2012 NFL Draft Review for the Minnesota Vikings

1 - Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California (6-7, 306);
1 - Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame (6-2, 213);
3 - Josh Robinson, CB, Central Florida (5-10, 199);
4 - Jarius Wright, WR, Arkansas (5-10, 196);
4 - Rhett Ellison, TE, Southern California (6-5, 251);
4 - Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas (6-3, 219);
5 - Robert Blanton, DB, Notre Dame (6-1, 208);
6 - Blair Walsh, K, Georgia (5-9, 187);
7 - Audie Cole, OLB, North Carolina State (6-4, 246);
7 - Trevor Guyton, DT, California (6-3, 285)

Vikings Jaguars Game at the Metrodome

The Minnesota Vikings will host the Jacksonville Jaguars for the home opener at the HHH Metrodome. The game is on Sunday, September 9, 2012.

 Minnesota Vikings v Jacksonville Jaguars 

9/9/2012

The Minnesota Vikings: Successful Seasons and Players

The Vikings have had many successful seasons despite not winning the "Big Game." In 1998, the Vikings set an NFL record with 556 points and came within 4 points of a perfect season, going 15-1.

The Vikings have had many great players as well. The Vikings have been the home team to Hall of Famers like Fran Tarkenton, Carl Eller and Alan Page. Great players like Jim Marshall, Chuck Foreman, Ahmad Rashad, Tommy Kramer, Joey Browner, Keith Millard, John Randle, Scott Studwell and Jack Del Rio have all donned the purple and gold jerseys of the Minnesota Vikings.

The Minnesota Vikings: What You Need to Know

The Minnesota Vikings are a professional National Football League (NFL) team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They belong to the North Division of the National Football Conference (NFC). They currently play their home games at Mall of America Field in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, located at 900 South 5th Street in downtown Minneapolis, but are on the verge of a new stadium deal. The Minnesota Vikings were the 14th franchise and began play on September 17, 1961.

The Minnesota Vikings have a tradition of greatness. Named after the Nordic people who were ancestors to Minnesota's large population of Scandinavian Americans, the Vikings possess both physical and mental toughness.

Since the late 1960s, the Vikings have been one of the most consistently successful franchises in the NFL. During the 1970s head coach Bud Grant steered the team to four Super Bowls. Grant also assembled one of the fiercest defenses in NFL history. Known collectively as the Purple People Eaters, players such as linemen Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, and Alan Page "devoured" opposing offenses.

The Vikings have successfully won the division 16 times, are one of five NFL teams to win 15 games during the regular season and became the first team to appear in four Super Bowls. But the club also became the first team to lose four Super Bowls. The much coveted Super Bowl Champion title appears to be the Achilles' heal of the Minnesota Vikings.

The Minnesota Vikings: What You Need to Know

The Minnesota Vikings are a professional National Football League (NFL) team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They belong to the North Division of the National Football Conference (NFC). They currently play their home games at Mall of America Field in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, located at 900 South 5th Street in downtown Minneapolis, but are on the verge of a new stadium deal. The Minnesota Vikings were the 14th franchise and began play on September 17, 1961.

The Minnesota Vikings have a tradition of greatness. Named after the Nordic people who were ancestors to Minnesota's large population of Scandinavian Americans, the Vikings possess both physical and mental toughness.

Since the late 1960s, the Vikings have been one of the most consistently successful franchises in the NFL. During the 1970s head coach Bud Grant steered the team to four Super Bowls. Grant also assembled one of the fiercest defenses in NFL history. Known collectively as the Purple People Eaters, players such as linemen Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, and Alan Page "devoured" opposing offenses.

The Vikings have successfully won the division 16 times, are one of five NFL teams to win 15 games during the regular season and became the first team to appear in four Super Bowls. But the club also became the first team to lose four Super Bowls. The much coveted Super Bowl Champion title appears to be the Achilles' heal of the Minnesota Vikings.

Coaching Spotlight: Bill Musgrave, Offensive Coordinator

Bill Musgrave, Offensive Coordinator

Bill Musgrave joined the Vikings coaching staff in 2011 as the offensive coordinator. Musgrave holds a strong offensive background as well as impressive on-field results. In the six seasons prior to joining the Vikings, Musgrave was part of 3 playoff teams.

Join Bill Musgrave and the rest of the Vikings coaching staff for a Minnesota Vikings football game!

Matt Kalil and the Minnesota Vikings

USC left tackle Matt Kalil will offer the Minnesota Vikings a player capable of starting right away. The Vikings have always invested in the offensive line. The investment has typically paid off as the Vikings have always had strong offensive line plays.

Kalil is the undisputed top tackle in the draft and is seen as a foundation piece for an offensive line. He comes from a big school and has faced top competition and is equally adept at blocking in either the passing and running games. Picking Kalil would solidify Minnesota's offensive line in two spots, left tackle and left guard

2011--DeMarcus Love, Arkansas: sixth round (168th overall) -- still with the Vikings
2010--Chris DeGeare, Wake Forest: fifth round (161st overall) -- still with the Vikings
2009--Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma: second round (54th overall) -- still with the Vikings
2004--Nat Dorsey, Georgia Tech: fourth round (115th overall) -- traded to Cleveland Browns, September 2005, out of the league
2002--Bryant McKinnie, Miami: first round (seventh overall) -- released, August 2011, signed with the Baltimore Ravens

Coaching Spotlight: Mike Singletary, Special Assistant to Head Coach

Mike Singletary, Special Assistant to Head Coach

Mike Singletary is not new to working with Leslie Frazier. Singletary and Frazier were rookie defenders for the Chicago Bears in 1981 and now, 30 years later, are working together for the Minnesota Vikings of the NFC North.

Singletary joined the Vikings staff in 2011 as the special assistant to the head coach and now manages that role as well as coaching the line backers. Singletary boasts a long background in football, including coaching.

Coaching Spotlight: Leslie Frazier, Head Coach

Leslie Frazier, Head Coach

Leslie Frazier, named the Minnesota Vikings head coach in January 2011, was the interim head coach for the final 6 games of the 2010 season following the dismissal of Brad Childress. Frazier is the 8th head coach in Vikings history, but his experience with the Vikings didn't start at the top. Frazier joined the Vikings in 2007 as defensive coordinator and added assistant head coach duties in 2008.

During his interim experience, Frazier notched a .500 record, winning his opening contest and an upset win over the eventual NFC East champion Philadelphia on the road.

Join Leslie Frazier and the Minnesota Vikings this year for a Minnesota Vikings football game!

Morris Claiborne and the Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings look poised to take CB Morris Claiborne with their third overall pick in this season's draft. Whether or not the pick will be out of genuine desire or in hopes of trading down with a pick, Claiborne is all the Vikings seem to be talking about.

Vikings Stadium Updates

Negotiators for the House of Representatives and charitable gaming interests struck a deal this weekend to provide more tax relief for charities. The agreement potentially removes one of the remaining obstacles blocking the Vikings stadium bill.

The stadium bill - which would put a new stadium next to the current Metrodome, financed with $427 million from the Vikings, $398 million from the state and $150 million from Minneapolis - has had one hearing in the Senate but no vote. Monday will be its first hearing in the House.