Vikes fans

[JohnRandle]

Rams have fired Steve Spagnuolo..
Happy New Year. lol

 

[JohnRandle]

Recommend comment(0) email print Facebook rss
January 1, 2012

Andy King/Associated Press
Bears at Vikings: Jan. 1. VIEW GALLERY »Vikings earn poor grades in their final game
The Vikings get poor grades for their 17-13 loss to the Bears in their final game.
Will Vikings' offseason outshine their season?
Vikings end the season at 3-13, tying the 1984 team for the worst record in franchise history.
Allen ends season with team-record 22 sacks
After 16 weeks, one shared sack kept Vikings' Jared Allen from reaching Michael Strahan's NFL record.
Allen still has plenty to play for against Bears
The Vikings' season went south long ago, but Jared Allen still has goals to aspire to.
Vikings rusher Gerhart looking like NFL starter
Toby Gerhart's push for future playing time is gaining momentum, lately.

Bruce Kluckhohn-US PRESSWIRE
In pictures: Jared Allen. VIEW GALLERY »MINNEAPOLIS — With each calf-roping celebration on Sunday, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen drew closer and closer to Michael Strahan's single-season sack record.

Allen had the chance to perform his now-trademark sack celebration four times during Sunday's 17-13 loss to the Chicago Bears. He entered the game four sacks shy of Strahan's record of 22.5 sacks set in 2001.

There was just one problem for Allen. The first time he roped an imaginary calf on Sunday was after a shared sack with linebacker Erin Henderson.

"At first I was pissed because sacks are hard to come by," Henderson said of sharing the sack. "But then I realized it was Jared and I was like, 'Alright, I'll share it.' Kudos to Jared."

After 16 weeks, one shared sack kept Allen from reaching Strahan's record. Allen finished with 22 sacks this season, becoming just the third player in NFL history to reach the mark. Allen wanted the record and did feel a tinge of disappointment at coming up short.

"It's like being runner-up at the prom," Allen said. "The crown just doesn't mean as much. It's an honor and a privilege to have the Vikings' single-season record, to be in the same breath as Chris Doleman and Alan Page and those guys. This organization has a history of dominant defensive linemen. To be at the top of that is a true honor."

With Doleman in attendance Sunday, Allen broke Doleman's team record of 21 set in 1989. Allen is just the eighth player in NFL history to have at least 20 sacks in a season and the first since DeMarcus Ware had 20 in 2008.

After Allen came up short this season, Strahan doesn't necessarily believe his record is safe.

"Of all the guys chasing my record, Jared Allen is one of those players I really respect," Strahan said. "He's relentless on every play, run or pass, and that's why I like watching him play. He had an incredible season and sometimes that's hard when your team isn't having a lot of success.

"Hey, records are made to be broken. I believe that. His career is far from over and he will have more chances, I think, to go after it."

Allen, Minnesota's lone Pro Bowl selection after a disappointing 3-13 season, felt the record was within reach. After combining with Henderson to drop Chicago quarterback Josh McCown near the end of the first quarter, Allen started picking up momentum.

Going against Bears' left tackle J'Marcus Webb, Allen's intensity seemed to grow with each sack and he notched No. 22 with 5:27 left to play in the third quarter. After breaking Doleman's mark, Allen high-stepped toward the sideline before doing his post-sack calf roping.

"I talked to Doleman and I told him when I tied it, 'What an honor and pleasure it was just to have my name next to yours,'" Allen said. "And he told me, 'I'm happy for you. Now go out and break it.' So I was just amped, just to be a half a sack away. We were in the third quarter. I had the whole fourth quarter. Then momentum shifted a little bit."

Specifically, the Bears' protection schemes shifted.

Chicago double- and triple-teamed Allen for much of the rest of the game and with the lead, kept Allen at bay with the running game.

"We were like, 'This is going to happen,'" linebacker Chad Greenway said. "I'm not even the guy getting the record but you're thinking, 'This is amazing.' You wish McCown would have pulled a Brett Favre and tripped in front of him and rolled around."

Because of Favre, Allen's former teammate, the merits of Strahan's record sack has been debated.

Strahan's infamous sack came against Favre in the final game of the 2001 season. Favre ran a naked bootleg and turned into a rushing Strahan before falling down and letting Strahan fall on him to break Mark Gastineau's previous record of 22.

It was the only sack of Favre that day.

"It doesn't bother me at all," Allen said about Strahan's record sack. "People talk about it, but a sack is a sack is a sack. I have gotten some where I was the closest to a guy when he ran out of bounds, so I will take it."

Just as Strahan did during his record year, Allen went without a sack in just three games this season. The 3.5 sacks he posted Sunday was his season-high.

"He was in that zone," Henderson said. "He saw what he was working towards. He was on a mission and he had his mind made up."

Now Allen is hoping to just keep the league lead.

Philadelphia's Jason Babin and Ware each entered Sunday with 18 sacks. Babin went without a sack earlier and Ware's Dallas Cowboys team played Sunday evening against the New York Giants.

Allen made one last plea.

"I'm hoping that with DeMarcus Ware, my man David Diehl (New York's left tackle), 'I need you to lock it down tonight, OK?' I'm trying to keep the lead. It's just humbling, I think, when I look back on my eight years. This is absolutely crazy."

 

[powerchord86]

Hell yeah, go JA!

 

[JohnRandle]

I thought for sure he had it. 6 minutes left in the 3rd, and only needed one more sack.
Damn Bears started triple teaming him, just so he didn't get it..

 

[powerchord86]

I thought for sure he had it. 6 minutes left in the 3rd, and only needed one more sack.
Damn Bears started triple teaming him, just so he didn't get it..

Bastards! I only watched the first half. Then we took off to the casino for the day. I got lots of comments on my number 69 jersey.. :smile:

 

[JohnRandle]

It was great having something to root for. I wanted the Vikes to go 3 and out every possession, just so Allen had more opportunities.

 

[JohnRandle]

Spielman got himself a new title..
Name the new GM today. I was hoping for someone to come in and take that job. I don't think we'll see a big difference with him than what we have seen the last few seasons. It's still going to be the same trio making decisions.

 

[anythingispossible]

Agreed I was hoping they would go after Pohlad.

 

[JohnRandle]

Agreed I was hoping they would go after Pohlad.

He's dead..;-)

 

[anythingispossible]

LOL the guy from the Colts whatever his name is.

 

[JohnRandle]

LOL, oh that guy...
I don't know much about him.

 

[powerchord86]

Wildcard Weekend is coming. Who you guys like to knock the Pack out? lol

My sources are saying Atlanta. But that's only because the Chiefs are not an option.

 

[JohnRandle]

Wildcard Weekend is coming. Who you guys like to knock the Pack out? lolMy sources are saying Atlanta. But that's only because the Chiefs are not an option.

Who ever plays them..lol
I don't know, I'd like to see the Lions get hot and go all the way. They already proved they can keep up with them scoring.

 

[anythingispossible]

Cincinnati, New Orleans, New York Giants, Pittsburgh

This weekend

 

[anythingispossible]

Christian ponder asked if they were going to draft a quarterback this year.
They said no but he could not divulge who they were going to draft. LOL
Sounded like he may get some protection.

 

[anythingispossible]

Vikings may be getting a new defensive backs coach from Tampa Bay.

 

[powerchord86]

Who ever plays them..lol
I don't know, I'd like to see the Lions get hot and go all the way. They already proved they can keep up with them scoring.

I would kind of like to root for them too but they just seem like they have become such a bunch of thugs. It was fun seeing them have such a better season but with all the fighting and personal fouls it makes it hard for me to get behind. So basically.. eff em... lol

 

[powerchord86]

Cincinnati, New Orleans, New York Giants, Pittsburgh

This weekend

AP throwin down the picks. Nice. My turn...

Texans, Aints, Falcons, Stillers

Hey at least we half agree AP.. lol

 

[powerchord86]

Tomorrow will be an exciting day out here in Fargo. The NDSU Bison have made it all the way to the National Championship game against the Sam Houston State Bearkats in Frisco, Texas. It will be on ESPN at high noon tomorrow. Go Bison!

 

[powerchord86]

You all enjoying this weather? 55 degrees here yesterday shatering the old record.

I was outside grilling ribs in a t-shirt and sandals. Ok, I was wearing pants too.