It's just after the 4th of July and I am already itching for some football. What are some of the questions that trigger my hormones to prepare this early?
1. Can the Vikings make the playoffs?
Yes they can. If Travaris Jackson and the receivers can mesh and perform well enough to get nine defenders out of the box and let Peterson and Taylor run amok. I believe their defense can hold up, but only if the offense can stay on the field long enough for the defense not to wear down at the end of the game. With Favre retired (yes, I think he will STAY retired), the Vikes are the team to beat in the NFC Central.
2. Can Terrell and Randy stay good boys?
As long as the winning is there, I think they can keep it toned down. Randy wants another taste of the Super Bowl, Terrell needs the extra cash for his props and popcorn.
3. Can the Dolphins rise from the ashes?
John Beck needs to prove it early and often. Jake Long better pancake a few defenders to keep the pressure off him. Taylor will continue his dancing around the stars and be the defender he is, just to prove a few critics wrong.
4. Will the Rams return to winning?
There were so many injuries, even the press secretary was on IR with writer's cramp. If most of the big names stay healthy, they can make one final run to the playoffs. SF is one year away, Seattle maybe regrouping and Arizona is, well, Arizona.
How is it that a few rag tag ball players like the Twins can lose three of their top players, and overachieve with this group? How does a young pitching staff, with a solid closer the last five years, manage to be within 2.5 games of the lead in the AL Central, while Detroit and Cleveland were supposed to be cleaning clock on the rest? There was a question asked on KFAN (I believe, not sure) about of the Twins should pick up a player for a playoff run. Believe it or not, I answer no. Let's this group gel and grow as a team. Livan is providing some leadership while the rest of the team has its growing spurts but playing loose. Rick Anderson has done a great job with the pirching staff. Keeping them within limits while giving them confidence and showcasing their talents to ballclubs who never heard of them. As long as this team doesn't place pressure on themselves, they can make the next two months very interesting. Who would have though the Rays and A's are up, while the Mets and Yanks are down? NY fans, glad you're happy your money went to underachieving teams then dining out and saving gas stamps at the local station. Thank you for playing. Next week I will see into the future and see if the Vikings have the stamina and testicular fortitude to proclaim the playoff on the radar. Some people are a little looney predicting a Super Bowl for the Vikes, but not until they get a better receiver collection. Thank you, Jacksonville, for taking Troy Williamson off our salary cap. I still have visions of Williamson blazing by the Packers secondary, only to watch his hands turn to iron when the ball hit them. I need prayer, hard to sleep nearing the preseason. One last thing, how do people have the stomach for full season of baseball fantasy? I'm already burned out after three months and a losing season, while others seem to be making three transactions a day. Sorry, I can't love the sport since the strike in 1994, the last time I watched a full game. (If you're asking, the last ballgame I went to was the Twins-Royals game in 1982, which they went 62-100) At least the Twins continue to prove the critics wrong, good job Gardy. If you don't get in the Hall of Fame for this work you've done so far, we shall tar and feather the voting staff, then dip them in McDonald's sweet and sour sauce and bring the crows in. Or just as simple thing like a finger poink in the eyes, courtesy of Moe.
