ESPN commentators have made their picks for the NFL season — predicting conference champions, Super Bowl champs and MVPs. If Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is in need of any "bulletin board material" or wants to play the no respect card, he can check out their picks and print them out.
A total of 42 commentators weighed in, and 16 picked the Packers to reach the Super Bowl. Nine picked them to win it all. Along the way, 11 said they think Aaron Rodgers will win league MVP honors.
The Vikings? Let's see here. I'm looking. Still looking. The list is alphabetical, and now I'm in the "S" section … huh, now I'm at the end of every list. Still nothing.
That's right: None of the 42 ESPN pundits picked the Vikings to even make it to the Super Bowl. None of them picked a Vikings player to win league MVP honors — one year after Adrian Peterson won the league rushing title and the Vikings won the NFC North.
Read Michael Rand's blog at startribune.com/randball. michael.rand@startribune.com.
