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Chester Taylor out of shape (june 5th)


cliaz
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According to reports, Chester Taylor showed up to Minnesota's minicamp out of shape. He was signed to be the team's featured back in the offseason.

 

It's too soon to throw up the red flag on Taylor, but this isn't a good start for the veteran. He's still a viable sleeper candidate.

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Could this be verified? I mean sometimes we throw around items of value like they are lukewarm bits of information not to verify. Here is why this needs to be verified: RB (ANY NAME) moves from one team to another in the NFL and is handed the reigns to the starting position at RB, to which he never has owned in his career and he shows up out of shape!!!? BIG news!!!!! Not lukewarm note with qualifying he'll be in shape when it comes down to it!!! Every draft I am in requires me to be up on such info and IMO this knocks Taylor down to where he is a #3 or 4...he was in my assessment a marginal #2.....this puts him off of my list for draft purposes unless its him or Fred Taylor! :D

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I am not sure where that report came from? They have had 3 mini camps already and I have not heard anything. I did find this article though:

 

Taylor eager for new challenges

BY DON SEEHOLZER

Pioneer Press

The misnomer known as the NFL offseason ground on for the Vikings as 45 rookies and select veterans wrapped up another round of OTAs (organized team activities) Friday at Winter Park.

 

No. 1 pick Chad Greenway and the rest of this year's draft class were on hand for the last of six voluntary practices, as were a number of young veterans, including running back Chester Taylor, who is expected to be the team's featured ball carrier after signing a four-year, $14.1 million contract to leave Baltimore during the offseason.

 

Friday's practice was the first OTA session open to the media and first since the Vikings' May 13-15 minicamp for Taylor, but he should have plenty of opportunities to start earning his money this fall after four seasons of backing up Jamal Lewis with the Ravens.

 

"I'm ready for the challenge," Taylor said. "I had my spurts in Baltimore when Jamal got hurt, and then he got suspended (for two games in 2004) and I had to take the load. I know I can do it. I just want to prove I can do it for a whole season this time."

 

Taylor rushed for 1,599 yards and averaged 4.3 yards a carry during his four seasons in Baltimore, where he had the luxury of running behind an offensive line anchored by left tackle Jonathan Ogden, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection.

 

The Vikings' front five might be even better, though, after the offseason addition of all-pro left guard Steve Hutchinson to go with Pro Bowl center Matt Birk and left tackle Bryant McKinnie.

 

"I'm real excited," Taylor said. "I had a great offensive line in Baltimore, but I'm really looking forward to playing behind this line."

 

At the moment, Taylor is just trying to get his legs loose for the next round of voluntary practices, with all veterans expected to be on hand Monday, and accustom himself to a radically different offseason routine.

 

Suffice to say Ravens coach Brian Billick didn't work his veteran players as hard or as often as Vikings coach Brad Childress has during his first offseason.

 

"I heard that new coaches get more practices anyway, but Baltimore is totally different," Taylor said. "We didn't practice as much as we're doing here. As coaches, they both want to put the best players on the field to win. I just feel the practice style is totally different. Here, coach is going to put us through every practice he thinks we need to get better."

 

Childress said the objective of this week's practices was to get the rookies and young players more accustomed to the Vikings' tempo and system in addition to the larger goal of teaching them how to be professionals.

 

It also was a good opportunity to get some extra work for players such as rookie quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who took all the snaps as the only QB at Friday's practice, and two players just back from NFL Europe, wide receiver Aaron Hosack and cornerback Ronyell Whitaker.

 

"Great hand-eye coordination," Childress said of Hosack. "Obviously, he's a bigger target, which quarterbacks love. He kind of vacuums up the football. As my old stats guy used to say, receivers by definition should receive, and he does a good job of that."

 

Like Hosack, Whitaker was named to the All-NFL Europe team, and the fact that he played under Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin at Tampa Bay won't hurt his chances in the race for the nickel back job.

 

"I think the great thing is they have a feel for his football character and how he plays the game," Childress said. "He's a great competitor. He already caught our guys' eyes in the special-teams area. He's got a chance. You like those guys that compete."

 

Injury report: Wide receiver Troy Williamson, who missed last month's minicamp after having an abscess removed from his left hip, saw a doctor Friday in South Carolina and was progressing well, according to Childress, who said there is an "outside chance" last year's No. 1 draft choice could be back for the June 19-21 voluntary minicamp.

 

Fullback Joey Goodspeed was placed on season-ending injured reserve after surgery Thursday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

 

Briefly: Wide receiver Billy McMullen, acquired last month in a trade with Philadelphia, is wearing Randy Moss' old No. 84. Rookie wide receiver Jason Carter got Daunte Culpepper's former No. 11.

 

• Childress, on this week's hiring of Rick Spielman as vice president of player personnel: "I've known Rick for a long time and knew what kind of person he was. Good person. I'm excited to be working with him. Very excited."

 

Don Seeholzer can be reached at dseeholzer@pioneerpress.com.

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