Percy Harvin and Chad Greenway participates in OTAs: For week one of OTAs, WR Percy Harvin was a spectator while rehabbing, along side teammate Adrian Peterson, from off-season shoulder surgery. LB Chad Greenway was also absent from week one of OTAs while he was attending to a family issue. However, for OTA #4, according to the Vikings.com, Harvin and Greenway joined their teammates on the field and looked “refreshed and explosive.”
ESPN analysis of the Vikings back-up QB situation: Christian Ponder will enter the 2012 season as the #1 QB on the Vikings depth-chart. However, Ponder faced multiple injuries during his rookie season. It’s important for the Vikings to have a reliable back-up QB in case Ponder, who has the reputation as being “injury prone,” goes down sometime during the season.
Sage Rosenfels might be the No. 2 quarterback for Minnesota right now, butJoe Webb is far more intriguing. That being said, Ponder needs to be the guy Minnesota builds its team around, and I believe Ponder is the right guy for the job. If Ponder were to go down though, and the Vikings were in contention, I bet Rosenfels would take over with Webb being used as a specialty player here and there. Although very mistake-prone, Rosenfels is better equipped to lead an offense than Webb due to his league experience. Rosenfels’ squads have won six of the 12 games he has started in the NFL. But if Ponder were to completely flop or get hurt when the Vikings were out of contention, putting Webb behind center and giving this playmaker a ton of snaps would be prudent. Webb is very difficult for opposing defenses to prepare for because he has a huge arm and wide receiver-like athletic ability. Webb has made plays consistently when given the chance, but has started only two games.
Confidence rating (out of 100) if Ponder is out for an extended period: 60.
Vikings LB Erin Henderson weds: Essence.com released photos from Henderson’s wedding to Maleah Flint. According to the website, “The pair, who are proud new parents to Lennox, their 1 year old son, tied the knot at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Atlanta in an intimate ceremony on March 31, 2012 before 92 of their closest friends and family – not including the many wedding crashers, they say.” Click here for Mr. and Mrs. Henderson’s wedding photo album.
Don’t drink and drive-thru McDonalds: As reported this weekend, Vikings FB Jerome Felton was arrested for DUI, however, details are now being released:
Minnesota Vikings fullback Jerome Felton wasn’t on a highway or freeway early Saturday when he was arrested on a second-degree DWI charge.
Instead, Felton was waiting in the drive-thru lane at a McDonald’s in Eden Prairie.
In an e-mail Monday, an Eden Prairie police spokesperson wrote that police responded to the McDonald’s on Prairie Center Drive at approximately 3 a.m. Saturday because of a report of an intoxicated driver waiting in the drive-thru lane.
Two roster moves: The Vikings have signed free-agent DB Corey Gatewood following the retirement of Asher Allen to increase depth and competition within their backfield. The Vikings are also reported to sign rookie WR A.J. Love out of South Florida.
Rookie contract breakdowns: The Vikings have signed 8-of-10 2012 draft picks.
1. (4) Matt Kalil, LT, Southern California: Unsigned.
1. (29) Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame: Signed a four-year, $7,138,546 contract that included a $3,631,672 signing bonus and $5,775,109 in guarantees.
3. (66) Josh Robinson, CB, Central: Unsigned.
4. (118) Jarius Wright, WR, Arkansas: Signed a four-year, $2,520,108 contract that included a $420,108 signing bonus.
4. (128) Rhett Ellison, TE, Southern California: Signed a four-year, $2,400,584 contract that included a $300,584 signing bonus.
4. (134) Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas: Signed a four-year, $2,400,584 contract that included a $300,584 signing bonus.
5. (139) Robert Blanton Jr., DB, Notre Dame: Signed a four-year, $2,311,052 contract that included a $211,052 signing bonus.
6. (175) Blair Walsh, K, Georgia: Signed a four-year, $2,217,932 contract that included a $117,932 signing bonus.
7. (210) Audie Cole, LB, North Carolina State: Signed a four-year, $2,167,500 contract that included a $67,500 signing bonus.
7. (219) Trevor Guyton, DE, California: Signed a four-year, $2,160,256 contract that included a $60,256 signing bonus.
