The NFL
season is a 24-7 a week and 365 days a year event which never gets old. Today’s
date which is April 8th means one thing and that is 1 month until
the draft on May 8th. The never ending mock drafts will finally come
to an end.
It is fun to speculate but I find
myself getting more into factual information. We start with a new rule as part
of the new collective bargaining agreement which affects the Vikings and 6 other
teams. A team with a new coach gets a nice advantage which goes as follows:
Offseason Program
Clubs With New Coaches: Can begin April 7
All Other Clubs: Can begin April 21
Clubs With New Coaches: Can begin April 7
All Other Clubs: Can begin April 21
The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
mandates that each year offseason workout programs cannot begin prior to the
first Monday in April for Clubs that have hired a new head coach after the end
of the prior regular season, and cannot begin prior to the third Monday in
April for all other Clubs.
Aside from the starting date of the offseason
program, rules for new head coaches impact the entire span of time in which the
offseason program may exist.
Clubs With New Coaches: Can conduct a 9-week offseason workout
program over a 12-week span with 8 of the weeks required to be consecutive and
subject to Article 22, Section 3 of the CBA (Minicamps).
All Other Clubs: Can conduct a 9-week offseason workout program over a 10-week span with 8 of the weeks required to be consecutive and subject to Article 22, Section 3 of the CBA (Minicamps).
All Other Clubs: Can conduct a 9-week offseason workout program over a 10-week span with 8 of the weeks required to be consecutive and subject to Article 22, Section 3 of the CBA (Minicamps).
NOTE: While Clubs with new head coaches can begin their offseason
programs two weeks before Clubs with returning head coaches, scheduling
requirements are such that the actual length of the offseason program is one
week longer (not two). Essentially, the new rules for new coaches is less about
there being extra work and more about the teams with head coaches being
able to get to work sooner so the new staff and players can become
better acclimated.
The next fact to look at has to do
with the playing home games at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikes and the U have an
agreement when it comes to night games and it goes as follows:
*The Vikings can only use the stadium for one weeknight game
each season when class is not in session. That game must be coordinated and
approved by the school in its sole discretion, according to the agreement.
The school semester ends on Dec. 18. Thanksgiving (Nov. 27)
would be the only possibility of a weeknight home game during the school year
that would work. The Vikings hosted every Thursday night game (Tampa Bay and
Washington) since the NFL forced every team to play at least one Thursday night
game two years ago.
Without a university off day on Monday during the fall semester,
it’s very difficult to see the Vikings host a Monday Night Football game given
their only opportunity will be in Week 16 on Dec. 22. That doesn’t
exactly sound appealing when Monday Night Football games can’t be flexed and
the team went 5-10-1
*The Vikings can host a Saturday home game when there isn’t a scheduled
Gophers football game. The NFL brought back Saturday games this season after a
one-year hiatus and will have a two-game Saturday doubleheader in Week 16 on
Dec. 20.
In staying
with the theme of TCF Stadium my wife and I got called from the Vikings asking
if we wanted to move our seats down in the same section for the same price. My
answer was an emphatic yes. We went from row 17 to row 13. I know it only 4
rows but to me that is a big difference in seeing the game a little closer.
The Vikings on April 8th also signed a 4 year pro
formerly of the Houston Texans. Lestar Jean
Jean has appeared in 27 games, making 1
start, over the past 2 seasons after spending his rookie season in 2011 on
injured reserve. Jean has caught 10 passes for 186 yards and 1 touchdown in his
career. He caught his lone touchdown on a 54-yard reception at Tennessee
(12/2/12). A product of Florida Atlantic, Jean entered the NFL with Houston as
a rookie free agent in 2011
The one fact I do like of the signing is
seeing he is a big receiver at 6’2” and 203 pounds. I like these big guys but
now it will be up to Jean to see if he can make the 53 man roster. I am all for
depth coming into training camp.
That all for now
Thanks for reading
Purplestick
Source: Vikings.com
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