Vikings New Stadium Gets the Go Ahead!

The Minnesota Vikings football organization was first established and joined the NFL in 1961, and the organization has been in Minnesota for over 51 years. For the past two years, the Minnesota Vikings have asked the city of Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota to build a new stadium for the franchise, after the roof of the Metrodome collapsed, during a violent and heavy December snow storm in 2010. After the incident, it was evident by the ownership of the Vikings that a new stadium had to be top priority. For over two years now, negotiations have been on and off, and rumors started to form that Owner Zygi Wilf was considering relocating the team to Los Angeles if his demands were not met. In March of 2012, a plan was constructed by the city council members of the city of Minneapolis to build a state of the art $975 million stadium for the Vikings. On May 10th, 2012 the plan for the new stadium was passed in the state senate with a 36-30 vote. Finally, on May 14th, 2012 Governor Mark Dayton of Minnesota signed the voted bill into effect, giving the go ahead for the construction of the Minnesota Vikings new stadium.

 

The Saints Bounty Scandal: Player Suspensions

So far, the biggest news of the 2012 NFL off season has been the New Orleans Saints “Bounty Program” scandal. As every week passes there has been a new development each time. The New Orleans Saints organization has been under the radar since the scandal broke out in February 2012. All levels of the organization have been rattled by this growing scandal, from Owner Tom Benson, General Manager Mickey Loomis, Head Coach Sean Peyton, Assistant Head Coach Joe Vitt, and the “poster boy” of the scandal, former Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams. With suspicions from the NFL from 2009, the leaked controversial audio-tape of Gregg Williams, allegations of wire-tapping by General Manager Mickey Loomis, and full player involvement in the “Bounty Program.” The situation gets worse and worse as each day passes. Only time will tell what other evidence will come to light about the “Watergate” style scandal of the NFL.

 

THE 2012 NFL DRAFT: TOP 5 Draft Picks

Its been two weeks since the 2012 NFL Draft has ended. Still, many people throughout the NFL are excited and talking about all the players that were selected in this year’s draft class of 2012. Many teams scored major picks and some did not draft as well as they have in the past. Coming into the draft  five names stood out the most, which were Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Trent Richardson, Matt Kalil, and Justin Blackmon. For months these five individuals were talked about as being the potential top 5 NFL draft picks of the 2012 draft, and in the end they were. Every year the NFL draft is a time of happiness, frustration, and sadness, because some players are drafted early, and some are drafted in later rounds by teams. The 2012 NFL Draft was a draft in which the new generation of college players are now bigger, stronger, and faster. The NFL and Commissioner Rodger Goodell are very excited for the future of these players and for the league.

 

Junior Seau Dead At 43

On May 2nd, 2012, the NFL world was shocked and saddened to hear that longtime NFL great, and future hall of famer, Junior Seau died at the age of 43 from an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. Seau was arguably one of the best linebackers to have ever played the game of football, and he was for sure going to be a member of the NFL Hall Of Fame in Canton, Ohio in the near future. Seau’s death is being ruled as an apparent suicide. Many of his family members, friends, former teammates, and fans are completely shocked and saddened by Seau’s sudden death. Many players throughout the NFL are still to this day in disbelief that Seau would take his own life. His death comes as a shock, because Seau did not show any symptoms, signs, or even clues of depression or any stress in his life. If there was something wrong with Seau, many people could not tell, because he kept it very secret. Seau had three children, two sons and a daughter.