Three part update for today as workouts start and some new signings come in. Nothing big has happened in Vikings news for a while, and this likely won’t change that.

First, the early workout period has already claimed its first victim in Josh Samuda, who earlier signed a reserve/futures contract with the Vikings. Josh Samuda signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2012 as an undrafted free agent from the University of Massachusetts, where he played on the same offensive line as another Vikings offensive guard, Vladimir Ducasse.

Samuda suffered from a dislocated ankle at Winter Park and will undergo surgery on Wednesday.

The second piece of news regards a player that Vikings fans may be familiar with: tight end Allen Reisner. Reisner was with the Vikings in the 2011 and 2012 seasons after signing on as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa. Reisner danced along the line of eligibility for the practice squad with the Vikings, and played in ten games, making two catches for 28 yards before the Jacksonville Jaguars signed him off the practice squad late in 2012.

Last year, he played in five games and caught five passes for 40 yards.

Among the Vikings faithful, Reisner always seems to get positive attention. Indeed, his preseason appearances and limited game time always seemed to speak of more than simply a “practice squad body,” and the fact that the Jaguars were willing to sign him certainly spoke to that perception.

Pro Football Focus was not particularly impressed with his blocking this past year, and graded him with a -3.2 run block grade to go along with a -4.4 passing game grade (5 catches came on 9 targets with one drop). His one positively graded game, curiously enough, was against Seattle.

The Vikings were unable to keep Reisner in 2012 in part due to depth at the TE position. With Carlson gone, it certainly seems like he’ll have another chance to get on the roster. Competing with Chase Ford for a similar role, it should be a fun camp battle to watch.

The final bit of news comes on the linebacker front, where Audie Cole’s former Wolfpack teammate Terrell Manning was claimed off of waivers by Minnesota. Manning previously played for the Chargers and the Packers, who drafted him in 2012.

In the last two years, Manning has not seen regular-scrimmage snaps and has served as a special teams player for both the Packers and Chargers. A 2012 scouting report speaks to on-field athleticism to go along with a natural ability to rush the passer, but big issues in terms of reading plays, taking the right angles and a missing ability to navigate traffic. Maybe pairing with Audie Cole once more will help him out.

UPDATE: Samuda evidently suffered a pretty severe injury, and didn’t just dislocate his ankle, but fractured his tibia and could have suffered ligament damage. The team will know more tomorrow, but it looks like it will be a long-lasting injury.

{Motivated. Passionate. Intelligent. Positive. Forthright.}

The above adjectives collaboratively describe father, football analyst, Twitter buff and former NFL quarterback Sage Rosenfels.

Although Rosenfels’ career did not spend much time in the spotlight, his dynamic personality and leadership—both on and off the field—had a significant impact in the league and especially during his time here in Minnesota.

During the decade that Rosenfels spent in the NFL (2002-2012), he occupied five different rosters and played under several offenses and coaching systems. Although he never served full time in a starting role, Rosenfels gained the insight, skills and leadership that made him a valuable element for any squad.

A well-rounded athlete, Rosenfels attended Maquotketa (Iowa) Community High School where he lettered not only in football but also basketball, baseball, tennis and track. Rosenfels knew he would need to narrow his focus, however; after his final season of football, the highschool senior sat down with his parents and discussed which sport he should play in college. Physically, Rosenfels was built for football—he and his family agreed that it was the sport he would be most successful in.

“I loved basketball, but we knew I wouldn’t improve [on that] much more,” Rosenfels said. “We felt I had a lot of untapped potential in football.”[1] Soon after the discussion with his parents, a scholarship offer from Iowa State sealed the deal.

Rosenfels played four different positions while in high school, filling roles on both sides of the field. He taught himself to kick and punt as a sophomore, and he also dabbled a bit at corner and safety. “But let’s just say tackling was not my strength,” he quipped.

“Coming from a small town, a lot of players played both ways, as there are only so many good athletes on a team,” Rosenfels explained. He always knew that QB was the position he wanted to play permanently, though, and it was at that position that Iowa State recruited him.

While at ISU, Rosenfels led the Cyclones to an 8-3 record in 2000. He was a two-year starter, playing a key role in wins against major opponents like Iowa, Kansas and Colorado. The Cyclones played in the Insight.com Bowl in Phoenix that same season, and Rosenfels led the team to the first bowl victory in ISU history. His 308 yards and two touchdowns earned him the Offensive MVP title.

Rosenfels was a “quiet success” story in college. In fact, he was defined in a 2000 article as one of the top NFL prospects among senior QB’s—The Gazette’s Jim Ecker listed him alongside Drew Brees. When Rosenfels entered the Draft in 2001, however, many NFL Scouts weren’t sure how soon he would be picked up. Rosenfels fell to the fourth round of the draft. He was the sixth quarterback selected in a draft with premier talent at that position, including Brees and Michael Vick.

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