Tag: The Star Tribune

Jordan Addison and Ivan Pace recognized for sensational rookie seasons

Jordan Addison and Ivan Pace were recognized for their outstanding rookie seasons by the PFWA Writers.

As we get farther into the offseason, the Minnesota Vikings continue to see accolades for the 2023 NFL season.

The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling reports that wide receiver Jordan Addison and linebacker Ivan Pace have been selected to the PFWA Writer’s All-Rookie teams.

Addison made the team alongside the Los Angeles Rams’ Puka Nacua and Pace alongside the Detroit Lions’ Jack Campbell and Rams’ Byron Young.

Addison’s 10 receiving touchdowns rank tied for the 10th-most all-time by a rookie receiver and are the most since Ja’Marr Chase in 2021. When Jefferson went down in week five, Addison was called upon to be the go-to receiver in the offense. Between weeks six and twelve, when Jefferson was out, Addison’s four touchdowns tied for eighth-most by any receiver in the NFL.

Ivan Pace’s 102 combined tackles and 63 solo tackles led all rookie linebackers. It also ranks as the fourth-most tackles in NFL history by an undrafted rookie in their first season, the most since the Atlanta Falcons’ Paul Worrilow in 2013.

Congratulations to both Addison and Pace on their remarkable seasons!

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Vikings safety fined for hit vs. Bears

Leading with your head on a hit will get you a fine from the NCAA

One thing that has been consistent this season is the National Football League has been fining players for using their helmets when hitting on the field.

According to The Star Tribune’s Andrew Krammer, Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus $11,167 for unnecessary roughness for a hit on Bears quarterback Justin Fields.

Here is the hit, which looks pretty innocuous.

The hit doesn’t look like much. He hits Fields in the midsection, but how he hits him is the cause of the fine.

Metellus uses his helmet and head as a battering ram, which is something the NFL is blatantly trying to get players to stop doing. Harrison Smith was fined $21,855 for a hit in week three against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The NFL will continue to fine players for using their helmet as a battering ram in terms of player safety. This is the third fine on a Vikings player this season with Justin Jefferson also getting one for a touchdown celebration against the Carolina Panthers.

Vikings turned down “discount” from Kirk Cousins

The Minnesota Vikings decided not to sign Kirk Cousins to an extension despite his supposed offer of a discount.

The Minnesota Vikings and quarterback Kirk Cousins couldn’t come to terms on a contract extension this offseason and that led to the Vikings restructuring his contract to free up cap space.

The initial reporting was that the Vikings were willing to guarantee 2024 and the camp of Cousins wanted 2025 guaranteed as well.

According to The Star Tribune’s Andrew Krammer, it wasn’t quite that simple. Cousins had also asked for less than what Jones had gotten from the Giants, which would have been a discount based on the market.

“I had also heard that he wasn’t asking for $40 [million],” said Krammer. “He wasn’t asking for that much, in terms of what Daniel Jones got, who is obviously much younger but much less accomplished. Cousins’ camp was kind of surprised I guess, from what I heard, at the Vikings not jumping or at least accepting what they were asking for.”

That is new information and it speaks volumes about the Vikings truly wanting flexibility, something that fully guaranteeing 2024 and 2025 doesn’t give them. It also is another signal that the Vikings are invested in the idea of potentially bringing in a rookie quarterback and gaining that cap space. In 2023 and 2024, they would have a hefty amount committed to the quarterback position, but 2025 and 2026 would have in the neighborhood of $8-10 million on the salary cap, plus what you would pay a backup.

That’s the “cheat code” that recent teams making the Super Bowl have used to load up the roster for a potential title run.