Antoine Winfield: Finally a Pro-Bowler
It's about time: Antoine Winfield finally got an invitation to the Pro Bowl. He's been in the league for 10 seasons and has continually been snubbed for a spot in the Pro Bowl, so this is long overdue for Winny.
This season, all eyes have been on the front four on defense, but Winfield is rather quietly having one of the best seasons of his career. Perhaps the reason he's been passed over for the Pro Bowl so often is that teams are scared of throwing at him -- it's hard to ignore the deliberate efforts teams make to target Cedric Griffin, and not Winfield.
Also getting the Pro Bowl nod were Hutch, Jared Allen, AD, and both members of the Williams Wall -- but today, Winny deserves special attention for getting a long-deserved honor.
In other good news, Tarvaris was given the title of NFC Offensive Player of the Week -- a continuation of one helluva rebound for T-Jack after an early season benching. If you would have told me, after those first two games, that Jackson would be honored as the NFC's best offensive player for a week later in the season, I would have laughed in your face. Certainly, this honor for T-Jack is just another factor that's putting pressure on Childress to stick with Action Jackson next week (and beyond).
And in fact, it's looking like a sure thing that T-Jack will retain the starting role next week, as Frerotte's still nursing a back injury...and I think another solid outing next week will unquestionably wrap up the starting job for him even when Gus returns. It's been amazing to see the swing of public opinion in favor of Jackson, and a good showing against the Falcons will seal the deal.
When it comes to the final playoff push that T-Jack will likely be at the helm for, it's worth noting that the Vikings still have an outside chance of nabbing a first round bye. The two teams ahead of them in the standings for a bye -- the Panthers and Giants -- play each other on Sunday night this weekend. The loser of that game just needs to lose again in Week 17, the Vikings need to win out...and tah dah! The Vikings are rewarded with a first round bye.
Of course, the Giants travel to the Metrodome in the final week of the year, so I'm rooting for the Panthers this week. If the G-Men were to lose this week, the Vikings would obviously control their own destiny in Week 17.
This season, all eyes have been on the front four on defense, but Winfield is rather quietly having one of the best seasons of his career. Perhaps the reason he's been passed over for the Pro Bowl so often is that teams are scared of throwing at him -- it's hard to ignore the deliberate efforts teams make to target Cedric Griffin, and not Winfield.
Also getting the Pro Bowl nod were Hutch, Jared Allen, AD, and both members of the Williams Wall -- but today, Winny deserves special attention for getting a long-deserved honor.
In other good news, Tarvaris was given the title of NFC Offensive Player of the Week -- a continuation of one helluva rebound for T-Jack after an early season benching. If you would have told me, after those first two games, that Jackson would be honored as the NFC's best offensive player for a week later in the season, I would have laughed in your face. Certainly, this honor for T-Jack is just another factor that's putting pressure on Childress to stick with Action Jackson next week (and beyond).
And in fact, it's looking like a sure thing that T-Jack will retain the starting role next week, as Frerotte's still nursing a back injury...and I think another solid outing next week will unquestionably wrap up the starting job for him even when Gus returns. It's been amazing to see the swing of public opinion in favor of Jackson, and a good showing against the Falcons will seal the deal.
When it comes to the final playoff push that T-Jack will likely be at the helm for, it's worth noting that the Vikings still have an outside chance of nabbing a first round bye. The two teams ahead of them in the standings for a bye -- the Panthers and Giants -- play each other on Sunday night this weekend. The loser of that game just needs to lose again in Week 17, the Vikings need to win out...and tah dah! The Vikings are rewarded with a first round bye.
Of course, the Giants travel to the Metrodome in the final week of the year, so I'm rooting for the Panthers this week. If the G-Men were to lose this week, the Vikings would obviously control their own destiny in Week 17.
