Monthly archive: March, 2012

Vikings Hold On To Fred Evans

March 16, 2012, by 3 comments

According to ProFootballTalk.com, the Vikings have agreed to terms with NT Fred Evans. Since [big] Pat Williams’ departure from the position, the Vikings have searched from within in an attempt to patch the whole left in the “Williams’ Wall” and it looks like they will continue with that methodology.

Evans, who has ties to Rick Spielman from when he was with the Dolphins in 2006, is 28 years old and has been with the Vikings for five years. Evans has never been particularly impressive but I imagine they are just trying to keep a rotation at the position. Exact details of the deal are not yet available.

Not particularly impressed by this, but what do you all think?

Open Mic Night

March 16, 2012, by 21 comments

Well, with the first week of free agency coming to a close, I want to give you all an opportunity that I haven’t given since jumping to Vikings Territory.

Bring on the questions!

Ask me about free agency.  The Draft.  Why I haven’t joined Twitter.  What my hairstyle is these days.  Whatever.

Leave your questions in the comments section below, and I’ll try to get to them all sometime this weekend.

Thanks for a great week… we continue to shatter our own traffic records, and we appreciate each and every one of you!

QF

The Vikings Signed A… Point Guard?

March 16, 2012, by 16 comments

In a move that will surely raise the hackles of the hackles of the hackles that have already been raised on Vikings fans this offseason, the Vikings have made a move that some will deem a waste of time.

The team has reportedly signed former point guard at Florida International University Nick Taylor.

The former basketball player work out at FIU’s pro day and apparently caught the Vikings attention by posting a forty yard dash in the neighborhood of 4.34 and 4.27.  He attended the pro day after spending time with a low-level arena league last year.

The Vikings then brought Taylor in for a closer look on Friday and decided to sign him to a three year contract.  Taylor said the team will give him a look as a return man, a receiver and a cornerback.  He played defensive back for his arena team.

Taylor has a major uphill battle ahead of him if he plans on sticking to the roster beyond training camp.

Vikings Are Becoming Former Vikings

March 16, 2012, by 1 comment

It is increasingly obvious that Rick Spielman didn’t think too highly of most of the Vikings players seeing their contracts expire this month.  Sage Rosenfels and Letroy Guion are the only ones to receive contracts so far, while the front office continues to monitor the status of Erin Henderson, E.J. Henderson, and presumably safety Husain Abdullah.

That doesn’t mean that now-former Vikings players aren’t getting interest in phase two of free agency.  Here are some quick updates:

STEVE HUTCHINSON

Goes to the Titans on a three year deal worth $16 million.

The length of the contract surprised me more than the dollar amount or even the destination.  Hutch had reportedly told Vikings teammates that he was really only interested in playing one more year of football.

The Titans get a heck of a player, and a heck of a good guy, and a heck of a veteran presence here.  They had made clear, following Chris Johnson’s struggles in 2011, that the offensive line was a major priority for them.  Hutchinson may not be a long term solution, but he should be an upgrade over what they had.

Continue Reading →

John Carlson’s Numbers Are In

March 16, 2012, by 1 comment

A number of Vikings fans were a little peeved at the reported $25 million five year contract tight end John Carlson received from the Vikings on day two of free agency.

The reported numbers, however, do not tell the whole story and Tom Pelissero of 1500 ESPN shed some light on the situation Friday morning.

According to Pelissero’s source, only $9.1 million of the deal is fully guaranteed.  That is made up of a $5 million signing bonus, his 2012 base salary of $2.9 million, and $1.2 million of his 2013 base salary.

So, essentially, the deal is structured as follows:

2012:  $2.9 million

2013:  $2.9 million

2014:  $3.9 million

2015:  $4.9 million

2016:  $4.9 million

The deal also includes $100,000 workout bonuses on an annual basis.

The structure of the deal makes it so the Vikings can pay Carlson $11 million over the first two years, and then if they should choose to cut him after that they would take a $3 million cap hit in 2014.  Pelissero describes this as the “sort of pay-as-you-go deal the Vikings have used for years to keep their cap healthy.”

Furthermore, his salary doesn’t jump up until 2014, at which point the NFL’s new television deal is expected to increase the salary cap dramatically.

Carlson’s cap hit should be about $4 million this season, while Sage Rosenfels’ cap hit is expected to be about $1.5 million.  Letroy Guion’s contract details are not yet available, but he is expected to have a cap hit of around $3 million.

That should leave the Vikings with roughly $14.5 million in remaining cap space.

Cook: “I Got A Job To Do”

March 16, 2012, by 2 comments

Late last night, I hesitantly posted a rumor about Chris Cook’s choice to “celebrate” his acquittal by visiting the strip club in which it all began.  I decided to do so, but also made it clear that it was a rumor only and I am glad I did.

Why?

Because those actions would fly in the face of what Cook said after his court hearing Thursday, so the rumor couldn’t possibly be true (slight sarcasm).

“I got a job to do. I missed 10 games. I got to make up for that,” Cook said outside the courtroom following his acquittal.

“I know it might take some time to earn the trust of the organization and the fans, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” he continued.

Cook described the ongoing legal matters as an “emotional rollercoaster” and it appears the Vikings will welcome him back soon, and probably insert the 25 year old into the starting lineup.

If, that is, he doesn’t get in trouble between now and then.

Community Mock: Day Ten

March 15, 2012, by 7 comments

With the ninth pick of the NFL Draft, our Community Mock Draft sees the Carolina Panthers select defensive tackle Michael Brockers.

Next up is the tenth pick, which belongs to the Buffalo Bills (now owned by Mario Williams) and you never know what they are going to do.

We’ve had some trouble getting you all to leave comments of “analysis” for you picks to display on our results page.  Please, please, please leave some analysis for why you made the pick you did and we could use it in the mock.  Heck, if you want, leave us some analysis for the picks that have no analysis and I will add it retroactively.

Time to vote: