Posts tagged: matt cassel

Could The Vikings End Up With Another Quarterback? You Decide.

April 27, 2013, by No comments yet

There are some big name quarterbacks, headlined by USC’s Matt Barkley, still available on Day Three of the Draft.  The Vikings have five remaining picks and plenty of areas in need of some depth.

My question for you is if there is a quarterback you would like to see drafted to join a depth chart that currently consists of Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel, Joe Webb, and McLeod Bethel-Thompson.  If so, which one, and please take to the comments section to let us know what round you want the Vikings to target your guy in.

Sendejo Is Retained

March 21, 2013, by 3 comments

The free agency news for Vikings fans has mostly consisted of them bringing back their own players, with MAtt Cassel and Greg Jennings being the only exceptions.

Today, they continued to bring back their own players by agreeing to terms with backup safety Andrew Sendejo.

Sendejo announced the move on Twitter:  ”Extremely blessed to re-sign with the @Vikings for another season! #Skol #Vikes.”

Sendejo was an exclusive rights free agent and the Vikings tendered him the offer prior to free agency beginning, and today’s signing makes his return official.

Clarification On The Matt Cassel Deal; Olsen Signs

March 19, 2013, by No comments yet

Many of the national outlets reported last week that the Vikings signed backup quarterback Matt Cassel to a one year deal, which caused some confusion in these parts because we were saying it was a two year deal with an option.

With details of the contract now available, allow us to clarify the matter.

The deal is, in fact, for two years and carries a maximum value of $7.4 million.  In 2013 Cassel can earn a base salary of $1.65 million, already got a $2 million roster bonus, can make up to $500,000 in “not likely to be earned” incentives, and also has a $50,000 workout bonus.  That is a grand total of $3.7 million for this coming season.

Next year, the same incentives and workout bonus exist, and his base salary increases to $3.15 million.  The hitch is that there is a $500,000 roster bonus owed on the seventh day of the 2014 league year, at which time both the player and the team will have a decision to make.

Both sides have an option available to them that negates the second year of the contract.  So, basically, if Cassel feels he outperformed his 2014 compensation he can bail.  If the Vikings feel like he under-performed and don’t want to pay him then they can bail.  If Cassel performs just about right for that pay scale, then perhaps the second year of the deal will actually happen, but it seems somewhat unlikely which probably explains why so many were reporting it as a one year deal.

Cassel’s cap number is $3.7 million during both years of the deal.  The Vikings were thought to have over $5 million in cap space Tuesday morning, but they signed guard Seth Olsen on Tuesday, so the cap is still fluid.

Olsen played for the Vikings practice squad in 2010, and stuck to the roster for a little while in 2011, but ended up playing for the Colts these last two years.  Olsen made five starts in Indianapolis and figures to be a possible replacement for Geoff Schwartz, as he can play guard and tackle if need be.

Charlie Johnson Restructures To Provide Cap Space

March 16, 2013, by 15 comments

Left guard Charlie Johnson seemed a likely candidate to be asked about a pay cut in 2013 and it turns out he already has been, and agreed to a new deal that gives the Vikings half a million more in cap room.

According to 1500 ESPN, his new deal increases his roster bonus from $500,000 to $750,000, but drops his base salary from $2.95 million to $2.45 million.  The new deal also erased $250,000 worth of playing time incentives.

His 2013 cap hit went from $4.35 million to $3.85 million, giving the Vikings some much needed room.

Prior to striking deals with quarterback Matt Cassel and wide out Greg Jennings late last week the Vikings were thought to have about $13.8 million in cap space.  After their deals are approved by the league office we should be able to learn more about what their adjusted cap numbers look like.

Armed with 11 draft picks, some speculation has included Johnson getting released outright if the Vikings find a promising young rookie, and nothing about this new deal should make it any less possible.

It is also possible, still, that other high priced veterans are approached about restructuring their contracts.

Grade Our Two Signings

March 15, 2013, by 10 comments

Earlier this week, over 80% of you assigned either an “A” or a “B” grade to the Percy Harvin trade, but now we want to know what you think of the latest two signings:

Geoff Schwartz Signs With Kansas City

March 15, 2013, by No comments yet

Yesterday, the Vikings signed former Chief Matt Cassel as their backup plan at quarterback.

Today, former Vikings offensive lineman signed a one year deal with Kansas City, according to The Kansas City Star.

Schwartz played well for the Vikings during his one season with the team, occasionally taking some snaps from right guard Brandon Fusco, and has the versatility to play both guard and tackle.  He could end up having some opportunity to prove himself at right tackle or guard with the Chiefs, but all of that hinges on whether or now they use their first overall pick on offensive tackle Luke Joeckle or not.

Once again, for those keeping track at home for the purposes of trying to predict the 2014 compensatory draft pick distribution, the Vikings have seen two of their own free agents sign elsewhere, but have yet to sign one themselves.

Cassel Knows He’s A Backup

March 15, 2013, by 2 comments

Matt Cassel knows he is being brought in not to compete with starting quarterback Christian Ponder, but to be his backup.

“Backup plan” might be a more accurate description for the thinking behind signing the 30 year old quarterback, given Christian Ponder’s sure-to-be short leash as he enters his third season in the NFL.

“They conveyed exactly that,” Cassel said on Thursday, “That Christian obviously had a great year last year, they went 10-6 and that he’s their starting quarterback and that they’re looking to bring somebody in with experience and somebody that will come in and basically be somebody who can step in if need be.”

“The fact of the matter is, again, Christian’s the starting quarterback and I think that we’ll have a great room. I’m there to add value. I’m there to help him out in whatever capacity that is and go from there.”

Contrary to numerous reports that say Cassel signed a one year deal worth $4 million, we believe that Cassel’s deal is actually for two years with an option for him to void it after one.  We also believe his 2013 cap hit will actually be less than $4 million.

I have to say, I am having a hard time thinking of a quarterback that has been (or is) on the open market this offseason that is a better and more accomplished quarterback than Cassel.  An argument could be made that Ryan Fitzpatrick qualifies, but an argument equally as strong could be made that the Vikings went out and got the best available quarterback this year.

After watching our playoff game at Green Bay last season it is hard to criticize anything about this move, even if the money is a tad on the highside for a backup quarterback.