**The is the story from Scout.com, written by Tim Yotter.**

Who would have thought that a Dirty Bird that helped ruin the Vikings’ Super Bowl aspirations in 1998 would have been helping them in their Super Bowl aspirations a dirty dozen years later?

For years, Vikings running backs coach Eric Bieniemy has been talking to Peterson about patience as a ball carrier. He wants the quick-twitching Peterson to give his blockers time to create a hole and then burst through the opening. It’s been an ongoing theme between the position coach and player, and Peterson has been saying for at least a year that he knows he needs to do that.

Now, however, he believes it even more, thanks to former Atlanta Falcons running back Jamal Anderson, who played eight years (1994-2001) for the Falcons. Anderson’s best season was in 1998, when he rushed for 1,846 yards and 14 touchdowns as the Falcons beat the Vikings in overtime of the 1998 NFC Championship Game.

Now a chance meeting between Anderson and Peterson earlier this year could be the key to improving Peterson’s patience. “It’s something that I’ve been talking about for three years, but I finally get it now. I finally get it now,” Peterson said. “I was out in Atlanta this last offseason and I ran into Jamal Anderson. We were in a nightclub down there and he walked up to me and he was like, ‘Adrian, man, just listen to me. I didn’t realize it until now that I’m out of the league, but just make sure that you really be patient. Make sure you really be slow, then fast through.’” That sounds like something straight from the mouth of Bieniemy, who was also a former NFL running back with the Cincinnati Bengals and San Diego Chargers. Maybe the words coming from Anderson will make a difference.“ When he said that, it was like confirmation that it was something that I’ve been talking about, something coaches have been harping on me about for a long time, so hearing it from a guy that played in the league and that did well, was a productive back, it really kind of stuck on me,” Peterson said.

“It’s something that I had the opportunity when I got back here and got in pads, to really get into the groove of.” Peterson didn’t get much of an opportunity to put that into practice during the preseason. He got 17 carries and averaged only 3.2 yards, but he said a 24-yard rush against the Seattle Seahawks a week ago was the product of patience.The Vikings’ overtime loss in the NFC Championship Game also seems to have Peterson more focused. “Coming off the loss in the NFC Championship Game, it opened your eyes to a totally different world. This offseason, I really got some good work in and prepared myself to be able to help my team in any way I can. I’m prepared and I’m motivated to get that championship,” he said.

Peterson also talks about reaching the 2,000-yard rushing mark and has been asked repeatedly about Titans running back Chris Johnson accomplishing that. “We’re on two different teams with two different situations,” Peterson said. “Motivation seeing him get 2,000 yards? I look at him like, hey, it’s time for me to get it now. Motivation? A little bit, but it’s not something that I sit back and hound myself about.“It will come. It will come. I don’t sit there and think about it. I know our offense has so many different weapons so the ball is going to be moved around to different guys. I can’t waste time focusing in on 2,000 yards, 2,000

——–

Always nice when you can have an impact on the young stars of the NFL.

Jam

Tonight, the collge football season kicks off. That alone is a reason the be excited, add to that the fact that my UTES will kick the season!  Just like last year, I will select the college football games that I will be watching each week to make my blog picks/post.

On this blog I keep it authentic. You will know immediately If I have a personal connection, or affiliation with any person, school or team.  I am not a reporter, as you will clearly see. This is a labor of love for me. Enjoy the post, and if you have any comments, feel free to leave them here.  Now, on to tonight’s games.

#24 Utah Utes v  #15 Pittsburgh Panthers

I always, and I mean always start my college football picks off with my Utes! Currently the owners of the nations longest home winning streak with 17 wins, the Utes will face one of the nations best running backs in Dion Lewis. I know Pitts line has been shuffled, I know they are playing with a new QB in Tino Sunseri, but Lewis is the key. Everybody talks about all of the returning Utah offensive starters, rightfully so with Jordan Wynn and the two headed RB tandum of Wide/Asiata. But, Utah’s defense will need to be on center stage tonight to contain Lewis.  I am thrilled for this game, and I expect Utah to come to play. The Utes must block Greg Romeus so Jordan Wynn can shine. Slight bias, indeed. Go Utes.

My Pick: Utah

Quick Picks:

Ohio State over Marshall

Miami over Florida A & M

South Carolina over  Southern Missippi

Enjoy the Games!

Jam

**The blog post I was working on this week. I figure what the heck, I’ll post it anyway.  I know he’s back, and I am happy about it as well. But the process, well….read on.**

I like Brett Favre, a lot, and I love him as a player, leader, warrior. But enough is enough. If you are going to play, then play. If retirement is the path, then do that.

Listen, as a player Favre is awesome. I know Favre throws a lot of risky passes. However, I am one of those people who will except those risk because of everything else Favre brings to the table. Look at the season Favre put together last year, when nobody thought he could.  I figure Favre is a bit like a shooting point guard in basketball. Sort of Iverson like, if you will. Favre is a tough guy who puts it in the air a bit to much, but you can’t argue with the finale numbers. When the first retirement was announced, Favre’s legacy near at it’s peak. At this point even those who “love” Favre as a player are shaking their heads. Add me to that list.


This entire show stinks. The back and forth, the press, the erroneous reports. As awful as this entire thing is playing out, I still want Favre to come back to play. I am just running out of nice things to say about it now. The Vikings are primed for another shot at the Super Bowl. This same team had it in their grasp a few months ago, so Favre stepping down makes no sense to me. I am just completely over the nonsense.  Get on the field, or get on a tracker, just get to one of them.

JAM

I already know what you’re thinking, WHO ON EARTH IS CHAEL SONNEN??? Furthermore I know that if you’ve heard some of the pre-fight hype, you’re thinking the same exact thing that I’m thinking. “Who has this guy beaten??”

Never fear, your friendly neighborhood Prince is here to assist you. Let’s start by dispelling the taboo that an MMA fighter’s skill is determined by his win/loss record, this is systematically untrue. This is one of the reasons why I love MMA so much. Take the Fedor/Verdum fight that almost every fight fan nearly guaranteed Fedor victory, we all know the result of that fight, we all saw that Fedor can be beat. Can the same be said for Anderson “The Spider” Silva?

If you ask me, yes and no. Silva does have 4 losses as a professional. In my eyes I only saw one loss to Ryo Chonen, that was the most amazing heel hook ever pulled off. Now flash forward to Silva’s current graveyard of combatants. Nate Marquardt, Rich Franklin, Dan Henderson and Forrest Griffin to name the top tier of his opponents that felt the wrath. Did I just name one time title holders and or title contenders? Also did I mention that none of these outstanding fighters made it out of the 2nd round? Yeah, that just happened.

So now let’s take a look at Chael Sonnen, now I’m not trying to Vilify this man whatsoever, he is a solid wrestler and can brawl, but he doesn’t belong in the Octagon with Silva just yet. Sonnen can bring the fight, he can grapple, he has a decent ground game but his stand up is quite suspect. To beat Silva, he’s going to have to commit to a solid gameplan to keep Silva on the ground and to limit his movement. Here’s the problem with that, Dan Henderson, a world class Olympian couldn’t even keep Silva on the ground for an entire round. Chael is going to have to put a roll of Quarters in his hand before the fight so he can get a knockout.

Now keep in mind that both Silva & Sonnen have shared opponents with different outcomes. One of Silva’s 4 losses came at the hands of Yushin Okami, although it was a disqualification and Silva was winning the fight, it’s still logged in as a loss. Sonnen put a beating on Okami. Nate Marquardt was dismantled by both Silva & Sonnen. But Demian Maia is the wildcard in this equation. Maia submitted Sonnen with a great triangle choke, then came time to fight Silva, Maia wanted none of it, which angred fans as well as Silva.

With all that said I’m going to put my money on Anderson Silva by knockout in the very first round. Sonnen’s mouth has written a check that his arse can’t cash. So Chael Sonnen I say to you what the Albanians said to Liam Neeson in “Taken”

“Good Luck.”

Summer, kids, life, events….But, neglect you no longer I will. Why am I talking like Yoda? Anyway, get prepared, I’ve got a few things to say.

Jam

Jamal Anderson

RIP Michael, thanks….

Jam

Jamal Anderson

You cannot be surprised, can you? I know you expected this series to go 7 games right? Of course you did. The best case scenario is playing out tonight for the NBA in Los Angeles. With 15 & 17 titles respectively, the Lakers and Celtics will fight it out for another tonight. As I see it, this final game is going to be pretty simple…who wants it more? You can throw everything else out of the window. I don’t care about injuries, I care about all the different statistics and numbers that are being throw out all over the place.

You know, the numbers. Examples you say? Sure just for you.

-The Lakers are 9-1 at home in the playoffs this year, with their only loss coming from the Celtics.

- The Lakers have NEVER beaten the Celtics in game 7.

- Phil Jackson has NEVER coached in game 7 of the finals.

Happy now? I get it, the numbers are the basis. I certainly do not think any of this really matters tonight. One thing I do know is that the Lakers have one player who pushes himself harder than most any other athletes in any sport. Number 24 is tenacious and determined. This is game 7, it is in Los Angeles, and the BEST player in the NBA plays for the gold team. More than anything else, I think the Lakers win because of the drive and determination of said player. #24 wants to be the greatest player EVER. I don’t think he can even be considered the best LAKER ever, until he beats the Celtics. I think Mr. Bryant is well aware of this fact.

Regardless of what happens tonight, you must stand up and applaud the Boston Celtics. Who picked the Celtics to go on the road to win in Cleveland & Orlando? This was a team that most people had written off.  Look at them now, standing at the door way of their second championship in three years. I did believe that once the Celtics made it to the final that this series would go 7. However, I did not think Boston would ever lead this series.

Let’s hope for a special game 7, because this series has been a treat to watch. May the best team win.

Go LAKERS! Ha

JAM

-

Go UTES!!!!

When you look at the statistics in the two major sports, Football and Basketball, the Utes have a winning record against the PAC 10. In football, since 2003 the Utes are 7-3 versus the PAC 10, 5-0 at home, with an overall record of 251-214. In Basketball the Utes are 146-112 all time.  Yes, we can win in the PAC 10.

A brief History of Utah.

University of Utah Utes:
The Utah Utes are the athletics teams of the University of Utah. They are named after the Ute tribe of Native Americans. The men’s basketball team is known as the “Runnin’ Utes”; the women’s basketball team, formerly known as the “Lady Utes,” now prefers to be referred to as the “Utes”; and the women’s gymnastics team is known as the “Red Rocks.”

Football:
The Utah Utes are a college football team that competes in the Pacific Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of NCAA Division I, representing the University of Utah. The Utah college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Rice–Eccles Stadium since 1927. They have won twenty-four conference championships in five different conferences during their history, and have a cumulative record of 617–421–31 (617 wins, 421 losses, and 31 ties).

The Utes have a record of 12–3 (.800) in bowl games, which is the highest winning percentage in the nation among teams that have had ten or more bowl appearances. They have won their last nine bowl games, which is the longest active winning streak.

Among Utah’s bowls are two games from the Bowl Championship Series (BCS): the Fiesta Bowl and the Sugar Bowl. In the 2005 Fiesta Bowl, Utah defeated the Pittsburgh Panthers 35–7, and in the 2009 Sugar Bowl, they defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 31–17. They were the first team from a conference without an automatic bid to play in a BCS bowl game—colloquially known as being a BCS Buster—and the first BCS Buster to play in a second BCS Bowl

History:

At the start of Utah’s football history in 1892, the school did not have a conference affiliation so Utah played as an independent. That changed in 1910 when Utah joined the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Utes have played in five different conferences in their history:
1910–1937: Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
1937–1948: Big Seven Conference
1949–1961: Skyline Conference
1962–1998: Western Athletic Conference
1999–present: Mountain West Conference

2011- Pacific Athletic Conference**

Go UTES!!!!!

JAM

As my Mother said, I came full circle. Last week I had the pleasure of returning to Offense/Defense Football Camp. Returned I say because I attended Offense/Defense Football Camp when I was 9 years old. My first experience away from home, alone for an extended period of time. I couldn’t have had a better experience had it been a dream! I absolutely love O/D camp. So when I was asked to return, to be the pro who as a child I looked up to, I had to jump at the chance.

Jerry Robinson, Anthony Munoz, Drew Peason & Ronnie Lott at Offense Defense Football Camp 1983

Teaching, talking and having a chance to hang with the young kids was a lot of fun. With so many options and forms of entertainment these days its nice to see kids want to go to football camp still.

I hope I get the chance to do it again soon. An absolute pleasure for me to be there. Thanks to Offense Defense Football Camp!

Jam

Jamal Anderson