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Draconator

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    Ass't Coaches: Rick Dennison (MN) and Cole Popovich (NE) out after refusing vaccine

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted · Edited by Draconator
    Correcting a Mod. I am awesome!

    https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31869652/rick-dennison-minnesota-vikings-assistant-refusing-covid-19-vaccine-sources-say?platform=amp&__twitter_impression=true&fbclid=IwAR1m-wd8tPzQqA7y1KBakZFJq0M_Nc1Y8JLLfvGnSeMNTm6SqNSsCSRaPmk

     

    EAGAN, Minn. -- After refusing to receive a vaccine for COVID-19, Rick Dennison is out as a Minnesota Vikings assistant coach, sources told ESPN on Friday.

    Dennison, who had served as the Vikings' offensive line coach/run game coordinator the past two seasons, is believed to be the first NFL position coach to part ways with his team after choosing not to receive a vaccine.

     

    The vaccine is required for all Tier 1 staff, including coaches, front-office executives, equipment managers and scouts. Players are not required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine but will face strict protocols during training camp and throughout the season that vaccinated players will be able to forgo.

     

    In a memo released by the league earlier this summer, the NFL said any unvaccinated Tier 1 staff member must provide a valid religious or medical reason for not receiving the vaccine. Losing Tier 1 status prohibits coaches from being on the field and in meeting rooms and having direct interactions with players.

     

    Phil Rauscher has been promoted from assistant offensive line coach to fill Dennison's position, sources told ESPN. The Vikings also hired Ben Steele, who had recently been hired by Auburn as a special-teams analyst, to fill the position Rauscher had held since 2019.

     

    Dennison's departure comes at a time of transition for the Vikings offense, which will be guided by first-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who was promoted this offseason to fill the role his father, Gary, held in Minnesota during the 2020 season.

     

    With 27 years of NFL coaching experience, Dennison was considered a vital piece in helping bridge the gap for the younger Kubiak given his extensive experience calling run plays and knowledge of the scheme the Vikings have used since the 2019 season.

     

    The Vikings were one of the league's heaviest running teams in 2020 behind Dalvin Cook, who became the first Minnesota player to rush for at least 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns in a season. Cook was responsible for 30.5% of the Vikings' scrimmage yards in 2020, the second-highest rate in the NFL behind Derrick Henry (33.8), according to ESPN Stats & Information.

     

    Dennison worked with Gary Kubiak for more than three decades in Denver (1995-2009, 2015-16), Houston (2010-13) and Baltimore (2014). Prior to joining the Vikings in 2019, Dennison served as the offensive line coach/run game coordinator for the New York Jets during the 2018 season.

     

    Rauscher is entering his seventh season as a coach in the NFL after joining the Vikings in 2020. He coached with Dennison on the Broncos staff during the 2015 and 2016 seasons and was Washington's offensive line coach in 2019.

     

    Steele was on several NFL rosters as a tight end from 2001 to 2007, including in Houston under Gary Kubiak. He began working in the NFL in 2013 as an offensive quality control coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a position he held until 2016. Steele was later promoted to tight ends coach for the Buccaneers before moving to the Atlanta Falcons, where he was an offensive assistant in 2019 and tight ends coach in 2020. He was hired by Auburn earlier this year.

     

    The Vikings will hold their first training camp practice Wednesday.

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    Bills Players-Fan Encounters Thread

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted

    Working at Waterbeds and Stuff, players from the late 80's and 90's would come in all the time. Nate Odoms especially would come in after practice and hang out. They had an event at the Marriott on Millersport that they sponsored. Bruce, Thurman, Bennett, Tasker, Reed, all of them except for Kelly were there. In a football toss I got 2 out of 3 through the tire, and won a pair of RayBan sunglasses. I'm sitting at a booth with a girl who worked with me, her friend, and Thurman (who was seriously going after my co-workers friend). I got up to get drinks for the table, come back, and Thurman is wearing the RayBans. I said "Thurman, give me back my glasses" to which Thurman said, "they were your glasses". He was a rookie at that time so it was easy to forgive him. 

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    Jets coach, Greg Knapp, fighting for his life after accident Edit: Died, RIP

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted

    6 hours ago, Max Fischer said:

    I won't ride a bike in traffic. I don't trust drivers won't kill me. 

    A friend of mine and his best friend were riding their bikes in the New Mexico desert. The only car on the road, a judge, ran into both of them. The friend was killed instantly. My friend was in a coma for 2 weeks, but pulled through. 

     

    The judge? The police on scene asked for her cell phone. She gave them her personal phone, but later found to be on her court phone at the time of the accident. She got a fine...

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    (LAMP) Against my better judgement, and fear of crucifixion, me on bass

    in Off the Wall

    Posted

    3 hours ago, Poleshifter said:

    Ken, that was very cool. Thanks for sharing that part of your life.

     

    I aspire to play bass - have aspired for a long time!

     

    I particularly enjoyed Billie Jean. That is such a great bass groove. I gotta learn that one.

     

    Thank you!

     

    As for Billie Jean, no song builds up strength in your left hand more than that song. I was surprised that although you're not running up and down the fretboard, your hand can become quite fatigued while playing it. (At least that's what I found). 

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