With temperatures sweltering and the humidity pushing 100 percent, the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals practiced together on the first day of their joint practices outside of Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.
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The Vikings look to build on their playoff appearance and NFC North division title last season but are hoping that this year ends with more grace than last season after a Blair Walsh blunder against the Seahawks in the wild card round spelled the end of a promising run. The long wait for football action is nearly over!
Since Mike Zimmer came aboard in 2014, he and General Manager Rick Spielman have stepped it up when it comes to appreciating the old NFL adage that a team can never have enough cornerbacks in a quarterback’s league. Starters need to fe found at several positions and the young players will be fighting to round out the roster.
“If I’m giving one game ball out, I’m giving it to Teddy”, Rudolph said of the third-year player. “But I’ve got to change mine, too”. And the Bengals’ defenders were looking forward to reminding Zimmer of why they’ve been so good. “We’ve got to show them what we’re about as a Coach Zimmer football team”. Second-round rookie receiver Tyler Boyd has been lighting it up in his first training camp, so it will be interesting to see how he does against a strong Vikings defense in his first live game action.
“We wish (Newman) could be here, but I’m just going to try to take advantage of this opportunity”, he said. Two other Vikings who once played for the Bengals will practice in Cincinnati: tackle Andre Smith and linebacker Emmanuel Lamur. “It is only going to make you better because the competition level is so high with that”. “They’re hurt and can get better treatment up there”. He really is a good athlete. If it was some other team I probably wouldn’t have done it’.
The practices will offer a good measuring stick for the Vikings against a team that has made the playoffs five straight seasons and previous year won the AFC North with a 12-4 record. Dunlap arrived in the second round in 2010 and last season rung up the most sacks by a Bengal in 40 years.
“He gave me a lot of responsibility as far as the game plan goes”, Guenther said. “I don’t think there will be an issue, but we’re going to address it beforehand with both teams anyway”. They have expectations of returning to the postseason and doing more than just hosting one game.
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Running back Adrian Peterson concluded his 11th training camp with the Vikings. The difference? Treadwell caught 82 balls for more than 1,100 yards previous year with 11 touchdowns while Core went 37, 644, four.
