Mark Walton - RB - Hurricanes
Miami junior RB Mark Walton will declare for the 2018 NFL Draft. 

According to Inside the League's Neil Stratton, Walton has signed with agent Zac Hiller, ending his collegiate eligibility. Walton (5'9/205) will be an interesting evaluation for NFL scouts. The talent is obviously there -- he rushed for 428 yards on 7.6 YPC in four games this season before going down and dropped 1,117 yards and 14 scores on 5.3 YPC last year -- but Walton faces durability questions. He was shut down in early October due to an ankle injury. Last Month, NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah wrote that Walton has "outstanding vision, instincts and balance" and is "ultra quick in short areas" in addition to being a "capable receiver out of the backfield." Right now, we'd peg him as a late-Day 2 or early-Day 3 value. That could change for the better or worse depending on his medicals and how he tests out in Indy at the NFL Combine.

Source: Diehards Nov 28 - 4:49 PM

  An early Day 3 option if we lose Jet...

http://www.startribune.com/ranked-the-10-best-seasons-by-backup-quarterbacks-in-vikings-history/460834443/

The 10 best seasons by backup quarterbacks in Vikings history

As an organization, the Vikings are known for fearsome defenses and losing four Super Bowls.
A sneaky thing that is also part of their organizational lore: Seasons saved by backup quarterbacks.

Here is a ranking of the best performances by backup quarterbacks in Vikings history, going from 10 down to 1:

#2) Case Keenum, 2017: The Vikings are taking their QB situation week-to-week, but for seven weeks in a row that’s mean wins with Keenum leading the way. Regardless of whether he gets to finish the year out or if Teddy Bridgewater takes over at some point, Keenum has saved this season and then some.

Full article at link

I suppose the NFL is wetting itself over the NFC schedule down the stretch.  6 NFC teams with 7 or more wins play each other this weekend.  And then it continues next week.

Looking at who we face, we have to beat Carolina and Atlanta on the road so we can possibly face them at home in the playoffs.  (yes, I am looking ahead, as a fan, I can do that without losing focus on Sunday.)  We beat Detroit on the road, and both NO and the Rams at home. 

So every NFC team they have faced outside of their division except for Tampa are playoff contenders.  As well as the Steelers and Ravens in the AFC.  I remember back a month or so ago hearing caution that we hadn't beaten anyone of note at that point.  Can't say that now, and the next 2 games are huge as well.  If we can win those 2, we are sitting pretty.  Even if we split, we still look pretty damn good IMO.

If we look back on this year, no one will be able to say our road was easy.  And with the exception of Philly, it is likely we will face a team in the playoffs that we have beaten in the regular season.

Love seeing all that red.  Means I get to watch it again this week.

Walter Football's Charlie Campbell reports that Florida redshirt junior DT Taven Bryan will declare for the NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-4, 295-pound Bryan posted 40 tackles, six TFL and four sacks this fall in a breakout campaign. Previously, he'd been a rotational linemen. Per Campbell, Bryan "is known to be an excellent athlete" and he's "expected to post impressive numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine and in pre-draft workouts." Campbell has heard comparisons to the Chiefs' Chris Jones and the Broncos' Derek Wolfe in the scouting community. Both were second-rounders. We'd previously heard late-Day 2 or early-Day 3 grades on Bryan. An impressive pre-draft process could improve his standing, but he's inconsistent and remains raw, despite the physical tools.

Sorry, but this isn't the way you treat a guy that's gotten you to a 9-2 record. I'm very surprised he's STILL talking like this at this point in the season. Before? Yep, got it. Z loves himself some Teddy and Keenum might have caught lightning in a bottle for a spell. But not now. This is odd. 

1. Chris Tomasson‏ @christomasson 2m2 minutes ago
   More
   Mike Zimmer on Keenum “we’re just going to go one week at a time” but says not looking to pull him
   
   Direct message
2. Tom Pelissero‏Verified account @TomPelissero 2m2 minutes ago

   More

   #Vikings coach Mike Zimmer says he’ll keep going week to week with QB. On Case Keenum: “I’m not looking to pull him, but every week’s a different week in this league.”
   

Well - game got a bit tougher for our D today - 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000...n-protocol

So my next question would be - How good is Atlanta's O line? 

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/201...twork.html
ESPN President John Skipper announced Wednesday morning the network will be terminating approximately 150 employees, bringing the total number of employees the network has let go in 2017 to about 250.

Hi Longshipper Friends,


My mom passed away yesterday morning
in her nursing home room.  She was pain free and in peaceful rest. 

She too was a long time Viking fan, and I still remember her tearing up after that last SB loss against the Raiders and telling me "Oh well, they had a great season", but she felt the same pain as any of us "die hard" fans.
Thanks again all of you for the kind words, thoughts, and prayers.  It's been an absolutely crazy 11 month battle my mom has fought, and now she's resting.  I'm very thankful for that.
Skol, mom, love you and miss you!
Tim (Happy)