Free Agency

[schmitty3]

New we were gonna land a big name sooner or later! Better late then never I always say! This is a huge day for the Vikes. Mr. Walters will sure up that receiving core instantly.

We landed on the moon!

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Is Rick trying to assemble the leagues toughest practice squad with all of these signings? The practice squad nobody wants to practice against?

[FISHINGURU]

He's bringing in a bunch of nobody's to try and make all the nobody's we already have get better by competition lol.

[pikestabber]

We landed him!! Bryan Walters folks!!

Man, when guys like Vincent Jackson and Pierre Garcon were still available, I was scared we were going to do something stupid like make a move for them. But Spielman stood his ground. With resolve like iron, he didn't even pick up the phone and call their agents to inquire! That's moxy. Instead, he was patient and methodical, and even though I didn't think we had a chance we are now the proud home of Bryan Walters! The jersey sales alone could finance the new stadium. It's a big day, boys and girls!

[james_walleye]

The vikings were right there with the skins when FA opened with Garcon. They didn't want to pay more than what the skins had on the table and imo that was a good move.

[TR21HP]

Guys, Zygi was quoted in the Strib that he wasn't going to spend big on free agents with the stadium deal in limbo. It's all about money and it's not Spielmans call.

[zepman]

Vikes were reported to have an 18 million dollar guaranteed contract offer to Garcon. The Skins ponied up almost 24 million.

It was a good move to let him and all the WR FA go elsewhere.

[goblueM]

No kidding, the Skins WAY overpaid for Garcon. And the Vikes have a lot more concerns than WR right now. They need to rebuild thru the draft and smart FA signings, not making splashy big acquisitions

[FISHINGURU]

even though I didn't think we had a chance we are now the proud home of Bryan Walters! The jersey sales alone could finance the new stadium. It's a big day, boys and girls!

I hear ya there!

I don't know what these other guys are smoking? How can they sit there and say Bryan Walters isn't a big splashy acquisition?

Maybe pure jealousy??

[Scott K]

Quote:

Vikings signed CB Chris Carr, formerly of the Ravens.

Carr, 29, excelled as a slot and left cornerback in 2010 with Baltimore before a rough 2011 season marred by injuries. Best suited as a nickel corner and special teamer, Carr will compete for a role in sub-packages with Minnesota.

[FISHINGURU]

Ol' Ricky heard about the big 4 points his boy put up on the test and decided he better take the forsure thing in Carr, This definitely shored up our secondary!

Imagine the battles Walters and Carr will have in practice, hope it shows up come game day!

[zepman]

I know the sarcasm is there Guru but it's an upgrade over what we had back there last year. It also probably means they will go either S or WR in the 2nd round. I don't think they'll take a CB until later in the draft...probably one of the 4th round comp. picks.

[collegepaul]

"Prospects known or reported to have attended the Vikings' "Top 30" pre-draft event this week included: left tackle Matt Kalil (Southern Cal); receivers Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State), Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech) and Alshon Jeffery (South Carolina); and cornerbacks Morris Claiborne (LSU), Lionel Smith (Texas A&M) and Ron Brooks (LSU)."

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Noteb..._hoopster040512

[FISHINGURU]

I know the sarcasm is there Guru but it's an upgrade over what we had back there last year.

That isn't saying much, I know highschool kids that are better then what we had back there last year.

Hold on to your seats boys, we picked up Marvin Mitchell today, he is probably better then what we had at LB last year lol.

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Marvin Mitchell- "We got him!"

What a practice squad we're gonna have

[zepman]

$100.00 says he's better than the each of Henderson bros.

[mnviking28]

Wow...there is a leap of faith. That's like saying that you will kill more deer with ammo in your gun than using it for a club. Sorry Zepman, this off season has made me so disgusted with the front office I have a lot of trouble being positive about anything to do with this team.

[zepman]

I don't think I've ever said any of these guys are any good...just saying who they are replacing was worse.

[FISHINGURU]

We need a solid draft in the worse way.

[james_walleye]

Nothing they have done is a surprise. Bring in some low-mid level at best FA almost all on 1 year deals. You have a ton of picks in this draft. You hopefully hit on some picks. Next year you will have cap room again and will be in a better position to compete so u get more aggressive in FA and then hit up another draft. I'm confused at some people that are mad about not loading up this year. It makes no sense when picking up 2 good FA still doesn't put u in a situation to competition. Draft these young guys and let them play this year and get aggressive in the next 2 years.

[goblueM]

+1 James, they are doing it right (assuming they can draft decently)

No sense in wasting all your cap money on when just 1 or 2 players won't make you a winning football team

[mnviking28]

Just because you pick up a couple of good free agents doesn't mean that you think you are in a position to compete. If you pick up a couple of quality, younger free agents and have them on 4-5 year deals, that makes it less of a gamble that you have to hit on EVERY draft pick. By doing it this way, they are basically setting themselves up for exactly that. No one is that good, not Belichek, not Ted Thompson, nobody. If you have these younger free agents, that makes them familiar with your team culture and what you are trying to do. When you are more in a position to compete, that is just one less piece that you have to add.

[james_walleye]

So the vikings should have just said $$$$ it and overpaid severely for Garcon? So they could be handicapped next offseason when they are in a better posiition to compete? They HAVE to hit in these next 2 drafts. Of course not every single pick. But they HAVE to. It is the ONLY way they will be competitive in a couple years.

[LMITOUT]

I would rather overpay for a WR than a RB. *cough* Peterson

[mnviking28]

Never said they should have overpaid for Garcon, but to not even go after Brandon Carr, and to say that they weren't even interested from the start, is just plain a mistake. You sign him, even at what Dallas paid him, and now Kahlil or Blackmon make even more sense and Claibourne is not even in the discussion.