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Home , 2020 NFL season, Anthony Harris (safety), Dak Prescott, Kentrell Brothers

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SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2020 LOCAL NEWS: Saturday, July 18, 2020

Star Tribune

Why do oddsmakers list Vikings as a favorite to land in 2021? By Michael Rand https://www.startribune.com/why-do-oddsmakers-list-vikings-as-a-favorite-to-land-dak-prescott-in-2021/571806182/

Purple Insider

Friday mailbag: Your Vikings mystery questions By Matthew Coller https://purpleinsider.substack.com/p/friday-mailbag-your-vikings-mystery

NATIONAL NEWS: Saturday, July 18, 2020

CBS Sports

Every NFL team's most likely Hall of Famer: , among 13 'locks' By Bryan DeArdo https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/every-nfl-teams-most-likely-hall-of-famer-tom-brady-ben-roethlisberger-among- 13-locks/

Maven Media

Former Vikings LB Suspended Nine Games by NFL By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/former-vikings-linebacker-kentrell-brothers-suspended

What Did EA Get Right and Wrong With Vikings Madden Ratings? By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/ea-sports-vikings-madden-ratings-right-wrong

MULTIMEDIA NEWS: Saturday, July 18, 2020

Bracelets for Unity and Justice By KMSP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=bab2768b-4431-48ca-9010-784a8486e56b

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Saturday, July 18, 2020

Lunchbreak: NFC North Ranks 3rd-Strongest in NFL By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/nfc-north-ranks-3rd-strongest-in-nfl

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 7/18/20

Why do oddsmakers list Vikings as a favorite to land Dak Prescott in 2021?

By Michael Rand

Multiple online oddsmakers have the Vikings as one of the leading contenders to land Dak Prescott on their roster for the 2021 season, and since I can’t quite shake the “whaaaaaaat?” reaction I have to such a thing I decided to try to shake loose possible reasons why.

*These online sites know something we — and by we, I include plugged-in Star Tribune Vikings writers Ben Goessling and Andrew Krammer — don’t know when they list the Vikings at 8 to 1 odds, tied for third with the Bears and just behind the Colts (6 to 1) and Jaguars (7 to 1) as Prescott’s most likely landing spot.

Prescott is at odds with his current team, the Cowboys, after the sides failed to hammer out a long-term extension. He will play 2020 for Dallas on the franchise tag, making a robust $31.4 million.

As Goessling and Krammer noted to varying degrees on a podcast earlier this offseason, current Vikings QB is likely here for a while after signing an extension. Even though his new deal does not include a no-trade clause it would cost them a $20 million cap hit to trade him after the 2020 season — a year that would have to be a complete disaster, one would imagine, to even entertain such a thing. A trade after the 2021 season, at a $10 million cap penalty, is somewhat more feasible. But the Prescott question is for the 2021 season.

And really: None of this makes much sense at all when you consider Cousins was quite good in 2019 and ranked higher (No. 6) than Prescott (No. 10) in Pro Football Focus’ QB rankings.

*The online sites are looking for publicity during a time when betting action has been painfully slow because of the sports shutdown. Ah, now we might be cooking. Now let’s go a step further.

*Only 18 teams are listed as candidates to have Prescott on their Week 1 roster in 2021, and all of them are listed between 6 to 1 and 25 to 1 odds. That establishes that there’s not really a huge front-runner. It could be anyone!

More specifically, though, you can’t bet on the most likely team: Dallas. The Cowboys aren’t listed. They hold a decent amount of leverage and can have Prescott play on the franchise tag again in 2021.

When the dust settles, it seems likely Prescott will still be in Dallas in 2021. And everyone suckered into a prop bet — whether they’re frustrated Dallas fans or optimistic fans of another team listed — will be left holding a losing ticket. PUBLICATION: Purple Insider DATE: 7/18/20

Friday mailbag: Your Vikings mystery questions

By Matthew Coller

Happy Friday everyone. Before we wrap up Vikings Mystery Week with a special mystery mailbag, I just have to say that the questions I get every Friday are amazing and I love answering them. Keep it up! If you don’t have and want to email me a question, feel free: [email protected]. Alright, let’s see what we’ve got here…

@DrewMahowald Was Teddy’s knee injury *actually* non contact OK I’ve seen this one on Twitter a bunch of times since it happened but I’ve never actually heard anyone who was there even intimate that there was more to it than a complete flukey thing. The part of the conspiracy that I would buy is that if someone did step on Teddy’s foot (and I’ve seen one particular former teammate implicated in the Twitter rumors), it would make sense that everyone would agree to never talk about it because that guy would be pegged forever as the person who messed up Teddy’s career (and came frighteningly close to losing his leg).

It doesn’t make much difference whether he was stepped on or if it was non-contact. The fact that he returned to the NFL again is the single most astonishing thing I’ve ever covered in sports. Nobody believed he’d play again and even after he spent 2017 as the Vikings’ backup, came out and said the team studied his injury and thought it was too risky to make him the starter. It’s a 30 for 30. And it could only happen to the Vikings if he ends up having success somewhere else.

@robertwrogge What was the deal with ? I can’t tell you how much I love this question. Gannon’s career is absolutely crazy.

He runs a wing-T offense at Delaware, gets drafted as a by the Patriots because of his athleticism but he doesn’t want to play RB so they trade him to the Vikings and he basically just hangs around as the backup for three years before becoming the starter in 1990.

I’ve watched way more games of the Rich Gannon Vikings than is healthy and my observation is that you could see that he was super talented. In ‘90 he lost six one-score games and in many of them he’d make one key mistake — an or sack etc. — and it would cost the team but he’d also throw for 250 yards, a couple and have some impressive scrambles.

I talked to Rich about offensive coordinators once and he went off about Jack Burns, who was the OC in ‘92 and benched Gannon for Sean Salisbury. His beef was that Burns didn’t care about what he felt comfortable with as a QB and just called whatever he was going to call.

He went 19-16 as a starter with about a league average QB rating at the time. He was 27 years old and they probably felt he just wouldn’t get better so they traded him to D.C. for a conditional pick.

He didn’t emerge again as a full-time starter until he was 34 but the interesting thing that happened during those years was that offenses changed in the NFL and became far more efficient. I think the game in 2000 just fit Gannon better (plus he had years and years to hone his craft as a passer that he didn’t get in college).

It is one of those great what-ifs for the Vikings. If he’s the QB in the late 90s and early 2000s….

@skolwalleyeking Pierce wore 97 with the Ravens. Griffen wore 97 with the Vikings. Pierce is wearing 98 with the Vikings. Griffen is still available. Makes you go hummmmmm... The door isn’t officially closed until he signs somewhere else but it’s tough to see Griffen returning now that is going to play on the franchise tag. If they had signed Harris to a long-term deal and lowered his cap hit for 2020, maybe it would have been a consideration but I have to think that Griffen wants to play for more than a $3-$5 million, which is about the absolute max they could give someone and still fit all the rookies under contract.

@SamRoot43 What's the most "Vikings" record that the Vikings hold? The one that always comes mind for me is holding the record for longest non-scoring play in NFL history. This response is the perfect answer:

VG @jvangelder @SamRoot43 @MatthewColler how about being on the wrong side of the longest play in history (tied)? The AP 296 game a missed FG from Longwell was returned 109 yards by for a TD right before half. @MatthewColler you can quote my tweet for your article if you want ;) July 16th 2020

1 Like Here’s one that blows my mind: is the all-time interception leader and eight-time Pro Bowler yet it took him until 1998 (retired in 1979) to get into the Hall of Fame. What? That’s pretty Vikingsy.

@jodicarlee Why did Frazier insist on signing McNabb when we had drafted Ponder? Also, why did we keep trying to plug into spots unsuccessfully? Down the rabbit hole on this one…Mike Shanahan had a little jab for his out-of-shape QB on the way out, saying he had to “do the little things” to succeed in Minnesota.

They told the media then that they wanted Ponder to learn behind a veteran. Obviously the picked the wrong guy to do that. Philosophically it makes sense to sit Ponder, who clearly showed that offseason that he wasn’t ready.

I’ll admit, if I’d been running this website back then, I probably would have said, “hey this makes sense!”

Here’s your great Old Takes Exposed quote from the McNabb situation:

"He looks great. He's everything I thought he would be in our conversations, and I fully expect him to go out and lead our football team to the 2011 season." — Leslie Frazier

@KrisKUSTRADIO What did Donovan McNabb show in 2011 for him to be the starting QB of the Vikings? The brief time he was in at QB he was worse than Ponder? "What happened there" If I was covering the team then I might have a better answer for you but from poking around old articles from back then, the best I can do is that the team felt they had a very good roster and wanted to get back to the after a messy 2010 (to say the least) so they figured why not take another bite at the old QB apple.

Plus the labor situation put everything behind that year so they might not have realized how hideous it was going to be until it was too late.

@Careless_Harry Why hasn't Brett Jones had any significant playing time since we traded for him? Dude was a starter, why has he resigned to be a back up the past two seasons? Brett is kind of in a unique spot in the NFL where part of his value is that he’s a really, really smart guy who will probably have a future as a coach but playing him in anything more than a fill-in role would be tricky. He was good as a pass blocker for one year with the Giants and he could play if Garrett Bradbury got hurt but his mobility is limited to the point where he’s a center and center only. And if you watch Week 1 of 2018, the reach blocks that a zone running scheme requires are tough for him to execute with a lack of quickness.

I know that when a player at a particular position is struggling, we always ask, “WHY NOT PLAY THE BACKUP HE CAN’T BE WORSE.” But I’m not sure Jones could physically take on a guard role in this system and at this point in his career.

@JPageme77 Whose idea was it to start Josh Freeman 3 days after signing him, on prime time? Here’s another Frazier gem: “Our anticipation is he will play well.”

Narrator: He did not play well.

Another great quote before that Monday Night game:

"Do I have a chip on my shoulder? Sure I do. But I think it's more deeply rooted than just the past six months, 12 months. It's just wanting to go out and wanting to be great." — Josh Freeman

The reasoning is pretty simple: They were desperate and one million percent done with Ponder. In the first three games of 2013, Ponder threw two touchdowns, five and had a 65.9 rating.

Sure it wasn’t fair to Freeman but they were just grasping at anything that might not be a complete mess. But that just made everything worse.

@OfficialBudhole Why is it that every 10 years we have an NFC championship game heartbreak? @Crumdawg97 Vikings last appearance was the 1976 season. Every 11 years since have represented their 3 nearest chances to return (1987 Darrin Nelson drop, 1998 Gary Anderson wide left, 2009 twelve men/Favre INT). Why 11 years? And how will we fail at the doorstep in 2020? #Skol Not surprisingly several folks wanted to know why the Vikings’ soul-crushing NFC Championship losses come cyclically. I have a theory. (A theory is the best I can do since only the Football Gods actually know). Here goes:

The Vikings have always been — on the whole — a good organization. But they haven’t had a quarterback that was consistently great since . When you don’t have Ben Roethlisberger or but you’re good at team building, finding good coaches and bringing in star players via trade or free agency, you’re bound to have everything click every so often.

Take 2017 for example. Vikings bottom out, get a bunch of high draft picks and a really good coach. All of the sudden one year gets hurt and the defense peaks at No. 1 and you get one heck of a crazy play in a home playoff game and you’re right there.

Or in the other examples, the teams were stacked enough to take what was left of super, stupidly talented QBs in Cunningham and Favre and squeeze out what was left of them.

Every team is either in a state of having a franchise QB and winning every year, having a good roster and winning if they get good QB play and luck or being bad without an answer at QB. Vikings have fallen into that second category for like 40 years.

@Fixin_Luecks . Recent-ish draft choice, seemed like he was used less this past season than his rookie season. Is he a starter, rotational, or depth guy? I need knowledge, Coller! Ben was a run stuffer at Michigan and was drafted to stuff himself some run and in his first two seasons he stuffed the heck out of the run. But he’s been hurt a few times, including seriously last year and that’s opened the door for Eric Wilson to emerge. The thing about Wilson is that he’s good in coverage so the Vikings can play three against heavy sets and not feel like they’re going to get smoked in their opponent passes the ball. Gedeon in coverage gave up a 74% completion percentage against and 12.9 yards per reception into his coverage (per PFF). In today’s game, that’s hard to keep on the field, even if he was good at his job.

@BDuffy6142 When will the Vikings retire these awful lavender uniforms with the ridiculous numbers? It’s time for Black unis with purple (real purple), gold, and white trim. Even the players seem to agree that the old jerseys need to make a comeback. Personally, I’d favor the road all- whites with the stripes. I never got into the AP/Favre era version. Can’t say I’d push for a black uniform either. The early 90s set was the best.

Jerseys aren’t much of a mystery. When a team is kinda down, they change the jersey and then wait awhile and change it back when it seems trendy (Ahem, Tampa Bay). Maybe the Vikings will do that.

@benjackson0812 So how did Mike Zimmer come to the conclusion that Defilippo was going to be a good OC and then 14 games later fire him?? Was he great at interviews or does Zimmer have bad judgement?? Well this is a complicated mystery but DeFilippo is a smart football mind who was considered at the time to be The Next Sean McVay type. He’s a real study of offense so he brought a lot of modern (and complicated) elements, which the Vikings struggled like heck to grasp in 2018 camp. But they came out and threw the ball like crazy the first few weeks so it appeared he had the right formula.

Something happened in New York that year where the Jets figured out ways to slow down Cousins in the shotgun offense and Zimmer was really upset that they didn’t just pound the ball down New York’s throat. DeFilippo didn’t seem interested in changing much.

Zimmer took a jab last year about the Kubiak offense not asking Cousins to make so many checks at the line of scrimmage, so it wasn’t all about running. Zimmer is also well aware that play-action works and he was very frustrated that they weren’t setting up play-action more often.

I still wonder if Cousins had shown up for a few games like vs. the Bills in Week 3 or against Seattle on national TV if DeFilippo would have kept his job, made the playoffs and then made adjustments the next year. But Zimmer felt the only way to get things turned around was switching on the fly to a Kubiak style (or Shurmur style) with Stefanski.

Zimmer admitted later that he’d ask some different questions the next time around if he was interviewing an OC. The big picture here is that DeFilippo probably asked Cousins to be Peyton Manning out there and that wasn’t ever the type of offense Cousins had been in before.

Plus there was just some obvious inexperience as a play caller that would have been hard to predict.

@ATKing53632390 What’s the more unlikely thing, being unable to find a QB or being unable to find a kicker? The best way I can figure this out is to run the number of kickers and starting who have been in the league for at least five years. It’s not scientifically perfect but what is…

In 2019, 12 quarterbacks with at least five years experience attempted at least 300 passes and 13 kickers with at least five years experience attempted at least 20 field goals.

So my answer is: Slight edge to the kicker being harder.

The difference is that when a kicker is bad in his first year, he never kicks again. Nobody tries to develop him, he’s just sent off to the XFL never to be seen again. Quarterbacks get a ton of chances early in their careers, so it seems like more teams have an answer at QB than they probably do.

There are QBs with less than five years experience who you’d bet on being good for a long time like Mahomes, Watson, Prescott and Jackson. Maybe Murray.

Young kickers, on the other hand, might have been good last year and by 2021 we’ll have never heard of them.

@BruceFreeby What was the story behind the infamous Christmas Eve release of leading receiver Marcus Robinson? This one was before my time but I have gotten the sense that Brad Childress DID NOT like when players disagreed with him. Dug up an old Strib article that quoted Ben Leber saying this:

“I heard there were times when he was not suited up for games, but he was healthy to play. So I think there was more to it than what we know."

The official explanation was that Childress wanted to give young receivers a chance. Seems like a deeper conflict. If only Twitter was more robust then.

@jodicarlee What was the deal with special teams in 2015? Was Walsh only elite in his rookie season bc of Kluwe as the holder? Even though we'd just given Walsh more money in 2015, his preseason was , so the writing was on the wall. Speaking of Kluwe what really happened in that situation? The Mystery is a good one.

I would have never believed in the kicker/holder thing until I saw it up close last year. Dan Bailey looked shot in 2018 and then was brilliant in 2019 with . Maybe that was part of it. But Walsh was that inconsistent when he was in college too.

I was only around him for a short time but it appeared as if Walsh let everything get to him. If he missed a kick, he was mad at the media after the game and would probably miss another one soon. The story of the team avoiding 27- yard kicks in training camp in 2016 always said something to me about the mental toughness there. Or maybe it was the holder all along!

“That situation” was “settled with the Vikings for an undisclosed donation to organizations serving LGBT causes.”

@Jeffcn16 What do you think the no deal with Harris means as far as Cook, if anything? I don’t think the two impact each other much aside from Cook’s cap hits might not be as easily spread over the next five years if he signs a four-year extension. Where it does hurt is any chance to tack on an extra free agent or two right before camp.

@KyeBaxter Everyone always puts Tommy Kramer up in the top 10 of Vikings quarterbacks. Curious where he stood compared to quarterbacks of his era. He has always seemed like a guy who gets more credit from fans because the franchise is quarterback starved rather than on his merits. This one seems to come up a lot and here’s what I’ve gathered from Vikings fans who saw Tommy play: The teams weren’t very good and he had a way of either making up for their mediocrity by pulling out some wild throws or lighting everything on fire with interceptions. He was (still is!) a likeable person who seemed to really have fun playing the game and also took a lot of hits in an era that was absolutely brutal.

All that said, he was 24th in QB rating among quarterbacks with at least 1,000 passes from 1979-1986, 32nd in yards per pass attempt, 23rd in Y/A adjusted for interceptions and sacks. But fourth in average yards per game and third in game-winning drives, only behind Theismann and Jaws.

He was also extremely legit in 1986. Ranked No. 1 in rating that year ahead of Dan freaking Marino. Combine the comebacks with the lasting impression of the ‘86 season and being a root-for-able guy and you’ve got yourself a popular quarterback. Not everyone has to be remembered just for their box score. PUBLICATION: CBS Sports DATE: 7/18/20

Every NFL team's most likely Hall of Famer: Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger among 13 'locks'

By Bryan DeArdo

There is no official criteria when determining who is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That being said, based on who has and who hasn't been enshrined over the past 50 years, it's safe to say that there are certain things the voters look at when determining who should get a bronze bust and a gold jacket.

Using my interpretation of some of the unspoken criteria used when determining who gets into the Hall of Fame, I came up with a list of each NFL team's current player who has the best shot at being enshrined in Canton once their career is over. Here is the criteria I used when selecting the most likely players on each NFL team that could be considered a "lock" if their careers ended today.

Years played Career statistics Career accolades Individual postseason success Team success Using that criteria, I determined that 12 teams currently have a player on their roster whose career is already good enough for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame, and one team actually has two players, making 13 'locks.'

Did your team's best player make the cut? Let's find out.

Arizona Cardinals: , WR Current Hall of Fame "lock": Yes

Fitzgerald was recently included in the NFL's 100th All-Anniversary Team Fitzgerald, who is second all-time in career receptions (1,378) and receiving yards (17,083) and sixth in receptions (120), will be fitted for his gold jacket six years after he decides to hang up his cleats for good. An 11-time Pro Bowler, Fitzgerald has led the NFL in receptions and touchdown receptions on two separate occasions. He put on a show in the 2008 playoffs, catching 30 passes for 546 yards and seven touchdowns while helping Arizona make its first Super Bowl appearance.

Atlanta Falcons: , WR Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No, but close

A few more big seasons should make Jones a "lock" The Falcons actually have two players who are on the Hall of Fame "bubble." While Jones is closing in on a Hall of Fame career, the same can be said of quarterback Matt Ryan, a former league MVP who is 10th all-time in career passing yards. But the nod here went to Jones, a seven-time Pro Bowler who has led the league in receiving on two separate occasions. But as good as Jones as been, he will likely need a few more prolific seasons to be considered a Hall of Fame "lock," as he is currently 25th in career receiving yards.

Baltimore Ravens: Earl Thomas, FS Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No, but close

Another season may be all Thomas needs to lock up his spot in Canton Earl Thomas, who enjoyed a Pro Bowl season during his first year with the Ravens, is closing in on a Hall of Fame career. His success last season, following a major lower body injury that prematurely ended his 2018 season (his last with the Seahawks), is a very positive sign that Thomas will be able to continue to play at an elite level into his 30s. Another Ravens player to keep an eye on is running back Mark Ingram. While it is getting increasingly harder to earn induction at his position, Ingram's success during his first year as a Raven could lead to more good things for the three-time Pro Bowler moving forward. Ingram, based on how little he has been used in comparison to other veteran running backs, could follow John Riggins' path as a elite running back who had more success in his 30s than in his 20s.

Buffalo Bills: Tre'Davious White, CB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No

White is still in the very early stages of his career Following 's retirement and 's move to the Jets, the Bills do not currently have anyone relatively close to punching their Hall of Fame ticket. Buffalo fans should be keeping an eye on the continue development of White, who earned All-Pro status last season (his third NFL season) after recording a league-high six interceptions.

Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey, RB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No, but appears to be on his way

If he can stay healthy, McCaffrey should be destined for Canton 's retirement and 's release have left a significant void as far as possible Panthers Hall of Fame "locks" are concerned. That being said, Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is definitely on pace to have a career worthy of Canton. An All-Pro for the first time last season, McCaffrey joined Roger Craig and as the only players in NFL history to amass 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in the same season.

Cincinnati Bengals: , DT Current Hall of Fame "lock"?: No, but close

Could definitely use more team success to help his cause Despite their lack of recent team success, the Bengals do have a pair of players who have convincing Hall of Fame arguments in receiver A.J. Green and defensive Geno Atkins. A Pro Bowler in each of his first seven seasons, Green is looking to rebound this season after injuries forced him to miss 23 games over the past two seasons. Atkins, an eight-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, is a few more Pro Bowl seasons away from solidifying his case as a Hall of Fame player. Atkins' durability and All-Pro recognition gives him the current edge over Green.

Chicago Bears: , OLB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No

Mack needs to continue his current run of success well into the 2020s After three Pro Bowls (and two All-Pro) seasons with the Raiders, Mack has continued to enjoy success after being traded to the Bears in 2018. During his first 30 games with Chicago, Mack recorded 21 sacks and 11 forced . In the process, he picked up two more Pro Bowl selections, a third career All-Pro nod as well as winning the 2018 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award. Another Bear to keep an eye on is safety , who is coming off his first All-Pro season and second consecutive Pro Bowl campaign. Both players, however, are serval years away from being considered a future Hall of Fame "lock."

Cleveland Browns: Odell Beckham Jr., WR Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No

Beckham needs to find his groove with While has two more Pro Bowl selections, Beckham has more career receiving yards and touchdowns than his teammate. That being said, the two receivers should be considered near equals as far as their future Hall of Fame prospects are concerned. Beckham's upside, along with his name recognition, gave him a razor thin edge when making the pick between the two. What they do in 2020 will play a role in which player is at the top of this list when the '21 season rolls around.

Another Cleveland player to keep an eye on is , who collected a whopping 30.5 sacks during his first three seasons. If he has another strong season in 2020, Garrett will likely vault over Beckham as the Browns' player with the best shot at Canton.

Dallas Cowboys: , RG Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No, but he appears to be on his way

Martin is a few more Pro Bowl away from solidifying his place in Canton The 16th overall pick in the 2014 draft, Martin has been a Pro Bowler in each of his first six NFL seasons. He has also earned four All-Pro nods while helping opening up holes for . His blocking also helped Dak Prescott throw for nearly 5,000 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. A few more Pro Bowl nods should help cement Martin's future spot in Canton. Another Cowboys lineman that received consideration is offensive tackle , a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro. Both Martin and Smith were included on the NFL's All- Decade team for the 2010s.

Speaking of Elliott, he also appears to be on his way towards a Hall of fame career. Through four seasons, Elliott has earned three Pro Bowl selections, two All-Pro nods, and two rushing titles. Assuming he can keep going at this pace for another 5-6 seasons, Elliott should be a shoo-in for Canton as soon as he is eligible for induction. The one concerning thing when looking at Elliott's career is the fact that his best season remains his rookie campaign, when he rushed for a league-high 1,631 yards while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. How well the Cowboys are able to retool their aging offensive line will help determine Elliott's effectiveness moving forward.

Denver Broncos: Von Miller, OLB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? Yes

Miller's career has had the perfect mix of individual and team success While his lock is not as definitive as Fitzgerald's, Miller, in my opinion, has already done enough to be considered a future Hall of Fame player. An eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, Miller has 106 career regular season sacks, 126 tackles for loss and 26 forced fumbles. The 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Miller was at the peak of his powers in 2015, when he was the best player on a Super Bowl winning team. Miller's 2.5 sack/two forced performance in earned him the game's MVP award. A few more Pro Bowls should convince any remaining doubters about Miller's eventual place in Canton.

Detroit Lions: , QB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No

The next five years will largely determine Stafford's Hall of Fame fate The 32-year-old Stafford is already 18th all-time in career passing yards and 19th in passing touchdowns. He also owns two of the 15 most prolific passing seasons in NFL history. Stafford is one of just eight quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for over 5,000 yards in a season. Stafford has also led the Lions to the playoffs three times, not a small accomplishment when you consider the division Detroit plays in as well as the overall lack of consistent success the franchise has had since hung up his cleats for good at the end of the 1998 season. Along with having more team success (he's 0-3 in playoff games), how well Stafford rebounds from last season's back injury may determine whether or not his career is bound for Canton.

Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers, QB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? Yes

Rogers is only padding to his Hall of Fame resume at this point A one time Super Bowl and two-time league MVP, Rodgers will likely his predecessor, , as a first-ballot inductee. While two injuries and three seasons behind Favre has slowed down his movement up the NFL's career passing lists, Rogers is still considered -- along with and Tom Brady -- among the greatest quarterbacks that have entered the NFL this millennium.

Houston Texans: J.J. Watt, DE Current Hall of Fame "lock"? Yes

Injuries have not quelled Watt's future Hall of Fame prospects Watt, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, had already solidified his place as the NFL's best defensive player before injuries held him out of 32 games over the past four years. But the one season he was healthy over that stretch (2018), Watt showed he was still a dominant force, earning All-Pro honors after recording 16 sacks along with an NFL-high seven forced fumbles. Barring injury, Watt will notch his 100th career sack in 2020.

Indianapolis Colts: Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No

Rivers' future Hall of Fame status may come down to what happens in Indianapolis Rivers' career stats (he's sixth in career touchdown passes and seventh in career passing yards) are good enough to start getting his bust ready for Canton. His eight Pro Bowl selections, 2010 league passing title and gritty performance in leading the Chargers to within a game of the Super Bowl in 2007 only adds to his Hall of Fame resume. But despite that success, Rivers' rocky 2019 season has created doubt as to whether his career is truly Canton-worthy. If he can have a bounce back season (or two) with the Colts, Rivers should cement his future place in Canton. But if his continues to struggle with the Colts, Rivers could further damage his future Hall of Fame odds.

Jacksonville Jaguars: , EDGE Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No

Allen is just one year into what could be a stellar career was considered, but given his uncertain future, I gave the nod to Allen, who earned Pro Bowl honors last season despite starting a quarter of the Jaguars' games. As a rookie, the former seventh overall pick recorded 10.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Allen's career should be one NFL fans keep an eye on over the next several years.

Kansas City Chiefs: , QB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No, but he's closer than you think

Mahomes is already knocking on Canton's doors , and are also enjoying solid starts to their careers. But I couldn't go against Mahomes, who last year became the first player to win league and Super Bowl MVP honors before his 25th birthday. Already considered the best player in football today, another MVP/Super Bowl season may be all Mahomes needs to earn early consideration as a future Hall of Fame player. and Terrell Davis only needed four healthy seasons to earn their place in Canton. Mahomes, whose early career success rivals both legendary players, is entering his third season as the Chiefs' starting quarterback.

Las Vegas Raiders: , TE Current Hall of Fame "lock"? Yes

The 11-time Pro Bowler can add to his resume in Las Vegas After 17 years with the Cowboys, Witten will look to add to his Hall of Fame resume with the Raiders in 2020. While he isn't the flashiest of tight ends, Witten's career numbers (he's fourth all-time in career receptions and 19th all-time in career receiving yards) and individual accolades makes him a Hall of Fame lock. It will be interesting to see the impact Witten will have on quarterback , who is looking to elevate his own career status following a few down seasons. Carr did enjoy a solid season in 2019, his second year with as his coach.

Los Angeles Chargers: , DE Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No

The talented pass rusher needs more seasons played, production, and accolades Like most of the other twenty-somethings on this list, Bosa still needs more time to build up a body of work that's worthy of Canton. That being said, Bosa has certainly did enough in his first four seasons to make him the Chargers' most likely current Hall of Fame player (just ahead of receiver Keenan Allan, whose position somewhat contributed to him not being pick here). The 2016 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Bosa has 40 sacks and two Pro Bowl selections heading into the 2020 season. Another Charger to keep an eye on is running back , who is coming off a 2019 season that saw him amass 1,550 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns.

Los Angeles Rams: , DT/DE Current Hall of Fame "lock?" Yes

Two Defensive Player of the Years should be good enough for Canton While it might be a tad premature, I believe that Donald has already done enough to be considered a future Hall of Fame player. His resume already includes two Defensive Player of the Year awards, a Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, six Pro Bowl selections and five All-Pro nods. Donald was also the best player on a Rams team that won the NFC title before holding the Patriots to just 13 points in Super Bowl LIII. Donald, who turned 29 earlier this offseason, should have several more seasons to pad his Hall of Fame credentials.

Miami Dolphins: , CB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No

Howard is looking to rebound following last season's knee injury I seriously contemplated picking either or for this spot. Tagovailoa has his whole career in front of him, while Fitzpatrick is a magical season (I'm talking a /1999 Rams type of season) from legitimately having some sort of Hall of Fame argument. But given the fact that Tagovailoa has yet to take an NFL snap, along with the incredible odds against Fitzpatrick pulling off a miracle, I ultimately gave the nod to Howard, whose career was off to a very promising start (he led the NFL in interceptions in 2018) before suffering a season- ending knee injury in 2019. If he can return to form in 2020, Howard could blossom within ' defensive system. Howard should also benefit from the addition of fellow Byron Jones, who also garnered consideration as the Dolphins' most promising potential future Hall of Fame talent.

Minnesota Vikings: Harrison Smith, FS Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No

Smith needs to continue his current string of success Smith's career is following a similar trajectory to that of , a 14-year veteran who retired earlier this offseason. Weddle's career, which included six Pro Bowl and two All-Pro selections, could be described as "on the fence" as it relates to his future Hall of Fame odds. That means that Smith, a five-time Pro Bowler and one-time All- Pro, will likely need to rack up more individual accolades if he wants to improve his future Hall of Fame odds. Given his age (he turned 31 earlier this offseason), Smith should have several more productive seasons ahead of him.

New England Patriots: Cam Newton Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No, but his time in New England could change this

What Newton does with the Patriots could determine his Hall of Fame fate While (the second most prolific receiver in postseason history) received consideration, the Patriots' player with the best current shot at Canton is Newton, the 2015 league MVP and the most successful rushing quarterback in league history. While his career has taken a downward spiral since leading the Panthers to Super Bowl 50, a successful run with the Patriots could be what he needs to be considered a future Hall of Famer.

New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees, QB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? Yes

Brees' legacy as an all-time great is already secure When you are the NFL's all-time leader in career passing yards and touchdown passes, it's safe to say that your eventual spot in the Hall of Fame is pretty much set. That's the current scenario for Brees, a 13-time Pro Bowler as well as the MVP of Super Bowl XLIV. Another ring and his first regular season MVP award are the only two things left for Brees to accomplish.

New York Giants: , RB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No

Barkley's success may hinge on the continued growth of his young quarterback A former second-overall pick, Barkley appears to be the real deal as he enters his third season with the Giants. During his first two seasons, Barkley rushed for 2,310 yards and 17 touchdowns while amassing 1,159 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions. Barkley's sophomore totals, however, were not as impressive as his rookie numbers, as Barkley certainly felt the sting of not having a franchise quarterback under center. But if Daniel Jones can develop into a quality player, that should lead to good things for Barkley, who could be on his way to a Hall of Fame.

New York Jets: Frank Gore, RB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? Yes

Gore's future place in Canton is secure The third leading rusher in NFL history, Gore will now look to complement Le'Veon Bell, whose career also appeared destined for Canton before his 2018 holdout. Along with Bell, another Jets player to keep an eye on is safety , a two-time Pro Bowler and 2019 All-Pro.

Philadelphia Eagles: , OT Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No, but he's close

A 10th Pro Bowl nod should sew up Peters' Hall of Fame case There are several nine-time Pro Bowl offensive linemen (including 2020 Hall of Fame finalist Alan Faneca) who are still waiting for their calls to Canton. While Peters already has a strong enough case for future enshrinement, a 10th Pro Bowl selection would all but guarantee his future enshrinement. All 12 eligible offensive linemen with 10 Pro Bowl nods currently have bronze busts in Canton. Peters recently signed a one-year deal to return to the Eagles for his 16th season.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger, QB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? Yes

Big Ben has enjoyed both individual and team success A six-time Pro Bowler as well as the 2004 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Roethlisberger is also one of just nine quarterbacks in league history to lead his team to three Super Bowls. Seven of those quarterbacks are members of the Hall of Fame, while Tom Brady, the only other active member of that elite club, will be inducted as soon as he is eligible. Big Big's place among the league's all-time leading passers (he's eighth all-time in passing yards and ninth in touchdown passes) along with his gaudy win-loss record (his 157 wins is the sixth-highest total in league history) makes him a lock for future enshrinement. A MVP award is the only thing missing as far as individual achievements are concerned.

Another Steeler to keep an eye on is center , an eight-time Pro Bowler and a member of the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2010s. Pouncey, like Peters, is a Pro Bowl nod or two away from further solidifying his Hall of Fame case.

San Francisco 49ers: Richard Sherman, CB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? Yes

Sherman's 2019 season sealed the deal Sherman, in my opinion, locked up his Hall of Fame candidacy after earning Pro Bowl honors last season and helping lead the 49ers back to the Super Bowl. The leader of Seattle's "Legion of Boom" defense, Sherman's inclusion on the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2010s all but solidified his case for Canton. A few more Pro Bowl nods would help further strengthen Sherman's case, but to me, the hay is already in the barn.

Seattle Seahawks: , QB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No, but he's close

A league MVP and/or Super Bowl run in 2020 would likely seal the deal Wilson did not get enough credit for his role in the Seahawks' success during the early 2010s. That lack of credit, compounded by his interception on Seattle's final offensive play of Super Bowl XLIX, led to Wilson not being looked at in the same light as some of this era's other great quarterbacks for most of the previous decade. The national narrative regarding Wilson began to change last season, when Wilson turned in an MVP caliber season while leading the Seahawks to the divisional round of the playoffs. A third trip to the Super Bowl, as well as a league MVP award, should erase any doubt about Wilson's eventual place in Canton.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tom Brady, QB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? Yes

Six rings, four Super Bowl and three league MVPs says it all I almost wrote "Yes" six times to pay homage to Brady's Super Bowl wins as well as to drive the point home that, yes, Brady will be enshrined in Canton as soon as he is eligible. A six-time Super Bowl champion, four-time Super Bowl and three-time league MVP, Brady can only add to his legacy during his time in Tampa Bay. The same can be said of Brady's "new" , , who will also be fitted for a gold jacket as soon as he is eligible. Tampa Bay is the only franchise that has two surefire future Hall of Fame players currently on its roster.

Tennessee Titans: , RB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? No

Henry will need at least 4-5 more seasons at his current pace I almost gave this spot to , who is looking to earn his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl selection in 2020. But given how hard it is for defensive linemen to get into the Hall of Fame, I decided to give the nod to Henry, who is coming off a monster season that saw him win his first rushing title before he wrecked havoc on the Patriots and Ravens in the AFC playoffs. If he can stay healthy, and if he can put together another run like he had during the '19 playoffs, Henry could be knocking on the doors of Canton by the time he hangs up his cleats for good.

Washington: , RB Current Hall of Fame "lock"? Yes

Peterson's future place in Canton is secure A unanimous member of the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2010s, Peterson is fifth all-time on the league's career rushing list. He earned MVP honors in 2012 after rushing for 2,097 yards, the second-highest total in league history. And while he may have lost a step, the fact that Peterson, 35-years-young, is still getting it done on the gridiron should further solidify his standing as one of the greatest running backs of all-time. PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 7/18/20

Former Vikings LB Kentrell Brothers Suspended Nine Games by NFL

By Will Ragatz

Former Vikings Kentrell Brothers has been suspended nine games by the NFL, according to ESPN's Field Yates.

"Free agent LB Kentrell Brothers, who spent the past four seasons with the Vikings, has been suspended for the first nine weeks of next season, per source," Yates tweeted. "This is his second NFL suspension."

Yates didn't say what the suspension is for, but given its length, it's fairly obvious that it's for performance-enhancing drugs. Brothers was suspended for the first four games in 2018 for violating the league's PED policy, so a second offense would understandably be a longer one.

Brothers, 27, was a fifth-round pick of the Vikings out of Missouri in 2016. He had been a second-team All-American as a senior, but posted very poor athletic numbers at the combine in every area other than agility.

During his four years with the Vikings, Brothers rarely saw the field on defense, but he developed into a key special teams player. Over his first three seasons, he played 14 defensive snaps and nearly 700 snaps on special teams. Last year, he played a career-high 110 defensive snaps, making his first NFL start in Week 17. Brothers had 55 tackles and a sack during his time in Minnesota.

The Vikings elected not to re-sign Brothers after his rookie contract expired this offseason, and he is still a free agent with training camp approaching. This suspension doesn't help his chances of landing with a team, and it's possible that it could signal the end of his NFL career.

To replenish their depth at linebacker, the Vikings signed former XFL star DeMarquis Gates, drafted Oregon's , and brought in a pair of UDFAs. PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 7/18/20

What Did EA Get Right and Wrong With Vikings Madden Ratings?

By Will Ragatz

Madden ratings might be pretty pointless, but they give us something to talk about in an otherwise uneventful part of the NFL offseason calendar.

The ratings for Madden 21 have been trickling out over the past few days, so let's take a look at some of the things EA Sports got right and wrong when it comes to the .

Here are the ten highest-rated Vikings in the latest edition of the video game:

Harrison Smith (95) (91) Michael Pierce (91) (90) (89) (89) (84) Anthony Harris (83) Kirk Cousins (82) Anthony Barr (82) The Good: Respect for Smith, Cook, and Pierce Not only is Smith (95) the top-rated Viking, he's also the No. 1 safety in the entire NFL by two full points.

That's some well-deserved respect for a player who so often doesn't get enough of it. After being egregiously snubbed from the All-Decade team, it's nice to see Smith honored as what he is: the best safety in the NFL. He's proven it year after year during his eight seasons with the Vikings.

A 91 is a fair rating for Cook, who showed last year that he's one of the best running backs in the league. If he had stayed healthy throughout his career, he would be deserving of a rating in the mid-90s. But given Cook's injury history, having him sixth among NFL RBs is reasonable.

It's also nice to see Pierce (91) – the Vikings' big free agent acquisition of the offseason – recognized as one of the best nose tackles in the league.

Rudolph (84) is the only player of those ten who is arguably overrated.

The Bad: Lots of Underrated Players, Including Trio on Defense While Madden 21 got a few things right when it comes to the Vikings' top players, they got more things wrong. The most ridiculous and disrespectful is having Hunter rated as an 89 and outside of the top ten pass rushers in the league.

With 29 sacks over the past two years, Hunter trails only Aaron Donald and . He's one of the best and most physically dominant edge rushers in the NFL. Hunter should be a 95, minimum.

Also bad are the ratings for Kendricks (89) and Harris (83), who were the second-best linebacker and the best safety in the league last year according to PFF, respectively. Kendricks is the most versatile linebacker in the NFL and should be at least a 92 or 93. Harris has proved over the past two seasons that he's one of the best coverage safeties in the league. He should be at least in the upper 80s, if not higher.

On offense, the rankings of Thielen (90) and Cousins (82) jump out. It seems like Thielen has been a forgotten man recently in the discussion of the top receivers in the league. Yes, he missed last season, but prior to that he was indisputably a top-five receiver in the league across 2017 and 2018. Now he's not even being considered in anyone's top ten, including Madden's.

A 90 rating for Thielen isn't horrible given that he's coming off an injury and will be turning 30 this year, but if he stays healthy, he should once again prove that he's worthy of at least a 93 or 94.

It's interesting to see Diggs clock in at seventh with a 92 rating. Would he be that high if he was still a Viking and not on the Bills?

Cousins, meanwhile, should be higher than an 82. He was fourth in last season and sixth in PFF grade. Cousins has some limitations, but he should be in the 84-85 range and in towards the back end of the top ten QBs in the league.

Vikings' team rating is...20th? Looking past player ratings to the Vikings' team rating as a whole...what? The Vikings are an 80 overall, which ranks 20th out of 32 teams. Madden gave them an 80 offense and an 81 defense.

Somehow the Bears are 11th, although they're just an 81. All of the team ratings seem more cramped together than usual, with the range going from just 85 (Saints) to 76 (Dolphins).

The Vikings lost some pieces this offseason, but had a great draft and are consistently ranked in the 12 to 14 range in power rankings. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 7/18/20

Lunchbreak: NFC North Ranks 3rd-Strongest in NFL

By Lindsey Young

Looking ahead at the 2020 NFL season, which of the league's eight divisions is the strongest?

CBS Sports' John Breech tackled the question recently and ranked the divisions, slating the NFC North at No. 3. Breech said that if the rankings were "based on the top three teams in each division … you could probably make the argument that the NFC North should be in the two-spot."

He was critical of Detroit's recent performance but also opined that the Lions had a better offseason than the Vikings, Bears or Packers. Breech wrote:

Not only did they add multiple potential starters with players like Jamie Collins, and , but Matthew Stafford should also be [100-percent] healthy when the season starts.

2020 Schedule in Photos The Vikings are set to celebrate their 60th NFL season in 2020. This Vikings 2020 NFL Schedule Gallery features key foes and offers a look at some throwback moments — near and far — against Minnesota's opponents.

In light of the Lions offseason approach, Breech said the NFC North "should be a crapshoot in 2020."

[Which] makes sense, because this has been one of the most unpredictable divisions in the NFL over the past few years. No NFC division embraces parity quite like the North. For one, this is the only division in the NFL that has produced three different winners over the past three seasons. Also, the NFC North is one of just two divisions that has sent all four of its teams to the playoffs over the past four years (the AFC South is the other).

The one other thing about the NFC North is that it was one of only two divisions in the NFL that had three teams finish .500 or better last season (the NFC West was the other).

Breech pointed out that the NFC North's out-of-division record in 2019 was 22-17-1.

Vikings Players as Emojis View photos of the Vikings displaying expressions matching emojis for World Emoji Day.

Who did Breech rank higher than the "Black-and-Blue" division? He tabbed the NFC South – which gained Tom Brady this spring – at No. 2 and the "stacked" NFC West at No. 1 overall.

The NFC West has consistently been producing some of the best teams in the NFL. Over the past six years, all four teams have played in at least one NFC title game. To put that in perspective, only one other division has even produced three conference title teams in that same span (AFC South). The reason that fact is notable is because it feels like any of the NFC West's four teams could end up back in the NFC title game this year.

Hughes among PFF's '10 players who need strong training camps'

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teams have yet to meet officially and coaches have yet to see their players' progress in-person.

Sam Monson of analytics site Pro Football Focus pointed out that because of this, "the opportunity for players to prove they deserve a bigger role in the 2020 NFL season is smaller than it's ever been."

Assuming that teams do kick off training camps in the coming weeks, which players need to impress in order to earn more responsibility?

Monson named 10 players across the league, including Vikings cornerback Mike Hughes. The 2018 first-round draft pick impressed early on, but a torn ACL halted his rookie campaign after just six games. Hughes returned to the field last season but suffered a neck injury late in the year.

2019 Season in Photos: Vikings CB Mike Hughes View the top photos of Vikings CB Mike Hughes from the 2019 season.

Monson said there's "no doubt" the young corner will play a significant role in Minnesota's secondary this season after the departures , and in free agency. But he added that Hughes "may have a fight on his hands to determine exactly how significant that role is." Monson wrote:

The Vikings entire cornerback depth chart is essentially up in the air right now, with Hughes and needing to fend off competition from first- and third-round draft picks and . Hughes has a lot working in his favor. He was a former first-round pick, which usually results in the team feeling it has a bigger investment in that player. He has missed a lot of time in his first two seasons and has played just 744 NFL snaps. He has also not been able to settle in to just one position. Starting outside, he played 138 snaps in the slot last season. And he was primarily a slot corner in more than one game.

[…]

Hughes likely has the inside track to being their No. 1 guy if he can have a strong camp and show he is indeed a first-round talent. If he can't improve on back-to-back PFF coverage grades of around 60.0, though, he could find himself slipping to a nickel corner role or even further if the rookies hit the ground running.

Vikings Entertainment Network's Gabe Henderson spotlighted by alma mater

Starting a new job in a new city can be challenging at any time, but Vikings Entertainment Network's Gabe Henderson, whom the Vikings hired this spring as a producer, has navigated the transition from Washington to Minnesota during the coronavirus pandemic.

Henderson was spotlighted by his alma mater, Liberty University, where he played receiver and helped lead the Flames to the FCS playoffs for the first time in his senior season. Liberty's Ted Allen wrote:

In 2010, Henderson was the second-rated quarterback in North Carolina when he was recruited by the Flames. He switched to his junior year and eventually had a couple workouts with NFL teams at that position.

But, inspired by sports broadcasting legends like David Aldridge, Ahmad Rashad, and Stuart Scott, he discovered his true passion was for broadcasting, a specialization of his undergraduate communication degree.

Allen detailed Henderson's career path, from working as video coordinator for Liberty's Club Sports programs (where he covered sports "ranging from hockey and lacrosse to paintball and taekwondo), to a creative content specialist in the NFL with Washington to his current role with the Vikings.

Henderson expressed that "being in a front-facing position for the Vikings as a Black male speaks volumes."

"I think it provides inspiration for younger people, and it makes me more excited [to be in Minnesota] because I know God didn't put me in a position like this without a reason," Henderson told Allen. "I'm just believing He is going to use me in a way that I can't even imagine."