Greg Jennings signs with Minnesota Vikings

According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the Minnesota Vikings have signed wide receiver Greg Jennings to a 5-year contract.

The former Green Bay Packer spent Thursday night and all day Friday meeting with Vikings officials.

Jennings, 29, missed eight game last season due to a variety of injuries including groin and knee injuries.

During his seven year NFL career, Jennings has 425 receptions, 6,537 receiving yards and 53 touchdowns.

UPDATE: Jennings posted this message to Vikings fans on Vikings.com (notice the name graphic at the bottom of the screen. Looks like Jennings will wear #15)

Adrian Peterson Hires High-Powered Attorney

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has hired high-profile attorney Rusty Hardin following his arrest for allegedly resisting police officers this weekend in Houston. Peterson was arrested at a Houston nightclub after police say he pushed an officer.

According to ESPN, Hardin is the attorney who successfully defended pitcher Roger Clemens during two federal trials.

Meanwhile, Peterson said on Sunday that "the truth will surface."

NFL Mock Draft 2012 (Version 2 // Final Version)

1. Indianapolis Colts -- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
The Colts are replacing one franchise QB with another.

2. Washington Redskins -- Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (via trade with St. Louis)
The most exciting player in this year’s draft will be worth the price of admission as a rookie. Has a chance to be Washington’s next great football player.

3. Minnesota Vikings -- Matt Kalil, OT, USC
Talk of Morris Claiborne and Justin Blackmon at #3 is starting to feel like one big smoke screen. New GM Rick Spielman makes the safe pick here. That's Kalil.

NFL Mock Draft 2012

1. Indianapolis Colts -- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
The Colts are replacing one franchise QB with another.

2. Washington Redskins -- Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (via trade with St. Louis)
The most exciting player in this year’s draft will be worth the price of admission as a rookie. Has a chance to be Washington’s next great football player.

3. Minnesota Vikings -- Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
After strongly considering USC OT Matt Kalil, the Vikings choose Claiborne. Six games a year against Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford Jay Cutler will drive their decision.

Vikings Will Stay in Minnesota for the 2012 NFL Season

The Minnesota Vikings will play next season in Minneapolis, according to a report in the Star Tribune.

The Vikings were facing a Wednesday deadline to alert the NFL that they were moving to another city for the 2012 season. However, Vikings Vice President Lester Bagley told the paper on Tuesday that the team will not file relocation papers.

Adrian Peterson's Post-Surgery Twitter Pictures

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson underwent successful surgery Friday to repair the torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee.

The Vikings said the surgery was a success and Peterson was "resting comfortably."

Well, we now have the pictures to prove it.

On his Twitter account Sunday night, Peterson posted a series of pictures from his hospital bed.

The first post read:

My time bringing in the New Year was great! Thanks to family & a lil Blue Bell country ice cream

The second post read:

HAPPY NEW YEAR FANS & FAMIlY!!!

If a picture is worth a thousand words, I'd say Peterson is in good spirits.

Peterson underwent surgery six days after taking a hit to his knee in Week 16 against the Washington Redskins.

The injury is expected to require 8-9 months of recovery time.

Percy Harvin On the Brink of Superstardom

The Minnesota Vikings were forced to get Percy Harvin more involved in the game plan Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. With Adrian Peterson out with an ankle injury, the Vikings turned to Harvin as their main playmaker.

Harvin would not let them down.

He responded with season highs in touches, catches and receiving yards. He also scored a 39-yard touchdown on a seam route that had him matched up against a linebacker. This was a new strategy for the Vikings, who haven't used Harvin as a deep receiver much at all this year, despite his speed.

Harvin, who's in his third NFL season, caught eight passes for 95 yards and carried the ball five times for 11 yards. Harvin was also used as the Vikings goal line back on two straight plays in the fourth quarter. On one of his runs, it looked as if he scored on a one-yard plunge, but was ruled down by the refs.

Harvin was also responsible for setting up that goal line situation with 104-yard kickoff return. He just missed scoring a touchdown when he was tackled at the one-yard line. Harvin's 104-yard return was the longest play in NFL history that did not result in a touchdown.

Harvin finished Sunday with 210 total yards. According to the Minnesota Vikings PR department, in 40 career games, Harvin has seven games with 200-plus total yards, which is a franchise record.

The Vikings have said for weeks that they want to get Harvin more involved in the offense, and recently they have. In his past four games, Harvin has 24 catches for 278 yards and three touchdowns (two receiving, one rushing). In the previous seven games, Harvin had 27 receptions for 276 yards and zero touchdowns.

Harvin is clearly the best receiver the Vikings have and it would serve them well to continue feeding him the ball - even when Peterson returns. Harvin and rookie quarterback Christian Ponder have established a good report and I expect that will continue to improve this off season.

Harvin appears to have rid himself of the dibilitating migraine headaches that forced him to miss games and practices last season. When he's healthy, he's pound-for-pound one of the toughest players in the NFL and on the verge of becoming a superstar.

Fantasy spin: Harvin's big game on Sunday should be a welcomed sight for Harvin owners. After a slow start to the season, he's finally producing fantasy points. Harvin had a season-high in fantasy points in Week 12 and I expect that trend to continue. Despite being 2-9, the Vikings will continue to find ways to get Harvin the ball. The Vikings will use these next five games to help bring Ponder along and build towards next season, which will include plenty of Percy Harvin.

Did a Green Bay Restaurant Put Glass in Adrian Peterson's Food?

This is clearly speculative at this point (Twitter speculation nonetheless), but did someone at a Green Bay restaurant (or maybe Appleton or some other hillbilly Wisconsin village) try and sabotage Adrian Peterson's food?

Minnesota Vikings safety Jamarca Sanford (@sanford33) tweeted:

Wow I just talk to @VShiancoe and @AdrianPeterson did have glass in his dinner from last night

I'm not sure this happened, or if it was on purpose. But the idea of it certainly ranks pretty low on the scale of crappy things to do to a person. My guess is this story doesn't end here.

The Vikings are in Green Bay to play the rival Packers on Monday night.

NFL: Minnesota Vikings Stock Sale 'Not Permitted'

The Minnesota Vikings stadium push got a creative new option Monday when Rep. Phyllis Kahn said she'll introduce legislation requiring the Vikings to sell 70 percent of the team via shares of stock, with a portion of the proceeds being used to pay for a new stadium.

She told the Star Tribune, “(Governor Mark) Dayton asked for all ideas to be put on the table and that’s exactly what I’m doing here,” Kahn said. “No single idea [for funding a new stadium] has gained enough traction to pass the Legislature.”

It turns out this idea won't work either. According to an NFL spokeman, public ownership of NFL teams is not an option.

“It is not permissible under our ownership policies,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Pro Football Weekly. “There is no public ownership permitted.”

The Vikings rivals to the east, the Green Bay Packers, are the only NFL team that is publicly owned. The Packers are grandfathered in because they went to public ownership when league rules permitted it.

Report: Minnesota Vikings Release Bernard Berrian

The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly cut ties with Bernard Berrian. According to NFL Newtork's Jason La Canfora, Berrian was released Tuesday morning.

Berrian was deactivated for Sunday's game against the Green bay Packers, the second deactivation of the season for him. Vikings head coach Leslie Fraizer declined to address Berrian's benching, only saying the two would have a meeting this week. The meeting happened and Berrian is gone.

Berrian signed with Minnesota as a free agent in 2008 and had a very good first season with the Vikings, catching 48 passes for 964 yards and seven touchdowns. Berrian's production fell off after that. In 2009, he finished with 55 catches for 618 yards and four touchdowns and last year he managed just 28 catches for 252 yards and zero touchdowns.

So far this season, Berrian had just 7 catches for 91 yards and zero touchdowns.

Berrian signed a six-year, $42 million contract with the Vikings in 2008 that included $16 million in guaranteed money. The Vikings restructured his deal this offseason, making Berrian a free agent after the season.

Minnesota Vikings CB Chris Cook Charged With Felony

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook will face felony charges stemming from a domestic assault early Saturday morning. According to multiple reports, the Hennepin County attorney in Minneapolis filed a felony domestic assault strangulation charge against Cook on Tuesday.

Cook was arrested at 2:10 a.m. Saturday at his home in Eden Prairie, Minnesota after a neighbor reported screaming from Cook's residence, according to police.

According to the charges, Cook choked his girlfriend multiple times and struck her in the ear.

Cook has spent the past three days in jail and missed Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers.

This was Cook's second arrest in eight months. In March, he was arrested in Lynchburg, Va. after he was accused of pulling a gun on a neighbor. Cook was found not guilty of that charge.

Minnesota Vikings Most Arrested Team Since 2000

The Minnesota Vikings are having a losing season on the field, but off the field they've moved into first place in one dubious category.

According to the website TheDeets.com, with the arrest of cornerback Chris Cook on felony domestic assault/strangulation and fifth degree domestic assault early Saturday morning, the Vikings have taken over first place as the most arrested team in the NFL (see full list of teams below).

TheDeets.com got their information from SignOnSanDiego.com, which has been tracking NFL player arrests dating back to 2000.

As of Saturday, the Vikings have tallied 36 arrests since 2000, pushing them ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Minnesota Vikings Stadium Plan Gets Good News, Potentially Bad News

The Minnesota Vikings got a big win off the field Tuesday night when the Ramsey County Charter Commission rejected a proposal to let Ramsey County residents vote on a tax hike for a proposed Vikings Stadium in Arden Hills. However, there's a new problem reportedly about to snarl the team's stadium plans.

Around 10 p.m. Tuesday night, the commission voted 10-6 against allowing the stadium funding question be added to the ballot. Ramsey County has proposed using a half-cent sales tax increase to fund $350 million of the new stadium in their county.

The Vikings argued that holding a countywide referendum on a proposed half-cent sales tax hike to help build a new football stadium would delay the project by two years and add at least $110 million to the $1 billion proposal.

“We cannot tell you whether a referendum can pass,” wrote Lester Bagley, the team’s vice president of public affairs and stadium development. He said a countywide vote in November 2012 would push stadium construction into 2013 and inflate the current costs by at least $110 million.

“Neither the taxpayers nor the team can afford such a major delay caused by adding this referendum provision,” Bagley wrote.

The Charter Commission is a 17-member panel appointed by members of the county judiciary to oversee and make changes to the Ramsey County Charter, a sort of county constitution. Before Tuesday night’s decision, the commission held a public hearing in which Ramsey County residents by about 2-to-1 favored a public vote on the proposed sales tax increase.

However, there is a new potential obstacle for the Vikings. According to the Star Tribune, the Metropolitan Council is set to release a report Wednesday, requested by Gov. Mark Dayton, on the feasibility of building a stadium on the Arden Hills site, a former Army munitions plant that’s heavily contaminated. According to the Star Tribune report, doubts are being raised on the Vikings' plan to open the stadium by 2015 and the report says the Arden Hills' plan is "an aggressive schedule that is unrealistic."

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, a stadium supporter, has suggested he could still call a special session on the stadium this year if a deal comes together. But without broad consensus from all partners, the issue could end up waiting until the next regular session, which convenes at the end of January.

The Vikings lease at the Metrodome is set to run out after this season.

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson Signs 7-year, $100 Million Extension

The Minnesota Vikings announced Saturday that they have agreed to a long-term contract extension with running back Adrian Peterson.

According to ProFootballTalk.com, Peterson's deal is seven-years and worth $100 million, including $36 million guaranteed. Also, the first three years of the contract is worth $40 million.

Peterson, 26, has been the Vikings leading rusher the past four seasons, rushing for 5,782 yards and 54 touchdowns during his career.

The deal will keep Peterson in a Vikings uniform until age 33.

Zygi Wilf Emails Vikings Season Ticket Holders

With the NFL lockout now over, teams are beginning to reach out to their fans. Late Monday afternoon, the Minnesota Vikings sent a letter to season ticket holders proclaiming the return of football.

The email (complete version below) thanks fans for sticking with the team during the lockout, it mentions a talented veteran roster and exciting draft class and eludes to changes ahead once free agency begins.

One thing not mentioned in the email is the team's quest for a new stadium. The Vikings were shunned by Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, who decided against a special session to discuss a Vikings stadium bill. Gov. Dayton said the Vikings current plan to build a stadium in Arden Hills was incomplete.

NFL Lockout: Teams Putting Season Plans Into Motion

A new NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) must be close because NFL teams and their business partners are beginning to reach out to fans, including the Minnesota Vikings.

On Thursday, the Vikings sent an email to each season ticket holder telling them that their season tickets will be arriving in the mail within the next two weeks.

And on Friday, Central Parking System, the company that runs the the tailgating parking lots across from the Metrodome, sent an email to its season ticket holders telling them a letter with renewal information will arrive by mid-next week. The specific wording from the email reads:

"The Vikings office gave me the go ahead to get the letters out in the mail. Sorry it took so long. I sent out many letters last night and many more this morning, so watch your mailbox." That's from Brendan Kelly, Central Parking System's Minneapolis manager.

While the Vikings are putting their season plans into motion, the final details of a new CBA are being worked on in New York.

It's been a long, tumultuous NFL offseason, but thankfully, the long lockout nightmare appears to be over.

Report: Vikings Stadium Deal Close

The Minnesota Vikings are reportedly on the verge of securing a brand new stadium in Arden Hills, according to the Star Tribune.

According to a report on the paper's website, stadium negotiators on Wednesday dropped the cost of the $1 billion proposed project by nearly $200 million and the Vikings had upped their contribution from $407 million. Also part of a revised deal is a resolution on who would own and operate the Ramsey County facility.

The Star Tribune says an official announcement on an agreement could come later Wednesday.

Lester Bagley, Vikings vice president for public affairs and stadium development, said earlier this week that stadium negotiators were close and the project could be ready for state legislators to discuss as part of the state’s $5 billion budget deficit.

“I think we’re close enough so [if] we were advised to wrap it up, we could sit down and hammer out the final agreement,” he told the paper.

Despite a deal being close, a Vikings stadium deal wouldn't become official until the legislature comes together for special session and signs off on the plan. Minnesota is on the cusp of a government shutdown that would begin Friday and a special session hasn't been scheduled. Gov. Mark Dayton, who is a stadium supporter, said there is still a lot of ground to make up on a budget compromise in order to avert a shutdown.

The good news for Vikings fans, a stadium deal looks as good as done. The bad news, now the wait is on to make it official.

Minnesota Vikings Stadium Debate Likely Headed For Special Session

When the Minnesota Legislature ends its 2011 session on Monday, the Minnesota Vikings will almost certainly not have a new stadium deal in place. However, the Associated Press is reporting a Vikings stadium bill is likely destined for a special session.

The Vikings stadium issue has been put on the back burner due to the state's massive budget deficit. Right now, there's about a $1.8 billion gap in how to resolve that deficit.

Governor Mark Dayton can call a special session and force legislators to stay as long as it takes to get the work done.

The Vikings have offered to contribute $407 million to a $1 billion stadium project in Arden Hills. The team is hoping the state will pick-up $300 million of the project's cost.  

The Minnesota Legislature has until midnight Monday to work out a budget and stadium deal. A special session will be called if they fail to meet that deadline.

The Minnesota Vikings Metrodome lease is set to run out at the end of the 2011 season.

2011 NFL Rumors: Kyle Orton on Minnesota Vikings 'Radar'?

On the same day Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback Christian Ponder said it's his goal to be the week one starter for the Vikings, rumors are flying about another quarterback coming to town.

According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton is "on radar" for the Vikings once the lockout is lifted. Mortensen made the comment via Twitter, but gave no specifics of a possible deal between the two clubs.

Orton, who turns 29 in November, is expected to be in high demand once the lockout ends. By adding Orton to their roster, the Vikings would be able to bring along Ponder at a slower pace.

Otron is expected to battle Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn for the starting job in Denver this season. Orton is set to make $8.8 million next season and will be entering the final year of his contract.

Orton has spent six seasons in the NFL, including the last two with the Broncos. He spent his first four seasons with the Chicago Bears. In 2010, Orton started 13 games for the Broncos before being replaced by Tebow. He finished the season with 3,653 yards passing, 20 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.

Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Christian Ponder dishes on going #12, the criticism, the lockout and his ex-girlfriend

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder has a goal to be the team's week one starter when the Vikings travel to San Diego. During an interview with ESPN's Colin Cowherd Friday morning, Ponder discussed being the Vikings number one guy, the criticism of him being drafted #12, how the lockout has impacted his off season preparations and his plans to organize practices with his new Vikings teammates. And oh yeah, his ex-girlfriend too.

Below is a transcript of Ponder's responses on the Thundering Herd.

On being drafted #12 by the Minnesota Vikings:

"I wasn't too shocked. With the private conversations I had with my agent, we heard a lot of good things leading up to the week of the draft. Really wasn't sure what was going to happen, but had good idea, and had a good feel of what was going to happen. I was pretty optimistic about it and once I heard my name called at twelve...just excited. I think a lot of people were shocked by it."

On the criticism of him getting picked #12:

"I don't make anything of it. I have my own expectations for myself and the pick happened and I'm going to take full advantage of the opportunity. I know what I can do, I know what my personal feeling is and everything and I think I deserve that pick. And I'm do everything I can to make sure that no one regrets it."

On what made him move up NFL draft boards:

"I think throughout the whole process I really took advantage of each opportunity I was given, starting with the Senior Bowl. Went out and had the MVP of the game, and the whole week went well for me. Did well at the Combine, did really well at the interviews at the Combine and the private workouts and I think I really connected with all the coaching staff that came down to Florida State during a private workout after the Combine. I think the whole thing went well...and I was really comfortable with the guys. Whatever I did, obviously they liked it and I felt good about it."

On his level of concern about learning the playbook, missing OTAs -- due to the lockout:

"I can't be concerned about it, it is what it is I can't change it. But I'm taking full advantage of the opportunities right now, talking to a lot of the guys, we're setting up practices in the next couple of weeks to get together and go over stuff and put in some work. I know a lot of other teams have already gotten started, so we're kind of behind the eight ball, but I'm doing everything I can to prepare myself. My mindset is that I'm going to start by week one and do everything possible to make sure that I'll be successful against San Diego that first week."

On playing for the Vikings and not being forced to be a superstar his rookie season:

"I really don't, supporting cast around me makes my job a lot easier and it takes a lot of pressure off of me. I stepping into such a great situation and a lot of the quarterbacks that I know, that have gone to teams that are kind of rebuilding everything. I begin an opportunity where it's a team that can compete and a lot of great pieces around me and it makes me excited. Also, again, it takes a lot of pressure off me to perform. I just gotta get the ball to these guys let them do the dirty work."

On working out with teammates in Florida:

"Yeah, that's the plan. The plan is to get a bunch of guys over in Tampa. After this rookie premiere deal this week I'm heading to Bradenton, which is just south of Tampa to train and we've already talked about meeting in Tampa to get things going and working out together and get that chemistry going."

On being a high profile NFL quarterback (including pictures of your girlfriend popping up on the Internet):

"Boy, it's crazy. The worst part about it, it's actually my ex-girlfriend. There's a blog that put out this big story about her being my girlfriend, and then like, we broke up a couple of days before that and so I don't know. It's a crazy mess. Every thing's under a microscope and every move that you make is judged and not whole lot of private life, I mean, it just comes with the territory. But, it's going to be something to try and enjoy."