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Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Packers All-Pro Floated As Possible Fit For Vikings
Former Packers All-Pro Floated As Possible Fit For Vikings originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Green Bay Packers have a notable history of seeing their players leave only to sign with the Minnesota Vikings. It has happened with Hall of Famer Brett Favre, as well as Aaron Jones, Robert Tonyan, Greg Jennings, Za'Darius Smith, DuJuan Harris, Desmond Bishop, and several others. Advertisement Such a trend catches fans' attention because of the long-standing rivalry between the two teams. When talk starts about a former Packers star possibly heading to Minnesota, it raises eyebrows among Green Bay fans and adds more fuel to the competitive fire. The latest buzz centered around that trend comes from Up & Adams host Kay Adams, who suggested that a former Packers All-Pro and Pro Bowler could be a good fit for Minnesota—a move Packers fans definitely would not welcome. Former Green Bay Packers CB Jaire Alexander warms up before game against the New England Patriots at Lambeau Field.© Benny Sieu-Imagn Images "My vote for landing spot for one Jaire Alexander would be the Vikings, of course" Adams said. "We can do funniest thing ever here," Adams added. Join forces with he who you like jawing against (Justin Jefferson)." Advertisement "Go to the Vikings. So much has gone on between him and Minnesota over the years. They need a corner. I talked to Kevin O'Connell about that being the only thing I don't love right now as far as keeping them from winning a Super Bowl. He gets a chance to play them, the Packers, twice a year. This would be perfect…I would love Jaire to stay in that division.' After seven seasons in Green Bay, the Packers parted ways with Alexander on Monday, freeing up $16.09 million in cap space for 2025. It was a tough call, but one the team had to make. Now sitting with the third-most cap space in the league and several starters slated to hit free agency in 2026, the move gives the front office more flexibility moving forward. Alexander was a productive cornerback when on the field last year, recording two interceptions and seven pass breakups. However, availability has become a concern—he missed 34 of Green Bay's last 68 games and will turn 29 in October. He was also set to carry the third-largest cap hit on the team in 2025, and there was little chance Green Bay would keep such an expensive player without any real indication that he could stay healthy moving forward. The most recent example of the Packers facing a former Pro Bowler who joined the Vikings is Aaron Jones. He averaged four yards per carry in two games against Green Bay but did not score a touchdown. If Alexander ends up with Minnesota, the Packers would face him in Week 12 and then again in the regular-season finale in Minneapolis. Advertisement Green Bay will hit the road in Week 8 for a highly anticipated Sunday night showdown against Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Alexander ends up signing with Minnesota—or any other team on the Packers' schedule—it would set the stage for yet another must-watch matchup against one of their former stars. Related: Packers Send Three-Word Message After Releasing Jaire Alexander This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Vikings offseason winners and losers: As OTAs begin, who is worth watching?
The J.J. McCarthy coverage will commence soon. Organized team activities (OTAs) begin Wednesday for the Minnesota Vikings. The afternoon practice provides the first snapshot of McCarthy in a competitive setting since last summer's preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders. His presence warrants most of the attention, but Wednesday also offers the first opportunity to see this new-look roster. Advertisement There isn't a better way to determine who to watch than by considering the most notable facets of the last few months. Here are four winners and four losers from OTAs who should be front and center beginning this week: Let's start with the head coach's new extension. The Vikings' 2024 season ended on Jan. 13, and before the end of the month, the team and Kevin O'Connell agreed to terms on a new contract. It's hefty. It'll keep the reigning NFL coach of the year in Minnesota for the next half-decade. Security does not come easily for NFL head coaches, so that's a notable achievement. The offseason's offensive personnel additions benefit O'Connell as well. A play caller has more options when he has a formidable interior of the offensive line. The Vikings allocated a major chunk of their available resources to center Ryan Kelly, right guard Will Fries and first-round pick Donovan Jackson. Minnesota also re-upped running back Aaron Jones, acquired running back Jordan Mason via trade and used a third-round pick on receiver Tai Felton. O'Connell has been the main orchestrator of the Vikings' success over the last three years. This offseason cemented ownership's belief in him, but also upped the expectations. There's not much more O'Connell could want. Now, the onus is on him and the rest of the Vikings' decision-makers to make it work with as well-rounded a roster as they've had since they arrived three years ago. .@D_jack78 adds even more to what we've built up front this offseason. 📺: — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 20, 2025 Vikings running backs coach and run game coordinator Curtis Modkins has been around the block since he started in the NFL in 2008. O'Connell, who worked with Modkins in 2016 with the San Francisco 49ers, hired him when he came to Minnesota. Modkins has held the same role for three years. He is a winner for a couple of the same reasons O'Connell is. Modkins' room maintains Jones, the consummate professional who makes the coach's job easier. Acquiring Mason gives the backfield another boost in terms of vision and physicality. Add in the interior offensive line overhaul, and what more could you want if you were the man in charge of an aspect of this team that must improve? The Vikings' run game ranked 27th in the NFL in 2022 and 2023, then 20th in 2024, according to DVOA. Personnel limited the ceiling in the past, but it shouldn't anymore. Advertisement It's wild to consider how the Vikings landed Jackson. The Tennessee Titans drafted him in the sixth round in 2022, then begrudgingly waived him and shifted him to the practice squad. Tennessee did not want to lose him, but Minnesota plucked him away for nothing. He entered with zero fanfare but constantly made plays. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores liked Jackson immediately, and teammates believed just as strongly in what he could become. The Vikings didn't blink when safety Cam Bynum coveted a massive new contract because of their belief that Jackson is intelligent, rangy and capable. He signed a three-year deal this offseason and is in line to start full time. Offensive line coaches prepare to offer help wherever their line is weak. If that happens to be on the edge, they'll ask tight ends to chip pass rushers and running backs to eye pressure from the outside. It's easier to put additional bodies in a spot when you can hold up elsewhere. Opposing teams could do that last year against the Vikings, which is about the only thing that stopped Greenard and Van Ginkel, specifically, from wrecking games. But opposing teams won't be able to do that anymore. Why? Because the Vikings signed Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen. Move all of your resources to the edge, and you'll now be susceptible inside. Be mindful of what Hargrave and Allen can accomplish on the inside, and you'll be handing Greenard, Van Ginkel and Turner more one-on-one pass-rush reps on the edge. This catch-22 would benefit any defense, but it might mean more for a system as creative as Flores'. Different stunts and games become possible. Toss Harrison Smith's and Josh Metellus' blitz abilities into the mix, and offensive line coaches preparing for the Vikings will need some ibuprofen. Andrew Van Ginkel was EVERYWHERE against the Giants! The linebacker had four tackles, a sack and a pick-six in a dominant first regular season game for the Vikings #Skol — Minnesota Vikings UK (@UKVikings) September 10, 2024 The Jacksonville Jaguars hired a 29-year-old as their offensive coordinator for a reason. Grant Udinski, who last year was the assistant offensive coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach for the Vikings, bridged gaps between O'Connell's schematic vision and the weekly quarterback plan. Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown frequently praised Udinski's knowledge of the system. Udinski arranged post-workout walk-throughs for quarterbacks most afternoons. Advertisement More than most, Udinski understood the way O'Connell's mind worked and how to translate his plan to the quarterbacks. The Vikings hoped to keep him, but Jacksonville head coach Liam Coen had eyed him for years. Minnesota's infrastructure remains rock solid, but the new hire for Udinski's role, Jordan Traylor, formerly an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints, has big shoes to fill. He must serve as a confidant for McCarthy. Brandel looked like two different players last year. He ranked sixth in pass-blocking efficiency among 72 qualified guards before Week 9. From Week 9 on, he ranked 63rd. Christian Darrisaw's torn ACL and MCL are the obvious variables in the dichotomy. The Vikings are optimistic about Brandel, but they still supplemented the offensive line with a left guard in the draft. Brandel's versatility should keep him in the fold even if Jackson, the team's first-round pick, wins the role from the outset. But the rookie inherently clouds Brandel's path to available playing time. Few NFL teams maximize the undrafted free-agency period like the Vikings. Ivan Pace Jr. presents a best-case scenario for players of this ilk, but Minnesota values developmental opportunities for players at the bottom of the roster. Good problems arise when you are as effective as the Vikings have been in targeting potential contributors, and that's the theme here. Murphy, Richter, Taimani and McGlothern all flashed last year. Richter thrived on special teams. McGlothern intercepted a pass in Cleveland during joint practices, then was thrust into garbage-time action against the Chicago Bears and receiver Keenan Allen. Taimani plugged gaps against the run, and Murphy's athletic traits are unmistakable. Yet none are safe as the fall approaches. The Vikings have pooled together another talented undrafted class. BYU edge rusher Tyler Batty, Utah cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn, Georgia edge Chaz Chambliss, Auburn linebacker Austin Keys and others will vie for spots. Whatever the case, Minnesota's roster will be better because of the Murphys and Richters of the world, who need to prove themselves once more. Durability in the NFL requires a certain amount of luck, but staffing matters. Vikings players raved about last year's group, specifically director of rehabilitation Matt Duhamel and strength and conditioning coach Josh Hingst. The Carolina Panthers poached Hingst, who had been with Minnesota for four seasons. The Vikings replaced him with multiple staffers. They're all well-regarded with varying areas of expertise, but they'll have to build trust with the players, something that often flies under the radar. So much of what the Vikings want to accomplish in 2025 hinges on the health of older players who have navigated injuries, and this department's role warrants monitoring. (Photo of Jonathan Greenard: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
Hamilton Spectator
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Liverpool is a soccer-mad city whose identity is woven with trophies and tragedies
LONDON (AP) — Liverpool is no stranger to triumph on the sports field, or tragedy off it. The northwest English port city experienced both joy and anguish on Monday: As fans lined the streets to celebrate Liverpool Football Club winning the Premier League title this season, a minivan crashed into the crowd . Police said more than 60 people were hurt, with 11 still hospitalized Tuesday. Police arrested the 53-year-old driver on suspicion of attempted murder but said they are not treating it as an act of terrorism. Euphoria – at least for those who support Liverpool FC over its local rival Everton – turned in an instant to chaos and grief . Within hours, came pledges of resilience and unity for a city that has weathered so much before — including deadly disasters at two stadiums hosting Liverpool games in the 1980s. 'It's supposed to be celebrations and instead the day is always going to be remembered for this now, instead of the trophy parade like it was supposed to,' said Aaron Jones, a 28-year-old fan who was nearby and saw the emergency response. 'Because of disasters we've had in the past, everyone's just connecting it to the same sort of group of disasters, you know what I mean? It should have been happy times, but (it's) been tainted.' A proud and battered city Liverpool was one of the world's busiest ports in the 18th and 19th centuries, but endured decades of hardship in the 20th. It weathered World War II bombing, the decline of its once-bustling docks and mass unemployment in the 1980s. Those tough years reinforced the city's underdog self-image, as a northern, heavily Irish-influenced city far from British centers of power in London. Renewal for the city that gave birth to The Beatles has come in recent decades through reinventing Liverpool as a magnet for tourists seeking culture, nightlife — and soccer. Both the city's Premier League teams have legions of fans around the world. Liverpool FC, in particular, is one of the most decorated teams in global soccer, with dozens of British and international trophies to its name. But the success has come alongside tragedy for a club whose anthem is 'You'll Never Walk Alone.' On Tuesday, Liverpool FC's homepage offered thoughts to those affected by the crash and referenced the disasters at Heysel and Hillsborough stadiums that had a profound impact on the club and its identity. A tragedy in Brussels On May 29, 1985, Liverpool played Italian team Juventus in the European Cup final at Heysel Stadium in Brussels. Crowd disorder before kickoff culminated in a surge by Liverpool fans into an adjacent stand containing mostly Juventus supporters. In the ensuing chaos, some were trampled or suffocated to death as they tried to flee the violence and others died when a retaining wall collapsed. A total of 39 people — 32 from Italy, four from Belgium, two from France and one from Northern Ireland — died and around 600 were injured. Liverpool fans were largely blamed for the violence. Twenty-six were arrested, and 14 of them convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Many also attributed the disorder to the dilapidated condition of Heysel, a 55,000-capacity structure with outdated standing-room only stands, flimsy fences and crumbling walls inside and outside, as well as poor organization from police and UEFA, European soccer's governing body. The 40th anniversary of the disaster is on Thursday. Haunted by Hillsborough Four years later, a crush during a game against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield ultimately left 97 Liverpool fans dead. The catastrophe unfolded when more than 2,000 Liverpool fans were allowed to flood into a standing-room section behind a goal with the stadium already nearly full for the game. The victims were crushed against metal anti-riot fences or trampled underfoot, and many suffocated. The tragedy of Britain's deadliest sports disaster was compounded by a coverup into the cause and missteps by police. With hooliganism rife in English soccer throughout the 1980s and memories of Heysel still fresh, a false narrative that blamed drunken, ticketless and rowdy Liverpool fans was created by police and spread by sections of the media. Bereaved families campaigned for years to correct the record, finally securing an inquest jury's 2016 verdict that police and emergency services were to blame for the disaster and the victims were 'unlawfully killed.' The city has a long memory. To this day many Liverpudlians refuse to read tabloid newspaper The Sun, which ran stories alleging that fans had attacked police and robbed the dead. United in grief Many Liverpudlians — whether Liverpool or Everton fans — pledged that the city would come together after the latest tragedy. Everton FC issued a statement of condolence, setting aside rivalry to say: 'As a city we stand together.' Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said he'd heard multiple accounts of people opening their doors so distraught strangers could take shelter in their homes amid Monday's chaos. 'There were offers of lifts in cars so that people could get to their destinations,' he said. 'This is the true humanity of the great people of this city.' ___ Associated Press journalist Kwiyeon Ha in Liverpool, England, contributed to this story. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Jordan Mason's early ADP is too low
Yahoo Fantasy analysts Matt Harmon and Andy Behrens explain why the Minnesota Vikings' new running back's draft position should rise closer to the season. Hear the full conversation on the 'Yahoo Fantasy Forecast' podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you listen. View more Video Transcript Consensus ranking right now is 37, which is actually higher uh than when I wrote the article when he was running back 40. Advertisement Um, that's a, it's a big gap between him and Aaron Jones at running back 22. And look, I think like Jones should be ranked higher, but I wonder if that gap needs to be tighter, Andy, because like Jordan Mason last year, weeks 1 to 7, was second in the NFL and rushing yards behind only Derrick Henry. And I think when you look at why they went out to get Jordan Mason. Uh, the Minnesota Vikings did because this has been a very zone heavy run game. It's been kind of a one note rushing game, uh, under Kevin O'Connell's tenure there. And it started off pretty well with Aaron Jones last year, but then of course it faded with injuries. Advertisement And you look what they did in the offseason, they added a bunch of beef. Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Donovan Jackson, fixed the interior that. Offensive line and Jordan Mason last year at 5.95 yards per carry on gap scheme runs. I kind of think Jordan Mason might be key to the what seems like the desired evolution of the run game here in Minnesota. So, again, he's somebody that depending on like training camp usage and stuff like that, I could certainly see coming up from his current consensus rank. Yeah, this is one where I think you've just kind of exposed a problem in the ranks, uh, and, and he's, he's, he's a near lock to come up, um, because people are going to remember that Jordan Mason for like a month and a half was, was the absolute right answer in fantasy, and you were, you know, until he, until the point that his injury hit, um, like he, he was a weak winner for you and and he was somebody who was going to be able to ride a great situation. Advertisement And pretty significant talent to to an absolutely huge season, like he was gonna cruise to, I don't know, 1300 rushing yards, something like that. He looked awesome. Um, and there were, there were more touchdowns ahead for him as well. So like he looked great in in there should absolutely not be whatever the whatever the gap is in the ranks between Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason is right now. It it shouldn't be like that. Like Aaron Jones is a very valuable player and he's one of the best like. It's like a, like a legit route running, kind of, kind of running back too. I think he's a really gifted receiver and we're gonna, we're gonna see that role for him throughout the year. Advertisement But man, Jordan Mason is a really good compliment and there's no way that Jordan Mason is, is simply viewed as a straight backup, right, or somebody that they're only going to give 68 touches to. Jordan Mason's really good. He proved it. Um, and he should probably be, I don't know, for 40% of the snaps and a whole bunch of touches, um, so yeah, I, I think this one gets corrected as the, as the draft season moves along.
Forbes
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
3 Late Round Running Backs To Draft In 2025 Fantasy Football
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 10: Jordan Mason #24 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball ... More against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 10, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by) With the summer fast approaching, we're getting close to the 2025 fantasy football season. Today, we're going to look at three running backs who would be great late round targets for your 2025 fantasy football drafts. You can either use this information to draft best ball teams right away or just to get familiar with some of these outlooks. Two of the players on this list are rookies and one of them was traded this past year. The ADP we'll be using is from Underdog Fantasy, which uses a half-PPR format. That said, there's plenty of analysis to be done, so let's dive right into it. Jordan Mason had his breakout year with the San Francisco 49ers when Christian McCaffrey went down in 2024. With McCaffrey going down, Mason saw his previous career high in carries (43) increased dramatically to 153. With those touches, Mason was able to run for 789 yards on 5.2 YPC. This kind of production gave Mason three games above 15 points last season. It's worth noting that the Minnesota Vikings went out of their way to trade for Mason, showing that they clearly value him in the offense. While Aaron Jones is still on the team and he had a great 2024 season, at 30 years old, there's a risk of injury. Expect Mason to be used to help conserve Jones while also having upside to have spike weeks if Jones goes down. It wouldn't surprise me if Jaydon Blue was the outright starter for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025. With Rico Dowdle out the door, the Cowboys running back room is wide open. Although many speculated the Dallas Cowboys would draft a running back early in the draft, Blue was the first running back they selected and that was in round five. Although Blue didn't put up great numbers in college, he showed great flashes on film. The only players that Blue has to compete with right now are Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. Williams was a great prospect coming out of college, but after suffering a torn ACL and LCL tear, he hasn't had more than 3.8 YPC since 2023. Sanders is 28 years old and has struggled heavily since leaving the Philadelphia Eagles. In the last two seasons, Sanders hasn't had more than 3.8 YPC as well. The Cowboys are typically a good offense who give their players more opportunity by running 64.9 plays per game. Getting the starting running back in that offense is great value as the RB40. PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 23: Kyle Monangai #5 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights runs with the ... More ball while Alex Bray #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks to tackle him during the second half at SHI Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by) Staying on the trend of rookies, Kyle Monangai is a deep sleeper. Monangai isn't even going to be drafted in most leagues, so you should be able to get him as your last pick in ESPN or Yahoo leagues. Monangai was a 7th round draft pick for the Chicago Bears, but he's in a similar situation to Blue. D'Andre Swift was extremely inefficient last year with 3.8 YPC and many speculated that the Bears would take a running back early. Monangai ended up being the only running back they selected. Monangai has an easy path to take over the Bears backfield, and they project to be a great offense. With Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, DJ Moore, Luther Burden, Colston Loveland and quite a few offensive line additions, the Bears should be scoring a ton of points next year. Although Monangai wasn't drafted very early in the NFL and doesn't have a super high ceiling, he's a bruiser. On tape, it's clear that Monangai runs defenders over, and that was shown by his 1,279-yard rushing season at Rutgers. With how late you're able to draft Monangai, he should be a target for 2025 fantasy football.
