MO BO to Vikings

limitless

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Moritz Boehringer's last competitive football came as a member of Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns of the German Football League. The next time he suits up, it will be as a member of the Minnesota Vikings.

We saw some history in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft on Saturday when Boehringer became the first international player to go straight from a European league to the NFL.

It was fitting that Boehringer landed with the Vikings. His interest in football began just five years ago, when he stumbled upon highlights of Adrian Peterson running past defenders on YouTube.




"I searched for a team in Germany and found one in my hometown, but we only had seven players," Boehringer (6-foot-4, 227 pounds) said during a recent studio appearance on the Move The Sticks Podcast with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks. "We just practiced bit, and after half a year we (found a full team) about 25 miles from my hometown and played there."

Boehringer, 22, was an immediate star in the German Football League, the highest level of football in Europe. He arrived in America on Feb. 29 and put himself on the NFL radar with a head-turning performance at the Florida Atlantic pro day. That performance, in addition to his dominant Unicorns game tape, made him a buzzy Day 3 pick.

"That's kind of what the draft is all about -- making dreams come true," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. "He's a really smart kid ... he understands football and is able to repeat the different routes to us and things like that. Obviously, he has a lot of work to do, but it's been fun."

After the Vikings made their selection, Boehringer found himself on the NFL Network draft set for the second time in an hour. During his first appearance, NFL Media's Mike Mayock looked into the camera and implored Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman to select the big German. The plea might been enough to move Boehringer to the top of Minnesota's board. In a related story, Boehringer owes Mayock a Krombacher.

Mayock asked Boehringer how it felt to suddenly be on the same team as Peterson, the legendary player whose dominance on his tablet kickstarted his football dreams.

Replied Boehringer: "The coolest thing ever."

Pretty cool indeed.
 

Extra Point

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He should do well if he's given a chance to develop.
 

FootballDad

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Too bad he's going to have a black quarterback throwing to him.
 

celticdb15

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1st player in the class to sign a contract!
 

Thrashen

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The 22-year-old became the first 2016 draft pick to sign his contract when he inked a four-year rookie deal with the Vikings. The contract is expected to pay the wide receiver $2.49 million over the next four years, including a signing bonus of $150,420.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...r-signs-minnesota-vikings-4-years-249-million

Good for him! The only WR's in the history of the NFL with similar height/weight/speed/vertical were Matt Jones and Calvin Johnson. Hopefully both Böhringer and the German-American WR, Adam Thielen, become fast friends and make final 53 in the fall.
boehringer-hut-600.jpg


tmw-draft-600.jpg
 

Extra Point

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jacknyc

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The Vikings website is all about Boehringer.
Numerous articles and videos about him.
He seems to be the talk of the Vikings draft.
 

Quiet Speed

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I hope he sucks at special teams so he doesn't have to go that route while he hones his craft as a receiver. :D
 

Extra Point

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Braxton Miller, a raw player, was drafted in the third round. He only played one year at wide receiver and caught only 26 passes.

Boeringer was drafted in the 6th. If Boehringer had been black, he too might have been drafted in the third round.
 

Extra Point

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Boehringer tested out to be more athletic than 99% of all NFL wide receivers, according to the SPARQ ratings. He has a good work ethic and is smart.

If I were an offensive coordinator on a non-contending team I'd start Boehringer at flanker, leave him there and let him learn on the fly.

If he's given any kind of chance this guy is going to make it big.
 

jacknyc

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Wasn't there a Boeringer who played for Kansas City?
He had one great season, or part of a season, and then somehow, disappeared.
 

jacknyc

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Found him.
It was Marc Boerigter.
Same profile - big, fast, and didn't play for a Division I program.
He averaged 21.0 yds/catch his rookie season for Kansas City, and then was cut from various teams over the next few years.
Interesting, that these names are so close.
 

Don Wassall

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