Categories: 1.3 Opinion General News NFL Draft 2013 Off-The-Field Issues Speculation
| On 11 years ago

Visits Show Some Level Of Interest, But Due Dilligence Sticks Out

By Adam Warwas

Much is being made about a recent report from Peter King noting that Vikings G.M. Rick Spielman dined with Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o on the eve of the college’s pro day.  The Vikings also reportedly interviewed Te’o at the Scouting Combine and invited him to their “Top 30” event at Winter Park.

Some are going to take the seemingly excessive vetting process as a sign of the Vikings level of interest in Te’o, but it may be a better indication of the level of concern teams have with Te’o’s plentiful question marks.  I have been spouting off all offseason about how much sense a marriage between the Vikings and Te’o makes, and I don’t mean to send mixed signals here, but I would caution the readers of VT to not read too much into these visits.

The truth is that the Vikings probably have some level of interest in the players they have interviewed, including Te’o, but are trying to dig as deep as they can into some of these red flags to try and find out which ones are worth the investment of a high draft pick.  The list of attendees that visited Winter Park, or at least the ones we know about, should be all the evidence you need to consider these visits as the Vikings simply doing their due diligence with guys carrying some baggage.

Manti Te’o:  The whole fake girlfriend thing.

Alec Ogletree:  Injuries and arrests in the past.

Keenan Allen:  Worrisome knee injury.

Tyrann Mathieu:  Dismissed from LSU, history of drug issues.

We have profiled each of these prospects as we view them as potential targets for the Vikings later this month, and their visits make sense, but how the visits went is far more important (and secretive) than the fact that these guys visited.

Adam Warwas

Adam Warwas (Founder) has been writing about the Vikings for a total of eight years. Five of those years have been here at Vikings Territory where he continues to surround himself with enough talented individuals that people keep coming back. As proud as he is of what Vikings Territory has become, his real treasures are in his home... a beautiful wife and three amazing children (and a dog named Percy).

Tags: keenan allen manti te'o tyrann mathieu

View Comments

  • do ya think teo resisted pulling the chair back for his gf to sit down at the table?

    fran hates it when his due diligence sticks out

  • Good day gents I'm finally back online. I've been keeping up with all the headlines and it seems to me the Vikes have taken a big step backwards?

    • Holy crap! So great to hear from you, buddy. Had a lot of folks worried about ya in these parts! You well?

    • Old BJizzle is back in the fold, and as always leading off with a great deal of optimism. Just in time for the draft BJohnny! I hope your well rested and ready to melt down when the Vikes make their 1st round picks.

      All kidding aside, it's good to have you back.

    • Johnny !
      I thought something happened to You or Family !
      So Glad to see ya back bud :)

    • Thanks alot guys. My old internet provider was really screwing me so I stopped paying the bill and they shut me off. Still had to pay off the contract and finally done with those jerks. Back with the phone company again and good to go. Sorry if anyone was worried but all is well in the Johnny house. Thankfully I'm back before the draft, havent been upset about anything for quite awhile! lol

    • It also makes him a free agent next year. I wonder if they will make a run at another free agent or two?

      • i doubt the fa pursuit, we got what we wanted and we need the dough for draftees

        they must think he's only good for one more year, so we've gotta get DL in the draft