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May 20 75° / 60° Day: Scattered T-Storms, 60% chance of percipitation and 18mph wind during the day. Evening: T-Storms Early, 50% chance of percipitation and 14mph wind in the evening.	May 21 72° / 52° Day: PM T-Storms, 50% chance of percipitation and 11mph wind during the day. Evening: Scattered T-Storms, 60% chance of percipitation and 9mph wind in the evening.	May 22 60° / 47° Day: Showers, 50% chance of percipitation and 14mph wind during the day. Evening: Showers, 30% chance of percipitation and 10mph wind in the evening.
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Christian Ballard | Defensive Lineman

Team:	Minnesota Vikings
Age / DOB:	(24) / 1/3/1989
Ht / Wt:	6'4' / 283
College:	Iowa
Contract:	view contract details [x] 7/31/2011: Signed a four-year, $2.448 million contract. The deal included a $407,552 signing bonus. 2013: $555,000, 2014: $645,000, 2015: Free Agent
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Minnesota Vikings

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Vikings DL Christian Ballard's roster spot is in danger after the team drafted Sharrif Floyd and Everett Dawkins while signing Lawrence Jackson.

Barring injuries ahead of him on the depth chart, 2011 fourth-rounder Ballard may be on the outside looking in after what beat writer Tom Pelissero describes as a "pedestrian" first two seasons in the league. Ballard is a 'tweener tackle/end and has managed one sack amongst 29 tackles through 32 appearances. Apr 29 - 12:44 PM

Source: ESPN 1500 Twin Cities

Christian Ballard may lose his roster spot
Apr 29 - 12:44 PM
Christian Ballard to have increased role
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 06:58:00 PM
Christian Ballard will play defensive tackle
Sun, May 1, 2011 09:14:00 PM
Vikings take DT Ballard
Sat, Apr 30, 2011 12:31:00 PM

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Christian Ballard - DL - Vikings

Vikings GM Rick Spielman expects 2011 fourth-round pick Christian Ballard to play a bigger role in 2012.

Ballard, who just turned 23, flashed rare versatility and some run-defending prowess in a part-time role as a rookie. "He's going to be a heck of a player and continue to make a jump," Spielman said. Ballard can play four positions on the line. He projects as the Vikings' No. 3 defensive tackle behind Kevin Williams and Letroy Guion. Ballard could even push Guion to start.

Source: ESPN 1500 Twin Cities

Sun, Mar 25, 2012 06:58:00 PM

Christian Ballard - DL - Vikings

Vikings GM Rick Spielman confirmed that No. 106 pick Christian Ballard will begin his career at defensive tackle.

Spielman hopes to "eventually work him outside" because Ballard moves well enough to be an early-down, run-stopping end, but for now the plan is for the former Iowa Hawkeye to learn the under and three-technique tackle spots. Ballard will be fighting for snaps with Letroy Guion, Jimmy Kennedy, and Tremaine Johnson.

Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Sun, May 1, 2011 09:14:00 PM

Christian Ballard - DL - Vikings

Vikings selected Iowa DT Christian Ballard with the No. 106 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

Explosive athletically, one of Ballard's main selling points is his versatility, and he should see time at both defensive tackle and defensive end for the Vikings. However, while he has the physical skills to be a successful NFL player, there are questions about his motor and desire. If the Vikings can't light a fire in him, his career could be a short one.

Sat, Apr 30, 2011 12:31:00 PM

Christian Ballard - DL - Vikings

Iowa DL Christian Ballard ran two forty times of 4.70 at the Hawkeyes' Pro Day.

These times are from NFL.com's Gil Brandt; SI.com's Tony Pauline had Ballard as fast as 4.68. A beast in workouts, Ballard also jumped 34 inches vertically at 6'5/286 and had a 9-foot-, 7-inch broad jump. Ballard will be a possibility late in the first round for 3-4 teams like the Ravens, Jets, and Packers.

Source: NFL.com

Mon, Mar 21, 2011 10:23:00 PM

Christian Ballard - DL - Vikings

The Jets will most likely target a defensive lineman or pass rusher with their No. 30 pick in the draft.

University of Iowa teammates Christian Ballard and Adrian Clayborn could both be possibilities, as could somebody like Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan if he falls. It's not a given they will take a defensive lineman, however, as a pass-rushing linebacker like UCLA's Akeem Ayers would also be a fit if he fell to No. 30.

Source: ESPN New York

Sun, Mar 20, 2011 09:13:00 AM

Christian Ballard - DL - Vikings

Iowa DT Christian Ballard ran unofficial forty times of 4.70 and 4.75 at the Scouting Combine Monday.

He's bigger than former college teammate Adrian Clayborn, and noticeably faster in a straight line. Ballard's senior-year production (5 TFL, 3 sacks) left plenty to be desired, but a 3-4 team could fall in love with him late in the first or early in the second round. At 6-foot-4 and nearly 290 pounds, he possesses an ideal build to play the "five technique" position.

Mon, Feb 28, 2011 01:59:00 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
Pos	Role	Name
QB	1	Christian Ponder Sidelined GM Rick Spielman gives Christian Ponder "just as much credit for getting us in the playoffs" as Adrian Peterson. Spielman was referring specifically to Ponder's play when the Vikings won their final four games of the regular season. During that time, he completed 60.6 percent of his passes and threw just one interception, but averaged a mere 157.5 yards per game and totaled four passing scores. These comments are another case of Spielman trying to pump up Ponder's confidence. He's ready to ride or die with his 2011 No. 12 overall pick. May 8
	2	Matt Cassel
	3	McLeod Bethel-Thompson
	4	James Vandenberg
RB	1	Adrian Peterson Sidelined Adrian Peterson said his goal for this season is to run for 2,500 yards. Peterson rumbled for 2,097 last season even though he was coming off a knee reconstruction and playing through a sports hernia. In order to reach 2,500 yards, he'd need to average 156.25 yards per day over 16 games. It's not going to happen, but Peterson is set up for another run at Eric Dickerson's single-season record of 2,105 yards. Lead-blocker Jerome Felton and mauling tackle Phil Loadholt are both back and Peterson will be 21 months removed from his ACL tear by the time Week 1 rolls around. Apr 16
	2	Toby Gerhart
	3	Matt Asiata
	4	Joe Banyard
	5	Jerodis Williams
GLB	1	Adrian Peterson
	2	Toby Gerhart
3RB	1	Adrian Peterson
	2	Toby Gerhart
FB	1	Jerome Felton
	2	Zach Line
WR1	1	Greg Jennings
	2	Jarius Wright
	3	Joe Webb
	4	Greg Childs Sidelined Vikings WR Greg Childs (torn patellar tendons) has resumed sprinting and cutting. "All the necessary things I need to be doing, I'm doing now," Childs said. "I still do my cuts and my runs full speed. There is no change in the way I run or the way I play. My routes are still the same." Despite the progress, Childs admits he's not close to 100 percent. The Vikings are operating under the assumption Childs "may never play a meaningful down in the NFL." So should fantasy owners. May 1
	5	Chris Summers
WR2	1	Jerome Simpson
	2	Cordarrelle Patterson
	3	Stephen Burton
	4	Rodney Smith
	5	Erik Highsmith
WR3	1	Cordarrelle Patterson
TE	1	Kyle Rudolph
	2	John Carlson
	3	Rhett Ellison
	4	Chase Ford
	5	Colin Anderson
K	1	Blair Walsh

Headlines

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May 18

JJ Zachariason wraps up his five-part series on fantasy quarterback drafting with a look at positional replaceability.

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