Vikings stadium approved. Now what?

Pioneer Press
"State and local funding for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium has been approved on paper. Now, the work begins.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak said one of the first steps will be the creation of an implementation committee to examine key details of the stadium plan, such as local hiring for construction jobs and ways to connect the stadium to the West Bank and the surrounding community.
The stadium legislation requires the creation of a five-member sports facility authority, with two members chosen by the mayor and three chosen by the governor's office. Rybak's spokesman, John Stiles, said those members will be picked within the next two weeks.
Jeff Anderson, a spokesman for the Vikings, said he envisioned architectural design and planning for a new stadium would take 10 months to a year. A construction firm would be hired through a public process. Crews could break ground on a stadium next spring.
"We've been anxiously awaiting this vote for a couple of weeks," Anderson said.
Minneapolis City Council member Elizabeth Glidden said many hope to see the sports facility authority evolve into a regional body, scheduling concerts and conventions at the stadium, the Minneapolis Convention Center, the Target Center and perhaps even the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. "

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Chris Doleman elected to Hall; Cris Carter denied

February 5 2012 - St. Paul Pioneer Press
"Former Vikings defensive end and linebacker Chris Doleman was one of six players elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Also elected were Curtis Martin, Cortez Kennedy, Dermontti Dawson, Willie Roaf and senior selection Jack Butler.
Doleman will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 4. He joins 10 other former Vikings who have been inducted. This is the fifth time in the past seven years that the Vikings have had a former player elected to the hall. The others: John Randle (2010), Randall McDaniel (2009), Gary Zimmerman (2008) and Warren Moon (2006).
Former Vikings receiver Cris Carter was among the finalists who didn't make it. Carter is the No. 4 career receiver in NFL history with 1,101 catches in 16 seasons with three teams.
Doleman said his son Evan would present him for induction.
"I am totally blown away by this and humbled by it," he said. "When they call your name, you're absolutely numb."
"Having watched Chris enter the Vikings Ring of Honor this past season, we're very excited that he has now been chosen as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2012," Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said in a news release issued by the team. "Chris was a very important part of the organization's success for 10 years, and his accomplishments on the field speak for themselves." "

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Vikings' Gerhart doesn't think he'll need surgery

 St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Minnesota Vikings running back Toby Gerhart, whose importance heightens in light of Adrian Peterson's rehab from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, doesn't think he'll need surgery to repair the torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
"Swelling should go down with rest as my range of motion returns," said Gerhart Tuesday night when reached by phone. "

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Vikings sack man Jared Allen lassos a spot on All-Pro team

 January 7 - St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The hits keep coming for Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, who calf-roped 49 of a possible 50 votes for the Associated Press' All-Pro first team, as announced Friday.
Allen and Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson each nabbed 49 votes, tied for the most on the team.
"The All-Pro team to me is one of the all-time accomplishments," Allen told the AP. "Pro Bowls are nice, but guys get voted in longer than they should and guys who deserve to go don't always get to. It's the whole league. It's not just an AFC and NFC thing. So to me this is the honor I hold the highest. It's something to put on the resume and tell the grandkids about."
The Vikings' most consistent performer all year, Allen finished a half-sack short of Michael Strahan's decade-old NFL record of 22-1/2. "

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Assessing the Vikings draft needs with NFL Network analyst Charles Davis

November 30  Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Following the Vikings' bye week, we took a quick look at the team's 2012 draft wants and needs. Hey, during a season with this much losing,there has to be something to look forward to, right? Well recently we followed up with NFL Network analyst Charles Davis to pick his brain on what the Vikings may need to do going forward. Below are a few of Davis' thoughts on the strategy the Vikings need to consider as well as scouting reports on a few key college seniors that might be worth a look. (Davis will not talk about the draft potential of underclassmen until after the college football season is over.) 1) Left tackle, as everyone knows, is a huge need. If Christian Ponder holds the future"

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Peterson officially out for Sunday's game

 November 26  Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Adrian Peterson won't play against the Falcons on Sunday. His status on the injury report was changed from doubtful to out this morning before the team left for Atlanta.
Peterson has a high ankle sprain suffered on his left leg against the Raiders last Sunday at the Metrodome.
The Vikings also activated tight end Allen Reisner from the practice squad and waived receiver Stephen Burton to make room for Reisner."

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Berrian released by Vikings

October 25  Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Bernard Berrian's time as a Viking has run out. According to Jason LaCanfora of NFL.com, the veteran wide receiver will be released by the team today, midway through his fourth season in the Twin Cities. The move brings to a close Berrian's wildly inconsistent tenure with the Vikings and allows coach Leslie Frazier to move forward without a player that had caused him too many headaches this season. Expected to be a big part of the Vikings' passing attack this fall, Berrian's productivity slumped badly in the early season. He had only two catches for 37 yards in the team's 0-4 start. He's also been put on the inactive list twice in the past three weeks."

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Ponder will start the rest of the season

 October 19, 2011  Star Tribune

"It's a done deal. And permanent too. That's the hope at Winter Park anyway.
On Wednesday morning, Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier stopped delaying the inevitable and made the official declaration. Rookie Christian Ponder is now the starting quarterback. And barring injury or some other unforeseen circumstance, Ponder will start the team's final 10 games.
The first start comes Sunday versus the undefeated Packers at Mall of America Field.
"This does not mean that I am giving up on the 2011 season or that our coaching staff if giving up on the 2011 season," Frazier said. "The decision was made purely on what will gives us the best chance to win on Sunday. That's why the decision was made. I didn't feel or sense that staying status quo was going to get us a win on Sunday. Based on that, along with some other things that I looked at, I decided this was the direction we needed to go at this point in our season."
Realistically, it's far too late for Ponder to revive a 2011 season that has the Vikings at 1-5 and ahead of only the Rams in the NFC standings. But it's certainly not too early to start getting the 23-year-old some much-needed game experience. And while Frazier insisted repeatedly Wednesday that he promoted Ponder over Donovan McNabb to give the Vikings the best chance at winning Sunday's home game with Green Bay, there's far greater long-term value for the franchise in making the switch now.
"There's no question that the fact that he'll get a chance to start playing in Week 7 of our season, it should help him in the future," Frazier said. "But that was not a part of my thinking."

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Christian Ponder's sports agency: Vikings' rookie QB will start against Packers

October 18  St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Minnesota Vikings first-round draft pick Christian Ponder will start at quarterback against the Green Bay Packers Sunday at the Metrodome, according to his sports agency. Sports Trust Advisors, which represents Ponder, tweeted the news this afternoon: "Congrats to #Vikings client @cponder7 for earning the start for next week's game." Ponder, who was the 12th overall pick in the draft, completed 9 of 17 passes for 99 yards during the fourth quarter of Sunday's 39-10 loss to the Chicago Bears. Ponder takes over for Donovan McNabb, who was 19 of 24 for 177 yards against the Bears. For the season, McNabb is 94 of 156 for 1,026 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Fading fast at"

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