Viking Holdouts

[Down to Earth]

Seems to be catching on in the NFC North. I think Sharper was excused, but Chavous and Williams are unhappy. Where is the competitive edge with these guys? You would think with the Vikings bringing in competition at their positions these players would want to be in here working their tail off to keep their starting jobs and in the process making the defense better as a whole.

Developmental Camp begins

Last Update: 5/16/2005 10:26:23 PM

KFAN Dot Com

The Vikings began this week’s developmental camp without three players expected to play major roles in this season’s secondary. While newly-signed safety Darren Sharper was excused (he is overseas broadcasting games for NFL Europe), safety Corey Chavous and cornerback Brian Williams are missing reportedly because they are unhappy with their contracts and possibly potential playing time.

Williams, who has started all 32 games the past two years, signed a 1.43 million dollar contract at the end of April. Speculation is that he is upset with the team’s plan to move him to the nickel package, given the off-season accuisition of Fred Smoot.

Repeated phone calls from KFAN dot com to Williams agent went unreturned.

Chavous has also taken exception to the aggressive moves the Vikings have made trying to solidify the secondary. Slated to make 1.9 million dollars this season, rumors are that Chavous is not excited about his role after the signing of Sharper, the drafting of safety Dustin Fox out of Ohio State, or the emergence of Willie Offord at the end of last season. While people in the know have Chavous slated as the starting strong safety, Offord did a nice job of filling in while Chavous was injured during the playoffs last season.

[fishyguy]

I understand the speculation on why these guys may be unhappy but for the life of me can't figure out the benefit of these holdouts, unless they are trying to get released to go elsewhere.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I just don't get it. Here we have a couple of pretty good players in Williams and Chavois. Well paid to boot. The Vikings go out and get them some help, to make them better, and they sit out?!?!?!?!??!

To the players I say, "C'mon, let's grow up a little." They signed contracts and agreed on a service for a price. Time to hold up your end of the bargin.

BTW- I'm not nearly as good as Chavois at safety by a long shot. However, I'd be willing to jump in and play for, oh, lemme see, 1/4 of his salary. And I'll show up when I'm supposed to.

Pro sports, and the attitudes of some of the atheletes involved makes me wanna puke. We need Bud back.

[Pig_sticka]

Eh, I'll play for the vikes secondary for free, and I bet you wouldn't even notice the difference by the way the defense has been sometimes.

Toss in free food and I'll be the sixth running back

The vikes could have one of the better defenses in the league if they all played together and quit whinning.

[sunnyj]

Chavos is a fool, by week 5 Sharper will be hurt and he will have his job back.

[Down to Earth]

I didn't think Sharper was taking Chavos's spot. I thought Sharper and Chavos were to be the starting safeties, with Sharper taking over Brian Russell's spot.

[buzzsaw]

There not "hold outs" per se. It's a non manditory camp, but the team strongly wants the players to all show up. No biggee really in my eyes.

All the stuff you hear on KFAN is speculation anyways as to why they are not in camp....

[Quickstrike]

i think if these guys are worried about playing time, skipping mini-camp is a stupid thing to do. why not show up and try to earn your time rather then whining about it and making it a negative issue.

[Willy]

If Chavous doesn't watch his butt, he'll be riding pine. He's not that good. He had a fluke season, just like Russel. That being said, I think with the better secondary that we'll be sending out there this year, he'll have a chance to at least be servicable, and who knows, he might return to form.

Willie Offord really wants to play though, and it seems as that Tice likes him..... It wouldn't break my heart to see Chavous get dissed and ride the pine for a little while to wake him up. He just thinks he is too good after that year he made the pro bowl.