Free Agency

[zepman]

I do think there may be something to the theory that some guys do not want to come here. A hard pill to swallow isn't it?

I agree with this. It's just reality and maybe why guys like Brandon Carr didn't even come for a visit. I had seen by many sources that this was the guy they were hoping to land...not a sniff from him. It's easy, after the fact, for Spielman to say we weren't interested in X player. I think he may be getting the same treatment from the players out in FA right now.

Still a long way to go...hope they can at least come away with a starter or two before it ends.

[TR21HP]

mnviking, you are forgetting one thing and that is Spielman can make decisions about player movement but he is not signing the checks! Look at someone other than the GM if the players aren't being brought in and signed.

[Dave S]

mnviking, you are forgetting one thing and that is Spielman can make decisions about player movement but he is not signing the checks! Look at someone other than the GM if the players aren't being brought in and signed.

Then one would have to believe that Zygi knows a little something about player talent to determine if a player is worth it or not. Sorry, but if Zygi would hold out on someone because he doesn't think X player is worth the $$$, then he doesn't have confidence in Spielman as a GM.

Right now the only thing Zygi understands about football is the Vikings were a bad investment.

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

I'll .and YiGGiN4SLoBS, just because he had one concussion doesn't mean he's Justin Morneau. You twist facts like a politician.

Actually they said he has had 3 concussions in his career on the radio... Not trying to twist facts. And he was injured almost all of last year with a torn up shoulder. I think we could have gotten a blocking te for much cheaper or drafted one and it would have fit the system better. Then spend most of the rest of the money on the best possible guard. I realize Nicks was spendy, but so was Steve Hutch and that signing worked out pretty good if I remember right. Then when we draft kalil if we dont trade down we have a totally revamped O line for Ponder with Johnson at the other guard.

Or if not a guard i would have overpayed for Carr or the best linebacker available.

The only position we can get someone in FA who would actually make the team better now will be safety, and thats because ANYONE we sign would be better then the safeties we currently have.

Everyone keeps bringing up NE, Pitt and GB- Tell me how we get their coaches and personel management? You have to have that in place before copying their strategy is gonna work! Those teams sign FA too... just not as often. Charles Woodson and Reggie White were huge for the pack in both of their last SB victories.

You realize how many of these draft picks we're going to have to hit on this year the way their going about FA? I dont see it happening

[Getanet]

Well, it looks like we picked up a CB today. No, not in free agency, but Chris Cook was cleared of all charges so I would imagine he's back on the team and will be starting this year.

[zepman]

YIGGIN...Carlson is not considered a "blocking" TE. He's a very good weapon to add.

Good news about Cook...we'll need all the help we can get in our secondary this year.

[pikestabber]

Well, it looks like we picked up a CB today. No, not in free agency, but Chris Cook was cleared of all charges so I would imagine he's back on the team and will be starting this year.

Sorry, Getanet. I didn't see you posted this before I started a new topic on it... I, for one, am pretty happy about this (at least on a football level). Cook was starting to come into his own (showed promise on slowing down Megatron, etc.)

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Zep- I know. Ive seen carlson play plenty. My point was we dont need another pass catching TE, we have Rudolph for that and other needs that are much more pressing and we seem to be ignoring them and just hoping we're gonna hit on 90% of our draft picks. I wouldnt have minded picking up another blocking TE kleinsizzler type for cheap and addressed a more pressing need then a second pass catching TE. Especially one thats been injured a majority of the last 2 years. Thats what im trying to say

[james_walleye]

YIGGIN...Carlson is not considered a "blocking" TE. He's a very good weapon to add.

Good news about Cook...we'll need all the help we can get in our secondary this year.

He's not going to be happy until the vikings somehow squire Calvin Johnson and Darelle Revis....but for only 6th round picks.

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Right on James, because what im saying makes no sense, does it? Why would u wanna improve by signing a good player or two? Thats blasphemy!

[LMITOUT]

Can he honestly be that clueless?

Yes.

[james_walleye]

Right on James, because what im saying makes no sense, does it? Why would u wanna improve by signing a good player or two? Thats blasphemy!

They are going to try and develop some young talent this season. There is no reason to go nuts on FA until you think you can win. He has already said it himself they are rebuilding mode. I don't know why its so shocking to you that they haven't signed a marquis player. Develop some young talent and when the time is right supplement it with FAs. There is no way they are going to change this roster enough in this offseason to be relevant next season. Why overpay FAs now and handicap yourself from making critical moves in the future when the time is right. I was all for looking at some of these top guys until we saw the $$ being thrown at them. There is no WAY the vikings should gave tried to outbid the already outrageous pricetags on these guys who signed in the first couple days.

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Hey, at least you explained yourself now instead of just mocking whatever i say!

Spielman said "We're more then just 1 or 2 players away" and then almost in the same breath said "we can compete this year". Now i know hes not gonna flat out say we're rebuilding to the fan base. But hes talking out of both sides of his mouth.

If you wanna just sit back and hope he hits on every single draft pick to supliment the talent pool on this team, fine. Not me

There isnt one single "blue print" to build a good team. There are different ways to do it.

[james_walleye]

Im not saying every pick this year will hit. Of course they won't. Bringing in 1 or 2 free agents and having a couple picks hit won't make the vikings relevant this year either. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE RELEVANT THIS YEAR! Now take this years draft class, the June FA period which might yield the right piece or 2, next years draft class and FA, maybe they will be relavant again. But going and outbidding for Piere Garcon, or Cortland Finnegan, or whomever, does NOTHING for this team this year. Those single pieces do nothing. So why mortgage future years on it? Whether they can hit on the next 2 drafts is going to tell whether this team is relevant or not. That is how every single team that is relevant is built. Its supplemented by the right few FA when the time is right. And it sure as he$$ isnt the right time for the vikings to be spending big $$ on big FA's.

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

I can respect that point of view, but do you honestly think Leslie and Rick have time to pull all that off? One more season like the last and its over for both of them. Good luck to the man

You dont bring in a good FA for one season... Its a long term bit just like the draft unless your signing bret favre again

[james_walleye]

A bad deal on a FA this year mortgages your ability to sign the right guys in the future. And having to pay the price that the vikings would have on already overpaid players would have been bad. Brandon Carr or Pierre Garcon at a reasonable price would have been great. But there is a reason Garcon signed 40 minutes into FA. Snyder drastically overpaid to get him and Garcon knew he wasnt going to get anything like that anywhere else.

I'm not sure thats the case for Leslie and Spielman. Zygi has to know these guys arent miracle workers. Especially Spielman. If things look like a disaster, Ponder shows nothing, and the rest of the young guys show nothing, maybe Leslie.

[thatoneguy]

Quote:

But going and outbidding for Piere Garcon, or Cortland Finnegan, or whomever, does NOTHING for this team this year.

No, but they wouldn't have been signed for one year. Young, talented players like that are just as valuable to a rebuilding team as draft picks. In fact, you NEED to have some veteran talent on board to mentor the draft picks. Players like that, signed for five years, can undoubtedly play key roles in changing the direction of the franchise.

Vikes' front office has been abysmal the past few years.

[james_walleye]

Of course they are, but not at the prices they ended up commanding.

[klecker]

Zep- I know. Ive seen carlson play plenty. My point was we dont need another pass catching TE, we have Rudolph for that and other needs that are much more pressing and we seem to be ignoring them and just hoping we're gonna hit on 90% of our draft picks. I wouldnt have minded picking up another blocking TE kleinsizzler type for cheap and addressed a more pressing need then a second pass catching TE. Especially one thats been injured a majority of the last 2 years. Thats what im trying to say

Well they could have signed Boss, he can block and catch. KC got him for 3 years 9 mill. Ouch Good luck purple.

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Why would the vikes do something like that klecker? That would make too much sense... Everyone on here thinks Carlson was a good signing except me, so who am i to argue?

But Spielman says we are waiting in the weeds to land some "blue chippers" later in FA! Bargains! Complete steals... Just you wait and see!

[mnviking28]

I think that is one of the things that frustrate me the most this year. Everyone talked about all this cap room that we have, and yet they announced very early that they were not in the "Brandon Carr Sweepstakes". The deal he got with Dallas averages about 8 million a year, with about 5 or 6 guaranteed per year. Not saying that he is Nnamdi Asomugha, but they aren't paying him 12 million a year either. He was considered a big, physical corner with good cover skills. EXACTLY what they needed. Megatron, Marshall, and Jordy Nelson are all big guys, they need someone that can match up with them. He is only 25, sign him to a 5 or 6 year deal and he would be there when they are relevant.

[klecker]

Why would the vikes do something like that klecker? That would make too much sense... Everyone on here thinks Carlson was a good signing except me, so who am i to argue?

But Spielman says we are waiting in the weeds to land some "blue chippers" later in FA! Bargains! Complete steals... Just you wait and see!

Yigin,

There are a few others that could have fit the role just as good at a lower price. Carlson has all the hype of a sleeper pick up. The Vikings bit the hook. Who knows maybe we will be eating crow next fall? They probably could have got him for less if they would have waited a day. There were some better rounded TE's available, that went for 2 mil less a year. As long as they can beat the Pack and lose to DET I'm happy!

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Klecker, Mnviking- Couldnt agree with the both of you anymore... Dont know what else to add.

[FutbolGuru]

The Carlson pickup to me is a good move. You need to have an outlet for Ponder, especially with a lack at WR. He also brings a strong run/pass block game to the table and will contribute to our Oline; Rudolph lacks in this category and I'd imagine the Vikes have bigger plans for him as a pass catcher this year. Losing Shainco and Kleinsausser hurts; however, you could do much worse than replacing them with guys like Rudolph and Carlson.

Also, we're looking to the future at this point. No need to overpay for an overrated WR like Mario Manningham.... build through the draft for a couple years and then you can plug holes in FA down the road... not now. The idea is to build a team that can win for several seasons in a row vs the 1yr and done philosophy the Vikes have implemented in the past.

[FISHINGURU]

No one in their right mind would want to become a Viking right now unless they were gonna be overpaid worse then they already are. Most players want to have a chance to win right away, unless the money is too good to pass on. AP banged up on the sideline for who knows how long doesn't help the situation any.

In past seasons I was all about getting the best guys we could because we were a player away for a few years there. Now we are rebuilding, I agree a FA or making a trade is worth it though if the player is young.

Like trading our 2nd round pick and a late round pick or a late pick next year to move up into the end of the 1st round, give that pick to Pitts for Mike Wallace who's only 25 and is just entering his prime. If history keeps repeating who we draft in the 2nd would end up a bust anyway lol.

Keep in mind there is always a 2nd wave of Free Agency, teams will still have to make some cuts they don't want to do.

The Vikes say they have a plan and to wait until the roster is complete for the season. Hopefully we find a key player or two and have a really nice draft.

Otherwise we will be beyone horrible this year.