WR Mitchell will try his chance with Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are not actually in need of a new wide receiver, but they just feel like trying more options before the game days. Therefore, former Washington Redskins wide receiver Marko Mitchell got his chance to see if he can receive some passes from the big-name quarterback in No.4 Brett Favre jersey.

Before he was invited to Minnesota, Mitchell was just claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions. The former seventh-round draft pick began his NFL career by joining the Redskins in 2009 during the draft. He was productive enough for the Redskins last summer and many people believed that he was talented and could develop into a great wide receiver. However, as a rookie, Mitchell could hardly compete for much playing time with a team full of veterans. After having only appearance in ten games during 2009 regular season, Mitchell was eventually released by the Redskins shortly after the team brought in younger receivers after the 2010 NFL draft.

Mitchell was firstly signed by the Lions, who waived him a few days later, and now the Vikings also want to try the second-year pro out to see what he can to for the team. With a height of 6-4 and weight of 218 pounds, Mitchell is believed to be better as a running back. But anyway, he is going to try his chance as receiver before considering turning to a back.

Why is Favre necessary for Vikings’ Super Bowl win?

Many people now believe that Brett Favre will return to the Minnesota Vikings to finish his NFL career with a 20th full season. I also believe that is very likely to happen in near future, but I just can’t help wondering, why is Brett Favre just so important to the Vikings and their plan for a Super Bowl winning season?

I read through a lot of articles about Favre and Vikings, and found that the belief of Favre leading Vikings to Super Bowl victory majorly came from people’s worship of the legendary quarterback. At age 40, what Favre can still do is nothing different from other 40-year-old man, but his very existence just can bring confidence back into our minds. We all believe that Favre was a greatest quarterback and the belief was solidified after Favre had his best season in 2009. The Vikings were so near to the Super Bowl with a starting quarterback in No. 4 Brett Favre jersey that their fans can’t help believing that the same quarterback could bring them the long-wanted Super Bowl championship as long as he is good health condition.

Then we came to the news of Favre’s surgery. According to reports, the surgery was had successfully and will allow Favre to move in larger range. That means Favre will be able to avoid attacks from opponent players with more smartness. What a exciting sign! Now I also believe that Favre will at least led the Vikings to a Super Bowl appearance in 2010 season.

Brett Favre insists surgery won’t determine playing status

The Minnesota Vikings pending starting quarterback Brett Favre finally confirmed that he did undergo a surgery to repair his left ankle, but still, he said that that was no indication of his returning to the NFL. Believing it or not, people found new passion to discuss about the 40-year-old grandpa.

Brett Favre has a habit to keep people guessing about his new decision. While no one knew that he had any decision to undergo the surgery, he had it; so I guess he may already had some deal done with the Vikings and just appear in his Favre jersey like any other Vikings player, as if he never said that he wanted stop playing.

While most Vikings fans got excited about Favre’s new move, most New Orleans Saints fans remain calm and still wait for further information on Favre’s playing status. Though expecting the quarterback not to return for revenge, they also recognize that a healthy Favre is a big threat to Saints’ defense when the two teams rematch for 2010 NFL season opener.

Vikings plan to add veteran guard and aim at Pitts

Since the departure of former backup guard Artis Hicks, the Minnesota Vikings have been looking for a qualified replacement. And according to recent reports, the team has shown great interests in former Huston Texans guard Chester Pitts, who is still an unrestricted free agent.

Compared to Hicks, who is an eight-year veteran, Pitts also has had an eight-year experience of playing at guard. Becoming an unrestricted free agent in March, Pitts did not receive new contract offer from the Texans, who drafted the guard in 2002 in second round. The major reason could be that Pitts had a microfracture surgery last September and is still recovering from it. However, there have been a few other teams showing interests in Pitts and he was most recently contacted by the Vikings. It’s highly expected that Pitts will be fully recovered during the summer and gain more advantages in negotiations on possible contracts with new team.

After Hicks put away his Minnesota Vikings jersey to sign with the Washington Redskins, the Vikings drafted former Wake Forest college football player Chris DeGeare in fifth round of the 2010 NFL draft. DeGeare played at both guard and tackle during college time and could gain backup role at guard with the Vikings if the team fails to bring in a veteran guard outside the stadium.

Vikings signed first rookie contract with FB D’Imperio

Among the eight newly drafted rookies in Minnesota Vikings jerseys, seventh-round draft pick Ryan D’Imperio is the first one to receive an official contract from the team. The other seven will follow him to receive contracts, too, but being the first to get the contract just made D’Imperio a bit different from the other seven rookies.

D’Imperio originally played linebacker as a college player for the Rutgers, but converted to fullback after being picked by the Vikings. According to reports the decision was made by the team’s vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman, who told his scouts to have D'Imperio workout as a fullback. The team was glad that the rookie did not hesitate at all to accept the change, and that positive attitude played an important role in helping him receive the first rookie contract.

With contract or not, all the rookies except for Toby Gerhart are expected to be full participant of the Vikings OTAs, which begins on Tuesday. Gerhart was drafted in second round and the rookie running back is still attending classes at Stanford. He won’t be available to take part team’s offseason workouts until he graduates from college in June.

Another Minnesota local to join the Vikings

By so far, the Minnesota Vikings have signed five of the participants in the rookie tryout camp over the past weekend, and the very fifth one is a Minnesota local from the Minnesota State College, tackle Adrain Battles, who will move to the position of guard after putting on Vikings jersey.

“I can’t even imagine what that would feel like,” he said. “That’s my old backyard, and it would be a great feeling. I definitely look forward to working toward that opportunity.”

Battles actually have been to the Minnesota State practice fields for many times, but putting on the real Vikings jersey as part of the team still feels like a dream coming true. Battles told reporters that he is looking forward to the team’s minicamp on May 17 after signing the free-agent contract with the Vikings.

With a height of 6-2 and weight of 310 pounds, Battles played well as college tackle at Minnesota State and was starters for 43 of the 46 games he played during the four seasons. However, the Vikings consider his athleticism makes the young man a better fit of guard. Battles said it’s just all right with him wherever to play.

Two must-watch games for Vikings fans in 2010

The 2010 NFL schedule was released on Tuesday, and for those who love the purple and white Minnesota Vikings jerseys, there are at least two games you must watch and care the results. The first one is the season opener against last year’s Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints, and the other one is against Brett Favre’s old team, the Green Bay Packers.

According to the schedule, the Vikings will have only one chance to try if they could beat the team that cut their way to the Super Bowl last season in the NFC championship game and caused the Vikings to run out of chance again where it seemed only one step away from the championship. The team has been division champions for 18 times, nine NFC or AFC appearances and four Super Bowl appearances since the combination of AFL and NFL but never made it to the League Championship. However, hopes are always greater in new beginning, and the Vikings will definitely do their best for the redemption. On the other side, all Saints fans will hope that their beloved team will also keep their perfect performance to defend the championship. So, whatever team’s fans you are, this game just can’t be missed.

What is worth more expectation is that whether Brett Favre would wear back the No. 4 Vikings jersey in 2010 season. As recent speculations have been tending to his return, the other game on Oct. 24 Sunday night against the Packers will attract as much attention as the season opener. If Favre really decides to play his 20th season with the Vikings, the team would be the only team he has ever played for more than one year out of Green Bay. His first NFL season with the Atlanta Falcons was almost nothing, and his first season after leaving Packers with the Jets resulted in another retiring announcement. Being a Packers quarterback for 16 years, Favre, however, had his best season with the Vikings. If he returns to play another game against the former home team, I guess he will have more haters in Green Bay but also more fans in Minnesota.

CB Winfield has no intent to leave Vikings

As we knew previously, CB Antoine Winfield has been missing the Vikings OTAs because of contract dispute. But recently he told reporters that he has not planned to leave the Vikings.

2009 is the last year of the veteran's six-year, $34.8 million contract.

He stated late Thursday that he wants to finish his career with the Vikings. He also said he wishes he could be at the OTA sessions, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

“I want all to know that I’m not at OTAs because I don’t want to be there,” Winfield said. “I do want to be there! As I have stated before, I want to finish my career a Viking.”

Last season, Winfield started 16 games for the Vikings and finished second on the team with 95 tackles. I guess the Vikings will anyway consider a better contract with Winfield, and that's why Winfield has no plan to leave the team.