Rice doesnt want to sign..OK HERE WE GO!!

[chanfish]

Take Julio Jones. Big time skill player. You cant coach speed. He is 6'4 and has Randy Moss speed. We can get QB or OL in second round. If Quinn (DE) is there that works too. We cant afford a reach at 12 pick..

[zepman]

Either of those two would be fine by me.

[LMITOUT]

I just saw this a little bit ago. He didn't do too shabby at the combine for having a fracture in his foot!

NFL Network's Charley Casserly reports that Alabama WR Julio Jones will require surgery to repair a fracture in his foot.

According to Casserly, Jones should still be 100 percent before the season, after eight weeks of recovery. It's believed the fracture was discovered in Combine medical checks, but Jones performed all drills in Indianapolis anyway. While it makes Jones' incredible Combine even more impressive, it's certainly possible that the surgery could affect Jones' draft stock. Michael Crabtree fell to No. 10 overall in 2009, at least in part due to a similar pre-draft operation

The glaring question remains though: Who's going to throw to him? Is he a pretty level-headed guy or is he going to turn into a diva (as we've seen some high-maintenance WR's do) when he doesn't get the ball enough? I still think the Vikings have to get a QB with their first pick.

[Chad Peterson]

Can you blame Rice with NO quaterback. They need to draft a QB and then stay with that QB. I wonder if the queens get it????

Sniffer

[thatoneguy]

The only QBs worth taking at #12 are Mallett and Gabbert, and both will likely be gone before then. With so many holes to plug, I would much rather see MN address CB, OL or DE with the first pick if those two QBs are gone, and take a QB in round two. There will be a few good prospects left, unless there's a big run in the late first round.

[zamboni]

Is Jones the guy that almost hit 12' in the standing long jump? Had 2 really long jumps but couldn't stick landing

[MUSKY18]

I bet you if Joe Webb had the time, he would have no problem getting the ball to Rice. And personally, I think Rice hasn't got much room to be running his mouth. Knowingly putting off surgery on his hip until it cost him 10 games of the season is selfish and hurt the overall team. When he did come back, he wasn't that impressive, especially for a player that was going into free agency. There are still questions about his hip, and I don't see any other team offering him more money than the Vikings will. If he doesn't want to sign, draft Jones and make him semi expendable and see how he likes that.

[SkunkedAgain]

And personally, I think Rice hasn't got much room to be running his mouth. Knowingly putting off surgery on his hip until it cost him 10 games of the season is selfish and hurt the overall team.

I'll give you that Rice has only had one truly good season, but the rest of your rant is crazy. Your statement is selfish and shows zero concern for the man.

Rice had an injury that he was told had as good of a chance at healing on its own versus having surgery. Surgery isn't some magic bullet. Anything can happen. I'd like to see you choose surgery in that situation. Most people would give their body the opportunity to heal itself before going under the knife, especially when there is no evidence that one is better than the other.

Leave it to a Packer fan to set a Viking fan straight.

[FutbolGuru]

Trade up and get Patrick Peterson - CB from LSU - stud.... Think QB - Oline - and Defense .. in no particular order.

[Stcloudangler]

If Sid didn't have Rosenhaus as his agent, we probably wouldn't have had a topic here..

[thatoneguy]

Trade up and get Patrick Peterson - CB from LSU - stud.... Think QB - Oline - and Defense .. in no particular order.

If they can get Peterson without giving away too much, that would be awesome. An elite return threat plus a top-tier corner prospect. That would definitely be of more benefit than reaching and taking a middling QB prospect just because it's a position of need.

[MUSKY18]

Rice's injury kept progressively getting worse with "rest" and yet he still waited to have surgery until right before the season. Lets forget the team aspect, and in the player greedy era of today, with Rice becoming a free agent, wouldn't you want to get yourself healthy early and showcase yourself? He certainly didn't do that last year.

[zepman]

Rice was "playing" with the Vikes last off-season trying to get a contract extension done...he didn't get it and so he went under the knife at the last minute.

He has an arsewipe of a agent and I'll bet you my next months salary he was behind the whole thing. Rice will leave Minnesota for an extra $5000.00 if that's what he has to do to prove his point. I say, good riddance!

[SkunkedAgain]

Wow. Maybe I'm completely wrong about Rice. I agree about his agent being ........ but I've never seen an attitude out of Rice. Maybe I missed a few interviews where he Ochocinco'd himself.

Must feel good to be running your best wide receiver out of town because he had an injury. This will make the team better.

[soldoncass]

I like Rices attitude also...NOT Moss like at all. I don't agree with his move to test FA, because I believe MOST of the time that is for the AGENTS BENEFIT, not the players. Players should just hire someone (salary)to look after his interests...NOT an agent type with their own interest in mind. I really like Hankerson, but don'tsee him rated as high as I do....incredible catches on his highlight video.

[TR21HP]

Unfortunately the agent is needed to balance the owners. Without some sort of legal representation the owners would absolutely take advantage of these players although, I do have to agree, these agents are getting out of control. Receivers, especially of Rice's ability, are a dime a dozen in the draft each year. It's just a matter of learning the system and making adjustments to coverage.

[PurpleFloyd]

Rice had one good year but I really don't see how overpaying for a guy who has a history of injuries and missing playing time is a good gamble for the team. There will be guys in the draft and FA that we can get to replace him.

[klecker]

Farve has(had)a history of making WR's look good when they are only average.

[PurpleFloyd]

He got tendered yesterday so we will have to see how that all shakes out. I am not sure a team will be willing to part with the pick it will take to get him.

Same with Edwards, Robison, Cook etc.

[Scott K]

The only problem, with the new CBA, 5 yr vets may be unrestricted. So that takes out Rice and Edwards for sure. All this actually does, is keeps them off of the open market, until the new cba is finished. Because the plan is to make 5 yr vets, UFA, instead of RFA.

[klecker]

If and when they can ever agree to a new CBA it could be four years for UFA. As stated above, what ever happens with the new CBA the RFA tender will go POOF. In the event they can't agree and go the impass route and run the next year on the terms of no CBA then the RFA will help keep him here.

[soldoncass]

If those 2 receivers we signed from the CFL and Bears practice squad work out, it won't hurt so much if we lose Rice. Still need to draft 1 I think, to have more options.

[Scott K]

I think Rice will be with us next year, he just wants to see his worth, and he has every right to do so.

[koonie]

Take Julio Jones. Big time skill player. You cant coach speed. He is 6'4 and has Randy Moss speed. We can get QB or OL in second round. If Quinn (DE) is there that works too. We cant afford a reach at 12 pick..

Ummm. When did Rice say he didn't want to sign?

[zepman]

vikes offered him a contract and he turned it down...within the last few weeks.