The glass is half full people

I prefer to look at the Vikings inactivity in the first week of free agency these ways:

1. They were hamstrung by the new rules of engagement for playoff teams in a no salary cap year.

2. Their biggest concern (who’s the long term solution at QB?) can’t be solved by signing anyone from the 2010 unrestricted free agent class.

3. The crop is so weak in every other area, there’s no point in spending big bucks on these turkeys anyway.

And here’s another thing – I have (gasp) confidence in the Vikings player personnel boss Rick Spielman. He has done a nice job accumulating talent over the past three offseasons. And if kicker Rhys Lloyd is the only player he thinks is worth signing at this point, I’m okay with that.

The Vikings are being smart. I’m confident they know what their needs are and that their confident those needs won’t be filled signing Dunta Robinson’s or Nate Burleson’s.

Other free agency thoughts

* I agreed with the Vikings tendering the restricted free agents they did (even Ryan Cook). But I do worry a bit about losing Ray Edwards in 2011.

I know nobody in his situation is getting long-term deals right now from any team. But Edwards is pissed about this contract stuff and I wonder if he’ll hold it against the Vikings next year – assuming there’s football and all – when the time comes to sign his next contract? Part of being successful in the long-term in the NFL is holding onto your good, young players. Ray Edwards is a young player who has developed into a good player. I’d be disappointed if the Vikings lost him.

* I think some Viking fans are overstating what the loss of Chester Taylor means to the team. Until Adrian Peterson’s fumbling issues returned late last season, Taylor was becoming increasingly irrelevant to the Vikings offensive success. And perhaps I’m being overly optimistic here, but I think Albert Young can handle the third down back duties. However, the Vikings brass might not be sold on that.

* Lots of people like what the Detroit Lions have done so far. I can’t argue that they haven't improved their team, but despite all the signings and trades, much of their success in 2010 depends on Matt Stafford improving. And if you read the Detroit section of this Football Outsiders piece, Stafford’s got quite a bit of improving to do.

* I keep reading about Julius Peppers and his laziness on the football field. I understand that’s an issue, but the Chicago Bears still got themselves one of the best pass rushing defensive ends in the NFL. If Peppers takes 50 percent of his plays off next year, this still should be a good deal for them.

As Viking fans saw in 2008 with Jared Allen, an elite defensive end can do wonders for a defence. Warts and all, Peppers is still a player that opposing teams need to gameplan for and his presence could make many of his defensive teammates look better in 2010. I could live with Peppers abusing Bryant McKinnie or Phil Loadholt when he only played against the Vikings once every couple of years. But now the Vikings face him twice a year.

I don’t like it.