General News

New Uniform Glimpse

April 23, 2013, by 7 comments

The Vikings have been handing out clues to registered fans regarding their new on-field look leading up to their Draft Party unveiling scheduled for Thursday.  The website UniWatch, decided not to make fans wait and leaked a picture of new NFL uniforms a couple of days early.

I’m in full blown Draft mode, and certainly no fashion designer, so I won’t get into this much at all and instead just link to the leaked photo and let you discuss the changes as you please.

The Vikings still plan a more ceremonious unveiling on Thursday.

 

Pat Williams To Ceremoniously Sign With Vikings

April 23, 2013, by 5 comments

Pat Williams will go down in history as one of the great all time undrafted players to make it in the NFL.

He played 14 seasons in the NFL, much of which was with the Vikings as part of the formidable ”WilliamsWall.”  Following the 2010 season, however, the Vikings opted to move on from Pat and he was unable to catch on with any other team.  It is now being reported that Williams will sign a one day deal to officially retire as a member of the Minnesota Vikings.

“He’s one of the great all-time leaders and great all-time players here for the Minnesota Vikings,” Rick Spielman said of the situation.

Congratulations to Pat on a fine career that should eventually land him a place in Minnesota’s Ring of Honor.  The team has yet to find someone capable of filling his shoes after two and a half offseasons, which is only one of many ways we can point out just how great he was at what he did.

Lacey Also Reportedly Visited Vikings

April 19, 2013, by 2 comments

On Thursday we learned that the Vikings will open the 2013 regular season against the Detroit Lions.

Coincidentally, or perhaps not, the Vikings have also played host to two free agents that spent last seasons in Detroit.  We already made mention of defensive end Lawrence Jackson’s visit, but now we have also learned that cornerback Jacob Lacey made a visit, too.

Lacey, who turns 26 next month, was an undrafted free agent signed by the Colts in 2009. He played three seasons with Colts, starting 27 of those games, and five interceptions, two return touchdowns, 21 defended passes, three forced fumbles, one recovery, and 158 total tackles.

He then moved onto Detroit for one season where he had nine starts, 29 tackles, four defended passes, and an interception.

Lacey hasn’t been overly durable throughout his NFL career, but he could represent some experienced talent at a position in need of depth.  If I had to guess, I would say the Vikings have a more genuine interest in Lacey than they do Jackson.

Your 2013 Minnesota Vikings Regular Season Schedule

April 18, 2013, by 23 comments

 

NFL Network is in the process of their unveiling of the 2013 schedule.  Via Access Vikings, the Minnesota Vikings 2013 schedule is as follows:

Week Day Date Opponent Time (CT) TV & Radio
1 Sunday Sept. 8 at Detroit Noon FOX | KFAN
2 Sunday Sept. 15 at Chicago Noon FOX | KFAN
3 Sunday Sept. 22 vs. Cleveland Noon CBS | KFAN
4 Sunday Sept. 29 vs. Pittsburgh* Noon CBS | KFAN
5 BYE
6 Sunday Oct. 13 vs. Carolina Noon FOX | KFAN
7 Monday Oct. 21 at New York Giants 7:40 PM ESPN | KFAN
8 Sunday Oct. 27 vs. Green Bay 7:30 PM NBC | KFAN
9 Sunday Nov. 3 at Dallas Noon FOX | KFAN
10 Thursday Nov. 7 vs. Washington 7:25 PM NFLN | KFAN
11 Sunday Nov. 17 at Seattle 3:25 PM FOX | KFAN
12 Sunday Nov. 24 at Green Bay Noon FOX | KFAN
13 Sunday Dec. 1 vs. Chicago Noon FOX | KFAN
14 Sunday Dec. 8 at Baltimore Noon FOX | KFAN
15 Sunday Dec. 15 vs. Philadelphia Noon FOX | KFAN
16 Sunday Dec. 22 at Cincinnati Noon FOX | KFAN
17 Sunday Dec. 29 vs. Detroit Noon FOX | KFAN

Vikings To Host Former First Rounder

April 18, 2013, by 1 comment

The Vikings are preparing to make two first round selections next week, but they are also taking a look at adding a guy that once was selected 28th overall by the Seattle Seahawks.

Free agent defensive end Lawrence Jackson was reportedly scheduled to meet with the Vikings today.  Jackson was a standout at USC before being selected by Seattle in 2008.  He played with the Lions over the last three seasons and has never quite lived up to his draft position.  Over the course of his career Jackson after starting 24 games during his two seasons in Seattle and none with the Lions.

He has only generated 98 tackles, 19.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and two recoveries in his five seasons.  Still, at age 28, he could certainly provide the Vikings with some interesting depth at their most talented position heading into training camp.  Defensive ends Jared Allen, Brian Robison, and Everson Griffen are all due to be free agents following this season.

Signing a guy like Jackson would all but eliminate the need to draft a pass rusher next week.

Browner To Make Draft Weekend Appearance

April 17, 2013, by 12 comments

One of the additions made to the NFL Draft for the pleasure of us viewers at home has been the addition of former players announcing the second round selection for each team.

This year, the Vikings will be represented by former safety Joey Browner, according to reports.  Browner, of course, is well known as one of the best defensive backs to ever wear a Vikings uniform, which he did for nine seasons. Browner earned three All-Pro nods during that time, as well as six Pro Bowl honors.

It will be great to see him again in a couple of weeks.

New Williams Deal Is A Win-Win

April 16, 2013, by 4 comments

Today, it was revealed that defensive tackle Kevin Williams was part of a move that seemed obvious to us all months ago, as he restructured his contract with the Vikings which will gain the Vikings about $2.5 million in cap space.

His previous deal had already paid out all guarantees and we’ve known for a long time that Williams was essentially a year-to-year at-will employee, and the Vikings could have cut him at any point this offseason with no cap penalties had they decided to do so.  The Vikings could have done just that to avoid his $7 million salary that he was scheduled to make in both 2013 and 2014.

Instead, Williams was apparently willing to take a paycut in return for some guaranteed money.

His new deal runs through this upcoming season only, and the $4.9 million salary is not only considerable, but is also fully guaranteed.  This pretty much makes it a certainty that he will be a Vikings for one more season, at the least.

Some will consider this move a sign that Williams is in his last year with the Vikings, but I’m not sure it means that.  Williams will be 34 years old next offseason, and the Vikings may simply be able to let the market establish itself for an aging tackle on the decline, and still opt to sign him if he is willing to play for a reasonable salary.  He will potentially join defensive linemen Jared Allen, Brian Robison, and Everson Griffen as free agents next offseason which could mean a significant change to the defensive line is on the horizon.

For now, however, it appears the D-Line is staying mostly intact.

What I don’t understand, and never will, is why it took so long for the Vikings to work out an obviously needed deal with a lifelong Viking.  The move has seemed so obvious for so long.  Even Williams himself brought up the issue about 10 months ago.  This issue of over-cautiousness (or procrastination) on Rick Spielman’s part has really annoyed me this offseason, not only because we saw other teams land more quality players in free agency, but because the same type of mentality led to what I will always consider a black mark in Vikings history.