Tag Archives: Minnesota Vikings

NFL

Ramsey, Patrick

Card: Topps Finest 2002
Acquired: 2012, Target Autograph Memorabilia

The Washington Redskins had been struggling for years to find a quarterback for the team, going back to the days post- Mark Rypien. Patrick Ramsey was supposed to be the answer to those woes, and coach Steve Spurrier had him pegged as their pick after the expansion Texans took David Carr with the first pick and the Lions went with Joey Harrington. Ramsey was the 3rd quarterback taken off the board with the 32nd pick of the 1st round during the 2002 draft.

Patrick had a phenomenal career playing for the Tulane Green Wave, helping re-energize the college’s program, and set 20 passing records while with the school.

After being drafted by the Redskins to play in their Fun & Gun offense, Ramsey struggled to maintain the starting job, frequently yielding to backup Danny Wuerfful and Shane Matthews.  Still, Ramsey posted a 2-3 record in the 5 contests he started, leading the league in yards per completion with a 13.2 yard average. In 2003, the offensive line collapsed, and Ramsey was frequently under siege but with a 4-7 starting record and 14 TDs under his belt, it looked as though Patrick was beginning to mature. 2003, however turned out to be head coach Steve Spurrier’s final season in Washington. With Joe Gibbs returning to the franchise in 2004, he brought in Mark Brunell and demoted Ramsey back to second string. Ramsey ended up relieving Brunell during the season, and completed 62.1% of 272 passes. Patrick was named as the starter for 2005, but against the Bears in the opener he suffered a neck injury, and found himself sitting on the bench the remainder of the year. It would be Patrick’s final season in Washington and begin the Jouneyman phase of his career.

Traded to the Jets to provide quarterback competition for incumbent Chad Pennington, he failed to unseat Chad and was cut following the 2006 season. Moving on to the Broncos, Patrick saw limited playing time backing up Jay Cutler through 2009. Ramsey has been on and off rosters since that time as pretty much a camp arm of the Titans, Lions, Saints, Jaguars, Dolphins, and Vikings.

 

NFL

Powell, Tydreke

leaf12 powellCard: Leaf Rookies 2012
Acquired: 2012, Box Breaker

6-2, 311 Tydreke Powell played collegiately for North Carolina, where he was team captain of the defense from his defensive tackle position. In his senior season he finished with 47 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 pass defensed, and a forced fumble. Considered raw and unpolished, many scouts believed that he has aggressive natural talent and athleticism that will allow him to develop with the right team at the NFL level with the right conditioning and training. If there was a better place to land- I am not sure of many, as Powell was signed as an undrafted free agent by the defensive line stacked Minnesota Vikings. Tydreke did not see any playing time his rookie year, but Jared Allen thinks he has an amazing singing voice.

NFL

Irwin, Tim

Card: Score 1990
Acquired: Canton Acquisition 2012

6’7″, 300, Tim Irwin was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 3rd round of the 1981 draft. He’d ride the bench while learning the finer points of the craft from legendary offensive tackle Ron Yary, pretty much his whole rookie season. It’d be in 1982 that he’d start a really nice run of 181 consecutive starts playing right tackle for the team. Tim played for the Vikings through the 1993 season.  In 1994 he started 6 games for the Buccaneers before finishing his career with 5 more for the Dolphins.

While still playing for the Vikings in 1990, Irwin went back and finished his law degree at his Alma Mater, Tennessee. He is well rounded in many fields of practice and was appointed a juvenile judge in 2005. Tim also has devoted much of his time to Boys & Girls Club sponsorships, and promoting youth football in Tennessee.

G/Gs 201/187