As pointed out by The Viking Age, Sid Hartman recently stated that there is a “good chance” that middle linebacker E.J. Henderson re-signs with the Vikings this offseason.
Now, E.J. has been one of my favorite Vikings to watch for a number of years now (and I would love to still wear his jersey on game day without feeling silly), but even I wouldn’t have predicted that the elder Henderson somehow worked into the Vikings offseason plan of getting younger, healthier, and less expensive.
Jasper Brinkley might not fit the Tampa-2 scheme real great, as some media outlets have been quick to opine, but the right rotation of Brinkley, Erin Henderson and Chad Greenway could make them a very effective group.
Hartman writes that Henderson is not wavering from his demand to be paid the same as last season for his services, which would bring his salary in at $6.7 million.
That isn’t going to happen. If it was, it already would have.
Henderson is on the wrong side of thirty, has had trouble staying on the field in consecutive seasons, and is a major liability in pass coverage. If the Vikings planned to give that type of money to a veteran linebacker this offseason, that too would have already happened.
In fact, looking back at how the offseason has played, one of my only real complaints is that the Vikings didn’t pony up for a stud linebacker when they had the chance. Stephen Tulloch (signed with Lions), Curtis Lofton (Saints), Dan Connor (Cowboys), and David Hawthorne (Seahawks) all could have been sure-fire upgrades at the linebacker position.
I like Brinkley’s potential, but the linebacker position is one to keep an eye on as the offseason progresses.
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I really like EJ but it's time to move on. He's just crazy if he thinks he's worth 6.7 million. League minimum is more like it.
I hope the Vikings resign EJ. His 80 solo tackles last year will be hard to replace (second only to Greenway). A rotation of EJ and Brinkley will work for a year.
IMO, the 2013 draft is when the Vikings will fix the MLB position. Notre Dame has been lucky for the Vikings lately. Spielman will roll the dice the Irish way one more time and select standout MLB Mante Te’o in the first round next year.
The Vikings’ collection of Notre Dame talent will not be complete without Te’o.
i agree id like to see him back one more year....i didnt think there was a chance...but wat lil we have done with the position this off season..we might not have a choice
I would like him back, but I agree with Carl that the 2013 draft is where we find out MLB for the future (whether it be Te'o or whoever)
"...but the right rotation of Brinkley, Erin Henderson and Chad Greenway could make them a very effective group."
Thank you for using the word "could". One of them has a major question mark, one of them is a special teams player at best and the third is a very good linebacker. Perhaps then this could also be a train wreck. Expect to see plenty of challenges to our linebackers in coverage next year. The Vikes showed their hand as it relates to Erin Henderson this off season, they don't covet this guy long term. His new contract this year was written for a term of 10.5 months, compensation included a dozen Kit Kat bars, a box set on Donna Summer CDs, a season pass to Valley Fair, a sleeve of golf balls (range balls actually they have the red stripe on them), a $10 gift card to Caribou, and an autographed picture of Laverne and Shirley. See that? Probably not a long term future with the Vikes.
Truth be known, the autographed picture of Shirley would be kind of sweet.
It's just a matter of time before Frans comes in and we find out he and Shirley had a love child together.
Malted,
Just for your education....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRmKzxhMzwo
to me?