30. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (14-4)

LAST SEASON: Survived early knee injury to QB Sam Bradford and thrived behind Case Keenum's breakout season D.J. Hayden Jersey , taking advantage of broken collarbone for rival Packers QB Aaron Rodgers to win NFC North for second time in three years on strength of eight-game winning streak. Newcomers Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers bookended improved OL. WRs Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs flourished in OC Pat Shurmur's scheme. "Minneapolis Miracle" throw from Keenum to Diggs on last play of game gave Vikings victory over New Orleans in division round. Coach Mike Zimmer's defense fed off loud home crowds and led NFL with fewest yards and points allowed, but faltered in 38-7 loss at Philadelphia in NFC championship game. That dashed team's dream of becoming unprecedented Super Bowl host, watching Eagles win title on Minnesota's turf two weeks later. Still, 2017 will be considered top-10 season in franchise's title-less history.

THEY NEED: G, T, CB, RB, TE, LB.

THEY DON'T NEED: QB Maliek Collins Jersey , C, DE, WR.

POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: G Isaiah Wynn, Georgia; G Connor Williams, Texas; T Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame; T Orlando Brown, Oklahoma; CB Josh Jackson, Iowa.

OUTLOOK: With Kirk Cousins new QB after signing record contract in free agency, Vikings focus on upgrading OL overwhelmed by Eagles' pressure in NFC title game. RG Joe Berger has retired Josh Bellamy Jersey , potentially opening starting spot for first-round pick. With Thielen, Diggs and new WR Kendall Wright, plus TE Kyle Rudolph and RB Dalvin Cook returning from knee injury that cut short rookie season, Cousins has plenty of capable targets to throw to. But another field-stretching pass-catching TE could serve new OC John DeFilippo well. Teams can never have enough quality CBs, so using high pick at position would not be surprising for more support behind Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes. Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr are borderline stars at LB, but depth would help. With Super Bowl window still open for Vikings, one or two immediate starters will be priority.

The National Football League is continuing to make ends meet. As expected.

On one hand, there has been considerable wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth regarding the potential impact of declining TV ratings and anthem protests on the NFL. On the other hand, the money continues to flow DeMarcus Ware Jersey , in unprecedented fashion.

As evidenced by the Green Bay Packers’ financial statements, which by law are required to be published every year because of the team’s publicly-owned nature, revenue continues to increase, despite the pearl clutching about Colin Kaepernick and those inspired by him taking advantage of a loophole/flaw that the NFL created nearly a decade ago when deciding to (wait for it) inject politics into football by bringing players out of the locker room for the national anthem, as part of the effort to wrap the shield in the flag.

But we already knew that, even before seeing the Green Bay numbers. Falcons owner Arthur Blank, after giving quarterback Matt Ryan a record $30 million deal, justified the investment by explaining that league revenues are up, and club revenues are up. And indeed they are.

Some would say Preston Brown Jersey , “Well, they’d be even higher but for the antics of Kaepernick and company.” Of course, Packers CEO Mark Murphy could have made that declaration on Monday, when discussing his team’s balance sheet. But he didn’t. Murphy said only that the anthem issue had no impact on the team’s financial performance.

It had not impact on the team’s financial performance.

Keep that in mind the next time someone from the league, or someone in the media looking to curry favor with the league, claims without proof that anthem protests are “bad for business.” The verdict has been issued, and the answer is that (as suspected) any huffing and puffing by those who want to control behavior by making threats simply aren’t blowing anyone’s house down.
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