FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 9/3/2009 10:44am et

Judd Zulgad and Chip Scoggins, of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reports the Minnesota Vikings have called teams to see what they would be willing to offer for QB Tarvaris Jackson, according to a league source.

The Huddle Take: It makes sense that Jackson would be the one to be shopped: he's fairly young, he's quarterbacked in a playoff game (albeit poorly), and he has more market value than either Sage Rosenfels (the consummate backup) or John David Booty (still, in theory, Minnesota's quarterback of the future). Plus, his familiarity of the West Coast offense would enable him to step in immediately for any NFL team running that scheme.

Posted: 8/19/2009 12:18pm et

Charley Walters, of the Pioneer Press, reports it is expected that Minnesota Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson will be traded or released by Friday, Aug. 21. If the Vikings are able to trade Jackson, it would seem they would prefer to deal him out of the NFC. The best the Vikings could expect in a Jackson trade would be a seventh-round draft pick.

The Huddle Take: Jackson was Vikings coach Brad Childress' failed attempt at quarterback building, and with Brett Favre, Sage Rosenfels, and John David Booty in Minnesota there was no longer any room. It's unlikely another NFL team will part with a draft pick to acquire him, but he's a quarterback with starting experience so he'll be on the short list when the injury bug hits.

Posted: 8/14/2009 1:50pm et

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports Minnesota Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson likely will start the team's second preseason game.

The Huddle Take: It looks like Jackson may have pulled back to even with Sage Rosenfels in the battle to be Minnesota's starting QB. That's a very good sign for Jackson, considering the amount of time he missed earlier in camp with a sprained knee.

Posted: 8/5/2009 6:09pm et

Judd Zulgad, of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reports Minnesota Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson was on the practice field Wednesday, Aug. 5, and has participated in all of the drills.

The Huddle Take: Jackson tweaked his knee the first day of camp, leaving Sage Rosenfels to handle the first-team reps. Thankfully, Jackson's effectiveness as a quarterback isn't based on his mobility. Oh, wait...

Posted: 8/5/2009 10:32am et

Judd Zulgad, of The Minneapolis Star Tribune, reports Minnesota Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson said his sprained knee should be 100 percent healthy by Aug. 14, which is the date of the team's first preseason game. He said he has felt much better recently. He did say he feared the worst when he suffered the injury, thinking he had suffered a torn ACL or something similar. He may be able to return to practice soon if his knee responds well overnight.

The Huddle Take: The Vikings already know what they have in Jackson, but in his absence Sage Rosenfels is getting the first-team reps and getting a leg up in the quarterback competition.

Posted: 8/4/2009 1:58pm et

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports Minnesota Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson (knee) said Tuesday, Aug. 4, he does not know exactly when he will be able to resume practicing with his teammates. '(There�s) not a certain goal but just as soon as possible,' Jackson said of his return from a sprained knee. 'I feel a lot better the last couple of days. I was in there (rehabbing) with (athletic trainer Eric Sugarman) just trying to do whatever they tell me to do and try to get back out here.' Jackson did say he fully expects to be back playing at 100 percent by the time the Vikings open the preseason Aug. 14.

The Huddle Take: If he's not ready until next Friday, then he may already be too far behind in the position battle with Sage Rosenfels to catch up. He'd have to be simply spectacular in that game to even begin to pull back even.

Posted: 8/1/2009 2:47pm et

The Minneapolis Star Tribune citing ProFootballTalk.com, reports Minnesota Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson (knee) suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee Saturday, Aug. 1. He has reportedly undergone an MRI and the initial word was the injury was just a Grade I sprain, leaving him day-to-day.

The Huddle Take: Jackson was reported to be leading the QB race early in camp, but this could hamper those efforts and allow Sage Rosenfels to gain status. At this point it doesn't appear Jackson will be out long, but it bears watching when he does get back out on the field.

Posted: 2/1/2009 10:53pm et

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports Minnesota Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson is expected to ramp up his offseason training, but he is not planning to do mixed martial arts. Jackson said he is planning to do additional training with famed trainer Tom Shaw.

The Huddle Take: So much for those plans for a T-Jax/Rampage cage match this spring. So long as Jackson's additional training includes plenty of work in reading defenses and passing accuracy, Vikings fans will be pleased.

Posted: 1/30/2009 5:42pm et

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the Vikings are looking into the possibility of getting QB Tarvaris Jackson involved in a mixed martial arts program so he can improve his flexibility.

The Huddle Take: Because really, when you're an NFL quarterback who struggles to complete passes, extend drives, and keep the pressure off your team's running game, what better way to spend the offseason than kickboxing? It's the sport of the future. Don "The Dragon" Wilson. Maybe you've heard of him? I can tell by your face you haven't.

Posted: 1/11/2009 11:59pm et

The Star Tribune reports Minnesota Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson is a long shot to start in 2009 because of his past injuries and inconsistency.

The Huddle Take: This assumes Vikings coach Brad Childress reaches the same conclusion most Vikings fans long ago came to: that Jackson isn't capable of being a successful NFL quarterback. At present Minnesota doesn't have another option, but that's what the offseason is for.