Purple Rumor Mill: Veteran QB Tryout, the Suh Saga, Chris Reed Emergence

Purple Rumor Mill: Veteran QB Tryout, The Suh Saga, Chris Reed Emergence
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports.

VikingsTerritory‘s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle each week. All the week’s rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for review. Today is the August 6th edition.

Remember — rumors are rumors. What you read on weekends in these pieces is what the world is talking about pertaining to the Vikings, not necessarily items that will come to fruition.



Rumor: Kevin Hogan worked out for the team and could signal that Kellen Mond is no good.

Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports.

Indeed, Hogan worked out for the team on Thursday, evidence the team wants a bit more depth. That should strike folks as odd because the Vikings released Nate Stanley in July. Therefore, the Hogan tryout — especially if the Vikings sign him — should be an indicator that the coaching staff isn’t thrilled with Kellen Mond and Sean Mannion.

Either that — or Nate Stanley was just terrible.

Mond hasn’t been overly sharp at training camp, but it is unclear if Hogan would do any better.

Rumor: The Vikings and Ndamukong Suh are worlds apart via money for a free-agent contract.

Vikings Fans Endorse Possible FA Addition of Veteran Defender
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports.

An accurate rumor here. The Vikings want Suh, but their pricetag doesn’t align with his demands.

This is understandable as Minnesota probably views Suh as a late-summer addition, typically more affordable than March or April. Conversely, Suh is about his money and still feels his earning power is still paramount.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has $8.7 million in cap space. Suh likely wants most of it. Adofo-Mensah isn’t keen on the whole piggy bank dwindling to zero.

We shall see if they meet in the middle. Otherwise, Suh will probably sign with the Cleveland Browns or Las Vegas Raiders.

Rumor: Chris Reed will end up as the Vikings starting center.

The Vikings Contingency Plan at Center
Indianapolis Colts guard Chris Reed. © Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK.

This idea arose at training camp for two reasons:

  1. Reed took second-team center snaps this week, implying he’s the next man up after Garrett Bradbury.
  2. Bradbury, at times, has been bullied at training camp, meaning his prognosis to start could be in jeopardy.

Looking back at free agency in March, if Reed ends up as the Vikings starting center, it will appear that his addition to the team was to play center, not right guard, all along.

Too, Reed has experience at LG, RG, and C. He could be the Vikings starting center before too long.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

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