Free Agency

[zepman]

No it doesn't. It keeps you from re-signing guys already on the team and also limits you next year.

Harvin NEEDS to be resigned...others will need to be resigned too. Harvin is going to need to be over-paid if he stays...that's life.

Every single one of the top-tier free agents were grossly over-paid this year. The Vike's have been smart in not over-paying for their services.

We overpaid Carlson...but not by much. It shows you where the Viking's offense is heading. Hopefully, with a Kahlil draft, they will give the kid some time to make a good decision.

Carlson and Rudolph are chain movers...just the ability to keep our defense off the field for awhile is a huge improvement. Kahlil plays a huge part in that as well.

[LABS4ME]

The Vikes have historically stayed away from signing big free agents and have chosen to build with the draft, and I know, how has that gone for them?

Really...

I just tried to quickly come up with 10 free agent signings of impact in recent memory... not that hard to do...

Farve

Winfield

Hutchinson

Allen

Griffeth

Pat Williams

Longwell

Sharper

Cunningham

Cris Carter

I disagree, I think the Vikings have always chosen to build on free agancy and fill in with the draft. Spielman is in over his head or Zigi velcro-d his wallet shut.

Good Luck!

Ken

[LABS4ME]

and it seems the majority of Viking QBs have come through free agency.

[TR21HP]

How did those free agent signings work out for the Vikings though. I did mispeak about historically but my point still is that The Vikes can't or won't, presently ,delve into the free agent market without a guarantee of a stadium. Free agents fill some spots that need depth but you still build through the draft, unfortunately the Vikes have shown throughout the years that they lack in developing the growth of those players drafted.

[LABS4ME]

How did those free agent signings work out for the Vikings though.

I just re-read my list... I can't see one that wouldn't be listed as a good pick-up. Most would be a very good to excellent. You can'tt always look at the last year of a deal... it takes multi-year deals to bring in free agents. Look at the bulk of the work they did and I think it would be safe to say they all played rolls in the Vikings success.

Good Luck!

Ken

[Ybone]

Allen wasn't a free agent pickup. We traded a no. 1 draft choice for him.

[LABS4ME]

Got it... not a Vikes fan, know who you got, not always sure how you get them... thought he was a free agent from KC. Pick a new tenth free agent for my list. I guess what I was pointing out is that the Vikings generally have little trouble going out and picking up some big name free agents and spending some dollars to get them here. You never heard chatter of "mid-level" or value free agent in the past.

I still contend that a good portion of their splashier players came here via free agancy vs. draft... seems to have always been that way. maybe I'm wrong and feel free to point it out... just have it in my mind as such.

Good Luck!

Ken

[zepman]

Just read an article that said the Vikes made a strong push and offer for Garcon as soon as free agency opened up.

Washington outbid them with a 42-43 million contract with over 20 million guaranteed.

Makes you wonder what they're thinking about Blackmon now??

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

I agree with what your saying Zep, somewhat. yeah we need to sign harvin but there will be other players coming off the books too. Maybe this will be winfields last year and so on.....

Cant really blame the vikes for the Bouman signing, I hope he helps but i think hes gonna help more on special teams then being a difference maker in the secondary. Garcon was grossly overpaid, agreed.

How do you think Jordy Nelson feels right now? He signed for like 4 or 5 mil and garcon gets 21 mil???? Nelson might be the most underpaid player in the league right now. I would be furious with my agent if i were him... gotta hand it to Ted T, hes doing a fantastic job in GB.

Vikes making me yawn... We're gonna have another top 5 draft pick next year, i think thats pretty clear

[collegepaul]

Rebuilding mode, super bowl mode, terrible mode, whatever.... It never hurts to add talent. Dont get it...Teams can turn it around quickly in the NFL.

Free agency is not exactly a quick fix either. Ask an Atlanta Falcons fan how they liked the Ray Edwards signing to try to improve their pass rush...Edwards was terrible last year. Look at what signing talent did for Dan Synder and the Redskins when they signed Haynesworth to the $100m. The list goes on and on in Washington for over spending on talented players that decided to go on a vacation after receiving a big pay day. That's the risk/gamble involved in signing free agents. Some work out and some don't.

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Not saying its always gonna be a quick fix or work out everytime, just saying there are more ways to add talent to your team then just the draft.

[klecker]

It’s all about the draft. Look at the last handful of SB winners. They didn’t do it thru FA. IT'S not about the number #1 pick. It’s all about developing the middle round "value" picks.

MN is way beyond developing a SB team thru FA. Sure, they were real close a few years ago. It is now all about the draft and what and who they draft in rounds 3-6. Through in the 2nd round pick to. This where the team is made.

[james_walleye]

110% agreed.

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

It aint just all about the draft! Sure, it sounds good to build through the draft and only through the draft. What do MOST teams hit on, 2 maybe 3 picks a year? Some zero... There is more then one way to add to your team and make it better. Not enough draft picks pan out for it to JUST be all about the draft, especially in the vikes case. Doesnt matter if your 1 player away or a dozen players away you can ALWAYS use a proven player through FA. Thats one less guy you have to hit on in the draft

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

It’s all about the draft. Look at the last handful of SB winners. They didn’t do it thru FA.

They- GB, Saints, Giants, Steelers, Pats also all have a top 5-7 QB and very good coaches, which makes alot of those draft picks look alot better then they may have been on other teams.

Sadly, I think thats what the vikings need more then draft picks or free agents

[collegepaul]

Not saying its always gonna be a quick fix or work out everytime, just saying there are more ways to add talent to your team then just the draft.

Sure the draft isn't the only way to add talent. Every team in the NFL wants to add talent to their roster. The thing about free agency is teams bid against each other for the best available talent and end up over paying to get it. Now the question is, what's the best team that can put together within the $120+ salary cap? The best teams have shown it's drafting and not hurting yourself by overpaying for talent. The draft may not be the ONLY way but it's shown to be the BEST way.

[klecker]

"They- GB, Saints, Giants, Steelers, Pats also all have a top 5-7 QB and very good coaches, which makes alot of those draft picks look alot better then they may have been on other teams.

Sadly, I think thats what the vikings need more then draft picks or free agents"

NO doubt coaching, upper management plays a huge role in the success of a team. But teams that go out and spend big bucks in FA never pan out. Out of the ones listed above NE might be the only one that ever goes out and grabs high profile FA'S. Or once high profile players, but they get them cheap. For they realize they have a chance to win it all.

Teams that spend big in FA are just trying to sell seats and offer false hope.

Here is a good example or two. Detroit; finally drafting good, making a lot of draft day trades. Making a lot of trades in general. Doing some stuff in FA, but not going overboard. Been fairly quit this year as FA goes. One problem is having two first round picks via trades, two years in a row, and hitting on the picks is going to get real expensive.

Cincinnati……… Probably the only coach ever to get a do over. Cleaned house and started a new program in sense. Finally hit on their draft picks. Not a big spender in FA. Way under the cap and still are. Blacked out every week, but still made the play offs.

Who knows what Ponder may do? Give him a real year with OTA’S, and what not. Second year in the same system. Heck till the last few years that’s more than any Detroit QB ever had.

I have a feeling MN goes with Blackmon. Patches the line together somehow, gets through next year and deals with a bunch of other stuff next year.

[Scott K]

Age old saying, you build out of the draft. You add final pieces from free agency.

The way FA has been lately, all you do is over spend big time for mediocre players. Star players very seldomly change teams, and if they do, it will be a trade. There usually is a reason the present teams didnt resign the players.

[FISHINGURU]

Star players leave their teams all the time, and it always seems to boil down from money.

The player wants to join FA because of that rediculous amount of money your talkin about.

[Scott K]

But they usually arent allowed to leave while they are in their prime. It is usually after their prime, and they still want a ridiculous amount of money.

AKA Favre, Manning, or closer to the Vikings, Birk, Sharper, etc...

[klecker]

But they usually arent allowed to leave while they are in their prime. It is usually after their prime, and they still want a ridiculous amount of money.

AKA Favre, Manning, or closer to the Vikings, Birk, Sharper, etc...

+1

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Hmmmmm.... 33 tds, 6 ints, NFC championship game. I think that ridiculous amount of money was worth it, dont you?

[FISHINGURU]

For every old shlub FA that gets overpaid is a young up and coming over paid kid.

[mnviking28]

I agree with you for the most part on the over the hill guys still thinking they are worth what they were in their prime, but I don't think Birk was overpaid to leave, I think he just hated Childress and wasn't going to be back to put up with his B.S.

[FISHINGURU]

We landed him!! Bryan Walters folks!!