German Receiver Boehringer Facing Press Criticism With Minnesota Vikings?
According to one sportswriter in Minnesota, German rookie receiver Moritz Boehringer may not make the Minnesota Vikings roster.
Eric J. Thompson, who writes the Daily Norseman blog for SB Nation is not convinced that German rookie receiver Moritz Boehringer will make the final cut for the NFL team.
The German rookie who created headlines by becoming the first player ever to be drafted by an NFL team straight from a European league, has been battling through training camp with 10 other receivers.
In Thompson’s view, Boehringer is simply too far behind football-wise to even make the Viking’s practice roster.
Here is what he had to say prior to the team’s 17-16 exhibition win against the Cincinnati Bengals:
“I wanted to buy into the hype. I really did. It’s a great story. But there are so many wide receivers in camp still ahead of MoBo that I think it will be hard for him to even make the practice squad. The athleticism is definitely there, as shown by his nice diving catch in Friday afternoon’s practice. But there is still a lot to be desired with his technique. His routes and cuts are noticeably less streamlined than the more experienced receivers in camp. There’s still a little time for Böhringer but I personally don’t see it happening.”
There is no question that Boehringer is in tough. He is up against formidable football talent at the receiver position. Fellow rookie receiver Laquon Treadwell (1st round pick, 23rd overall) sparkled in the game against the Bengals with a team-high four catches for 41 yards. Boehringer only saw one ball, an incomplete pass from rookie quarterback Joel Stave late in the fourth quarter, while a total of 12 players caught passes from the three Vikings quarterbacks who played.
Nevertheless, Boehringer is a draft pick and NFL teams do not waste a draft pick. Head coach Mike Zimmer when he drafted the young German was aware he would be a work in progress.
In other words, the Vikings knew that the rookie would be a long-term project and by drafting him are prepared to be patient. The upside is too great to pass up.
Minnesota Vikings remaining exhibition schedule
The Vikings have three more exhibition games. They head to Seattle to play the Seahawks August 18 and then are at home to the San Diego Chargers August 28 and the Los Angeles Rams September 1. Minnesota opens the regular season on September 11 against the Tennessee Titans.
