Bills DE Schobel is ready to retire at any time

The Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel will turn 33 years old by the first day of September, and he is now thinking that he might have been too old to play more football, so he would be fine and announce his retirement if the Bills finally decide that they do not need the defensive end any more.

"I think this coaching staff is OK with moving on without me, and that’s fine," Schobel said via the team’s website. "I understand he has to come in and do what he has to do, but at this point in my career that’s what has to happen for me to play. If September rolls around and Buffalo wants me, then maybe I’ll play. But I doubt it."

Even if Schobel retires, the Bills will not lose much in productivity. The 32-year-old man had only 10 sacks, three forced fumbles, four passes batted down and one interception in 2009 season. Schobel used to say that he wanted to preserve his body for post-career life, which will be spent mostly on staying with his three young children. He may also put on his wife’s favorite Vikings jersey to watch other teams’ game. On the other side, the Bills GM Buddy Nix told reporters recently that the team would keep Schobel if the player still wants to play.

Vikings quarterbacks try not to focus on Favre issues

Following the Minnesota Vikings Wednesday practice, the team’s quarterbacks were surrounded with reporters. While some of the questions were about their own situations, many others were about their starter in 2009 season, Brett Favre. The quarterbacks must have been told what to say about the 40-year-old Favre and they tried to give reporters impression that they are currently only focusing on workouts in preparation for new season.

"I'm just trying to get better and not worrying about who's not out here," quarterback Tarvaris Jackson told reporters. "I've been going through this the last three to four years now. I'm kind of used to this approach, just worrying about myself, trying to get better. That's all I can do."

Other quarterbacks like Sage Rosenfels and rookies Joe Webb and R.J. Archer said even less than Jackson, insisting that they were just there to work out and improve their own performance, no matter who was going to be the leading role in what number of Vikings jersey. However, what they said obviously was not enough to end discussion and speculation on Favre’s decision, as reports came out the next day still focused on Favre and related the Vikings other quarterbacks’ confidence in new season to the possible return of Favre.

Former Vikings DT Randle chose John Teerlinck as HOF presenter

Former Minnesota Vikings legendary defensive tackle John Randle is entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year and will be inducted on Aug. 7 in Canton, Ohio, the one to present him at the ceremonies will be his former defensive linemen coach, John Teerlinck, who is currently working for the Indianapolis Colts.

During the 11 years spent with the Vikings, Randle had two seasons work with Teerlinck, who helped develop Randle into a All-Pro defensive lineman. Remaining undrafted after the 1990 NFL draft, Randle put on Vikings jersey in late that offseason after receiving a contract from the team as undrafted college free agent. He spent his last three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks before retirement. During his career, he was selected to Pro Bowl teams for seven times and was also on the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.

Teerlinck is indeed a great defensive linemen coach with an experience being an assistant coach for 22 years. He was working for the Vikings from 1992 to 1994 and has been Colts defensive linemen coach for many years. As a former NFL player himself with the Seattle Seahawks, Teerlinck had a more successful career as assistant coach with 31 playoff games, six championships and four Super Bowls.

Vikings new DE Griffen needs to improve his consistency

The Minnesota Vikings knew well that the inconsistency with former USC defensive end Everson Griffen would secure his availability in the fourth round when the team with the 100th overall pick was to draft an impressive DE. The Vikings figured it right and Griffen finally put on the purple and gold Vikings jersey to be the team’s rookie.

Actually, the 6-3, 273-pound defensive end had been considered to be drafted in the first or second round, however, he stayed on the board until the fourth round and available to the Vikings majorly because of his inconsistency in his college football career. When he was great, he was able to earn a starting job as a freshman and sophomore, but he also sometimes disappeared from our view with unimpressive performance. Then again he returned with amazing statistics in his last college season by having 45 tackles and 8 sacks. He is surely with great talents, and that’s why the Vikings still would like to add him to defensive line.

Griffen’s future with the Vikings seems bright. He will be able to work with and learn from talented veterans like Jared Allen and Ray Edwards as well as 2007 fourth-round pick Brian Robison. There will be good motivation for him to improve consistency and try to get more playing time.

Vikings quit first-round draft by trading 30th pick to Lions

While we are reading news of most NFL teams drafting new players, there is no move made by the Minnesota Vikings. I first got to know that the New Orleans Saints used their 32nd pick to draft cornerback Patrick Robinson, and then was surprised to know that the Detroit Lions had the No. 30th pick to pick running back Ndamukong Suh.

Later reports told us that the Vikings had traded the 30th overall draft pick to the Lions for second-round draft picks. It seemed that they are still waiting for Brett Favre’s decision before they make final decision on what to draft. As the second-round pick is to be held on Friday night, we will not know what the team’s plan is until then.

The first-round pick traded to Lions paid the Vikings back with 34th overall pick and a seventh rounder. The team also traded their 128th overall pick to the Lions for a No. 100 pick. Such moves caused a lot to doubt the Vikings just have no intention to pick quarterback that could fill in the spot if Favre decides not to wear back the No. 4 Vikings jersey. Considering that they have already re-signed with backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, it is unlikely that the team quit the first-round draft because of pending decision on quarterback. Perhaps they just want to make things appear more intriguing so that more people pay attention to them. Who knows!