General News

Leber Back With Vikings… Kind Of

July 6, 2012, by 3 comments

Last offseason, the Vikings decided to let linebacker Ben Leber leave via free agency despite showing very little signs of slowing down following what had been a quietly efficient run with the team.  It seems that they made the right decision, however, as Leber ended up sharing in the misery that plagued the St. Louis Rams.

Now the veteran is returning to the Vikings in a different role.

He has been hired by Vikings Entertainment Network which will see him conducting sideline interviews and appearing in official team videos throughout the offseason.

“It kind of presented itself,” Leber said of the new gig. “I got brought in by the Vikings and asked if I wanted to put my name in the hat for their new project. I said ‘sure.’ It sounded like a great opportunity.”

I have seen Leber’s media appearances, seen him do some stuff for NFL Network, and have always had a lot of respect for him as a player and as a charitable individual.  I for one am excited to see him connected to the team once again, and will look forward to seeing how he does next month.

Apparently No K-Will Option Exists

July 4, 2012, by 5 comments

Earlier we mentioned that defensive tackle Kevin Williams picked an odd time to bring up his contract situation due to the existence of a two year option that the Vikings could pick up.  The option would pay him over $16 million for the 2013 and 2014 seasons if the Vikings opted in.

The option has long been believed to exist, as evidenced by this Rotoworld list of contract details for the Vikings.

As it turns out, however, the option does not exist.  Instead, following this season the Vikings will no longer be on the hook for bonuses or guaranteed money and, as explained by Tom Pelissero, the team has the “option” to cut him without negative cap consequences.

This revelation gives us a little more insight into why the issue is coming up now, and where Kevin Williams stands with the organization.  Following this season, he will essentially be an at-will employee and the Vikings could cut him at any point.

If Williams gets back to being a dominant force in the middle of the defense this season, then the best scenario for both sides might be a new contract that eats up less cap space (a pay cut) in exchange for guaranteed money (job security).

At any rate, this will be an interesting one to keep an eye on over the next year or so.

K-Will Looks For A Longer Commitment

July 4, 2012, by No comments yet

Kevin Williams has chosen an interesting time to let it be known that he would like a contract extension, especially since he has almost no leverage whatsoever.

Williams is set to make $7 million this year which is a considerable sum considering that both injuries and a lack of production have made Williams a less-than-stellar defensive tackle over the last couple of seasons.  This could technically be a contract year for Williams, but the Vikings could also pick up an option next offseason that keeps him on the roster for two more seasons at an annual salary of over $8 million.

Nobody currently on the roster has been a Vikings longer than Williams, and speaking from his football camp this week he told reporters that he had previously approached the Vikings about making sure he stays with the team, but isn’t sure how the team feels about his future wearing purple.

“They might not feel the same way,” said Williams. “We have a lot of things to take care of between now and then. My main thing is to have a good year and whatever happens after that happens after that.”

Williams seems to recognize that the option built into his current contract gives the Vikings options next offseason, and he knows that he can’t have a bad season if he wants to earn that extension.

“But I don’t plan on doing that, and I know they don’t plan on me doing that,” Williams said. “I plan on having the best year ever, and we can move on from there. You definitely want to show you can still be one of the top guys, if not the top dog in the league.”

“I think I’ve done enough and proven myself enough in this league where — it’s like your mom tells you when you’re little, if she don’t like you enough, another one will,” Williams said. “As long as I go out and demonstrate my abilities and play at a high level, my legacy will write itself. I just try to put it on the field.”

This story won’t exactly set off some sort of crazy domino effect of reports like Percy Harvin’s shenanigans from last month, but Williams is typically an incredibly quiet dude, so him speaking about this at all just illustrates that how his career ends is weighing on his mind.

Obviously, the best scenario for everybody involved is for Williams to go out and have a killer season.  With any luck, that is exactly what will happen.

Happy 4th, Leslie Frazier Style

July 4, 2012, by 3 comments

Independence Day.

Today is a day to remember those that fought for our freedom.  Those that later fought (and are currently fighting) to protect it.  It is a day to remember everything and everyone that makes this country the greatest on Earth (no offense, Denmark).  It is a time to spend with friends and family, enjoying the summer with a fishing pole in one hand and a brat in the other.

Both Brett and I extend a “Happy Fourth of July” to all of our readers and want to remind everyone to celebrate safely.

The holiday also makes for a perfect reason to mention that Leslie Frazier is currently representing the NFL on a USO tour in the Persian Gulf.  He is the only current head coach to make the trip to visit our overseas troops, joined by former coaches Bill Cowher and Eric Mangini.

Frazier had an opportunity to take advantage of some rare downtime between minicamp and training camp and rest and relax, but instead decided to do what he described as a “small thing” in an effort to lift the spirits of the service men and women stationed away from home.

“It just puts in perspective that there’s nothing you should ever complain about,” Frazier said.

Indeed, sir.  Indeed.

“There Are Minnesota Vikings Crying On The Field”

June 30, 2012, by 3 comments

Some of us have been a Vikings fan for a few years.  Some for a few more.  Some for a few decades, and some have been supporting the team since the very beginning.

No matter how long you have been a fan of the purple and gold, however, we all have one thing in common:  heartbreak.

Reminders of our most memorable moments are everywhere, and they all sting.

One reminder this offseason comes in the form of an NFL.com list of the greatest play calls in NFL history.  The short list includes some fun one, but Paul Allen himself gets the top “honor” in this list for a certain meltdown during a certain Arizona Cardinals game following a certain Josh McCown pass.

It might sting to watch it again, but something tells me you have thick enough skin to handle it, Vikings fans.

Click here to view the whole list.

Kluwe Goes To Bat For Same Sex Marriage

June 29, 2012, by 37 comments

You thought the Vikings stadium debate was a drawn out, controversial one?  That pales in comparison to a number of hot button issues that have dominated our social politics for decades, including same sex marriage.

Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, who never seems to shy away from speaking his mind, has lent his celebrity voice to a series of ads aimed at shutting down a Minnesota ballot initiative that would redefine marriage within the state as only between a man and a woman.

Kluwe says that his wife’s brother is gay but that he doesn’t really know if he has any friends that are.

“Honestly, I’ve never really asked anyone,” said Kluwe.  “I’m more interested in if you’re going to play video games with me!”

Kluwe, a married man with two daughters, believes that the same sex issue is a clear cut one and has no qualms about saying so.

“One of the things my parents [Ron and Sandy] brought me up with is that you should have equality for everyone,” he said.  “I would like to think I have a pretty strong sense of justice and right and wrong. [The proposed marriage amendment] is just blatant discrimination and that’s not right, that’s wrong.”

In a league that has a fairly strong reputation as being homophobic, Kluwe’s involvement with this campaign is noteworthy if for no other reason than to point out that there, in theory, could be a risk of backlash.

Of course, Kluwe has never been the type to care what anyone else thinks about him.

“People should treat each other the way they want to be treated and that’s basically what life boils down to,” Kluwe concluded.

Vikings Sign Former Saints Defender

June 29, 2012, by 1 comment

When the Vikings released former Saints bounty hunter defender Remi Ayodele, it was widely assumed due to the timing of the move that it had to do with his involvement as a member of the 2009 Saints that we now know think had a $35,000 bounty on Brett Favre in the NFC Championship game.

On Thursday, however, the team opted to sign another player that was a member of that team.

29 year old defensive end Jeff Charleston signed with the Vikings Thursday after spending four seasons in New Orleans, after a rookie season in Indianapolis.  During that time he has played in 65 games with four starts accumulating 87 tackles, eight sacks, five batted passes, and three forced fumbles.

At 6’ 4” and 265 pounds, Charleston figures to provide depth and competition at defensive end which may end up losing Everson Griffen to the linebacker position if he can excel there during training camp.

Terrell Resonno, an undrafted rookie defensive tackle out of Missouri, was waived as a result of the signing.