• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Saturday, September 23, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Vikings armed to reload!

by Larry Fitzgerald
April 23, 2020
11
SHARES
224
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
MGN

Virtually every game and sporting event the last two months around the world has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic public health crisis. This week the NFL is moving forward with its scheduled annual NFL Draft April 23-25. Ok, it won’t be the same.

The league previously had designated Las Vegas, Nevada as the host location. That part was canceled because Sin City, like most of America, has been shut down due to social distancing restrictions.
This week NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will conduct the draft from his New York home. Many general managers for the 32 teams were first critical of conducting a draft when they, the teams, were not able to do what they normally do.

Each team gets to bring in as many as 30 potential draft prospects and free agents for on-site team location interviews and workouts. But since March 10, all NFL team headquarters have been closed.

Another major issue of the GMs and personnel critics was security concerns and phone line tapping. Goodell ordered all the GMs to shut up and stop complaining under the threat of being potentially fined. So here we go: the league’s first-ever virtual draft. I agree with Goodell—we can’t stop living life as we know it in fear of the COVID-19.

This draft will be different and restricted, however. The teams have had more than enough time to view tapes and video of players. And remember, they also had the annual Combine in early March to which over 300 players were invited. This draft is loaded with wide receivers and lineman.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

The Vikings will have 12 picks in this year’s draft, including two number-ones. They have suffered some significant losses, trading leading receiver Stefon Diggs to Buffalo for a number-one pick. They released starters tackle Linval Joseph and cornerback Xavier Rhodes and lost Pro-Bowler Everson Griffen, Trae Waynes, Jayron Kearse, Stephen Weatherly and Mackenzie Alexander to unrestricted free agency.

No time for excuses or crybabies: It’s time to move forward. That time is this week. The team also lost both defensive and offensive coordinators, George Edwards and Kevin Stefanski, which could hurt continuity.

For a team that finished 11-7 as a Wild Card in the tough NFC North, this draft is critical to weather the storm. It’s unclear if the Vikings are reloading or rebuilding, particularly with major salary cap restrictions.

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Coronavirus: Gov. Walz announces schools to remain closed through the year and other steps

Next Post

WNBA commish hopes for a season with or without fans

Larry Fitzgerald

Larry Fitzgerald is a longstanding contributing columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. He can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday and Friday at 9:10 am, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.

You Might Also Like

​The search for elusive Black fans continues
Sports

​The search for elusive Black fans continues

New Vikings GM confident he hired the best head coach
Sports

New Vikings GM confident he hired the best head coach

First flag football season could be the start of something big
Sports

First flag football season could be the start of something big

Flag football gains momentum with Vikings support
High School

Flag football gains momentum with Vikings support

Flores resists NFL’s forced arbitration threat
Sports

Flores resists NFL’s forced arbitration threat

NFL agrees to end ‘race-norming’
Sports

Fallout from NFL lawsuit continues

Next Post
WNBA’s first commissioner could’ve been Black — but she isn’t

WNBA commish hopes for a season with or without fans

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 22
September 22 @ 5:00 pm-September 23 @ 8:30 pm

9th Annual Lantern Lighting Celebration at Lakewood Cemetery

Sep 23
10:00 am-1:00 pm

Expanding Diversity Career Fair

Sep 23
7:30 pm-9:00 pm Recurring

Michhil Amra | We Are The Procession

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: