AGRI Biz

Last Monday, the Super Bowl contending Minnesota Vikings, lacking depth at wide receiver, quietly improved the team even more by claiming an obscure free agent, to many in the media and most fans, off waivers.   Marko Mitchell excelled at flanker at the University of Nevada-Reno.  He caught 51 balls for 1,129 yards (21.3 average) and eight TDs in 2007, and 61 balls for 1,141 yards (18.7 average) and 10 TDs in ...

The Minnesota Vikings should determine which position last year's NFL ROY Percy Harvin should play to best utilize his big play potential. Slot receiver? Third down scat back? Split-end receiver? Feature running back? Of course, he is also a leading kick off returner. Harvin excelled at both running back and wide receiver in college. It is clear, after comparing his physical attributes to the top third down scat backs in Reggie Bush and Kevin Faulk, slot receiver ...

The recent signing of former Philadelphia Eagles third round draft choice and running back Ryan Moats by the Minnesota Vikings has raised another question.  Is head coach Brad Childress also considering signing another of his former Eagle running backs and third round draft pick, Brian Westbrook?   Moats is a feature back or power-scat hybrid, much like the Vikings Adrian Peterson and Albert Young.  The signing of Moats appears to ...

The Minnesota Vikings have the opportunity to become the NFL’s top rushing offense this year and perhaps of all- time. The team is using specialization (in three dimensions) to complement the power and speed of Adrian Peterson with the power of Toby Gerhart and the speed of Percy Harvin (or Darius Reynaud).   A fourth dimension involving quarterback Brett Favre (if he returns, as is the prevailing opinion) and Pro Bowl ...

Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress was in Gainesville this weekend, with his quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers.  Among other appointments, Childress had a private workout scheduled with former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow.   The Vikings are considering drafting Tebow in the upcoming 2010 NFL Draft.  Rick Spielman, the Vikings vice president of player personnel, attended Florida's Pro Day workout in March.    Childress thinks highly of Tebow.  The competing interest of the Patriots can ...

Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress has been a mostly patient psychologist with Brett Favre: He just lets Favre do what he wants. He knows Favre will only try to play if he can play at a high level.   Unfortunately, somebody within the organization (maybe somebody whose name rhymes with “sick deal-man”) appears to want the team to prepare for the future by drafting a quarterback now.   The problem is, the NFL ...

Sherlock Holmes, or at least his methods, can amaze Vikings fans by accurately predicting who the team will select in the upcoming draft, and even suggest improvements, simply by using a few facts, they may not know, as a basis of deduction.   Holmes told his sidekick Dr. Watson: “You know my methods,” just like Vikings head coach Brad Childress probably explains to his Vice President of Player Personnel Rick Spielman.   They start ...

This week Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress displayed both defensiveness and wishful thinking toward his two starting safeties: free safety (FS) Madieu Williams and strong safety (SS) Tyrell Johnson.   The blogs have been ablaze with Vikings fans unhappy with their performances this season. Safety is a popular first-round pick among draft prognosticators.   In response, Childress is giving his safeties credit for improved performances in their two playoff games against the Cowboys ...

The question that keeps popping up is this: Why are the Minnesota Vikings not in a hurry to determine whether Brian Westbrook should be their third-down running back or not?   Since he was released by the Eagles, most football analysts concluded Minnesota was the likely landing spot.   Since previous third-down back Chester Taylor left for the Bears, Westbrook became the clear favorite and best available fit for the Vikings' job opening.   He has ...

The Minnesota Vikings acquired a once in a lifetime opportunity when they drafted superstar running back Adrian Peterson in 2007.    AD, or All Day, as he likes to be called, possesses a rare combination of power and speed.  Power-scat back AD, power back Chester Taylor and scat back Mewalde Moore were the number one ranked rushing combo in 2007.  Unfortunately, the Vikings lacked a proven quarterback.   While the addition of quarterback Gus ...