Hit the road, Leslie!

[nonteepical]

I would dump AP and sign Gerhart.

I agreed with this 3 years ago. Still do.

[hawgchaser]

It's my observation that teams with/from winning cultures spend their money where they HAVE to in order to build a competitive team. Eddie Lacy ran for 1112 yards and received $364 per yard for his efforts. AP ran for 1266 yd. and received $8,886 per yard for his effort. I can't see that the extra 154 yards he gained over Lacy were worth $10.8 million, but I can't see that a Jerad Allen sack is worth $1.2 million either.

[MUSKY18]

Lacy is also under a rookie contract and can't be paid the AP type of money. NOW.....if he keeps it up for another two years, when his rookie contract runs out, I bet his dollars per yard will be much higher than it is right now!

[Scott K]

It would be hard for the Packers to pay 40 million for just a QB and RB

[hawgchaser]

I realize Lacy's low budget now and for the next three years. By my observation, quality RBs are the most fragile and replaceable offensive players. The winning cultures seem to use them until they start wanting too much cap money or they break down and then either release them of trade them to other teams. With 45% of the Vikings cap money tied up in 5 players this past year, they really limited their ability to fill the many voids that need filling. I don't know how they ended up, but the Vikings in late Sept had the second highest payroll in the league. Long term high dollar contracts (quarterbacks excluded) seem to be more attractive to the wannabees than the perennial winners. Just my observations and they could be wrong.

[BuckSutherland]

I realize Lacy's low budget now and for the next three years. By my observation, quality RBs are the most fragile and replaceable offensive players. The winning cultures seem to use them until they start wanting too much cap money or they break down and then either release them of trade them to other teams. With 45% of the Vikings cap money tied up in 5 players this past year, they really limited their ability to fill the many voids that need filling. I don't know how they ended up, but the Vikings in late Sept had the second highest payroll in the league. Long term high dollar contracts (quarterbacks excluded) seem to be more attractive to the wannabees than the perennial winners. Just my observations and they could be wrong.

And we have a winner!!!!!

You cant tie up your money in a useless RB and DE and expect to win it all or even make the playoffs on a regular basis. How many good RBs has Tom Brady worked with??? How many superbowls has he been to since 2000? How many have we been to??

Maybe you can talk some sense into these dolts hawgchaser. I didnt know there was anyone else in MN that actually GOT IT.

[zepman]

Buck...We don't have a Tom Brady.

When the opportunity arose to pay a QB, we did. 20 million a year to a Mr. Brett Favre.

I'm sure when we find our future franchise QB...we'll pay him. Otherwise, your point is not valid. It's impossible to pay someone who doesn't exist.

[BuckSutherland]

Buck...We don't have a Tom Brady.

When the opportunity arose to pay a QB, we did. 20 million a year to a Mr. Brett Favre.

I'm sure when we find our future franchise QB...we'll pay him. Otherwise, your point is not valid. It's impossible to pay someone who doesn't exist.

You are missing the point. The point is we SHOULD NOT keep the stupid RB and DE, but instead we should use them to get our franchise QB so we can pay him. Jared Allen and AP to the Colts for the number one selection a few years ago may have got it done for Luck. A star RB and star DE are not important in winning a championship.

[zepman]

I'll agree on the RB but not the DE.

DE's and outside pass rushers are frequently some of the highest paid positions in the league...and most sought after.

Jared Allen has been the best or top 2 DE in the league since he's put on an NFL jersey. You don't like him...we get it. He earned his $$$ here in Minnesota and now he'll move on.

And by the way, your pipe-dream of AP and JA to the Colts for the #1 pick is laughable.

[hawgchaser]

I enjoy watching highlights of Allen's sacks, but also credit him with partial responsibility the Vikings being in the lower tier as far as run defense. My point is that in the interim til the Vikings could get a franchise quarterback, it would seem reasonable to be building a team "as if" they already had one. With all the money spent, they have the worst pass defense in the league; they're less than mediocre against the run; they're close to the top in sacks allowed...not to mention their special teams defense. Barring a miracle quarterback emerging next year, the money pits will be past their prime when a franchise quarterback hits his stride and he'll have a very weak supporting cast on both sides of the ball to complement him. I don't see how the Vikes would be ready for a run with the cast they're now supporting

[FISHINGURU]

No team is happy, the teams with great QB's are always looking for a running game, the teams with great RB's are always looking for a passing game.