I've yet to be arrested in my short lifetime, but if I had been, I know it would fill me with shame and I'd be deeply embarrassed. It's not an experience I'd want to repeat.
Apparently, the Vikings starting left tackle, Bryant McKinnie, takes a different view. In his short time with Minnesota he's been arrested four times. The most recent arrest coming in Miami about a month ago where he brawled outside a night club.
It's been expected that McKinnie latest problems with the law will certainly result in the NFL imposing a fine and possibly a suspension ranging from two-to-four games as the league continues to get tough on players that sully the United Way/family values image the league has been cultivating for decades.
But the Star Tribune ran a story recently featuring some ominous quotes from head coach Brad Childress regarding McKinnie's future with the team. While what was said was typical opaque Chillyspeak, the tone was similar to what he had to say when strong safety Dwight Smith had his run-in with the Twin Cities finest late last season. Smith was released prior to the start of free agency '08.
While McKinnie won't be released by the Vikings, Chilly's carefully worded non-comments and his lack of unqualified support for a prominent player on his team probably means the Vikings are ready to start 2008 and beyond with somebody else manning left tackle. Expect Minnesota to push hard to trade McKinnie during the NFL draft or sometime thereafter.
And that would be fine, if only the Vikings had a capable replacement for McKinnie already on the roster (they don't) or if good left tackles were easy to find (they aren't). With the jury still out - way out - on how effective starting right tackle Ryan Cook will ever be, the Vikings would be taking a huge risk getting rid of a solid left tackle because of his off-the-field issues. McKinnie's next Pro Bowl will be his first but he's been durable, is in his athlectic prime and is coming off perhaps his best season as a pro in 2007.
However, just like the Dwight Smith situation, the Vikings may have a pretty good idea already who McKinnie's successor is going to be and you can bet it isn't Artis Hicks. In fact, the successor may be found in next month's draft.
There is some good depth at this position this year. The hottest talents at the tackle position are Jake Long and Ryan Clady. However, barring a big-time free-fall on draft day, Long and Clady will be selected within the first 10 picks. But there are some other highly regarded tackles - like Vanderbilt's Chris Williams and Pitt's Jeff Otah - who might still be available when the Vikings are put on the clock at number 17.
Not too long ago, the suggestion that the Vikings would use its first-round pick on an offensive tackle would have seemed absurd given the team's need at defensive end, wide receiver and safety. But with the signings of Madieu Williams and Bernard Berrian and with the Vikings brass seemingly fed up with McKinnie,such a suggestion is absurd no more. For better or for worse, Mount McKinnie's time in Minnesota looks to be running out.
On Deck: More draft analysis
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Free agent haul leaves Childress with little wiggle room in ‘08
The Minnesota Vikings aggressiveness during free agency has pleased the fan base thus far. By signing wide receiver Bernard Berrian and safety Madieu Williams, the team added starters at two positions where it had great needs. The team paid dearly for both players. However, on paper at least, the Vikings improved themselves. And it was a welcome departure from what the Vikes did last year during free agency when the signings of lightweights like Visanthe Shiancoe and Bobby Wade had fans shaking their heads in disgust.
The Vikings success in signing Berrian and Williams also has another effect, one that surely is viewed positively by the many Vikings fans who love to hate head coach Brad Childress. The signings means the heat has been turned up even more on the third-year coach. If the Vikings can’t make the playoffs with a team that just filled two big roster holes by adding Berrian and Williams, has six players who made the NFC’s Pro Bowl team and plays in a division that includes the Detroit Lions, the quarterback, running back and wide receiver-challenged Chicago Bears and a Green Bay Packers team minus Brett Favre, Chilly won’t be around for a fourth season as the boss at Winter Park.
Odds and ends
As the Vikings continue to bring in the Nathan Jones’s of the NFL free agent world for visits and as we learn from Kevin Seifert on the fine Access Vikings blog that the Vikings are still $19-million under the salary cap, (although that probably dips a little with Friday’s signing of ex-Dolphins linebacker Derrick Pope) it’s reasonable to question why the team isn’t trying to sign wide receiver D.J. Hackett and why it didn’t try to sign Bryant Johnson, who just agreed to a one-year deal with San Francisco.
Hackett was expected to be a hot property during free agency. But here we are going into week three of this meat market and he’s still available. Lots of teams have a need for a wide receiver with potential – so what gives with Hackett? Is he asking for too much money? Does he have a serious injury the public doesn’t know about? It all seems very odd.
After the signing of Berrian, the Vikings would get criticized by the football press for spending big money on another wide receiver. But come on - the Vikings wideouts reeked last year. This is a position that still needs to be improved and Hackett is the best guy still available. Berrian was a good start but I don’t think he will ever be an 85-catch, 1,200-yards kind of guy. Bobby Wade’s solid but no star and as much as I like Sidney Rice, he’s probably a year or two away from really breaking out. Aundrae Allison? I won’t even get my hopes up.
Hackett is not a risk-free player because he's coming off ankle problems in 2007 and has never played the full 16 games of an NFL season. But I think he might be worth the risk. A Vikings wide receiving corps of Berrian, Wade, Rice, Allison and (gulp) Robert Ferguson or some draft pick is okay. A group that includes Berrian, Wade, Rice, Hackett and Allison is actually a deep and good group with the potential to be a very good group for Tarvaris Jackson to throw to in ‘08.
The good Sheppard
Access Vikings reports the Vikings were interested in former New England safety Eugene Wilson before he signed with Tampa Bay on Friday. Well, if they were interested in Wilson, how about Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard?
With the Eagles signing Asante Samuel for big bucks, the word is Sheppard is squarely on the trading block. He’s had injury problems during his career but also has 17 career interceptions – including a career high of six in ’06. Sheppard’s contract is expensive if the Vikings were to take it on but the team still has cash to spend and the extra draft picks – nine in this draft, including two each in third and sixth rounds – to dangle in front of Philly to swing a deal.
The Vikings secondary still needs help. Antoine Winfield missed six games last season and turns 31 in June. Cedric Griffin may or may not develop into a good starting cornerback. Ditto for Marcus McCauley.
Lito Sheppard already is a good starting corner. The Vikings should think seriously about using some of that bounty of draft picks to pry him away from the Eagles.
Mock drafts and Mr. Merling
I’ve read three mock drafts this week that envision the Vikings picking Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling with their first round pick (17th overall). The Vikings need help at the DE spot but CBS Sportsline’s scouting report on Merling doesn’t have me stoked about the possibility of him wearing purple and that was before I learned he recently had surgery to repair a sports hernia.
According to that report the pros to Merling’s game are: He’s big, he’s got great football instincts and he gives great effort.
The cons to Merling’s game are: He lacks a great first step and explosiveness to close. The scouting report concludes that he is only a marginal pass rusher.
So for a team that needs the next Michael Strahan it sounds like it would be getting the next Kenechi Udeze if it were to select Merling. Now to be fair, the report also says Merling is one of the better all-around defensive lineman in the draft. So if the Vikings take him at number 17, I won’t be upset. Just don’t expect him to be a player who will improve the pass rush all that much in his rookie season, or any season, for that matter.
On Deck: The linebackers
The Vikings success in signing Berrian and Williams also has another effect, one that surely is viewed positively by the many Vikings fans who love to hate head coach Brad Childress. The signings means the heat has been turned up even more on the third-year coach. If the Vikings can’t make the playoffs with a team that just filled two big roster holes by adding Berrian and Williams, has six players who made the NFC’s Pro Bowl team and plays in a division that includes the Detroit Lions, the quarterback, running back and wide receiver-challenged Chicago Bears and a Green Bay Packers team minus Brett Favre, Chilly won’t be around for a fourth season as the boss at Winter Park.
Odds and ends
As the Vikings continue to bring in the Nathan Jones’s of the NFL free agent world for visits and as we learn from Kevin Seifert on the fine Access Vikings blog that the Vikings are still $19-million under the salary cap, (although that probably dips a little with Friday’s signing of ex-Dolphins linebacker Derrick Pope) it’s reasonable to question why the team isn’t trying to sign wide receiver D.J. Hackett and why it didn’t try to sign Bryant Johnson, who just agreed to a one-year deal with San Francisco.
Hackett was expected to be a hot property during free agency. But here we are going into week three of this meat market and he’s still available. Lots of teams have a need for a wide receiver with potential – so what gives with Hackett? Is he asking for too much money? Does he have a serious injury the public doesn’t know about? It all seems very odd.
After the signing of Berrian, the Vikings would get criticized by the football press for spending big money on another wide receiver. But come on - the Vikings wideouts reeked last year. This is a position that still needs to be improved and Hackett is the best guy still available. Berrian was a good start but I don’t think he will ever be an 85-catch, 1,200-yards kind of guy. Bobby Wade’s solid but no star and as much as I like Sidney Rice, he’s probably a year or two away from really breaking out. Aundrae Allison? I won’t even get my hopes up.
Hackett is not a risk-free player because he's coming off ankle problems in 2007 and has never played the full 16 games of an NFL season. But I think he might be worth the risk. A Vikings wide receiving corps of Berrian, Wade, Rice, Allison and (gulp) Robert Ferguson or some draft pick is okay. A group that includes Berrian, Wade, Rice, Hackett and Allison is actually a deep and good group with the potential to be a very good group for Tarvaris Jackson to throw to in ‘08.
The good Sheppard
Access Vikings reports the Vikings were interested in former New England safety Eugene Wilson before he signed with Tampa Bay on Friday. Well, if they were interested in Wilson, how about Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard?
With the Eagles signing Asante Samuel for big bucks, the word is Sheppard is squarely on the trading block. He’s had injury problems during his career but also has 17 career interceptions – including a career high of six in ’06. Sheppard’s contract is expensive if the Vikings were to take it on but the team still has cash to spend and the extra draft picks – nine in this draft, including two each in third and sixth rounds – to dangle in front of Philly to swing a deal.
The Vikings secondary still needs help. Antoine Winfield missed six games last season and turns 31 in June. Cedric Griffin may or may not develop into a good starting cornerback. Ditto for Marcus McCauley.
Lito Sheppard already is a good starting corner. The Vikings should think seriously about using some of that bounty of draft picks to pry him away from the Eagles.
Mock drafts and Mr. Merling
I’ve read three mock drafts this week that envision the Vikings picking Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling with their first round pick (17th overall). The Vikings need help at the DE spot but CBS Sportsline’s scouting report on Merling doesn’t have me stoked about the possibility of him wearing purple and that was before I learned he recently had surgery to repair a sports hernia.
According to that report the pros to Merling’s game are: He’s big, he’s got great football instincts and he gives great effort.
The cons to Merling’s game are: He lacks a great first step and explosiveness to close. The scouting report concludes that he is only a marginal pass rusher.
So for a team that needs the next Michael Strahan it sounds like it would be getting the next Kenechi Udeze if it were to select Merling. Now to be fair, the report also says Merling is one of the better all-around defensive lineman in the draft. So if the Vikings take him at number 17, I won’t be upset. Just don’t expect him to be a player who will improve the pass rush all that much in his rookie season, or any season, for that matter.
On Deck: The linebackers
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Boom and bust
After striking quickly during the first two days of the NFL’s free agency period, it was a quiet rest of the week for the Minnesota Vikings. The excitement produced by the signings of safety Madieu Williams and wide receiver Bernard Berrian has been dulled somewhat as the team whiffed trying to plug a widening hole at defensive end.
After the defensive end it coveted, Justin Smith, took the money and ran to San Francisco, the Vikings watched other potentially viable and not-so-viable candidates sign with other teams – players like Bobby McCray, Antwan Odom, Travis LaBoy and even Jevon Kearse. The only free agent addition the Vikings have made since inking Berrian last weekend was signing former 49ers running back/kick returner Maurice Hicks to a three-year contract.
Bringing Hicks aboard the Vikings longboat is the first puzzling move the team has made so far in free agency. Hicks provides some depth at running back for the Vikings. But his main job during his five previous NFL seasons has been returning kick offs – a job he’s done without distinction. Despite having Aundrae Allison on the roster and despite Allison showing some real promise in the kick returner role, including a 104-yard kick off return for a touchdown against Detroit, it looks like the Vikings have signed Hicks to be the team’s number one guy at that spot for 2008.
The 49ers kick return game was one of the NFL’s worst in 2007 but in this case perhaps timing was everything. Hicks had his best game of the year in a 27-7 loss against the Vikings, averaging 34 yards a return and breaking off two 55-yard returns in the game – his two longest of the season. That game must have made an impression on the Vikings, enough of one to convince them to sign Hicks. At this point I should mention the 49ers made no real effort to keep Hicks.
Even more curious than the Vikings interest in Hicks was the defensive ends the team was after once Smith was off the market. The player the Vikings seemed most smitten with was Antwan Odom. But the Cincinnati Bengals got to him first, signing him to a five-year $25.9-million deal. That’s actually good news for the Vikings. There’s many who doubt Odom can be as effective in 2008 and beyond as he was in 2007 without the benefit of playing next to a motivated Albert Haynesworth.
The Vikings were also reportedly hot for Kearse after Odom signed with Cincy. However, at just 31 years of age, Kearse has about as much left in the tank as a Hummer after a 200-mile ride down the highway. His last employer, the Philadelphia Eagles, simply stopped playing him as the 2007 season wore on. And Kearse’s sack numbers have been in steady decline since 2001. Kearse wouldn’t have cost the Vikings a large amount of money to sign. But even at the money he got from Tennessee, which was two years for $6-million and a $1.3-million signing bonus, he’s no bargain.
History will show the Vikings probably lucked out when the Odoms and Kearses of the 2008 free agent DE class elected to sign with other teams. Justin Smith would have been a big (and very costly) upgrade at defensive end. But in every other case, whether its McCray, or Odom, or, especially, Kearse, you can argue without much debate that the team is better off seeing what Ray Edwards, Brian Robison, Jayme Mitchell and even, yes, Erasmus James can do with more playing time and responsibility.
What’s critical now is that the Vikings director of college scouting Scott Studwell and his staff scour the college ranks looking for any defensive end with an aptitude for rushing the passer. The Vikings will likely seriously consider drafting a defensive end with its first round pick. But the team can’t fall asleep during the latter rounds of the draft. The Vikings lately have fared fairly well finding useful players at DE on the second day of the draft. Edwards and Robison are both recent fourth round picks and Mitchell was an undrafted free agent.
The Vikings might also want to consider resigning one of its own. Darrion Scott is still available. His recent drug bust is problematic and could lead to a league-imposed suspension. He’s also a player with nearly as good career sacks numbers as McCray, Odom and LaBoy. And an even bigger plus is that he’s known for playing the run well and could reprise Kenechi Udeze’s role as a run-stopping end who also contributes the occasional sack. Scott is also big enough that you can move him inside on passing downs. He could play the same role as Spencer Johnson did in 2007.
On Deck: Free agency's affect on Chilly's job security
After the defensive end it coveted, Justin Smith, took the money and ran to San Francisco, the Vikings watched other potentially viable and not-so-viable candidates sign with other teams – players like Bobby McCray, Antwan Odom, Travis LaBoy and even Jevon Kearse. The only free agent addition the Vikings have made since inking Berrian last weekend was signing former 49ers running back/kick returner Maurice Hicks to a three-year contract.
Bringing Hicks aboard the Vikings longboat is the first puzzling move the team has made so far in free agency. Hicks provides some depth at running back for the Vikings. But his main job during his five previous NFL seasons has been returning kick offs – a job he’s done without distinction. Despite having Aundrae Allison on the roster and despite Allison showing some real promise in the kick returner role, including a 104-yard kick off return for a touchdown against Detroit, it looks like the Vikings have signed Hicks to be the team’s number one guy at that spot for 2008.
The 49ers kick return game was one of the NFL’s worst in 2007 but in this case perhaps timing was everything. Hicks had his best game of the year in a 27-7 loss against the Vikings, averaging 34 yards a return and breaking off two 55-yard returns in the game – his two longest of the season. That game must have made an impression on the Vikings, enough of one to convince them to sign Hicks. At this point I should mention the 49ers made no real effort to keep Hicks.
Even more curious than the Vikings interest in Hicks was the defensive ends the team was after once Smith was off the market. The player the Vikings seemed most smitten with was Antwan Odom. But the Cincinnati Bengals got to him first, signing him to a five-year $25.9-million deal. That’s actually good news for the Vikings. There’s many who doubt Odom can be as effective in 2008 and beyond as he was in 2007 without the benefit of playing next to a motivated Albert Haynesworth.
The Vikings were also reportedly hot for Kearse after Odom signed with Cincy. However, at just 31 years of age, Kearse has about as much left in the tank as a Hummer after a 200-mile ride down the highway. His last employer, the Philadelphia Eagles, simply stopped playing him as the 2007 season wore on. And Kearse’s sack numbers have been in steady decline since 2001. Kearse wouldn’t have cost the Vikings a large amount of money to sign. But even at the money he got from Tennessee, which was two years for $6-million and a $1.3-million signing bonus, he’s no bargain.
History will show the Vikings probably lucked out when the Odoms and Kearses of the 2008 free agent DE class elected to sign with other teams. Justin Smith would have been a big (and very costly) upgrade at defensive end. But in every other case, whether its McCray, or Odom, or, especially, Kearse, you can argue without much debate that the team is better off seeing what Ray Edwards, Brian Robison, Jayme Mitchell and even, yes, Erasmus James can do with more playing time and responsibility.
What’s critical now is that the Vikings director of college scouting Scott Studwell and his staff scour the college ranks looking for any defensive end with an aptitude for rushing the passer. The Vikings will likely seriously consider drafting a defensive end with its first round pick. But the team can’t fall asleep during the latter rounds of the draft. The Vikings lately have fared fairly well finding useful players at DE on the second day of the draft. Edwards and Robison are both recent fourth round picks and Mitchell was an undrafted free agent.
The Vikings might also want to consider resigning one of its own. Darrion Scott is still available. His recent drug bust is problematic and could lead to a league-imposed suspension. He’s also a player with nearly as good career sacks numbers as McCray, Odom and LaBoy. And an even bigger plus is that he’s known for playing the run well and could reprise Kenechi Udeze’s role as a run-stopping end who also contributes the occasional sack. Scott is also big enough that you can move him inside on passing downs. He could play the same role as Spencer Johnson did in 2007.
On Deck: Free agency's affect on Chilly's job security
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Options quickly thinning out at DE
Coveted defensive end Justin Smith signed with San Francisco on Saturday. On Sunday another DE went off the board when Bobby McCray signed a five-year, $20-million deal with New Orleans.
Despite the fact the Vikings have a big need for a pass rushing end and despite the fact McCray posted a 10 sack season in 2006, there was never any reports that Minnesota was targeting McCray in case they couldn’t sign Smith. That seems funny but it’s likely a case of the Vikings management thinking the real McCray is the one who had just three sacks in 2007 rather than the one who had 10 the year before that.
The Vikings are still in need of help at end, what with Erasmus James and his injury history and Kenechi Udeze fighting leukemia. The guy the Vikings apparently want now is Antwan Odom. But he probably won’t make it to Minnesota – he’s got visits scheduled with Cincinnati and Arizona this week. In general, NFL free agents sign with the first team they visit. After Odom’s gone, the next big DE out there is Travis LaBoy. But just like McCray, there’s been no indication the Vikings are interested in him. After LaBoy, the best free agent DE available is, well, I don’t even have a name for you.
It’s beginning to look like the draft is where the Vikings will fish for more talent at defensive end. That doesn’t mean the team will spend its first round pick on a DE. The Vikings could do what they did last year at wide receiver. They could pick an end in the second/third round, someone who could challenge for playing time right away, and then pick another in the fifth/sixth round as more of a developmental-type player. The Vikings have something like nine picks in the 2008 draft. So they have the ability to package some of those extra picks and move up in some rounds to get a player they really like.
I don’t think the Vikings are done in free agency yet. But it’s possible they’re done with the splashy, big money signings and the remainder of their moves will be of the Thomas Tapeh variety.
Despite the fact the Vikings have a big need for a pass rushing end and despite the fact McCray posted a 10 sack season in 2006, there was never any reports that Minnesota was targeting McCray in case they couldn’t sign Smith. That seems funny but it’s likely a case of the Vikings management thinking the real McCray is the one who had just three sacks in 2007 rather than the one who had 10 the year before that.
The Vikings are still in need of help at end, what with Erasmus James and his injury history and Kenechi Udeze fighting leukemia. The guy the Vikings apparently want now is Antwan Odom. But he probably won’t make it to Minnesota – he’s got visits scheduled with Cincinnati and Arizona this week. In general, NFL free agents sign with the first team they visit. After Odom’s gone, the next big DE out there is Travis LaBoy. But just like McCray, there’s been no indication the Vikings are interested in him. After LaBoy, the best free agent DE available is, well, I don’t even have a name for you.
It’s beginning to look like the draft is where the Vikings will fish for more talent at defensive end. That doesn’t mean the team will spend its first round pick on a DE. The Vikings could do what they did last year at wide receiver. They could pick an end in the second/third round, someone who could challenge for playing time right away, and then pick another in the fifth/sixth round as more of a developmental-type player. The Vikings have something like nine picks in the 2008 draft. So they have the ability to package some of those extra picks and move up in some rounds to get a player they really like.
I don’t think the Vikings are done in free agency yet. But it’s possible they’re done with the splashy, big money signings and the remainder of their moves will be of the Thomas Tapeh variety.
Berrian a Viking, Moss a....Packer!!!
Well, the Vikings got him.
After spending the better part of two days wooing wide receiver Bernard Berrian, the Vikings signed the ex-Bear to a six-year, $42-million deal with $16-million of it guaranteed Saturday. Berrian will average about $7-million a year during the length of the contract. And while I haven't done the math (and won't) other websites say this deal makes Berrian the fourth highest paid receiver in the NFL.
Of course, it's ridiculous that Berrian is now that highly paid. His career high in catches is 71 and he's never had a 1,000-yard season. But that's NFL free agency for you. If you're going to sign the so-called impact players, you have to pay dearly for their services.
So, yes, the Vikings certainly overpaid for Berrian. But they also get a player who is just 27-years-old, who has averaged 14.6 yards per catch during his career and who was considered the best free agent WR available not named Randy Moss. By the way, Berrian posted his numbers in Chicago with Rex Grossman, Brian Griese and Kyle Orton as his quarterbacks. Berrian isn’t going to a better QB situation in Minnesota with Tarvaris Jackson the likely starter in 2008. But the Vikings certainly improved their wide receiver situation by getting Berrian and having Berrian to throw to could make Jackson a better quarterback, Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor better running backs and the offence more dangerous and productive.
Remember, the Vikings haven't had a wide receiver (Jermaine Wiggins was a tight end) catch 71 or more passes since Randy Moss had his monster 2003 season. Nor have they had a 1,000-yard receiver since Nate Burleson had his career year in 2004. Berrian’s numbers for 2007 would have made him the Vikings best receiver by a wide margin. And the Vikings current top three wide receivers - Berrian, Bobby Wade and Sidney Rice - are a whole lot better and more dangerous than their top three at the end of the season, which were Wade, Robert Ferguson and Troy Williamson. I also think, given his age and the Vikings talent at running back, there's some room for Berrian to improve and post slightly better numbers than he did in 2007. You can quibble over the money the Vikings paid for Berrian services. What you can’t do is quibble over whether they improved their team yesterday. The Vikings did. Isn't that what fans wanted to see?
Meanwhile, Javon Walker was still available as I was writing this post. The Vikings won’t confirm or deny that they are still interested in obtaining Walker. But I doubt Walker's headed to Minnesota now. Past history shows Walker's not happy when he's not the obvious number one receiving option (and being paid like it) on the team he's playing for. Walker ain’t getting more money than Berrian.
Other comings and goings
The Vikings lost out on the Justin Smith sweepstakes yesterday. Smith signed with the 49ers for big, big money - $20-million of it guaranteed.
However, I find myself unmoved by the news. I would have been happy to see the Vikings get him. The team sure needs help at defensive end. But that's lot of money to spend on a guy who has never had more than 8.5 sacks in a season. It's looking more and more like not going after Patrick Kerney last year was a big mistake on the Vikings part.
Yet wondering about what could have been doesn’t help address the Vikings issues along the defensive line. Those issues got more pronounced yesterday when backup tackle Spencer Johnson signed with Buffalo. With Johnson out of the rotation, the Vikings top backup at defensive tackle is now Fred (Taser) Evans.
But the Vikings are more concerned about defensive end, which they should be. The Access Vikings blog says Minnesota is trying to schedule a visit with Tennessee's Antwan Odom. I'm not a big fan of Odom but he's got two visits with Cincinnati and Arizona scheduled before he can come to Winter Park. Odds are he will sign with one of those teams first, so we may get off lucky here. If Odom's off the board, the Vikings will have to look elsewhere - perhaps at Bobby McCray or Travis LaBoy – although I haven’t read a single story linking either of those guys to the Vikings.
In other free agent news, Randy Moss is still available and it's looking like he won't resign with New England after all. So where might Ole' 84 land instead?
How about Green Bay?
I read this on the Football Outsiders website yesterday. Check out the comments thread on the Berrian signing if you’re interested. The rumour seems to have been started by a blogger, so it's highly questionable at this point. But it also makes sense. Brett Favre lobbied hard for the Packers to sign Moss last year and wasn't happy when they didn't. Favre still hasn't confirmed he will play in '08 (but you can bet he will) but any doubt about him returning is erased if the Packers add Moss. That kind of move instantly makes the Packers early favourites to represent the NFC at the Super Bowl.
Naturally, Vikings fans everywhere pray this doesn't happen. But that’s just a rumour right now. I prefer to spend the rest of the weekend enjoying the Vikings successful early foray into free agency.
On Deck: Free agency continues
After spending the better part of two days wooing wide receiver Bernard Berrian, the Vikings signed the ex-Bear to a six-year, $42-million deal with $16-million of it guaranteed Saturday. Berrian will average about $7-million a year during the length of the contract. And while I haven't done the math (and won't) other websites say this deal makes Berrian the fourth highest paid receiver in the NFL.
Of course, it's ridiculous that Berrian is now that highly paid. His career high in catches is 71 and he's never had a 1,000-yard season. But that's NFL free agency for you. If you're going to sign the so-called impact players, you have to pay dearly for their services.
So, yes, the Vikings certainly overpaid for Berrian. But they also get a player who is just 27-years-old, who has averaged 14.6 yards per catch during his career and who was considered the best free agent WR available not named Randy Moss. By the way, Berrian posted his numbers in Chicago with Rex Grossman, Brian Griese and Kyle Orton as his quarterbacks. Berrian isn’t going to a better QB situation in Minnesota with Tarvaris Jackson the likely starter in 2008. But the Vikings certainly improved their wide receiver situation by getting Berrian and having Berrian to throw to could make Jackson a better quarterback, Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor better running backs and the offence more dangerous and productive.
Remember, the Vikings haven't had a wide receiver (Jermaine Wiggins was a tight end) catch 71 or more passes since Randy Moss had his monster 2003 season. Nor have they had a 1,000-yard receiver since Nate Burleson had his career year in 2004. Berrian’s numbers for 2007 would have made him the Vikings best receiver by a wide margin. And the Vikings current top three wide receivers - Berrian, Bobby Wade and Sidney Rice - are a whole lot better and more dangerous than their top three at the end of the season, which were Wade, Robert Ferguson and Troy Williamson. I also think, given his age and the Vikings talent at running back, there's some room for Berrian to improve and post slightly better numbers than he did in 2007. You can quibble over the money the Vikings paid for Berrian services. What you can’t do is quibble over whether they improved their team yesterday. The Vikings did. Isn't that what fans wanted to see?
Meanwhile, Javon Walker was still available as I was writing this post. The Vikings won’t confirm or deny that they are still interested in obtaining Walker. But I doubt Walker's headed to Minnesota now. Past history shows Walker's not happy when he's not the obvious number one receiving option (and being paid like it) on the team he's playing for. Walker ain’t getting more money than Berrian.
Other comings and goings
The Vikings lost out on the Justin Smith sweepstakes yesterday. Smith signed with the 49ers for big, big money - $20-million of it guaranteed.
However, I find myself unmoved by the news. I would have been happy to see the Vikings get him. The team sure needs help at defensive end. But that's lot of money to spend on a guy who has never had more than 8.5 sacks in a season. It's looking more and more like not going after Patrick Kerney last year was a big mistake on the Vikings part.
Yet wondering about what could have been doesn’t help address the Vikings issues along the defensive line. Those issues got more pronounced yesterday when backup tackle Spencer Johnson signed with Buffalo. With Johnson out of the rotation, the Vikings top backup at defensive tackle is now Fred (Taser) Evans.
But the Vikings are more concerned about defensive end, which they should be. The Access Vikings blog says Minnesota is trying to schedule a visit with Tennessee's Antwan Odom. I'm not a big fan of Odom but he's got two visits with Cincinnati and Arizona scheduled before he can come to Winter Park. Odds are he will sign with one of those teams first, so we may get off lucky here. If Odom's off the board, the Vikings will have to look elsewhere - perhaps at Bobby McCray or Travis LaBoy – although I haven’t read a single story linking either of those guys to the Vikings.
In other free agent news, Randy Moss is still available and it's looking like he won't resign with New England after all. So where might Ole' 84 land instead?
How about Green Bay?
I read this on the Football Outsiders website yesterday. Check out the comments thread on the Berrian signing if you’re interested. The rumour seems to have been started by a blogger, so it's highly questionable at this point. But it also makes sense. Brett Favre lobbied hard for the Packers to sign Moss last year and wasn't happy when they didn't. Favre still hasn't confirmed he will play in '08 (but you can bet he will) but any doubt about him returning is erased if the Packers add Moss. That kind of move instantly makes the Packers early favourites to represent the NFC at the Super Bowl.
Naturally, Vikings fans everywhere pray this doesn't happen. But that’s just a rumour right now. I prefer to spend the rest of the weekend enjoying the Vikings successful early foray into free agency.
On Deck: Free agency continues
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
