IPBprez
Cheesehead
:shock:
New Viking thinks positive
Free safety Darren Sharper sat down on the eve of his first Vikings minicamp and said Minnesota is the team to beat in the NFC North, a Super Bowl contender and should have a "top-five" defense.
As bold as the first two statements are, the last one is more courageous. The Vikings haven't ranked higher than 23rd since 1998.
"If that's what Darren says, I'll take it," defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell said. "That No. 28 ranking last year still bothers me."
The Vikings' new-look defense, which includes at least five new starters, will practice together for the first time this morning when a three-day minicamp begins at Winter Park. There will be little contact and a lot of teaching and building of team chemistry over six practices, especially on defense.
"This minicamp is huge for us to get this thing started on the right path and to stay there," Cottrell said. "There is an enthusiasm that we all have because of the investments that were made on defense. I know I'm juiced up about this thing."
No newcomer will look stranger in purple today than Sharper. After all, he spent his first eight seasons with Vikings archrival Green Bay.
"I think I look pretty good in purple," said Sharper, who signed with the Vikings on March 12, two days after the Packers cut him in a salary cap decision. "This is my team now. I've been here working out already. There's probably 60 guys here, which is about twice what we'd get in Green Bay at the offseason program. I'm already comfortable here."
Sharper recently threw away his favorite leather Packers carry-on bag and plans to ship all of his green and gold memorabilia to his parents' house in Richmond, Va., rather than bring it with him when he moves into an apartment in Uptown next month.
"I loved my time in Green Bay," said Sharper, who went to two Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl with the Packers. "But I'm not necessarily sure with the situation they're in as far as personnel and the salary cap how easy it's going to be for them to win. I know I'm in a better position now to achieve my goal of getting to a Super Bowl. That makes it easier to switch sides and leave those things behind."
Besides Sharper, the Vikings' new defensive starters include cornerback Fred Smoot, strong-side linebacker Napoleon Harris, tackle Pat Williams and middle linebacker Sam Cowart. Rookie first-round draft pick Erasmus James would be the sixth new starter if he beats out Darrion Scott at left end.
"We can be a top-five defense, no question about it," Sharper said. "Coach Cottrell had the No. 1 defense [in Buffalo in 1999]. And now he has the players here that will allow him to do what he likes to do. We just have to get on the field and start proving it."
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I got one response -
CHOKE
New Viking thinks positive
Free safety Darren Sharper sat down on the eve of his first Vikings minicamp and said Minnesota is the team to beat in the NFC North, a Super Bowl contender and should have a "top-five" defense.
As bold as the first two statements are, the last one is more courageous. The Vikings haven't ranked higher than 23rd since 1998.
"If that's what Darren says, I'll take it," defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell said. "That No. 28 ranking last year still bothers me."
The Vikings' new-look defense, which includes at least five new starters, will practice together for the first time this morning when a three-day minicamp begins at Winter Park. There will be little contact and a lot of teaching and building of team chemistry over six practices, especially on defense.
"This minicamp is huge for us to get this thing started on the right path and to stay there," Cottrell said. "There is an enthusiasm that we all have because of the investments that were made on defense. I know I'm juiced up about this thing."
No newcomer will look stranger in purple today than Sharper. After all, he spent his first eight seasons with Vikings archrival Green Bay.
"I think I look pretty good in purple," said Sharper, who signed with the Vikings on March 12, two days after the Packers cut him in a salary cap decision. "This is my team now. I've been here working out already. There's probably 60 guys here, which is about twice what we'd get in Green Bay at the offseason program. I'm already comfortable here."
Sharper recently threw away his favorite leather Packers carry-on bag and plans to ship all of his green and gold memorabilia to his parents' house in Richmond, Va., rather than bring it with him when he moves into an apartment in Uptown next month.
"I loved my time in Green Bay," said Sharper, who went to two Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl with the Packers. "But I'm not necessarily sure with the situation they're in as far as personnel and the salary cap how easy it's going to be for them to win. I know I'm in a better position now to achieve my goal of getting to a Super Bowl. That makes it easier to switch sides and leave those things behind."
Besides Sharper, the Vikings' new defensive starters include cornerback Fred Smoot, strong-side linebacker Napoleon Harris, tackle Pat Williams and middle linebacker Sam Cowart. Rookie first-round draft pick Erasmus James would be the sixth new starter if he beats out Darrion Scott at left end.
"We can be a top-five defense, no question about it," Sharper said. "Coach Cottrell had the No. 1 defense [in Buffalo in 1999]. And now he has the players here that will allow him to do what he likes to do. We just have to get on the field and start proving it."
===============================
I got one response -
CHOKE
