Adam Thielen

[Don Wassall]

It's about time this man gets a thread. The 2016 NFL season started off quite badly, what with season ending injuries to Danny Woodhead, J. J. Watt and Eric Decker. But it's gotten better as the season's gone along, and there's a pretty good chance there will be more White thousand yard receivers than we've seen in a couple generations, and at running back Rex Burkhead and Zach Zenner have at least had some carries albeit nowhere close to the number they deserve.

The rise of Adam Thielen is the best thing about this season. He's so damn good his racial apprenticeship was shortened by a year or two as he became the number one threat on the Vikings after spending two years as mostly a special teams demon. It's especially satisfying to see given that Adam followed the obligatory path for White receivers -- unwanted by any big programs, had to play at a small school, then went undrafted by the NFL and had to fight for his place from the very bottom of the Minnesota depth chart -- and now he's rocketed past the wildly over-rated Laquan Treadwell, the team's first round draft pick, who would be an unsigned free agent tight end if he was White.

This article acknowledges the obvious, and while it makes the seemingly mandatory comparison to another White receiver and calls Thielen's game "deceptive," comparing Adam Thielen to Jordy Nelson isn't that far off the mark:

Adam Thielen is the best Minnesota Vikings wide receiver

John Follett/FanSided via The Viking AgeFansidedDec 25, 2016 at 4:18p ET
If we learned anything during Saturday’s loss to the Packers, it’s that Adam Thielen is absolutely the Minnesota Vikings’ number one wide receiver.

We love you Stefon Diggs, but Adam Thielen is definitely the number one receiver in Minnesota. Thielen is everything the Minnesota Vikings have needed in a wide receiver since Percy Harvin was in his prime. He’s got speed, makes tough catches, is a stout route-runner, and can stretch the field. If you think about it, Thielen really compares to a younger, quicker version of Jordy Nelson.

If there was anything missing from Thielen’s resume before, it was an offensive performance of epic proportions. He certainly check the box on Saturday with 12 receptions for 202 yards and a two touchdowns. Suffice to say, even the casual fans now know who Adam Thielen is now.

I’ll say it now, “deceptive” is the best way to describe Thielen’s game.

His big play on the day was a71-yard touchdown receptionin the second quarter. It was a monster highlight and microcosm of what Adam Thielen brings to the field.

Thielen sold Quinten Rollins and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix on a stop route. Both players bit and Thielen struck, bursting further up the sideline for a wide open catch and run. Rollins and Clinton-Dix crashed into each other in the process.

The bottom line is the Minnesota Vikings have to signAdam Thielenas their top receiver for the foreseeable future. The ability to move forward with Thielen and Diggs is incredible for a franchise that recently struck out on Greg Jennings and Mike Wallace deals. It would also keep the Vikings from spending top draft picks on receivers for a while. That doesn’t go without saying I was no fan of the Laquon Treadwell pick last April.

It shouldn’t take an incredible sum to lock up Thielen due to his relatively small sample size as a top receiver. We’ve seen flashes from Thielen this year, but I can’t imagine he’s looking for Julio Jones-type money. Even Julian Edelman will only make about$4.5Mthis season. But if the Vikings don’t act, there’s plenty of other teams that will be willing to negotiate with Adam Thielen. I’m sure Bill Belichick would salivate to add such a player.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/adam-thielen-is-the-best-minnesota-vikings-wide-receiver-122516

 

[Don Wassall]

Thielen's season reminds me of Patrick Jeffers with Carolina in 1999, who had been a little used receiver previously but gradually became an animal that year as he was given an opportunity, with his second half of '99 ranking with the best ever for an NFL receiver.

Adam Thielen's ascension hasn't been as dramatic, but as this season went on he more and more became Sam Bradford's go-to-guy, culminating with his huge 202 yard game on Sunday.

Jeffers' career ended the next year when his knee was taken out in a meaningless pre-season game. Now that Adam has established himself, he needs to be wise and not engage in the "kamikaze" tactics that make White receivers easy targets on the field. He already seems to be doing that.

 

[Thrashen]

A highlight video of every catch that Thielen made during his 12 catch, 202 yard, 2 TD castration of the Packers' all-chocolate secondary...

Instead of Jordy, I'd compare Thielen to a faster version of Larry Fitzgerald. I'm really pulling for this him to make 1,000 yards, but even if he doesn't, 2016 was his breakout year and hopefully just the beginning of a long career.

 

[sprintstar]

I just re watched the highlights for Thielan's 200yd game against the Packers and I have to say on one catch(1:28) he made on the sideline he was tackled then another player came in for the finishing hit and went over top but looked to intentionally knee Thielan in the head...did anyone else see this or is it just me?

 

[Leonardfan]

I read a blurb from weenieworld on Thielen trying to push for a longer contract as he enters his RFA year. The pathetic imbeciles at weenie world seem to think Thielen needs to replicate his 2016 season before the Vikings sign him to a long term deal and if they don't 1st round (bust) Laquon treadwell can easily take over and surpass him.

 

[PHillisFan]

I hope Bradford makes Thielen his go to receiver. He looked comfortable with him. The Vikings don't seem to be looking at receiver early on in draft especially after losing Patterson.

 

[Extra Point]

I read a blurb from weenieworld on Thielen trying to push for a longer contract as he enters his RFA year. The pathetic imbeciles at weenie world seem to think Thielen needs to replicate his 2016 season before the Vikings sign him to a long term deal and if they don't 1st round (bust) Laquon treadwell can easily take over and surpass him.

For white men 1 good year is never enough for a contract extension, according to the mainstream sports media.

For black males they have a different standard.

Lurkers, if you pay attention you'll see the double standard the mainstream sports media has for whites and blacks. It is very negative toward whites and is always cheerleading for blacks.

Oh, yes, you'll notice that, unless they're a star player, the mainstream sports media always wants white players replaced with blacks.

 

[Don Wassall]

Good news -- Thielen signs for three years:

Vikings signed WR Adam Thielen to a three-year contract. After catching 20 total passes in his first 32 career games, Thielen had a massive 2016 as the No. 2 receiver when he passed Charles Johnson for the job behind Stefon Diggs. Thielen finished the year with 69 catches for 967 yards (14.0 YPR) and five touchdowns. He was scheduled for restricted free agency this year, and the Vikings placed a second-round tender on him last week. Thielen made it known he was looking for a multi-year deal. He should be locked into the No. 2 job, while 2016 first-rounder Laquon Treadwell will compete for snaps in three-wide sets.

 

[PHillisFan]

Good news -- Thielen signs for three years:

Vikings signed WR Adam Thielen to a three-year contract. After catching 20 total passes in his first 32 career games, Thielen had a massive 2016 as the No. 2 receiver when he passed Charles Johnson for the job behind Stefon Diggs. Thielen finished the year with 69 catches for 967 yards (14.0 YPR) and five touchdowns. He was scheduled for restricted free agency this year, and the Vikings placed a second-round tender on him last week. Thielen made it known he was looking for a multi-year deal. He should be locked into the No. 2 job, while 2016 first-rounder Laquon Treadwell will compete for snaps in three-wide sets.

Is that snip from weenieworld? They cannot fathom another white receiver being a #1.

 

[Don Wassall]

Contract details, it's clear the Vikings wanted to keep him:

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Thielen and the Minnesota Vikings have reached an agreement on a three-year, $17 million contract, which could rise to $27 million with incentives. Thielen was a restricted free agent. http://min.247sports.com/Bolt/Report-Adam-Thielen-to-sign-three-year-27-million-extension-51788755

 

[Freethinker]

That's a really good contract and money for a guy who had to start as an UDFA out of a division II program. I'm really happy for Adam and hope he has great success going forward. Between this and Burkhead's deal, we've had a good week of free agency. The next key will be what team drafts Christian.

 

[Silence Dogood]

Adam Thielen is helped immensely by having Bradford be his QB. Let's face it, Water Under the Bridge wouldn't have targeted Adam like Bradford did.

Thielen is going to supplant Jordy as the premiere white WR in this league.

He checks every box for a WR...period.

6'2, 200 pounds (size) -check
4.45 forty yard dash (overrated speed test valued by cucks and anti-white analysts) -check
6.77 three-cone drill (most important wide receiver drill that said cucks and anti-white analysts conveniently ignore) -check
Impeccable route running (goes without saying, he's a white receiver) -check
Hands (see above) -check

Thielen got more love than I thought he would from the Vikings. I wish he would have went over 1,000 yards, but barring injury to he or Bradford he should catch 80-90 balls and go for 1200 or so yards. I'm also calling double digit touchdowns.

Does anyone know if he and Sam are working out together this offseason? I know Jordy and Aaron do, as well as Tom Brady and Wes Welker used to as well. That relationship is important, as it builds trust.

 

[McCaffrey Dude]

Sorry Silence D. . Cooper Kupp. Trust me.

 

[Don Wassall]

This article from last summer illustrates the kind of overt racism White NFL players face every day, and the racism against Thielen described here is likely understated. One can easily imagine Marvin X chuckling on the sidelines while his CBs exercised their "black privilege":

Wide receiver Adam Thielen isn't just a Vikings spare part

by Mark Craig

Adam Thielen stood there, not sure what was going on at first. But he had an idea. After all, he’s the prototypical NFL overachiever. He’s used to having his book judged by its cover.

It was Aug. 10 and the Vikings were in Cincinnati. Two days of joint practices with the Bengals had just begun, and it was time for 1-on-1 drills between receivers and defensive backs. Thielen, a Vikings receiver, was among the first to line up. But the Bengals’ starting cornerbacks, Dre Kirkpatrick and Adam “Pacman” Jones, wanted no part of him.

Afraid? No. Condescending? A little bit.

The two cornerbacks, onlookers reported, teased Thielen and fellow receiver Isaac Fruechte, saying, “We want to go against some dawgs! This team has no dawgs!” Thielen said he couldn’t hear what they were saying but realized what was happening when Kirkpatrick and Jones dropped back in line so they could face other receivers.

“They wouldn’t go against me, so they made the backups come up,” Thielen said. “It’s disrespectful. You feel disrespected, but at the same time, it is what it is. I really don’t care.”

Fellow Vikings receiver Cordarrelle Patterson is Thielen’s best friend on the team. He has seen his buddy prejudged before. But Patterson is not complaining, since he believes it’s to the Vikings’ advantage.

“We want people to look at Adam and say, ‘Oh, he’s nothing. He’s just a short white guy. He can’t play no ball,’ ” Patterson said. “And then he gets open. It seems like every play, he’s open. And on special teams, he’s doing everything. Blocking punts for touchdowns, running reverses or whatever. It seems like he’s always the right guy at the right spot at the right time.”

Actually, Thielen isn’t short. He’s 6-2. He also weighs 200 pounds and ran a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL’s 2013 super regional combine. Meanwhile, the 6-3, 210-pound Fruechte, who also is white, might be the fastest receiver on the 90-man roster.

But stereotypes do exist, according to players and coaches. Thielen isn’t insulted by comparisons to other players such as Wes Welker. He would love to match Welker’s career. But they’re completely different types of players, Vikings coach George Stewart points out.

“Wes was a small slot guy; Adam is 6-2 and fast,” Stewart said. “Adam is an outside guy who can play inside, too. If anything, I see the correlation being an Isaac Bruce. I think that’s the problem that Adam has had. He gets lumped in with people. He’s his own man, and he’s a pro’s pro.”

Thielen was born in northern Minnesota. He went to Detroit Lakes High School, where he stood out in football, basketball, baseball and golf. He won a state team title in golf and is considered the best golfer on the Vikings.

As a senior, he was all-state on a 9-1 football team. He ended up at Division II Minnesota State Mankato, but he’s not complaining. That’s where he met his wife, Caitlin, a standout soccer player and the mother of the couple’s first child, a boy, due in October.

As for the NFL, talent and dedication always find a pathway onto a 53-man roster. After spending 2013 on the Vikings practice squad as an undrafted free agent, Thielen has taken on a larger role every season since. Already a special teams leader, he has been a steady presence in the Vikings’ three-man receiver sets this summer.

Thielen, 25, has moved ahead of sneaky playmaker Jarius Wright on the Vikings’ unofficial depth chart. Wright, of course, has missed the first two preseason games because of a leg injury. But Thielen also is showing more versatility.

Some defenders might be caught off-guard when they first encounter Thielen. Wright told the story of the 2014 season finale when the Bears sideline was yelling “Decoy!” when Thielen ran onto the field for a few snaps later in the game.

Asked if he thought race was a factor in some of the comments, Thielen said he hadn’t really thought about it and added, “I don’t know if it’s a white thing or what. I can’t really worry about that because I don’t really care what people think about me or the color of my skin. I’m just playing football.

“In that Chicago game, their coaches and players were yelling, ‘Decoy. He’s only a blocking receiver.’ It was kind of funny.”

Then the blocking receiver ran past the secondary and caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from Teddy Bridgewater in a 13-9 win.

Two days after that Aug. 10 practice in Cincinnati, the Vikings beat the Bengals in a preseason opener. The first touchdown of the game was set up by Thielen making a leaping catch in traffic over the middle for 22 yards. Coach Mike Zimmer said the throw exemplifies Bridgewater’s newfound willingness to trust a receiver to make a contested play down the field.

In Thursday’s second preseason game, an 18-11 victory at Seattle, Thielen led Vikings receivers with four catches for 61 yards. He caught an 18-yarder over the middle from Shaun Hill on third-and-8 on the Vikings’ first drive of the game, and a 17-yarder from Joel Stave on third-and-10 to set up a 27-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the first half.

“Adam always kind of plays with a chip on his shoulder,” Zimmer said. “I know he got into a little altercation [with Jones] down there [in Cincinnati]. But that’s how he is and that’s how he has to play.”

Yes, Jones eventually did have to cover Thielen back on Aug. 10. When he did, he ripped Thielen’s helmet off. He wasn’t happy. Teammates stepped in.

Thielen said the altercation had nothing to do with Jones’ initial reaction to him during the 1-on-1 drills.

“No, not at all,” Thielen said. “When he first saw me, we hadn’t done anything yet, so he and [Kirkpatrick] probably didn’t know anything about me. But once we started practicing, I feel like they realized pretty quick that I could play.”

And if they didn’t, Patterson doesn’t care.

“Adam is as good as any receiver on our team,” Patterson said. “I saw they didn’t want to go against him. That’s just something they wanted to do. But I’d match Adam up with those two guys any day. I don’t care how they feel. That’s how we feel.”

http://www.startribune.com/wide-receiver-adam-thielen-isn-t-just-a-vikings-spare-part/390813481/

 

[McCaffrey Dude]

Good find. I can't speak for any NFL corner but the assumption would be most black corners or any defender for that matter are going to prejudge white players especially when they come from a small school only because a lot of the small school players get the same harsh criticism by college recruiters and coaches alike so they don't go to the big D1 school they deserve to be in.
How many more stories have to be posted on the internet as to where someone from the main stream media might actually step up and try and say something? Plenty or writers bring it up but the topic never gains any steam in my opinion.
This all started for me back when I read a college preview magazine that featured Princeton rb , Keith Elias, in 1991. Elias despite being the top rated rb in New Jersey by many people; he wound up at Princeton and even at the more white friendly Ivy League schools reported saying he heard racial taunts on almost every play from black players.

 

[Silence Dogood]

Sorry Silence D. . Cooper Kupp. Trust me.

Cooper is a stud, and will put up solid numbers from the outset.

Still Thielen is a prototypical number 1, minus melanin. The Vikings know that, Bradford knows that, and soon the NFL will know that.

I am in the Thielen corner on this one, but no matter who has the better career, I root for both.

 

[Don Wassall]

DWFs are still mostly oblivious to the Caste System, but many of them like seeing White receivers and running backs.

Adam Thielen out-sells Carson Wentz jerseys in North Dakota

http://247sports.com/Bolt/Adam-Thielen-out-sells-Carson-Wentz-jerseys-in-North-Dakota-103862077

 

[Extra Point]

The mainstream media talks about Laquan Bustwell as the number one receiver for the Vikings instead of Thielen, despite the fact that Thielen is clearly a superior player.

The DWFs can't get their heads around the idea that a white man could be a number one receiver. In their minds no white receiver could possibly be better than a black receiver.

 

[Thrashen]

I didn't see the Vikings' 3rd pre-season game, but apparently Thielen was working exclusively out of the slot and Diggs was playing outside. I'm not sure how I feel about this, as it will heighten his chance for injury, but probably increase his targets substantially. A mix of Adam playing inside/outside would be nice. I'm still shocked that he was actually given a chance to start last year (and, as only CF predicted, performed marvelously on his way to 967 yards and 5 TDs). If he does move to the slot full time, I could see him becoming a faster version of Larry Fitzgerald...

Adam Thielen takes over as Vikings' slot receiver, could be major PPR sleeper

In the Vikings' dress rehearsal game, Thielen was the go-to man as the slot receiver for Sam Bradford. He ended up catching all five targets for 50 yards. Stefon Diggs, who was last year's slot receiver for the Vikings, didn't get a single snap in the slot. If this game was any indication, it appears Thielen will be running the small interior routes that Bradford is fond of throwing. Based on this, he may break out even more so than he did at the end of last year, especially in PPR leagues.

Does this look like a typical slot receiver?

 

[sprintstar]

He is white, agile as hell, amazing hands and just bloody fast....he is a threat to negros defenses and the team owners so he gets moved inside to a position that the whites are "allowed" to occupy. Yes he will be Bradfords fav target but it is still a caste slap in the face because he is white. I am sure the negros will intentionally try to hurt him.

 

[Extra Point]

This is a bad coaching decision. If you have someone doing a good job on the outside you leave him there. If it isn't broken don't fix it.

 

[Thrashen]

Great debut for Adam. The "slot" receiver averaged 17.5 YPC as he stole the show on MNF...

 

[Flint]

Thielen is one of those guys you can get for nothing in Fantasy Football. Most white guys have never heard of him and the "projections" are always biased against him. He is at worst a #2 receiver that frequently puts up #1 numbers, yet you will have guys drafting #3's from other teams and unproven rookies. You'd think Welker/Edelman/Nelson/Decker would have enlightened the masses that white receivers can be great fantasy guys but it still seems like good white receivers never get their due.

 

[Extra Point]

Barring injury, Thielen will go over 1000 yards this year, easily. If he continues to play as well as he did in the first game he should be a pro-bowler.

 

[Silence Dogood]

Thielen is the man guys. Like I said up above, he's our new superstar receiver. Playing out of the slot doesn't seem to affect him, as it seems like he runs a lot of out routes. Linebackers and Strong Safeties generally pick up slot coverage. He's too big and fast for them. He's going to put up huge numbers this year. My predictions above are the floor for him if he can stay healthy.

Thanks to Thielen, Bradford night finally live up to that #1 pick potential.