding yes.

Minnesota has all the tools to win at least 12 or 13 ball games. They will have a great offense, and a defense that is young and has always been one of the better ones in the NFC.

Top 30 NBA Free Agents and Where They Will Sign In 2009

Tanner Thoms — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:03:49 -0400

The NBA's negotiating period for free agents begins July 1, and with the season finally over, I thought I would give my opinion on which free agents will sign with which teams.

30. Brandon Bass, Dallas Mavericks

Brandon Bass doesn't see much time behind Dirk Nowitzki which could lead him to finding another team to play for in 2009. In his third NBA season, Bass averaged 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and .7 blocks per game.

Don't count on him being back next season for the Mavericks, but he could receive a cheap deal that could bring him back.

Where he will sign: San Antonio Spurs

29. Leon Powe, Boston Celtics

Leon Powe might receive little playing time next year behind Kevin Garnett, but he's still an important part of the team, and he needs to remain a Celtic.

Where he will sign: Boston Celtics

28. Linas Kleiza, Denver Nuggets

Linas Kleiza is one of those players that shows up when you need him the most. He might not be a much factor for the Nuggets, but he's a good three-point shooter that Denver needs.

Where he will sign: Denver Nuggets

27. Chris Andersen, Denver Nuggets

Chris "Birdman" Andersen came back from a two-year absence from the league, and made an instant impact on the Nuggets organization. I couldn't imagine him with anyone except the Nuggets next season.

Where he will sign: Denver Nuggets

26. Marcin Gortat, Orlando Magic

Marcin Gortat has the potential to be a very good player, but he won't be able to amount to much behind Dwight Howard, the Magic's star player. Look for Gortat to have a new team in 2009.

Where he will sign: Atlanta Hawks

25. Kyle Korver, Utah Jazz

Kyle Korver is mainly known for his ability to knock down three-point shots at a consistent rate. The Jazz will do all it takes to re-sign him so that they have a good bench scorer.

Where he will sign: Utah Jazz

24. Glen Davis, Boston Celtics

Glen "Big Baby" Davis became one of the better Celtics players during the playoffs with the Boston Celtics. He will likely be back to improve his game with Boston during the 2009 season.

Where he will sign: Boston Celtics

23. Wally Szcerbiak, Cleveland Cavaliers

Wally Szcerbiak used to be a very talented player, but he hasn't found his rhythm with the Cavaliers. He will likely not be re-signed because Cleveland simply doesn't need him next year.

Where he will sign: Miami Heat

22. Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers

Anderson Varejao is a very inconsistent player, but he played well in place of the injured Ben Wallace.

Varejao's whereabouts are up in the air. If Cleveland trades for Shaq, Varejao likely won't be on the team.

Where he will sign: Cleveland Cavaliers

21. Eddie House, Boston Celtics

Boston has several three-point shooters and Eddie House is one of them. Boston needs to re-sign House for next season. He's a great shooter and defender.

Where he will sign: Boston Celtics

20. Nate Robinson, New York Knicks

The Knicks will have to decide whether to keep Nate Robinson or David Lee. Robinson could be the future starting point guard for the Knicks, so I see him back next season.

Where he will sign: New York Knicks

19. David Lee, New York Knicks

Like I said earlier, it will either be Robinson or Lee, and since Robinson stays that means Lee goes. Somebody would love to get him although he's undersized at the power forward spot.

Where he will sign: Toronto Raptors

18. Grant Hill, Phoenix Suns

Grant Hill is one of those players that sucks one night and the next night he gets 20 points and you think he's awesome again. I see him re-signing for a cheap one-year deal.

Where he will sign: Phoenix Suns

17. Charlie Villanueva, Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks won't let Villanueva go. He has started to become the talented player that most people expected him to be. Milwaukee could have a very talented team with a healthy Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd.

Where he will sign: Milwaukee Bucks

16. Jamal Crawford, Golden State Warriors

Jamal Crawford was acquired in a trade from the Knicks prior to the trade deadline during the 2008 season. The Warriors need to give it their best shot to try and re-sign him, but I doubt they do.

Where he will sign: Dallas Mavericks

15. Raymond Felton, Charlotte Bobcats

The former first-round pick for the Bobcats might have played his last game with the Bobcats. It looks as though D.J. Augustin will be the future point guard for the Bobcats.

Where he will sign: Sacramento Kings

14. Al Harrington, New York Knicks

Al Harrington will likely decide to re-sign with the Knicks because his contract is a player option. The Knicks traded Jamal Crawford straight up to get him.

Where he will sign: New York Knicks

13. Mike Bibby, Atlanta Hawks

Mike Bibby isn't the player that he used to be, but he still has some game left in him. He can still knock the three-point shot at a high rate. Atlanta should and will re-sign him.

Where he will sign: Atlanta Hawks

12. Trevor Ariza, Los Angeles Lakers

It's been a debate on whether the Lakers will re-sign Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, or possibly both. Ariza is much younger and seems to be about as good as Odom is. I see the Lakers re-signing Ariza.

Where he will sign: Los Angeles Lakers

11. Andre Miller, Philadelphia 76'ers

The 76ers should re-sign Andre Miller if they're smart. He's getting old, yes, but he still has gas left in the tank. Andre rarely misses a game, and he gives it his all every single game.

Where he will sign: Philadelphia 76'ers

10. Allen Iverson, Detroit Pistons

It's sad knowing that Allen Iverson isn't known as being one of the best guards in the league today. There is a good chance that he might retire, but I really hope not. With that said, Detroit won't bring him back.

Where he will sign: New Orleans Hornets

9. Paul Millsap, Utah Jazz

The Jazz will have to choose between Millsap and Boozer on who they re-sign. It looks as though Millsap is the favorite to stay with Utah next season.

Where he will sign: Utah Jazz

8. Shawn Marion, Toronto Raptors

Shawn Marion has moved around many times in his career, it's likely that he will be on the move once again. There will be some team that would love to have a good shooter on their team.

Where he will sign: New Jersey Nets

7. Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks

Dallas had a much better year than expected last year, and a lot of this had to do with how well Jason Kidd distributed the ball. They must re-sign him next year for a cheap deal.

Where he will sign: Dallas Mavericks

6. Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic

As most of you know, Hedo Turkoglu has opted out of his contract to test the free agency waters. The Magic will have a tough time re-signing him, but I see them somehow getting it done.

Where he will sign: Orlando Magic

5. Rasheed Wallace, Detroit Pistons

Rasheed Wallace's stock has dropped a few notches, but he still has a deadly jump shot. Somebody will be willing to give up money to get a possible future Hall of Famer.

Where he will sign: Miami Heat

4. Ron Artest, Houston Rockets

The Rockets made a trade to get Artest from the Kings prior to the 2008 season. They have the money to pay him, and they will do so. Artest isn't going anywhere next year.

Where he will sign: Houston Rockets

3. Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers

The X-factor for the 2009 NBA champions is Lamar Odom, and he might not be back on the team next season. Expect Odom to go to a team that is close to being a championship contender.

Where he will sign: Portland Trail Blazers

2. Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls

The Bulls front office has made it clear that they are intent on re-signing Ben Gordon for the upcoming season. Gordon is a great shooter, and I don't see him leaving Chicago.

Where he will sign: Chicago Bulls

1. Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz

Like I said earlier, Utah must decide between Millsap and Boozer, and I have them picking Millsap. Carlos Boozer seems to be a good fit for the Cavaliers, and that's where I see him going.

Where he will sign: Cleveland Cavaliers

If Brandon Marshall is Traded to the Bears, Denver Will Win the Trade

Tanner Thoms — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:05:31 -0400

It's being reported that Broncos pro-bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall has asked for a trade out of Denver. Gee, it seems like the Broncos' organization just went through this a couple months ago.

Jay Cutler was traded from the Denver Broncos to the Chicago Bears. Now it looks as if his No. 1 target, Brandon Marshall, might be going to the same exact location.

It's no secret the Bears have awful receivers, but if they got Marshall, they would be much improved in that category.

The reason for Marshall being traded is because he has been holding out of Denver's team workouts and organized events. He is also unhappy with his current contract.

Marshall is scheduled to make a little over $2 million during the 2009 season. Nearly 50 wide receivers in the league today make more money per year than he does right now.

I can see why he is upset over his current contract, but he does not need to go about it in this type of manner. I find it to be very immature and selfish on Marshall's part. You need to wait and just perform on the field week in and week out to get your money.

If Marhsall were to just show up to the team events, he would get his money. By sitting out, nothing is going to happen. To me, Marhsall is acting like a child who doesn't get the toy he wants. He pouts and hides in his room.

Josh McDaniels is the type of coach that you won't be able to bully and push around. Personally, I like the way he's going about this situation. When he is asked about Marhsall, McDaniels gives straight up and honest answers.

There is no reason to make up a story that Marhsall and everybody are getting along if it's not true. It's obvious that Marshall wants to get out, and get out as soon as possible.

As a Broncos' fan, I am sick of all the negative publicity we have been receiving lately. If you told me that neither Marshall or Cutler would be on the Broncos team in 2009, I would have told you to lay off the "Mary J".

Times are changing in Denver. We have a new starting quarterback, running back and a defense that has a completely changed identity. Now we have to deal with the thought of having a new starting wide receiver.

Who benefits from this trade the most? Eddie Royal.

In his rookie season, Royal caught 91 passes for 980 yards, and five touchdowns. He set many Broncos' records for a rookie wide receiver including most receptions in a season, most touchdowns in a season, and most receptions in one game.

Eddie would be the No. 1 wide receiver on a few teams in the league, but the only reason he isn't on the Broncos is because Marshall.

Royal would become the new No. 1 receiver on the depth chart, and Jabar Gaffney and Kenny McKinley would battle it out for the No. 2 receiver spot.

What could Denver get in the trade?

Chicago has a lot of defensive players they would be willing to give up. Most Broncos' fans would love to get Brian Urlacher, but I just don't see it happening right now.

Denver fans need to take a more realistic approach at what we can potentially get. The Broncos could use a defensive tackle, which is why I could see them wanting former pro-bowler, Tommie Harris.

Denver would also like to get a defensive end that could start right away in 2009. Adewale Ogunlye, Mark Anderson and Alex Brown are all legitimate options for the Broncos to look at.

I would say Ogunlye is the most likely option for Denver. I would love to get Alex Brown, but he is the future of the Bears' defense. Adewale is 31 years old, but he still has some gas left in the tank.

An inside linebacker is also a need for the Broncos if D.J. Williams stays outside. Marcus Freeman, one of the Bears' 2009 draft picks, could be a good options for the Broncos to look at.

Denver would also like to receive some sort of draft pick. A second or third rounder would be a good addition to the two or three players they would receive.

There is still a lot to learn in this whole situation, but we need to start realizing Marshall might have played his last game with the Broncos.

It's a sad thing to think about, isn't it?

How to Solve the Quarterback Situation for the Minnesota Vikings

Tanner Thoms — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:47:20 -0400

For months now it's been a question of who the Vikings will start at quarterback. I can honestly say that we don't have an answer to that question at this point in time. Luckily, there could be many options to contemplate over the next few weeks.

Quarterback has been an issue for a number years now, ever since the Vikings decided to release Daunte Culpepper, after he went down with a devastating leg injury back in 2005. I, personally, feel like this is a foolish move by the Vikings organization. One injury should not change the impact that a player can potentially make.

Daunte seems like a player who has caught a second wind. He has dropped over 30 pounds, and looks to be the favorite to win the starting quarterback job for the Detroit Lions.

With that said, we must move on. It was years ago that it happened, and we need to focus on the present and future, and nothing else.

Last year, the Vikings went through several times of trouble at the helm of the offense.

Tarvaris Jackson was benched after two games where he played absolutely dreadful. Let's not sugar-coat it, Tarvaris sucked at that point.

Bring on veteran, second-stringer in Gus Frerotte. The decision to turn the ball over to Gus received some good and bad receptions. I thought it was a move that made sense for the time being, but not for the future.

Minnesota seemed to have caught some sort of spark from the sudden change at quarterback. The Vikings became a team to be reckoned with when Gus was the starting quarterback.

Don't get me wrong, he wasn't great, but he was better than anything we had on the roster during the season.

Later in the season, Minnesota decided to once again bring back in Tarvaris Jackson. I figured that since he had spent time on the sidelines that he would become a quarterback with vengeance on his mind. Jackson had plenty of time to learn the system and the plays even more.

It turns out that I would be right. Tarvaris came out strong in his first game back. He finished out the season solidly, and even had a four touchdown performance against the Arizona Cardinals, the NFC champions.

Minnesota should go with the same plan for this up-coming season. Yes, there is the possibility that Brett Favre could un-retire and come back to the NFL to sign with the Vikings, but what if he doesn't?

The point is that Minnesota should start out the season with Tarvaris Jackson being the No. One quarterback on the depth chart. If he doesn't perform up to standard, put in Sage Rosenfels.

The reason Sage was brought in was to have a reliable back-up behind Tarvaris Jackson that could possibly start if they needed it to happen. He hasn't automatically been given the starting job.

Nobody at this point should feel like they've been handed their starting job on a silver platter. Everybody needs to fight for their jobs all the time, as if they could lose it at any point whatsoever in the reason.

Don't count out John David Booty either. The former fifth-round-pick could come out and surprise us. Look at Matt Cassel as a perfect example of that. J.D.B. might be the starter at the start of the season because he has had a year to progress his skills even more.

This is my way of solving the quarterback situation. It might not be a spectacular idea, but it is a realistic one at that.

I would love to know what you all think. Feel free to list your opinion of what you think the Vikings should do with this current situation.

Brandon Marshall: Punk Or Misunderstood?

Tanner Thoms — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:46:29 -0400

Once again, it's another Denver Broncos controversial story. This time it's about their star wide receiver, Brandon Marshall. Brandon is a former fourth-round-pick from Central Florida.

Many thought that Brandon was a steal for how late he was drafted. Those people turned out to be right. In three seasons, Marshall has 226 receptions, 2,899 yards, and 15 touchdowns.

He easily became the top target for former Denver Bronco, Jay Cutler. They were seen as a great quarterback-wide receiver tandem.

Now the main piece of the puzzle is the latest quarterback for the Chicago Bears. It looks as though Brandon Marshall could possibly be on his way out as well.

With the recent allegations against Brandon, what will happen to the former pro-bowler? Will he stay with the Broncos or find his way out the door?

He has been arrested on numerous occasions including charges like disorderly conduct, refusal to obey, and resisting an officer. These aren't charges that a supposed "role-model" should be going through.

If you did not see the recent story on SportsCenter about him, I strongly recommend that you check it out. It showed what kind of person that a lot of people think that Brandon really is.

I want to believe that he is a good person that doesn't do any wrong, but when you have so many charges against you, it's difficult to believe that you are in the right.

I went to Denver Broncos training camp in July of 2008. I really had hoped that I would get the chance to meet and get an autograph from Brandon Marshall. I did just that. I have a signed jersey card to prove it.

It seems fickle now that I know he isn't the person that he tries to be. Perhaps I'm jumping to conclusions. Perhaps I'm believing something that isn't even true. Perhaps Brandon Marshall is just a punk.

He shows up on game day and puts out his all on the field, but when will his off the field troubles catch up with him? The Denver Broncos organization does not need all of this negative publicity. They need to know who is going to be on the team, or who just wants to get paid and then get out.

If you want to see the video of him on outside the lines, here it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4A756xTC0s

I hope you find it to be very informative. It shows all of the troubles that Brandon is going through. It also shows one of the women that he reportedly abused physically.

Brandon is in the last year of his contract that he received after he was drafted. He has sat out of OTA's and is demanding a pay-raise before he even considers participating with the team.

This is a display of dis-respect to the Broncos team. If you want to get paid more money, keep showing off your skills of the field. Denver isn't going to need you as much as you're going to need them.

At this point, I don't want to even consider trading Brandon Marshall. He's a phenomenal football player who hasn't even hit his peak yet. He still has a lot left to prove to the Broncos.

These off the field problems need to go away quickly. Roger Goodell and the NFL headquarters have no intention on suspending him at the time. Who knows, though, Brandon could still find his way sitting out a few games. He sat out the first game of the 2008 season when the Broncos crushed the Oakland Raiders.

Put Up or Shut Up: Brett Favre Needs to Make His Decision Now

Tanner Thoms — Thu, 28 May 2009 01:23:03 -0400

I am fed up. As simple as that. Don't get me wrong, I want to get Brett Favre as much as the next guy, but the wait to sign him if he comes out of retirement is taking a little too long.

Honestly, how hard is it to make a decision. It's a simple yes or no. Brett has said that he doesn't want to return to the NFL, but then he turns around and stirs up the pot a bit with a little bit of new information that is supposed to spark some sort of interest in our minds.

Every single day it's a new piece to the puzzle. For example, Brett is getting surgery, oh, but wait! now he isn't. Also, there was a rumor that he sent an X-ray to the Vikings front office, but this rumor was reported as false.

Can we honestly tell what is real and what is fiction anymore? It gets irritating when you have to check multiple sources to see what the real scoop is. Nobody can honestly tell what is truly going on in Brett Favre's mind at this time.

We all know that Brett loves the attention and spot-light on him. This is how he's always been, and likely always will be. But when does one end the dramatics and make a final decision?

I'm not disrepsecting Brett in any way shape or form. I just really want a decision. Favre is a great player and a sure-fire hall-of-famer, but we really need an answer. Is it yes, or is it no?

Brett would instantly put the Vikings towards the top of the NFC. I can only think of two teams in the NFC that are definitely better than the Vikings, those being, the Eagles and the Giants.

Favre could put us in front of the Eagles if he is our quarterback. A first-round-bye in the playoffs is very key towards how you succeed in the playoffs. You get the chance to rest your plays and have a longer time to strategize on whichever team you're going to be playing against the following week.

Brett could learn the system a lot quicker if he decided to come out of retirement within the next few days. He will have a much easier chance to meet the team and could become good friends with the receivers that he would be throwing to.

Us Vikings fans can't keep waiting week after week for him to come to his circumstances. As I said earlier, it's not that hard to make a decision. I contemplated writing this article because I wasn't sure what people would say to me about how I feel about the entire situation.

You can say what you want to me, but you all know that this whole soap-opera is getting old. It has become a re-run of last year's episode.

If Brett says he wants to play with us, I am extremely happy with it. If Brett wants to stay retired, that is his choice and I have to respect it. Trust me, I would prefer he comes back to play for one last year.

He says he wishes to play for Minnesota, isn't it one of life's motto's to life up to your hopes, goals, wishes, and dreams? Brett simply cannot go against this perfect phrase. It just isn't humanitary. If you didn't notice, this paragraph has been mainly a joke.

Us fans need to have faith in Sage Rosenfels if Favre decides to stay retired. I've said this many times before, and I will say it again. We can't write this guy off as being terrible when we haven't even seen him play with the Vikings yet.

This is an open letter to Brett Favre. Give us an answer, Brett. We are all waiting to hear the news, one way or another.

Denver Broncos Cut J.J. Arrington

Tanner Thoms — Thu, 28 May 2009 00:44:09 -0400

As of today, the Denver Broncos have come to terms on the release of former Arizona Cardinals running back. J.J. Arrington.

Arrington was signed by Denver after becoming a free-agent after the 2008 season was over. The Broncos signed him to a four year, 10 million dollar deal. J.J. was expected, by some, to possibly start for Denver.

Denver also went out and signed Lamont Jordan and Correll Buckhalter soon after that, eliminating the chances of Arrington even getting a chance to start at running back.

In the draft, the Broncos drafted Knowshon Moreno out of Georgia with the 12th overall selection. Knowshon is expected to start, even as a rookie, for Denver this coming season.

J.J. recently failed a physical, which is the likely the cause of his departure. Denver fans should not feel disappointed because J.J. wouldn't have likely seen that many carries. Denver's back field is too crowded for him to get much of a chance.

Last year with the Cardinals, Arrington rushed for 187 yards with only one touchdown. He was used seldom behind Tim Hightower and Edgerrin James. He was used mainly for third-down plays.

Currently on the Broncos' roster at running back are Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter, Lamont Jordan, Darius Walker, Ryan Torain, and Kestahn Moore. Don't expect Moore to be on the roster for much longer, though.

I think we should all give thanks to J.J. Arrington for being on the Broncos roster for a fantastic three months. I wish good luck for whichever team decides to resign him. Hasta luego!

Twins Beat Red Sox 4-2, Kevin Slowey Picks Up Seventh Win on the Season

Tanner Thoms — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:58:18 -0400

For the first time since May 14, the Minnesota Twins are over .500. With a 4-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox, Minnesota has reached its 24th win.

Starting the game for the Minnesota Twins was Kevin Slowey, who went on to pick up his seventh victory of the season, as mentioned in the article title. Slowey pitched 6 innings, and only gave up two runs, and struck out five batters.

On the opposing side, Daisuke Matsuzaka started for the Red Sox, he did not have a win yet to his name. This trend continued after he gave up three runs in only five innings pitched. Daisuke is now 0-3 on the season.

Minnesota was hot from the start. In the third inning, the Twins scored three runs which put them on top of the Red sox by two. Jacoby Ellisbury scored on a sacrifice fly from Kevin Youkilis in the top of the third.

The next run game from the Red Sox. Jason Bay hit a scoring home run to center field off of Kevin Slowey. This put the Sox down by only one run.

The Twins responded in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded when Michael Cuddyer was hit by a pitch from Manny Delcarmen. Minnesota went up 4-2 from that point, and went on to win by that very score.

Surprisingly, Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer have very disappoint games respectively. They combined to go 2-8 with one RBI, which came from Mauer.

Minnesota's star player was Denard Span, who went 4-4, and even scored twice. He is hitting at .316 this season.

Jason Kubel also had two hits and drove in an RBI. Minnesota's third baseman, Brendan Harris, did the exact same thing.

In the ninth inning, Minnesota's closer, Joe Nathan, pitched the ninth inning and gave up no hits. He picked up his eighth save of the 2009 season.

Minnesota has won two-out-of-three games against the Red Sox in this series. They play once more tomorrow, but the Twins are guaranteed to at least split the four-game series.

The Twins play the Sox tomorrow at 1:10 ET on FSN. Minnesota's recently brought up pitcher, Anthony Swarzak, is set to take the mound against Josh Beckett. Swarzak is looking to go 2-0 on the season.

It should be a good game, and I expect Morneau and Mauer to respond with great games. Look for the Twins and Red Sox to both put a lot of runs on the board tomorrow.

Believe the Hype: Justin Morneau Will Win the AL MVP Award

Tanner Thoms — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:29:14 -0400

Maybe he isn't the most powerful hitter—or the most dominant—but Justin Morneau is one of the best and most consistent players in the entire MLB.

The Twins aren't known for being one of the better teams in the league, but they are definitely one of the more respected. They do the best with what they have, and don't go out and complain about it.

Minnesota has an absolute star in Justin Morneau, a 28-year-old former MVP from New Westminster, Canada. As I mentioned, Morneau won the 2006 AL MVP award.

In 47 games this season, Justin has hit for a .347 average, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, and has walked a whopping 25 times. These are great numbers for a guy who has barely played a quarter of the season.

Maybe his numbers aren't as good as Evan Longoria's, Jason Bay's, or Torii Hunter's, but all three of those player's have teammates around them that are heavy contributors as well.

What do the Twins have? They have Joe Mauer, who missed a big chunk of the early part of this season. They also have Michael Cuddyer, who missed the majority of last year.

Justin Morneau, often times, has to contribute for most of the Twins lineup. He has been the catalyst for the Twins for several years now.

In his career, Morneau has 146 home runs, 430 runs, and 564 RBI. It is clear that he has been a very consistent player since he has started playing for the Minnesota Twins.

I wrote an article last year about why Morneau should win the MVP award. Unfortunately, Justin came up shy of winning his second award in his career. I, believe, that this is his year to finally bring home his second.

Justin is on pace to have nearly 50 home runs, 150 RBI, and 140 runs. These numbers would for sure win Morneau the MVP trophy. He just needs to continue on his pace of dominance.

It's too early in the season to tell what will happen, but I am putting my early bid in the hat for Justin Morneau. Anything could happen from this point on.

Nobody can deny that Justin is in the top five for AL MVP candidates as of today. If you think otherwise, you must be a White Sox fan.

Top 10 Reasons Why The Minnesota Vikings Will Win The NFC North

Tanner Thoms — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:24:42 -0400

It's been a topic of debate for months now. Who is the best team in the NFC North? As always, I truly believe that it's the Minnesota Vikings. I will not be changing my mind on that anytime soon.

I will be listing ten reasons why the Vikings will win the NFC North in 2009. Please enjoy the list!

1. Adrian Peterson

Of course the best running back in the league has to be some sort of reason. In his first two seasons, Adrian Peterson has become virtually un-stoppable. He is a threat to score any time that he touches the ball. Peterson has great break-away speed, and can slip by defenders whenever need be.

It can be debated that he is inconsistent, but he often plays the game even when he isn't at 100 percent physically. He fumbled a disasterous nine times last season, which led the Vikings to turning the ball over in the red-zone a few key times.

He could easily be the MVP next season if he controls his fumble problem. I could truly see him getting 400 carries for around 2,000 yards. Minnesota has the offensive line that will allow him to do so.

2. Bernard Berrian

Minnesota signed Bernard after his contract ran up with the Bears at the end of the 2007 season. The Vikings were in a bidding war with the Oakland Raiders, but Berrian declined the amount of money that Oakland had been offering.

Last year with the Vikings, Berrian had over 900 yards, and nearly 50 receptions. He showed inconsistency in some games where he only caught one or two passes at most. He needs to be thrown at a lot more than he was this year.

Berrian is a very explosive target that Minnesota fans will have the privilege of enjoying for the next years to come. His best years are yet to come. I see Berrian eclipsing 1,000 yards in 2009.

3. Percy Harvin

Minnesota drafted Percy Harvin with the 22nd overall pick in the 2009 draft. This may have come as a surprise to many, including me, but the Vikings made the right decision drafting Harvin.

He has been accused of having an ego issue, and lives in his own little world called "Percyland". In my opinion, I think that this is an issue that he only went through in college. Percy should not have these egotistic problems once he is making the big bucks in the NFL.

Harvin will provide the Vikings with a legitimate threat on the opposite side of Bernard Berrian. I doubt that he gets a lot of catches in his rookie season, but he will make some sort of an impact, whether it's on special teams, on the ground, or through receiving the football.

4. Visanthe Shiancoe

Minnesota signed Shiancoe from the Giants prior to the 2007 season. He only had 12 receptions for 81 yards with New York in 2006. These aren't great numbers, but Brad Childress knew that there was something special in Visanthe.

In his first season with the Vikings, Shiancoe did not show true signs of being a star. He only had 27 receptions for 323 yards. His most disappointing stat was that he only had one touchdowns.

In 2008, Visanthe stepped it up in a big way with 42 catches for 596 yards, and a whopping 7 touchdowns. Minnesota should look for even better numbers from Shiancoe next season.

5. Offensive Line

I could care less what you think, as mean as it sounds. The Vikings do have one of the best offensive lines in the entire league. But, you're thinking, "They lost Matt Birk." Yes, this is true, but they still have a good offensive line.

Steve Hutchinson is the best guard in football, and he has made it to six straight Pro Bowls since 2003. He will be able to anchor the left side of the offensive line with former first round pick, Bryant McKinnie.

At center is John Sullivan, a former sixth-round-pick from the University of Notre Dame. He will be starting for the first time in his career. On the right side will likely be second-round-pick, Phil Loadholt, and under-rated right guard, Anthony Herrera.

6. Jared Allen

By now you should know exactly who Jared Allen is. The Vikings traded multiple picks to get Allen from the Kansas City Chiefs. They had been looking to get rid of him for his multiple arrests that he had suffered from in his career in Kansas City.

Minnesota had been looking to get a talented defensive end after Erasmus James had not panned out like he was expected to. The Vikings got exactly the player that they had been looking for.

Jared had 14.5 sacks in his first season with the Vikings. Allen is one of the toughest players in the league, and also one of the nicest. He has become a fan favorite in only one year with Minnesota.

7. Williams Wall

They might be suspended for four games, and by they, I mean, Kevin and Pat Williams. The reason they might get suspended is because they took an illegal weight-loss supplement. Kevin and Pat didn't know that this drug was against the rules of the National Football League.

Despite that fact, both of them are very talented football players. Pat is nearly 37 years old, so he could retire after the 2009 season. Kevin is only 29 years old, and still has plenty of gas left in the tank.

Kevin had 8.5 sacks last year, and Pat was a run-stuffer that the Vikings seem to always have. Both of them should have great years next year if they aren't suspended, but only time will tell what will happen to them.

8. Ben Leber, E.J. Henderson, and Chad Greenway

The Vikings have a very underrated linebackers group. Ben Leber is one of the more under-rated weakside linebackers in the entire NFL. E.J. Henderson missed most of the 2008 season with an injury. Chad Greenway is one of the better linebackers in the entire NFC North.

E.J. Henderson was vastly missed last season. Minnesota had a great run defense, but it would have been better if Henderson was healthy. When he is 100 percent, E.J. is one of the best linebackers in the entire NFL, believe it or not.

All three of these players should see large amounts of success next season. They are all still relatively young and talented. Except over 100 tackles for both E.J. Henderson and Chad Greenway in '09.

9. Antoine Winfield

Antoine Winfield made the Pro Bowl after his incredible 2008 season. Many thought that Antoine's game had taken a bit of a slip. He surprised everybody and had the best season of his entire career.

In his 10th season, Winfield had 95 tackles, 11 passes deflected, 2 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions. Incredible numbers for a guy that is nearly 32 years old.

Antoine is in the last year of his contract, so he will likely play as hard as he can to receive a large amount of money on his new deal. Minnesota, without a doubt, needs to re-sign Winfield when the 2009 season is over.

10. Ryan Longwell and Chris Kluwe

Ryan Longwell was signed after the 2005 season when his contract expired with the Green Bay Packers. Since then he has made 70 of 83 field goals in his three seasons with the Vikings.

Longwell connected on 29 of 34 field goals last season, and as he should, nailed all of his 40 extra point attempts.

On the other hand you have punter, Chris Kluwe. You might not know who he is yet, but he is the best punter in the NFC. He had a punt average of 47.6 yards in 2008.

Special Teams is a very under-rated aspect of an NFL team, but they still are a huge factor of a game. Minnesota has one of the best kickers and the second-best punter in the league today.

2009 NBA Mock Draft: Blake Griffin Or Ricky Rubio to The Clippers?

Tanner Thoms — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:17:43 -0400

1. L.A. Clippers- Blake Griffin, Power Forward, Oklahoma

The Clippers have Zach Randolph to play at power forward, but his character issues have steadily crept up on him. Blake Griffin is the consensus No. 1 overall pick, and that is the way it should be.

NBA Comparison: Antonio McDyess

2. Memphis Grizzlies- Ricky Rubio, Point Guard, Spain
The Grizzlies will look to send Mike Conley Jr. to another team. He has been labeled as a bust since they drafted him from Ohio State. Ricky Rubio is a great player that will fit in right away to contribute.

NBA Comparison: Steve Nash

3. Oklahoma City Thunder- Hasheem Thabeet, Center, Uconn
The only missing piece to the Thunder's starting five is a dominant center. They have Jeff Green at power forward, Kevin Durant at small forward, Thabo Sefolosha at shooting guard, and Russell Westbrook at point guard.

NBA Comparison: Samuel Dalambert

4. Sacramento Kings- Brandon Jennings, Point Guard, Lottomatica Roma
Beno Udrih shows sign of potential at point, but I don't think he's the floor general for this very young team. Brandon Jennings is a phenomenal ball-handler, and a great shooter.

NBA Comparison: Tony Parker

5. Washington Wizards- Jordan Hill, Power Forward, Arizona
Antawn Jamison is getting up there in age, and he likely won't be around for that much longer. The Wizards to start re-building for the future. Gilbert Arenas might get traded away if that is their plan.

NBA Comparison: Chris Wilcox

6. Minnesota Timberwolves- James Harden, Shooting Guard, Arizona State
The Timberwolves need to start getting better players in their back-court. Randy Foye will be good at the point, but they have practically nobody at shooting guard. James Harden is a great scorer and leader.

NBA Comparison: Manu Ginobli

7. Golden State Warriors- Tyreke Evans, Guard, Memphis
There is no telling whether or not Jamal Crawford will be much of a factor at shooting guard. If Monta Ellis can stay out of trouble he will be the future point guard, but the No. 2 spot is still up for grabs.

NBA Comparison: Larry Hughes

8. New York Knicks- Demar DeRozan, Guard/Forward, USC
The Knicks could use a star shooting guard because they traded away Jamal Crawford to the Warriors. They drafted Danilo Galinari last year, who is expected to start at small forward.

NBA Comparison: Josh Howard

9. Toronto Raptors- Stephen Curry, Guard, Davidson
The Raptors are looking to invest in Jose Calderon at point guard. Luckily, Stephen Curry is more suited for the shooting guard spot, despite the fact that he is only 6"3. The Raptors will have a very talented back-court with Curry and Calderon.

NBA Comparison: Mike Bibby

10. Milwaukee Bucks- DeJuan Blair, Forward/Center, Pittsburgh
The Bucks actually don't have that many needs to fill. They have Andrew Bogut at center, Charlie Villanueva at power forward, Richard Jefferson at small forward, Michael Redd at shooting guard, and Ramon Sessions at the point. They will be adding Blair strictly for depth at this point.

NBA Comparison: Paul Millsap

11. New Jersey Nets- Terrence Williams, Guard/Small Forward, Louisville
The Nets may look to trade Vince Carter this off-season. He is not nearly as good as he once was, and he's also well into his 30's. Terrence Williams may be a reach here, but the Nets must be willing to make it.

NBA Comparison: Andre Iguodala

12. Charlotte Bobcats- Gerald Henderson, Shooting Guard, Duke
The Bobcats traded away Jason Richardson to the Suns for Raja Bell and Boris Diaw. Although Bell is good, he is getting up there in age. Gerald Henderson, in my opinion, would be a steal here for the Bobcats.

NBA Comparison: Michael Finley

13. Indiana Pacers- Ty Lawson, Point Guard, North Carolina
The Pacers have T.J. Ford on the roster, but he shows signs of inconsistency at times. Indiana must look to build up some depth behind him. Ty Lawson, according to some, will be a bust, I, on the other hand, disagree.

NBA Comparison: T.J. Ford

14. Phoenix Suns- Earl Clark, Forward, Louisville
Both Matt Barnes and Grant Hill are going to be free-agents as soon as the 2009 season comes to an end. I doubt that the Suns hold onto both of them. Earl Clark could be the steal of the draft, believe it or not.

NBA Comparison: Marvin Williams

15. Detroit Pistons- James Johnson, Power Forward, Wake Forest
Rasheed Wallace is near retirement, which means that the Pistons need to build up somebody behind him towards the future. James is only 6"8, which could lead him to possibly playing at small forward.

NBA Comparison: Ryan Gomes

16. Chicago Bulls- Jrue Holiday, Guard, UCLA
This might not be the right pick because Jrue seems more like a point guard, but he can certainly play at the two spot. Chicago needs to find somebody to replace Ben Gordon, in case he doesn't re-sign.

NBA Comparison: Rodney Stuckey

17. Philadelphia 76'ers- Jonny Flynn, Point Guard, Syracuse
This is without a doubt a steal. Jonny Flynn could easily land himself in the top 10, but there are so many good guards in this year's draft. Andre Miller is getting older, so the 76'ers need a younger point guard for the future.

NBA Comparison: Earl Watson

18. Minnesota Timberwolves from: Miami- Eric Maynon, Point Guard, VCU
Sebastian Telfair has been labeled by most to be a bust. The Timberwolves need somebody who can be a consistent floor-general. Eric Maynor won't start in '09, but he would receive a significant amount of numbers.

NBA Comparison: Sam Cassell

19. Atlanta Hawks- B.J. Mullens, Center, Ohio State
The Hawks would be a great team if they had a dominant center. Zaza Pachulia is good at times, but he could easily be replaced by somebody that's better. Mullens is a 7'0" monster who would start right from the get-go.

NBA Comparison: Chris Kaman

20. Utah Jazz- Austin Daye, Forward, Gonzaga
Andrei Kirilenko could find himself on a new team next year if he doesn't step up his game. The Jazz need to get some depth at forward, especially if Carlos Boozer doesn't re-sign.

NBA Comparison: Kevin Durant

21. New Orleans Saints- Jeff Teague, Guard, Wake Forest
The Hornets seemed to be a much better team when they had Janerro Pargo on the roster. New Orleans needs to get some depth behind Chris Paul, and a possible starter at shooting guard.

NBA Comparison: Monta Ellis

22. Dallas Mavericks- Chase Budinger, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Arizona
The Mavericks lack a strong shooting guard. Chase Budinger can play at both small forward and shooting guard, so it would make it easier for the Mavericks to possibly trade Josh Howard.

NBA Comparison: Martell Webster

23. Sacramento Kings from: Houston- Gani Lawal, Forward/Center, Georgia Tech
The Kings got their future dominant point guard, now they must focus on getting a potential starter at power forward. Gani Lawal is only 6"8, so he can play in multiple positions.

NBA Comparison: Chuck Hayes

24. Portland Trail Blazers- Sam Young, Forward, Pittsburgh
The Blazers are a team that no longer has that many needs to fill. If they can get a significantly talented player in the first round, they could be in the top 3 teams in the Western conference.

NBA Comparison: James Posey

25. Oklahoma City Thunder from: Spurs- Nick Calathes, Guard, Florida
The Thunder need depth behind the often times inconsistent, Thabo Sefolosha. Nick Calathes is the best player available at this point, and the Thunder could use him as a bench producer.

NBA Comparison: Jose Calderon

26. Chicago Bulls from: Denver- Tyler Hansbrough, Power Forward, UNC
The Chicago Bulls could really use depth behind Tyrus Thomas, who could possibly be traded. Tyler Hansbrough is a confusing player who could go much earlier or later than this pick.

NBA Comparison: Luis Scola

27. Memphis Grizzlies from: Orlando- DaJuan Summers, Forward, Georgetown
The Grizzlies will have a lot of talent in the back-court, but now they need to work on the front-court. DaJuan Summers is 6'8", so he can play at both small forward and power forward.

NBA Comparison: Tim Thomas

28. Minnesota Timberwolves from: Celtics- Darren Collison, Point Guard, UCLA
The only reason I could really see this pick happening is because Collison played with Kevin Love in Love's only season at UCLA. They could re-unite and potentially have some chemistry to distribute on the Wolves roster.

NBA Comparison: Mario Chalmers

29. Los Angeles Lakers- Marcus Thornton, Shooting Guard, LSU
Kobe Bryant needs to have some of the load taken off of him. The Lakers don't have a talented shooting guard to play behind Kobe. Marcus Thornton is exactly the player they need.

NBA Comparison: Jason Terry

30. Cleveland Cavaliers- Wayne Ellington, Shooting Guard, UNC
The Cavaliers are one of the most deep teams in the game today. This pick would only help making the rich richer. Delonte West is the worst player in the starting five for the Cavaliers, which could lead them to taking Ellington in the first round.

NBA Comparison: Ray Allen

Will The Vikings Sign Michael Vick In 2009?

Tanner Thoms — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:00:15 -0400

Despite the fact that Michael Vick is still technically a part of the Atlanta Falcons roster, it seems as though they are preparing to release the former No. 1 overall pick.

As I just mentioned, Vick was the first overall section in the 2001 draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He played his college ball at the University of Virginia Tech.

Coming out of college, Michael was expected to be a great player. He was able to both run and pass the ball at a high rate.

In his career, Vick has 71 touchdowns, only 52 interceptions, 11,505 passing yards, 3,859 rushing yards, and 21 rushing touchdowns.

In April of 2007, Vick was accused of being involved with a dog-fighting ring that had been operating for over five years at the time. He was said to have bet on dogs and allowed them to fight in one of his many homes.

He was suspended from the NFL in August of 2007, and was sentenced to 23 months in a federal prison in December of '07. His sentence was reduced to only 17 months due to his good behavior in the prison.

He filed for bankruptcy, but his case has yet to be resolved. Vick had to give millions of dollars back to the Falcons organization.

Many believe that Michael should not be re-instated, but others feel that he has learned his lesson, served his time, and deserves to be on an NFL roster in 2009.

Who would take a risk on somebody like Michael Vick? There have been several teams that have been reported as possibly being interested in him. One of those teams is the Minnesota Vikings.

Why they would sign Michael Vick

As most of you know, the Viking's quarterbacks are pretty average at this point. Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson are expected to battle it out for the No. 1 spot on the depth chart, and I hate to say it, but neither of these guys are as good as Michael Vick.

Don't get me wrong, I think we are fine with Jackson or Rosenfels, but we are much better off with somebody that is as talented as Michael Vick.

There is also the rumor that Brett Favre might be returning to the NFL once again, but quite frankly I'm getting sick and tired of it. Make up your mind Favre, and we wouldn't be having this discussion right now.

Minnesota needs to plan it out as if Brett was definitely not going to return to the NFL. That's why they need to give Michael Vick a chance.

He would provide the ability to take some of the pressure off of Adrian Peterson as far as running the ball goes. Vick is known for his ability to scramble and get a big chunk of yards.

Michael also has a very underated arm. He can pass over 60 yards, no sweat. Many people just fail to realize it because his running is what he is famous for.

Bernard Berrian and the other Vikings receiver's numbers would sky-rocket. If they can get a stable quarterback that has a strong arm, they will be able to get much more accurate throws.

Why they wouldn't sign Michael Vick

Like I said earlier, the Vikings have Sage Rosenfels on the roster. I doubt they would have traded a fourth round pick for him if they didn't think he would start. But then again, I don't think he will.

Minnesota has three current quarterbacks on the roster, and it looks as though Brett Favre is their No. 1 priority to get right now. They just need to find out whether or not he's coming back.

The Vikings are a team that has said that they are looking to get rid of all the trouble-makers and locker room distractions on their team. If this is the case, why did they draft Percy Harvin over Hakeem Nicks or Kenny Britt though?

Minnesota is often times a confusing team. They say that they won't do something, but then they turn around and do just that. Brad Childress seems to be the kind of coach that can't stick to his word.

Michael Vick may be a locker room distraction, but he is not a bad person or player. He made a mistake and he has paid the price for that mistake. The Vikings just need to realize this.

Salary could be an issue as well. The Vikings do have enough cap to sign him, but then it would make it much harder for them to extend Antoine Winfield's contract which expires after the 2009 season.

Either way you look at the situation, you must consider Michael Vick potentially going to the Vikings. What would be the real problem with it?

Please do not comment me saying that the Vikings won't get Michael Vick because they said that they won't. Don't believe rumors until you know for a fact that they are true. More often than not, they are just adding fuel to the fire.

Tell me what you think of Michael Vick going to the Vikings. Let me know what you think he'd provide to the team. All opinions are appreciated.

NFC North: The Top Four Players at Each Position

Tanner Thoms — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:59:29 -0400

Quarterbacks

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers was a surprise last year. Not many people thought he would succeed in his first season taking over for the legendary, Brett Favre. He has tremendous receivers, and this will lead to his stats getting even better next season.

2. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

As you should all know by now, Jay Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears from the Denver Broncos, the team that drafted him. This trade worked out well for both sides. The Bears finally have a stable quarterback at the helm, and should see great success from Cutler in the future.

3. Sage Rosenfels/Tarvaris Jackson, Minnesota Vikings

Even though they don't know who the starter will be come week one, I feel that the Vikings starting quarterback will have a significant amount of success. Minnesota has several offensive weapons like Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin, and Visanthe Shiancoe to throw to.

4. Daunte Culpepper, Detroit Lions

Daunte Culpepper will likely start most of the games next season. The Lions don't have a great offense. Brandon Pettigrew and Calvin Johnson will get their receptions, but who else will?

Running Back

1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

Of course Adrian is the best running back in the NFC North, he's the best running back in the NFL today. He had over 1,700 yards, and his numbers should only go up next season.

2. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

In his rookie season, Forte was not expected to be a great player, but he turned out to be the best offensive player that the Bears have had in quite some time. His carries might go down next year, though, if Jay Cutler gets more throws.

3. Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions

Hear me out, because most of you think that Ryan Grant is probably a much better running back than Kevin Smith. The Lions will likely run the ball much more next season. On the other hand, Green Bay is a pass-first team.

4. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers

Grant will get his 1,000 yards, but he might see a decrease in his number of carries next season. Ryan had over 1,200 yards last year, along with four touchdowns. He should see around the same numbers next season.

Fullback

1. Jason McKie, Chicago Bears

McKie is without a doubt the best fullback in the NFC North. He had 11 carries for 26 yards, and two touchdowns.

2. John Kuhn, Green Bay Packers

John Kuhn was one of the more surprising players on the Packers offense last year. He had 3 total touchdowns, rushing and receiving.

3. Jerome Felton, Detroit Lions

He isn't known quite yet, but Jerome Felton is a 22 year-old from the University of Furman. Jerome had 9 receptions for 53 yards in '08.

4. Naufahu Tahi, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are not known for using their fullbacks to run the ball. They mainly use them to block for the running backs. That is why Tahi isn't much of a factor.

Wide Receiver

1. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions

Calvin Johnson has become one of the best receivers in the game today. To some, he might be even the best, but I think it's a little too early to tell. Seeing as he's the best receiver on the Lions, he will get a lot of balls thrown his way.

2. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers

Greg Jennings is one of the more consistent receivers in the game today. Aaron Rodgers is a top 10 quarterback this season, and will look to throw the majority of his passes to Jennings.

3. Bernard Berrian, Minnesota Vikings

Bernard Berrian had nearly 1,000 yards receiving last year. I, believe, that with a stable quarterback, Berrian will finally get over 1,000 yards. Look for his numbers to increase in 2009.

4. Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers

Donald Driver is getting up there in age, but he still has a lot of game left in him. He is now the No. 2 option behind Greg Jennings which will ultimately make Donald's numbers decrease.

Tight End

1. Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings

Slowly, but surely, Visanthe Shiancoe has become one of the better tight ends in the entire league. He had nearly 600 yards receiving last year, along with seven touchdowns.

2. Greg Olsen, Chicago Bears

Greg Olsen is a very close second to Shiancoe. He had 54 receptions, 574 yards, and 5 touchdowns. He will likely be the No. 1 target for the Bears next season.

3. Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions

Brandon Pettigrew was the second of the Lions two first-round-picks in 2009. He is known for being a blocking tight end, but he will definitely be a big target next season.

4. Donald Lee, Green Bay Packers

Compared to the 2007 season, Donald Lee's numbers were not near as good. He had five touchdowns, but only 303 yards receiving.

Left Tackle

1. Bryant McKinnie, Minnesota Vikings

Bryant has fallen upon some legal troubles, but he is still without a doubt, the best left tackle in the NFC North today. He sometimes doesn't play as hard as he should, though.

2. Chad Clifton, Green Bay Packers

Chad Clifton gets the nod over Orlando Pace, strictly because Pace didn't have that great of a season last year. Clifton will turn 33 years-old very soon.

3. Orlando Pace, Chicago Bears

The Bears signed Orlando after he was cut by the Rams a couple months back. He was the No. 1 overall pick back in 1997. Chicago signed him mainly for depth purposes.

4. Jeff Backus, Detroit Lions

I don't know much about Jeff Backus, but he must not be that great, because the Lions really wanted a left tackle in this past draft.

Left Guard

1. Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings signed Hutchinson after his contract ran up with the Seahawks in 2006. Since then, he has been proclaimed as the best guard in the game today.

2. Daryn Colledge, Green Bay Packers

Daryn Colledge is a three-year-player from Boise State University. He became one of the better players on the Packers offensive line last season.

3. Josh Beekman, Chicago Bears

I haven't heard of him before, but he apparently is the No. 1 left guard on the Bears depth chart currently.

4. Damion Cook, Detroit Lions

I heard Damion Cook's name a few times last year during Vikings games, but paid utterly no intention to how good he is. Cook is a 30-year-old from Bethune-Cookman University.

Center

1. Olin Kreutz, Chicago Bears

Olin has been one of the more consistent center's in the league today. He's 32 years old, but Kreutz still has some gas left in the tank.

2. Dominic Raiola, Detroit Lions

Raiola basically wins this spot by default. John Sullivan hasn't proven anything, and Scott Wells, well, I had never heard of him. Raiola is a decent center, though.

3. Scott Wells, Green Bay Packers

Scott Wells is a five-year veteran from the University of Tennessee. He has started in the last 59 career games at center for the Packers.

4. John Sullivan, Minnesota Vikings

Sullivan is a sophomore player from Notre Dame. He was a rookie last year who learned a lot behind future hall-of-famer, Matt Birk. Expect to see a lot of success from John next season.

Right Guard

1. Anthony Herrera, Minnesota Vikings

Anthony Herrera is one of the more under-rated and under-appreciated guards in the league today. He has started all 16 games for the past two years with Minnesota.

2. Jason Spitz, Green Bay Packers

Jason Spitz has started in 44 career games with the Green Bay Packers. He's only been in the league for three years, but has become one of the better guards in the NFC.

3. Roberto Garza, Chicago Bears

Garza has started in 48 straight games for the Bears. Before signing with Chicago, he started with the Atlanta Falcons for four straight years.

4. Stephen Peterman, Detroit Lions

Stephen Peterman started and appeared in 14 games last season. The Lions are known for having a pitiful offensive line, which means that Peterman must not be that great of a player.

Right Tackle

1. Kevin Shaffer, Chicago Bears

Shaffer was signed by the Bears after being released by the Cleveland Browns a couple of months ago. He started in 15 games last season for Cleveland.

2. Gosder Cherilus, Detroit Lions

The Lions drafted Cherilus in the first round of the 2008 draft. He started in 13 games, but appeared in all 16 last season. He should continue to impress next season.

3. Phil Loadholt, Minnesota Vikings

Loadholt was the Vikings second-round-pick in this year's draft. He has great size at 6"8, 330 pounds. He should be a force on Minnesota's offensive line next season.

4. Tony Moll, Green Bay Packers

There isn't much to say about this guy, except for the fact that he started in five games for the Packers last season. He likely won't start if Green Bay decides to re-sign Mark Tauscher.

Left End

1. Adewale Ogunlye, Chicago Bears

Last season with the Bears, Adewale recorded five sacks along with 62 tackles. These numbers are actually very disappointing for Ogunlye. He should be back to form next season.

2. Ray Edwards, Minnesota Vikings

In his three seasons with the Vikings, Edwards has 13 career sacks, and 94 tackles. Last year, Ray wracked up five sacks, as well as 54 tackles.

3. Cliff Avril, Detroit Lions

In his rookie season, Cliff Avril wasn't expected to be that good of a player, but he surprised us all. He recorded 5 sacks and 23 tackles, as well as four forced fumbles!

4. Mike Montgomery, Green Bay Packers

In his fourth season in the NFL, Mike Montgomery had a career high 59 tackles in 2008. He also wracked up 2.5 sacks, and forced one single fumble.

Right End

1. Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings

Jared Allen was traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Minnesota Vikings in the 2008 off-season. Minnesota gave up multiple picks for Allen, and he didn't disappoint. In '08, Jared had 14.5 sacks.

2. Alex Brown, Chicago Bears

For how good he normally is, Alex Brown didn't have that good of a season. He only recorded six sacks, 44 tackles, and one forced fumble. Look for these numbers to go back up next season.

3. Dewayne White, Detroit Lions

In his sixth season from Louisville, Dewayne White was arguably the best defensive lineman on the Lions roster. White had 38 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles.

4. Cullen Jenkins, Green Bay Packers

Cullen Jenkins missed 12 games last year, but started in the four games that he was healthy. He record 2.5 sacks in those games.

Defensive Tackle

1. Kevin Williams, Minnesota Vikings

In his sixth season, Kevin Williams started in all 16 games, and recorded 8.5 sacks, 60 tackles, and one forced fumble. He might miss some games next year, though, due to the steroid scandal.

2. Tommie Harris, Chicago Bears

Tommie Harris is a great football player. In his fifth season, Harris started in 13 games, appeared in 14, and recorded 5 sacks with 37 tackles.

3. B.J. Raji, Green Bay Packers

He hasn't proven anything, but B.J. Raji is going to be a major factor for the Packers in 2009. He has the ability to both rush the quarterback and be a run-stuffer.

4. Pat Williams, Minnesota Vikings

He will turn 37 in October, but Pat Williams is still one of the better defensive tackles in the league today. Pat even made the Pro Bowl after only recording 44 tackles.

Weak-Side Linebacker

1. Lance Briggs, Chicago Bears

In his sixth season in the NFL, Lance Briggs wracked up 110 tackles, 3 interceptions, and one forced fumble. He will look to continue his dominance with the Bears next season.

2. Ernie Sims, Detroit Lions

Ernie Sims has already become one of the better linebackers in the league in only three seasons in the pros. The Lions drafted him in the first-round of the 2006 draft.

3. Nick Barnett, Green Bay Packers

Nick Barnett only started and played in nine games, but went down with an injury in week 11 of the 2008 season. He managed to record 49 tackles in those nine contests.

4. Ben Leber, Minnesota Vikings

In my opinion, Ben Leber is one of the more under-rated linebackers in the entire league. The stats might not always be there, but he still gives it his all on each and every play.

Middle Linebacker

1. E.J. Henderson, Minnesota Vikings

Despite missing most of the 2008 season, I still believe that E.J. Henderson is the best middle linebacker in the NFC North. He should be back, and better than ever next season.

2. A.J. Hawk, Green Bay Packers

Despite the fact that he is a Packer, I have always had some respect for A.J. Hawk. From what I've seen, he is one of the toughest linebackers to play the game today.

3. Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears

There is no telling how much longer Brian Urlacher will be able to play at a high level, but he is still a good middle linebacker that gives it his all in every game. He recorded 93 tackles in 2008.

4. Jordon Dizon, Detroit Lions

Dizon was a rookie last season, and he wasn't expected to do much for the Lions. He ended up playing in 12 games, but didn't start in any of them.

Strongside Linebacker

1. Chad Greenway, Minnesota Vikings

Chad Greenway has become without a doubt the best strong-side linebacker in the NFC North. He wracked up 115 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles last season.

2. Aaron Kampman, Green Bay Packers

It's no guarantee that he'd play this position at linebacker, but it's a real possibility. Kampman will be making the switch to outside linebacker since the Packers switched from the 4-3 to the 3-4.

3. Julian Peterson, Detroit Lions

The Lions traded defensive tackle, Cory Redding, to the Seahawks for linebacker, Julian Peterson. Peterson totaled 86 tackles, five sacks, and forced four fumbles in 2008.

4. Nick Roach, Chicago Bears

As a second-year player, Nick Roach beat out Hunter Hillenmeyer for the starting strong-side linebacker spot. He started in nine games and recorded 37 total tackles.

Cornerback

1. Antoine Winfield, Minnesota Vikings

Antoine Winfield is getting up there in age, but he still managed to make the Pro Bowl this past season. He is in the last year of his contract, so he will look to be on his best game of his career.

2. Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers

Charles Woodson is almost 33 years old, but he still is one of the better cornerbacks in the league today. He recorded seven interceptions last year, one off of his record in a single season.

3. Charles Tillman, Chicago Bears

Charles Tillman, in his sixth season, had a career high 93 tackles, four forced fumbles, and three interceptions. His best years are yet to come in Chicago.

4. Cedric Griffin, Minnesota Vikings

This may be my homerism coming into effect, but I truly believe that Cedric Griffin will have the best season of his short-lived career. He impressed Vikings fans with 91 tackles in '08.

Free Safety

1. Nick Collins, Green Bay Packers

Nick Collins was arguably the best free safety in the NFC last year. He had a career-high seven interceptions, as well as 72 tackles.

2. Madieu Williams, Minnesota Vikings

Madieu Williams missed a huge chunk of the Minnesota Vikings season last year, but he will be 100 percent healthy in 2009. I, expect, Madieu to have a much better season.

3. Josh Bullocks, Chicago Bears

Josh Bullocks played for the New Orleans Saints last year, but when his contract expired the Bears signed him right away. He should be a good impact player for Chicago in 2009.

4. Gerald Alexander, Detroit Lions

In 2008, Gerald Alexander was a backup and didn't get that great of stats, but he will likely be the starter in '09.

Strong Safety

1. Atari Bigby, Green Bay Packers

Despite missing over half of the season, Atari Bigby is the best strong safety in the NFC North. He will be back fully healthy next year, and will look to go back to his normal form.

2. Daniel Bullocks, Detroit Lions

Daniel Bullocks isn't that great of a safety, but he's the best on their squad. He will get his tackles, but is nowhere near a Pro-Bowl caliber player.

3. Kevin Payne, Chicago Bears

Not many people knew who Kevin Payne was before last year, but now they know exactly who he is. In his second season, Payne had 88 tackles, one sack, and four interceptions!

4. Tyrell Johnson, Minnesota Vikings

Tyrell Johnson will be taking over for Darren Sharper in the 2009 season. Last year, Tyrell started in seven games for Madieu Williams when he went down with an injury. Johnson should be a good replacement for Sharper next season.

Kicker

1. Jason Hanson, Detroit Lions

In his 17th NFL season, Jason Hanson was one of the more accurate kickers in the league. He nailed 21 of 22 field goals in 2008.

2. Ryan Longwell, Minnesota Vikings

Ryan Longwell is known for being a very clutch kicker, and he was. He nailed the winning field goal against the Giants in week 17, to put the Vikings in the playoffs.

3. Robbie Gould, Chicago Bears

In my opinion, Robbie Gould is one of the more under-rated kickers in the league, but he does have a cool pirate name. He nailed 26 of 29 field goals in 2008.

4. Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers

Mason Crosby is a good kicker even though he is the fourth best in the NFC North. He connected on 27 of 34 field goals last season.

Punter

1. Chris Kluwe, Minnesota Vikings

Chris Kluwe in only his fourth season, has become one of the best punter's in the game today, believe it or not. He averaged 47.6 yards per punt in '08.

2. Nick Harris, Detroit Lions

Nick Harris was on the field quite a bit, because the Lions often had to punt the ball. He had 90 punts, and averaged 43.9 yards per punt.

3. Brad Maynard, Chicago Bears

In his 12th season from Ball State, Brad Maynard averaged 41.2 yards per punt. He also had 5 touchbacks, and 40 kicks within the 20 yard line

4. Durant Brooks, Green Bay Packers

As a rookie, Durant Brooks started right away. He averaged slightly under 40 yards per punt, though.

Why Adrian Peterson Will Be the MVP of the 2009 Season

Tanner Thoms — Sat, 16 May 2009 22:50:19 -0400

When you hear the question of who the best running back in the league is, who do you think of? Adrian Peterson, Michael Turner, DeAngelo Williams, LaDainian Tomlinson, or Clinton Portis?

I, believe, that Adrian is probably the best among those players listed above. Disagree if you must, but that is how I feel.

I am a Vikings fan, but I would say that Peterson is the best running back in the league, even if I was a Bears or Packers fan. By the way, that will never happen in a million years.

Adrian has consistently gotten better at running the ball. In his rookie season, he had 1,341 yards and twelve touchdowns. These numbers easily put him in the top ten running backs in the league, maybe even the top five.

Many thought Peterson would be a one-year-wonder, and his numbers would take a decline in the following season. Oh, how they were wrong.

In his sophomore campaign, Adrian's numbers sky-rocketed. He had 363 carries for 1,760 yards, and ten touchdowns. His only problem was that he fumbled an outrageous nine times.

Adrian must get this problem under control. The Vikings absolutely cannot afford to get far into the red-zone, just to have him fumble the ball away without even getting hit that hard. This occurred several times last year. As my friend Sayre would say, he has a massive case of "fumbleitis."

Usually, quarterbacks win the MVP award. A quarterback has won the award for 35 of the last 51 seasons. Peyton Manning won the award last season.

These numbers do not fair well for Adrian. The odds will definitely be stacked against him for next season. But to be expected is Peterson once again silencing the critics and showing even more evolution.

Chester Taylor, the Vikings back-up running back, has seen a large decrease in his number of carries. This is obviously because Adrian is the every-down-runner for Minnesota.

He is in the last year of his contract, so the Vikings might try to either get the most out of him, or potentially trade him to a team that desperately needs a starting running back. Time will tell what Minnesota will do, but I sincerely hope that they keep him on the roster next season.

Adrian is one of the more devoted players to the game than I have seen in some time. In only two years, he has become a fan-favorite, and is considered by some to be one of the best players in the league.

I'm not one to base greatness on fantasy football, but A.P. went first in a lot of the leagues that I was in last year. People rolled the dice on Peterson even though he had only one year of experience under his belt at the current time.

You might say I'm bias, but I really could care less. This is really how I feel. I won't say that Adrian is the clear favorite, but he is an absolute sure-fire top five player in the NFL today.

Another reason why he has a great chance to be the MVP is because of Minnesota's lack to throw the ball at a high-rate. Often times, they rely on Adrian to get the job done when they need it the most.

Sage Rosenfels isn't going to be a star, which will lead the Vikings to have to run the ball much more often than they used to. This should not come as a surprise to anybody.

If I had to predict Adrian's stats for next year, I would say he will be around 400 carries, 1,900 yards, and 15 touchdowns.

Minnesota will also look to get him more involved in the receiving game. He has not been used that often for catching passes. I, definitely, expect this to change next season.

Case-in-point, Adrian Peterson is my top candidate for being the MVP of the 2009 season. Do you agree or disagree? Feel free to state your opinion.

Bernard Berrian—Percy Harvin: Who Will Have More Receiving Yards?

Tanner Thoms — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:44:56 -0400

I had some down-time today to do a little brain-storming over some Vikings' articles that I thought I could take the time to write.

I came up with a topic that could easily be debated. Bernard Berrian, a proven receiver, or Percy Harvin, a rookie to the NFL this year.

Who will have more receving yards in 2009?

Honestly, at this point, either one of these two young studs could win this battle. In the end, who will come out victorious?

Percy Harvin

Minnesota drafted Percy Harvin with the 22nd overall pick, as most of you should know by now. Right off the bat, the Vikings received some criticism for making a pick on somebody who has been known as having a bit of an "ego" issue.

Brad Childress had said that he wants to get rid of all things bad on the team. For those who had bad tempers, you would be gone. Was this taking a step in the right direction?

Ever since the infamous boat scandal, Vikings' fans have felt ashamed of the actions that there team has taken part in. However, you have to move on from the past and look towards the future for your success and prosperity.

Picking Percy Harvin was still puzzling to some people. Why did they want to take this chance on a player that could be a nuisance to the team? Could Percy change, or would his old ways just continue even when he made it to the NFL?

Nonetheless, Harvin was a great choice, and at the point where Minnesota was picking, he was far too good to pass up on. The Vikings needed a receiver that could draw off some of the double-teams that Bernard Berrian was receiving last season.

Harvin is an incredibly fast receiver with good hands. He will be able to burn defenders for the long-ball. Do not be surprised if he eclipses 1,000 yards next season, as long as the quarterback situation is somewhat normal.

Bernard Berrian

Bernard Berrian was signed after becoming a free-agent during the 2008 offseason. Bernard had spent four seasons with the Bears, totalling over 2,000 yards receiving in those four years.

In his rookie campaign, Berrian started in one game, but appeared in all 16. He hauled in 15 catches for 225 yards, along with two touchdowns.

His next season wasn't a whole heck of a lot better. Bernard had 13 receptions for 246 yards, but this time, no touchdowns whatsoever.

In 2006, Bernard started to shine. He started in 14 games for the Bears, had 51 catches, and nearly 800 yards receiving!

In Berrian's final season with Chicago he caught 71 balls for 951 yards, and five touchdowns.

His contract expired after the 2007 season. The Bears seemed to have no intention of re-signing Berrian, despite the fact that he was arguably their best offensive player currently on the roster.

Several teams were interested in Bernard, but the Oakland Raiders and Minnesota Vikings were the only serious candidates to sign him.

To make a long story short, Berrian decided to sign with the Vikings over the Raiders. This was a very smart decision by Bernard.

In 2008, he started in 13 games, but appeared in all of them. Berrian caught 48 passes for 964 yards, and seven touchdowns. This is considered, by some, to be his best season ever.

What will the '09 season bring for Bernard Berrian? Will he continue to impress, and finally pass 1,000 receiving yards?

Both of these receivers have great speed and have the ability to burn the defender at any point in the game.

Which one do you think will have the better season? How many yards do you think either one of them will have?

All opinions are appreciated. Please vote in the poll!

Five Predicted Trades for the NBA Offseason

Tanner Thoms — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:17:51 -0400

Often times there is a lot of talk on what players will go where. Some of the time the predicted trades come true, most times they do not. I decided to give it a shot and predict five trades that could happen in this year's off-season. Most of these players have been reported as either being on the block currently, or were at some point during the 2008-2009 season. Enjoy the show!

Begin Slideshow