Former Northwestern QB Battling For Vikings 3rd String Job
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- One player who played well on turf in Minnesota is Mike Kafka.
The former Northwestern quarterback is battling for the third-team quarterback spot, remembering a day from his past when he came to town and dominated a Saturday afternoon at the Metrodome.
Mike Kafka is trying to prove he belongs. He helped his cause in the first preseason game, looking confident and cool in the pocket.
"You know what I need to go in and compete, just do my job and execute at a high level. I think I've done that so far, so I've given myself the best opportunity," Kafka said.
He's played a pretty good game of football in Minnesota before. He moved into the starting lineup because of injury for Northwestern against the Gophers in 20008, and proceeded to turn in the performance of a lifetime in a win.
"That was a great team win. That was a great night for everybody," Kafka said. "Obviously it brings back a lot of great memories for sure. We played pretty well and we were able to get a big play at the end. That was awesome."
That's why at age 28 he's still competing: He loves this game and he understands what the position is all about in the NFL.
"It's managing the offense, executing, making sure guys are line up right and getting the ball to our playmakers," Kafka said. "I think for a quarterback that's the biggest thing for sure."
This is his chance to stick, to prove he belongs on the 53-man roster. So he competes and he simplifies.
"It's football, you know. So it's not really that difficult. You have to make sure that you're really in tune and studying, preparing and doing all those things right," Kafka said. "But I think if you can go out there and execute at a high level, then you put yourself in the best position to do that."
