Purple FTW! Podcast

I do not claim to be an NFL Draft expert. But draft season is a fun time of the year for me because I'm a fan of the process and the feeling of hope springing anew for the 31 teams that didn't hoist the Lombardi last year. Plus because players are 100% subjective and despite being a neophyte, I will have around the same hit rate as a seasoned tape watcher that breaks down every aspect of a player's game. It's the "Sweet Inexact Science". We take our crack at a First Round Mock Draft and do up our Minnesota Vikings 7 (but really 6) Round Draft Simulation 2.0. [Click For Spoilers!]

All that and more "I'm basically Rocket Raccoon" chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

A Carlson Digital Joint

Xavier Rhodes is the next Minnesota Viking to be paid. He's also going to be among the highest paid cornerbacks in the league (if not the highest) and rightfully so. Today on the show, Andy explores what XR and his camp should do to maximize their leverage with the Vikings and if general manager Rick Spielman should capitulate or balk.

Other Talkers Today Include:

Todd McShay's Mock Draft

Vikings Preseason Schedule Is Out

Adrian Peterson Visited Saints, No Deal

Prospect Profile: Caleb Brantley

All that and more "WILL THE DRAFT PLEASE JUST GET HERE" chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

A CDM Joint

We're in the thick of Mock Draft Season. It's the most exciting/mind numbing part of the NFL schedule as all the draft jabronis are on "Mock Draft 49.1", but it's still so much fun. The last time reading of lists of names was this intriguing, Lucius Cornelius Sulla had started his proscriptions in ancient Rome (Google it). We had listeners submit their own Minnesota Vikings mocks (via FanSpeak or With the 1st Pick) and on today's show I'm going to go through the picks and evaluate. What I like, what I hate, how many Week 1 starters there are, and rate their mocks on a scale of 1-5 Reuben Sandwiches. Even included 1500's own Matthew Coller's mock in the mocking. *Cue Suspenseful Music* Follow along with all of the drafts in the slideshow below.

All that and more "Josh Dobbs. No Matter What." chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

An AMG Production

Minnesota Fightin' Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer spoke to the media on Wednesday at the NFC coaches breakfast (with no omelet bar, but I digress). Zim had some interesting things to say about Teddy Bridgewater, who recently released a video of him throwing, and Sam Bradford, who is also a person. We decode some of his statements as well as dip our toe into the Mock Draft bidness later in the show.

Today's Talkers Include:

-Decoding Mike Zimmer's Comments

-Impossible to Keep Both Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Bradford in 2018

-Scott Crichton Was a Bust Spielman Can't Afford

-Get Ready for a Tough Negotiation with Xavier Rhodes

-7-Round Vikings Draft Simulation via Fanspeak

All that and more "*Sniffle* That's My Quarterback" chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

An AMG Production

The first few waves of free agency have washed ashore some new faces and taken some old out with the tide. Before the Minnesota Fightin' Vikings Warship sets sail for the NFL Draft, let's take stock of the the current roster and rule if General Manager Rick Spielman has improved each position groups or still has a need for the April Volunteering of NFL Tributes.

Today's Upgraded Talkers Include:

-Position-by-Position Evaluations.

-Ranking Positional Needs Heading Into the Draft

-Why Y'all Should Calm Down About Latavius Murray's Ankle Surgery.

-It's Sink or Swim Time for Mackensie Alexander in 2017.

-Hall of Fame Odds Are Out. Where Does Randy Moss Stack Up According to Sports Betting Dime?

-Sam Bradford Has Leverage.

-Why I Root for Teddy Bridgewater.

All that and more "No One Uses a Fullback Anymore" chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

An AMG Production

General manager Rick Spielman and the Minnesota Fightin' Vikings have been spending in free agency like there's No Limit (not really, but anytime we can shoehorn in Master P references, we do it).

Today's "Bye, Adrian" Talkers Include:

Latavius Murray (Finally) Signed

What Does This Mean For Adrian Peterson and Jerick McKinnon

Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers are Bookend Tackles (Maybe)

Vikings Who Are Now Former Vikings

Adam Thielen Got His Extension

Terence Newman Back in the Mix

Datone Jones Brings some DL Depth

Anthony Barr and Teddy Bridgewater's 5th Year Options

Vikings Who Have an Opportunity to Step Up Post FA

Vikings Cap Space Situation

All that and more "Everyone is on one-year deals if you think about it" chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

An AMG Production

Free agency officially opens this afternoon at 4pm ET and the Minnesota Fightin' Vikings have been working fast and furiously to sign all of the high octane free..... Nah just kidding. General Manager Rick Spielman hasn't really done much (besides have lunch in Norman, Oklahoma), to the chagrin of Vikings fans. Today on the show, we run through the free agency headlines even though all the information will likely be dated by the time you listen. Fun times!

Today's Make It Rain Talkers Include:

Fans and Rick Spielman

Andrew Whitworth Going to LA

Matt Kalil Going to Carolina

So What Now on the Offensive Line in Free Agency?

Spielman, Zimmer & Polamalu at Oklahoma Pro Day

The Draft...

Adam Thielen Tendered

Captain & Cordarrelle

Free Agency Moves in the Division

Adrian Peterson Free Agency Interest...

Twitter Qs

All that and more "Mo Money, Mo Problems" chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

An AMG Production

The inevitable has finally come to pass (but not pass block). The Minnesota Fightin' Vikings have declined to pick up the $18 million option for Adrian Peterson in 2017. General manager Rick Spielman was adamant that the Vikings still would like to re-sign the soon to be 32-year old running back in free agency and Adrian has said the door for a return is not closed, but the die is cast and money talks. I'll elaborate where I think he plays in 2017, deconstruct the Spielman press conference at the NFL Combine from Wednesday, and zoom through some other Purple news and notes.

All that and more "Willie Beavers and TJ Clemmings are going to be in Training Camp" chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

An AMG Production

Free Agency is rapidly approaching and fans of the Minnesota Fightin' Vikings are clamoring for who could be on the Purple's shopping list. I know the Draft is the bee's knees, but this episode is focused solely on free agency (until the end). We walk through the level of priority the Vikings should have on their in-house free agents, I reveal my Top-10 Free Agent Wish List, and wrap up with a clip from my new project BULL with Andy Carlson -- Jordan Reid (@JReidDraftScout) of The Viking Age walks us through a 7-round (but really 6-round) Vikings mock draft.

All that and more "Free agency is like the Scholastic Book Fair" chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

An AMG Production

Think about it. We roll call through some Minnesota Vikings offseason talking points with friends of the show Luke Inman (Cold Omaha) and Eric Eager (Pro Football Focus). Luke popped in to talk about five draft prospects Vikings should keep an eye on (including three offensive linemen). Plus we added an excerpt from my new project BULL with Andy Carlson, Eric and I had a spirited discussion about potential Vikings free agency targets.

All that and more "Andrew Whitworth: No Matter What" chatter on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast!

An Andy Carlson Joint