Latest news with #Vikings
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New book adds wrinkle to QB drama in NFC North and 2024 NFL Draft class
The NFL Draft is the best thing we have in sports, outside of the Super Bowl. You know why? There is no better reality show because it checks all the boxes you want. It's a game of chance, skills, and critical thinking that all can still need to have more luck than anything when it is all said and done. Case in point, we are over a year removed from the 2024 NFL Draft and we are hearing new details about the draft process for Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. Advertisement In a new book written by Seth Wickersham titled, "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback," details are shared about the mindset of Williams and his father, Carl. Details include everything from questions surrounding Shane Waldron and Matt Eberflus to even trying to work there way out of Chicago. Ironically, the Vikings played a major role in making things more difficult, as the book details, according to an ESPN report. "After an up-and-down final season at USC, Caleb Williams was unsure of what he wanted to do as he prepared for the 2024 draft. At the NFL combine that year, he met with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell. The two hit it off, and Caleb Williams began to dream of what it would be like to play for Minnesota." It peaked when Caleb Williams said, "I need to go to the Vikings," to which his father said, "Let's do it." Advertisement Obviously, the Bears drafted Caleb Williams, and there are more details as to how rocky that year was for him. Of course, the Vikings went with J.J. McCarthy, and they seem perfectly happy with him on their roster and are ready to roll with him in 2025 and beyond. This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: New book adds drama to Caleb Williams, J.J. McCarthy, and NFC North
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bears' Caleb Williams addresses report regarding hope to play for Vikings
One of the more interesting nuggets of the offseason related to Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and a book that was published. Within the book, it was reported that Williams had such a good meeting with the Vikings during the draft process that both he and his dad wanted to him to be a Viking. They ultimately decided against it and didn't want to make it an ugly display publicly to make that happen and as we fast forward, both parties are seemingly happy with where things stand in their quarterback rooms. Advertisement That doesn't mean people are forgetting, though. When Caleb Williams reported to Bears OTAs this past week, he spoke to the media about the report that came from the book. Williams kept things professional but did add, 'I had a good visit at the other place, Minnesota with Kevin O'Connell, good staff and all of that obviously.' Williams now has an offensive genius in new Bears head coach Ben Johnson, with whom he hopes to have a fruitful relationship. Johnson was able to turn the Lions into one of the best offenses in the NFL with Jared Goff directing their unit. With Williams, the sky is the limit, and it could quickly become a problem for the Vikings. This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Caleb Williams addresses report regarding hope to play for Vikings
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Vikings get first look at veteran CB returning from torn ACL in OTAs
Vikings get first look at veteran CB returning from torn ACL in OTAs The Vikings' cornerback group was one of the underrated aspects of the team in 2024, playing a pivotal role in the defense's monumental impact on the season. The unit had many veterans step up as they had to plug-and-play many players they signed late in camp, such as Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin. That was partly due to the unit needing a veteran pressence to counter the unit's youth, but also to help with injuries. One of those injuries came from Mekhi Blackmon, who missed the entire 2024 season. The Athletic's Alec Lewis shared his thoughts on the Vikings' cornerback this week, as a video of the cornerback being back on the field at Vikings OTAs was shared. His return will give a nice boost to the Vikings' cornerback room, as they once again are looking to overhaul the position group ahead of a new season. They brought back Byron Murphy Jr., who is coming off a Pro Bowl season. Meanwhile, they also signed Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah, who are gambles that could thrive under Brian Flores. Getting someone like Mekhi Blackmon back will help with their signings as it will allow for Flores to lean on a familiar face while mixing them into the fold.
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears' Caleb Williams addresses report regarding hope to play for Vikings
Bears' Caleb Williams addresses report regarding hope to play for Vikings One of the more interesting nuggets of the offseason related to Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and a book that was published. Within the book, it was reported that Williams had such a good meeting with the Vikings during the draft process that both he and his dad wanted to him to be a Viking. They ultimately decided against it and didn't want to make it an ugly display publicly to make that happen and as we fast forward, both parties are seemingly happy with where things stand in their quarterback rooms. That doesn't mean people are forgetting, though. When Caleb Williams reported to Bears OTAs this past week, he spoke to the media about the report that came from the book. Williams kept things professional but did add, 'I had a good visit at the other place, Minnesota with Kevin O'Connell, good staff and all of that obviously.' Williams now has an offensive genius in new Bears head coach Ben Johnson, with whom he hopes to have a fruitful relationship. Johnson was able to turn the Lions into one of the best offenses in the NFL with Jared Goff directing their unit. With Williams, the sky is the limit, and it could quickly become a problem for the Vikings.
Los Angeles Times
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Marina softball beats Westlake to win first CIF title in 30 years
IRVINE — Mia Valbuena had offered up nothing short of sheer dominance in the circle during the postseason for the Marina softball team. So it wasn't going to take much offensively for the Vikings to feel good about their chances in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship game. The production came early, and then it came often. Avi Valbuena and Eva Mazzotti each drove in four runs, as Marina beat Westlake 8-1 on Friday at Deanna Manning Stadium to deliver the program's first section title in 30 years. The Vikings had taken the lead before Mia Valbuena, the Michigan-committed right-hander, had thrown her first pitch. It was her twin sister whose two-out, bases-loaded double scored two runs in the top of the first. Shelly Luth, who co-coaches the Vikings with Dan Hay, called striking first in the contest 'huge.' First baseman Ava Kim had an infield single, Mia Valbuena also singled and center fielder Rachel Ruiz walked before Avi Valbuena, the designated player, laced the ball inside the left-field line. 'It just sets the pace for [Mia Valbuena],' Luth said. 'She's such a fierce competitor, and that's just insurance for her to go out there. Mia tends to think that she has to do it all on her own, and she knows it's not true, but you know, that's the funny thing about pitchers. You know, they wear it, and so we've been working really hard. … 'We have a mental coach for all of them that we brought in. She's been amazing for all of them to reset. One pitch. Don't make it bigger. Be present. Be in the now.' Avi Valbuena said her sister gave her 'a really hard high-five' after the first-inning hit. She added a single to drive in two runs in the third inning. When she returned to the dugout, she said she received 'an even harder high-five.' Marina (19-13) won its sixth CIF championship overall and first since 1995, when the Vikings completed a set of back-to-back Division I titles against Foothill and Mater Dei. Luth was the Vikings' bench boss then, too. 'I've been to the championship game once with Canyon,' Hay said. 'We fell short. [I have] been to the semifinals five or six times. This is my first championship, and I couldn't have written the script any better than doing it with Shelly. 'We came back out of retirement together and thought we'd be here two or three years, and this is our eighth season with Marina. Coaches strive to have their teams peak at the right time, especially at the end of the year in playoffs, and this team started to peak the minute playoffs began.' Mia Valbuena's postseason numbers epitomized that peak performance. She allowed a total of two runs across five games in bracket play, racking up 56 strikeouts over 33 innings pitched. The junior ace struck out 13 batters in the championship game. When the final out was recorded, the Marina bench emptied out onto the field. In short order, Mia Valbuena was crowned with a Viking helmet. 'That was me,' Avi Valbuena said. 'I brought it out and put it on my sister.' Pride was on the mind of Mia Valbuena when asked her thoughts on ending the extended section title drought for Marina. 'Our entire school is really proud,' she said. 'It's really amazing to have this feeling right now.' Avi Valbuena and Mazzotti (two doubles), the Vikings' sophomore shortstop, each had three hits. Catcher Gabby DiBenedetto had two hits and a run scored. Left fielder Halle Piramo scored two runs, and Ruiz reached base safely three times and scored twice. Marina will not compete in the CIF State Southern California regional playoffs, Hay said. Westlake (19-14) broke up the shutout in the sixth inning on a double by first baseman Lily Barrett. After the Vikings completed their postgame engagements, their fans wrapped them in hugs as they ascended the stairs out of the stadium down the right-field line. 'It was crazy to see a crowd like that for us,' Mazzotti said. 'I'm only 15. I haven't seen a crowd like that anywhere. It was amazing. Being able to see our team come together from the beginning of the season and producing this on the field, it was awesome.'
