Hmmm, Robison over Edwards

Hey, two posts in two days for Grant's Tomb this week. March is shaping up to be a killer month on this blog.

Anyway, now that the Vikings have stopped slapping tenders on players, they've actually got around to signing one.

I like Brian Robison. I always have. He's a great guy to have in your defensive line rotation. He works hard every play. He's got some pass rush skills and he's improved as a run defender.

However, I don't know why the Vikings seem so willing to part with Ray Edwards and think that Robison can start in his place and deliver the same level of play. Edwards must be asking for some kind of contract extension.

Robison was never able to take the starting defensive end spot from Edwards the four years they were teammates. Robison is also 21 months older than Edwards – even though he's played one less season.

Robison seems like a five or six sack guy who will be adequate against the run. He's a good player, not a great player.

Edwards is a proven eight sack guy, who could get even better over the next three seasons or so. And he's very good against the run. He's not a great player. But he's a very good one.

So by signing Robison to a contract extension they've kept a solid player on the roster for a relatively affordable price. But they have also weakened themselves if they plan on starting Robison and letting Edwards play elsewhere.

In 2009, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers called Ray Edwards the unsung hero of the Vikings defensive line. I can't remember him ever saying anything about Brian Robison.


Good call

And forget about Bob Sanders or Oshiomogho Atogwe wearing Vikings jerseys – they have signed elsewhere.

I've made my feelings known on this topic already, so there is no need to rehash it again. But I do approve of the lack of interest the Vikings showed in both safeties.

We've got bigger problems to focus on.

March Break

I'm sorry about the sporadic activity on the blog of late. Real life is getting in the way of my writing about the Vikings. If only somebody would pay me a decent wage to do this....

I noticed the Vikings tendered wide receiver Sidney Rice and a bunch of other guys on Wednesday.

Tendering offensive lineman Ryan Cook is the only decision that I question among this group. The Vikings need some offensive line help, but Cook is a guy the Vikings could do without. It's true you can play him at guard or tackle. It's also true that he plays neither position well.

Mike Tanier of Football Outsiders fame is one of my favorite writers in this genre. So I was eager to his read his rundown on the Vikings and their NFC North opponents in the site's regular "Four Downs" feature.

As much as I like Tanier's stuff, I have to disagree with him on a couple of counts when it comes to his opinions on the Vikings.

1) Tarvaris Jackson is not a "viable stopgap and rookie groomer" for the Vikings at quarterback in 2011 (assuming, you know, there is a season.) Bring back Jackson – even in a supposed rebuilding year – and the Vikings fan base will go ape shit. The team will not sell out a game at the Metrodome or the Gophers home stadium or even the Target Center if Jackson is under center.

Okay, maybe there are sell outs when the Packers and Bears come to town. But that only happens because the stadium will be half full with Bear and Packer fans.

2) I don't think the Vikings stadium situation will have much of an impact on whether free agents decide to sign with Minnesota or not. Free agents care first and foremost about money, as every player should in a league where the average career lasts less than four years. If the Vikings offer a free agent more money to play for them than any other team offers, I think that player will sign with the Vikings even if the Metrodome isn't ready and games have to be played in a corn field.

That's all for today. Now let's wait for the inevitable lockout.