Blair Walsh to visit first graders who sent letters of support after missed FG (VIDEO)

After the Minnesota Vikings saw their season come to a sudden end Sunday when kicker Blair Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal against the Seattle Seahawks in the waning moments of their NFC Wild Card Game, nobody felt worse than the usually reliable three-point specialist.

To his credit, the 26-year-old Walsh faced the media and took full responsibility for the wide-left kick, but it seemed a foregone conclusion that he would be facing a long offseason filled with self-doubt and condemnation.

That was until a group of first graders at a Minnesota elementary school got together and took the time to write some kind words to Walsh in hopes of making him feel better.

Northpoint Elementary teacher Judie Offerdahl saw a teachable moment about things like empathy and forgiveness with this sports moment. She had her students write supportive letters to Walsh and read them aloud to the class.

“Dear Blair Walsh,” wrote one student. “I know that it can be hard to get through things that are sad. but you have to try and try again. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. One time I made a mistake when I was doing a cartwheel. I felt embarrassed. You can still help the Vikings win the Super Bowl next year. Your fan, Sophia Doffin.”

And after this video showing the youngsters' heartfelt support was posted, the healing process kicked (no pun intended) into gear.

Now, as payback for those kind words, Walsh will return the favor with a visit Thursday to their classroom in Blaine.

Walsh will express his gratitude by taking photos and sign autographs with the kids, who unlike many of the adults who used Walsh as a social media punching bag, understand that football is still just a game.

Vikings promote Family Day with photo of Adrian Peterson and son

Adrian Peterson is back in a Minnesota Vikings uniform and getting paid $13 million guaranteed this year. All appears right in Peterson's world after he was forced to sit out all but one game during the 2014 season by the NFL for the child abuse charge he faced in Texas for beating his young son with a switch.

Over the weekend, the Vikings celebrated Family Day and photographers captured the star running back having a nicer moment with his adorable boy.

And on Monday, the Vikings promoted the occasion by tweeting a picture of father and son sharing a loving kiss.

Welp pic.twitter.com/K5dhk0932K

— Dan Carson (@DrCarson73) August 3, 2015

Promoting Family Day on social media is a good thing, but one has to wonder if the Vikings exploited the young boy in doing so?

Vikings player's fiancee catches his first TD ball after random toss into stands (PHOTO)

After Vikings rookie wide receiver Adam Thielen caught the first NFL touchdown pass of his career, he randomly tossed the ball into the stands. A typical celebration but, little did he expect it to be caught by someone he knew. Adding to Thielen's surprise, the showcase souvenir was caught by his fiancee Caitlin Graboski.

You might call this football's version of catching a wedding bouquet.

Thielen caught a 44-yard touchdown pass during the second half of the game against the Chicago Bears and excitedly threw the ball into the stands to celebrate.

By chance, Graboski ended up on the receiving end. She later posted a photo holding the ball with the caption: "You know I did!! Caught my boys TD ball."

@Samboni_24 @athielen19 you know I did!! Caught my boys TD ball 😃🏈😃 pic.twitter.com/CDdjl03hyQ
— Caitlin Graboski (@Cait_19) December 28, 2014

"She was up there a little ways. I don't know if I got it all the way up there," said Thielen, according to ESPN. "She might have been fighting some people in the stands for it."

But Thielen did have a clue to where his fiancee would be.

Thielen said he knew his fiancé (@Cait_19) was in the area when he chucked it. Had faith she would get it! "She has better hands than me!"
— Aj Mansour (@AjKFAN) December 28, 2014

The pair got engaged in December 2013 and are due to get married in May. Thielen might even want to consider taking his sure-handed, future wife's name — Graboski. Now that's a football receiver's name.

Radisson pulls Vikings sponsorship deal in wake of Adrian Peterson charges: Report

The fallout from the Adrian Peterson arrest is beginning to hit the Minnesota Vikings where it hurts most — and it's not on the playing field.

Radisson pulled out of its corporate sponsorship deal with the Minnesota Vikings on Monday, as a second child abuse accusation against the team’s running back was made public.

The huge hotel chain announced it was “suspending its limited sponsorship of the Minnesota Vikings while we evaluate the facts and circumstances,” in a statement by the company — whose logo prominently appeared behind general manager Rick Spielman and coach Mike Zimmer as they spoke about Peterson's case earlier.

Other sponsors, according to the Vikings website, include New Era hats and GTM Sportswear. No word on if they will jump ship as well.

Adrian Peterson smiles in mugshot after being charged in abuse of 4-year-old son (PHOTO)

In a photo that's sure to be floating around the Internet forever and come back to haunt him, NFL star Adrian Peterson appears to be smiling in his mugshot after being charged with severely abusing his 4-year-old son.

The Minnesota Vikings running back was arrested for allegedly beating the young boy on the back, buttocks, legs and scrotum with a "switch" back in May, according to KHOU.

The disturbing details are heartbreaking and come out the same week as the video of Ray Rice punching his future wife was released.

Peterson reportedly beat the child repeatedly and later texted the boy’s mother, said law enforcement officials.

You will be “mad at me about his leg,” he texted, adding that he “felt bad after the fact.”

Peterson turned himself in to Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Saturday at around 1:06 a.m. CT, KRPC reported. He was let in through a side entrance after landing in Houston.

Peterson was released at 1:35 a.m. after posting the $15,000 bond, ESPN reported.

The running back was indicted Friday for reckless or negligent injury to a child in Montgomery County, Tex. He lives in The Woodlands, a suburb north of Houston.

The Minnesota Vikings didn't waste any time deactivating Peterson for Sunday’s home game against the Patriots.

Metrodome deflated for the last time (VIDEO)

It took only about 35 minutes to begin letting the air out of three decades of great memories (thanks mostly to the Twins) in Minneapolis and close a chapter in the history of Minnesota sports.

With the Vikings set to being construction on a new stadium, the Teflon-coated fiberglass roof of the Metrodome was deflated for the fifth and final time early on Saturday morning.

Here's a time-lapse video of the old arena taking its final breath.

The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority opened the stadium's relief vents and turned off the power to the fans that kept the iconic roof inflated at 7:15 a.m. Saturday, according to the CBS Minnesota.

Farewell.

Inside the Metrodome, home of the @Vikings, as it is deflated! MUST-SEE: http://t.co/zHOLJOWYDh #FinalDeflation
— NFL (@nfl) January 18, 2014

Vikings players won't help up DeSean Jackson (GIF)

Despite catching 10 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown, DeSean Jackson was involved in a sideline dispute that was caught by network cameras during the Eagles crucial loss to the Vikings.

Adding insult to injury (Jackson was held to 38 yards on the ground) was this video of Jackson looking for help after a play, only to have all of the Minnesota Vikings players refuse to offer a hand.

Luckily for the battered Jackson, a compassionate ref was there to help him up.

Snow plow narrowly misses Vikings players on field (VIDEO)

It looked like the Baltimore Ravens took that "twelfth player" thing a little too seriously when this free-wheeling M+T Stadium groundskeeper almost took out a group of Minnesota Vikings players with a snow plow during a timeout Sunday.

Later, another groundskeeper made life just a little more difficult for Vikes' kicker Blair Walsh with her misdirected snow shovel action.

VIDEO: Snow plow narrowly misses @Vikings players http://t.co/GahUuqvtIv
— NFL (@nfl) December 8, 2013

Cordarrelle Patterson ties NFL record with 109-yard kickoff return (GIF)

There have been only two 109-yard scoring plays in NFL history and they both happened in the same stadium.

Minnesota Vikings rookie Cordarrelle Patterson took the opening kickoff against the Green Bay Packers and returned it 109-yards for a touchdown on Sunday, setting the NFL record for longest kickoff return in league history and tying Antonio Cromartie's record for longest play in NFL history.

Patterson broke the kickoff return record previously held by New England's Ellis Hobbs (2007), Green Bay's Randall Cobb (2011) and Baltimore's Jacoby Jones (2012). All three players shared the kickoff return record with 108-yard touchdowns.

The record-setting kickoff return by Patterson tied Cromartie's record for longest play in NFL history. Cromartie, then with the Chargers, returned a missed field goal 109-yards for a touchdown in a 2007 game against the Vikings played at the Metrodome.

NY Daily News back page heralds 'lowly' Giants win over 'lowlier' Vikings

It wasn't a thing of beauty on either side, but the Giants 23-7 win over the Vikings Monday night at MetLife Stadium made the G-Men look like Kate Upton (albeit without makeup) for a night.

And the N.Y. Daily News' back page stroked frustrated Giants fans' egos by heralding the team's first win of the season with the triumphant headline "Somebody's Worse."

It took seven weeks, a six-game losing streak and an opponent that was even worse than the Giants themselves but finally, the Giants (1-6) chalked up a victory.

That's back page news.

Mariano Rivera wears Eli Manning jersey during MNF coin toss

Hoping to turn the team’s fortune's around, the New York Giants called in newly-retired New York Yankee Mariano Rivera to do the honorary coin flip for their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.

The legendary Rivera wore an Eli Manning jersey to the game then sat in owner John Mara's suite with his family.

Rivera, who retired this season after a 19-year career with the New York Yankees, also spoke briefly before the game with several of the Giants including Mara and head coach Tom Coughlin.

The future Hall of Fame closer was probably telling them how weird it felt to actually be starting a game — even if it is football.

Justin Tuck: Lack of sacks isn't defensive line's fault

The once-vaunted New York Giants pass rush has recorded a less than sterling five sacks in six games and, if you thrown in a lack of intimidation — few pressures, hurries or hits on quarterbacks — it deserves just as much blame for the 0-and-6 start as the stunted running game, the battered O-line or an erratic quarterback.

The numbers don't lie but, veteran defensive end Justin Tuck says you shouldn't point fingers at him or his defensive line.

"I guarantee you if you get us in a game scenario in our favor we’ll be fine," Tuck said, via the New York Daily News. "But we haven’t had the opportunity to play downhill. If you look at the sack numbers from years past, normally we’re leading by two scores in a lot of those games. You get a team where you know they have to pass the ball, they’ve got to get five out, I don’t think an O-line in this league has a chance, regardless if it’s us or anybody else. There are other issues, too. … I don’t care what you bring, if the quarterback gets the ball out of his hands, you’re not going to get there. And I think that’s the game plan against us right now."

Who is to blame for the mysterious decline of this once-fearsome pass rush? The Giants will enter Monday night’s game against the Vikings with an NFL-worst five sacks in six games. This is a team that won the Super Bowl two years ago behind a brutalizing defensive line that collected 48 sacks. Three of those players are still lining up against opponents.

"If I was the only one having a bad year numbers wise, then you could easily say 'Justin doesn’t have it anymore,' " Tuck said. "But when Kiwi (Mathias Kiwanuka) is not having a good year, when JPP is not having a good year, when Cullen (Jenkins) is not having a good year, when whoever else is not having a good year, you might want to look into it a little deeper than the numbers."

Throw in the off-season back surgery on Jason Pierre-Paul and the age of Kiwanuka and Tuck's explanations sound reasonable. But for such a drop-off in production — they sound like excuses as well.

Antrel Rolle: Giants can still 'go out there and blow teams out'

The New York Giants have played six games and have lost every one. They have been outscored 209-103 but Antrel Rolle still believes the team is still capable of thrashing an opponent.

"This is my fourth year being a part of the Giants and what we do is we lead," the outspoken safety said in his weekly stint on WFAN Tuesday. "Let's not let that be our mind-set that we have to hang in there for dear life at the end of every game and make it so close. Go out there and you blow their [butt] out early. Put them in a panic mode. Put their backs up against the wall."

This week's home game against the Minnesota Vikings may be the Giants best chance at proving Rolle correct.  The visitors are 1-4 and — considering the six teams the Giants have lost to this season are a combined 24-11— the struggling Vikes look ripe for trouncing.  The only team the Giants have faced so far this year with a losing record is Carolina at 2-3. The G-Men still lost that game 38-0.

Two of those losses, to the Bears and Cowboys, came down to a Giants turnover inside the final two minutes. Two others, against the Chiefs and Broncos —both unbeaten — turned south in the third quarter. Rolle first hinted Thursday after the loss in Chicago that the Giants needed to stop relying on Eli Manning fourth-quarter comebacks — which so far this season have fallen flat — and take advantage of teams earlier. He stressed that again Tuesday, saying the Giants don't just want to win but to win big.

"We're that dynamic as a team, despite what our record shows, that we can go out there and blow teams out," he said. "And I know that we can."

The unwitting schedule-maker gave the Giants 10 days to prepare for a bottom-dwelling team. What can the players do to take advantage of this situation on Monday night? 

"Let it all hang out," Rolle said of what the team's philosophy should be at the start of the upcoming game. "There's nothing else left to be done at this point but to let it all hang out. You're 0-6. You can't be scared to make a mistake."

Vikings' Jerome Simpson laid out drunk 49ers fan on field

Jerome Simpson caught two passes for 24 yards in the Vikings' third preseason game Sunday night against San Francisco but the biggest play of Simpson's night occurred in the fourth quarter when he tripped a drunk fan who'd run onto the field in a Niners jersey. Typically, when fans run out on the field during a professional sporting event, it's the police or security staff that chases down the unruly fans and often levels them to the ground before they're removed from the stadium. This time Simpson took matters into his own hands. As the Vikings were lining up to hike the ball, NBC announcers Al Michaels and Chris Collinsworth noticed two fans running onto the field.

"Now you've got a couple of fans coming out," Michaels said.

NBC has a policy to not show fans who run out on the field during professional sporting events, so the camera almost immediately was taken off the field and clips of last year's Super Bowl were shown in place of a live broadcast. 

But Michaels and Collinsworth continued to describe the scene as it unfolded on the field.

"Jerome Simpson actually came off the sideline and whacked the guy," Michaels said.

Collinsworth went on to describe how "there's two different guys on the field and Jerome Simpson gave him the blind side and roughed this guy up a little bit."

The crowd roared as Simpson knocked the fan to the turf.

Less than two minutes later — on the same play — another fan ran onto the field and almost made it the entire 100 yards before being tackled by security. Here's a GIF of that idiot getting taken down by security.

After the third fan ran onto the field, NBC's sideline reporter, Michele Tafoya, spoke to Candlestick Park's security officials, who told her that bike cops who were stationed outside the stadium had been moved to the sidelines to prevent anyone else from rushing the field.

Punter Chris Kluwe says he may lose his job over his gay marriage stance

Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe believes his days with the team may be numbered and said his pro gay marriage stance could be the reason he might lose his job.

On Sunday, Kluwe said he is starting to sense that rumors surrounding whether or not he will be released from the team will soon become "distractions."

"It’s a shame that in a league with players given multiple second chances after arrests, including felony arrests, that speaking out on human rights has a chance of getting you cut," Kluwe told NBC’s Pro Football Talk via text message.

Kluwe's outspoken view on the controversial topic might be one reason the Vikings selected UCLA punter Jeff Locke in the fifth-round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Kluwe, along with former Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, hired a lawyer earlier this year who submitted a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court opposing California’s ban on same-sex marriage.

  

Kluwe has repeatedly spoken out on the topic over the past year while addressing the question of whether the NFL is ready for an openly gay football player.

During last year’s season, Vikings special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer criticized Kluwe for wearing a homemade patch that supported Ray Guy’s candidacy for the Hall of Fame.

"Those distractions are getting old for me, to be quite honest with you," Priefer said at the time.

Ayanbadejo, who was cut by the Ravens earlier this month, suggested that the decision was influenced by his support for same-sex marriage.

"I was a vocal guy and garnered a lot of attention," Ayanbadejo said at the time.

"I brought a lot of issues with me to the Super Bowl and the issues came up at the Super Bowl. …My bark is louder than my bite," he said.  "I make a lot of noise and garner a lot of attention for various things off the football field. When that starts happening, why do you have that player around?"

It remains to be seen if Kluwe has been barking too loud for the Vikings.

Ex-Falcon Ray Edwards KOs opponent without touching him

In what has to be one of the funniest boxing knockouts— or worst dives— ever, former Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons defensive end Ray Edwards laid out an opponent without even touching the guy.

Edwards, who was released by Atlanta in November, gets into the ring with some chubby little guy in a "Co-Main Event" professional boxing match in West Fargo, ND the other night and floors the portly tomato can with a right uppercut that was more wind than wallop.

The guy goes down like a sack of rocks and just lays there.

It's amazing people actually paid to see this fight — but probably not as mind boggling as the five-year, $30 million contract the Falcons paid Edwards to suit up for the team.

Edwards is now 3-0 as a professional in the ring.

Adrian Peterson didn't realize how close he was to breaking record

It might have been the excitement of making the playoffs after a must-win game but  — after falling just nine yards shy of Eric Dickerson's single season rushing record of 2,105 yards — Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson seemed genuinely flabbergasted that he had come so close to breaking the 28-year-old record.

While being interviewed post-game by Fox's Pam Oliver — after the Vikings' 37-34 win over the Packers — she commented to Peterson about the near record, "You played you heart out.  Nine yards ... nine yards.  Boy, that's got to hurt."

The jubilant Peterson looked at the reporter. "Nine yards, what?" he said incredulously.  "Nine yards what ... from breaking it?"

If A.P. was showing some false modesty, he was good.  If he was resentful at not getting another shot at running for the extra nine yards — he was not as convincing.

The Vikings MVP candidate finished the game with 199 yards with a touchdown and racked up 2,097 yards for the season.  He joined the exclusive club of 2,000 with a run of 20-yards that pushed his tally to 2,009 yards but it was his 26-yard scamper late in the fourth quarter that set up Blair Walsh's game-winning field goal and sent his team to the playoffs for the first time in three years.

More amazing is the fact that Peterson joins Dickerson, O.J. Simpson, Terrell Davis, Barry Sanders, Jamal Lewis and Chris Johnson in the 2K club after having reconstructive knee surgery only about a year ago.

Peterson has shown he has that rare combination of speed and power, but his reaction at coming so close to breaking a treasured Hall-of-Famer's NFL record shows he has humility and a team-first attitude to boot.

Fake Adrian Peterson stars in fantasy draft 'Call Me Maybe' video parody

As if the world needed another parody of Carly Rae Jepson's "Call Me, Maybe," here comes another video version of the pop tune titled "Draft Me, Maybe."  This version of Canada's most annoying musical export since that Celine Dion "Titanic" song centers on what is hopefully the last area of sports that can be parodied — the NFL Fantasy Draft and where Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson should be picked.

The theme of the 3-minute video is focused around where the star NFL running back and top fantasy league prospect should be drafted after coming off major knee surgery and limited action in the preseason.

A chubby Peterson imitator, wearing the running back's Vikings jersey, sings his praises while running through a mall and outside the Metrodome to prove his knee is fine.  Sample verse:

"Well I have the 10th pick
Last year I took Michael Vick
All the backs left are ick
And I can't win, no way."

There's even a "Tim Tebow" cameo.  A buzz-cutted dude, wearing a #15 jersey, makes a bad throw to the Peterson impersonator.  Yup, that's Tebow.



It's all in good fun, if you can withstand some bad vocals and an peppy chorus like:

"My knee is better
And this is crazy
And draft me, maybe
I know it's risky
And kind scaaaary
But I am ready
So draft me maybe."

If this doesn't get you stoked for your fantasy league draft, nothing will.  But what's next — couch potatoes watching a game while singing "Brew Me, Maybe?"

Tebow Becomes T-Pain in "All I Do Is Win" Video Remix

What do you get when you superimpose Tim Tebow's head on T-Pain's body in a remix of DJ Khaled's song "All I Do Is Win?"  A funny viral sensation.

The Denver Broncos quarterback's grinning face is prominently bouncing around in the foreground of the rap video which features Ludacris, Rick Ross, T-Pain, Snoop Dog with a bevy of sexily-clad women and flashy cars—exactly the image Tebow is the polar opposite of—and it's become a viral hit.

The video has gotten over 500,000 hits on YouTube.

Maybe the only thing the bible-thumping Tebow has in common with the rap-lifestyle video is the title.

The unorthodox QB has lifted the once pathetic Broncos (7-5) to six victories in seven starts and a first place tie with the Oakland Raiders in the AFC West with another come-from behind victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

Maybe the saintly Tebow could get a little more street cred by changing his name to T-Bow and doing a song called "Mile High" with Snoop Dog.

Minnesota Player Delivers Kick To Green Bay Package

Things got a little testy during the second quarter of Sunday's game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings.  Following a Green Bay field goal kick, Vikings defensive end Brian Robison landed a kick of his own-- right into Packers guard T.J. Lang's stones.

The low blow came after Lang stood over  Robison, who got knocked down during the field goal kick.  Robison aimed the intentional kick right between Lang's spread legs and caused the Packers player to hunch over in pain.

Up until the dirty play, the two players had been going at each other pretty hard in the battle between the NFC North rivals.

If a kick to the groin is frowned upon in a street fight, then there's no place for it on the football field.