What do ya think?

[cybermuskie]

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I don't know if any of you listen to KFAN but PA and Dubay just had a good take on the free agency period. The vikes are building a base that should be good for several years to come. They aren't going out and building a team in one year that is only good for one year. This is franchise building not team building.

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Isn't that a nice way of saying "don't expect much"?

Oh Yeah, Boooo Pack...go Vikes!

[nofishfisherman]

It may be a way of saying don't expect much.

Personally i don't expect them to go to the Super Bowl next year. It wouldn't matter who they signed first year coaches with first year coordinators don't go to super bowls very often.

I think it is saying we have to be realistic. If we sign Edge or another big name guy for 3 years you can't expect them to go to the Super Bowl with frist year coaches throughout the coaching staff so year one of the contract is a non championship season. Year 2-3 you have a shot assuming the older vets you signed stay healthy. So by signing big name guys you give yourself 2 years to win. By signing younger guys that have 5-6 years left in there career you still write off year 1 but you are left with 4-5 year window in which to win. The NFL is not a league where you can go buy a title in one year. You need to build to it over time. And thats what the team seems to be doing.

Atleast thats the glass half full version of it.

[Down to Earth]

Dang, Cybermuskie you are the true insider. None of the writings I saw yet had indicated the top paid lineman clause. If that is so that is some pretty good contract wording by the Minnesota organization. It should definately make it a more difficult decision for Seattle and could definately make it a good pick up for the Vikings.

[buzzsaw]

I agree, great work!!!

[Bobby Bass]

With out sounding to "folksy" just because someone wants a lot of money for their horse it does not make it a good horse. Got to pick a horse that will work well with the team. Just cuz you have all of this cap money does not mean you have to spend it all now, there will be some surprise releases when training camps start and I think you might See the Vikes hang a few carrots out there to pick up a few needed players. Anyone notice how strong a left side is being built for Johnson? AT this rate I think the field is going to be slanted.

[JIvers]

Edgerin James signed a four-year, thirty million dollar deal with the Arizona Cardinals (!) a couple days ago, so there is no point to arguing about whether the Vikings should have pursued him. The Pioneer-Press claimed that the Vikings were never interested in Edgerin James anyway, as they did not feel he fit well in the West Coast scheme, and would cost too much.

The Hutch signing, or lack thereof, is more important anyway. The Vikings need a strong o-line, and if the poison pill plan works out, they would be off to a good start, especially with Birk coming back. The only big-name offensive linemen in the draft is Ferguson, and he is not expected to be available by the time the Vikings pick.

If the Vikings do choose to build the o-line through the draft, especially if the Seahawks match the Vikings offer to Hutchinson, we will just have to be patient for another year or two. Offensive lineman is one of the most difficult jobs to master in the NFL, and few if any rookies get it down their first year. I would of course like to win now, rather than a couple years down the road, but if the Vikings go the draft route on re-building the o-line I am not expecting instant success.

[cybermuskie]

Thanks for the props guys!

I have a 2 month old daughter, and I am off cuz I work road construction, so I am at home quite a bit this time of year, so I have time to look this stuff up! Also for you guys that don't have the extra time, why waste your time looking it up all over the web when you can make one stop at Fishing Minnesota! If the news happens on wed. - Fri. I usually go to Duluth looper fishing, but I makeup for it during the week.

Scout.com has confirmed that Vikings unrestricted free agent guard Toniu Fonoti is close to agreeing to a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders. Fonoti could take over the starting right guard position since veteran guard Ron Stone was released (March 2) prior to the start of free agency. The Vikings offered Fonoti a multi-year deal to re-sign, but not much over the veteran minimum per season.

[Down to Earth]

KFAN just had a guy from out in Seattle and it sounds like Seattle is getting clarification from the league on what they would need to match in the contract. So I guess we may need to wait to see how that plays out. Even still it sounds like they would have the cap room to retain Hutch, so it would be just a question as to whether or not they want to put up the cash.

[cybermuskie]

To me is sounded like hutch needed to be the highest paid playeron the O-line. Which in Seattle he isn't! So actually it would cost them more than the vikes are offering him. If he's not the highest paid player then he gets all 49 million. I know they could match the offer, but I think it would strap them pretty good for doing anything else.

But your right we will have to wait and see!

[gonfishn]

From Shooter's column:

Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke, the former Wild president, asked whether the Vikings' $49 million, seven-year offer sheet to Seahawks all-pro guard Steve Hutchinson includes a so-called "poison pill," requiring that the entire contract be guaranteed if he's not the team's best-paid lineman: "Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear."

[CodyDawg]

Funny, did he say that? cuz if he did, according to his own instructions, we shouldnt believe him.

I love reading all the opinions, some are good, some are not, some are just plain entertaining. Bottom line is, the Vikes think they are doing things the best way. only time will tell if they are right. So I will jump in with my good/bad/entertaining opine.

Based on the history of high draft pick QBs (akili, couch, leaf, etc), I wouldnt be surprised if the vikes have a liking for someone they think they can get in the middle rounds and develop. I did like the Schaub comments, mebbe we will trade for him. I wonder if a 2nd rounder is high enough for him. Would you trade Miami's 2nd rounder just obtained for him? I would.

[nofishfisherman]

I would trade a 2nd round pick for Shaub in a heartbeat. My guess is that it wouldn't be high enough, maybe a 2 and a 3, most likely they want a #1 for him. Seems like they should try to get anything for him since he is gone next year anyways. He will never resign just to play back up.

[cybermuskie]

Hey whats Farve up to? Maybe we could sway him to the dark side!

[nofishfisherman]

Everyone complained so much last year about the number of INT's Culpepper threw. Why would anyone want Favre and his 30 INT's?

[Rick]

All I have to say is the Vikings better not be in re-building mode. They've made some shrewd pick-ups but they need some game changers on offense and defense. Hutchinson would be one of those. Julian Peterson might be the other.

They better be building to WIN IT ALL RIGHT NOW BABY!!!!

That's why they brought in Childress.

[cybermuskie]

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Everyone complained so much last year about the number of INT's Culpepper threw. Why would anyone want Favre and his 30 INT's?

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It was a joke, but I knew I could get someone to bite!

[Havin' Fun]

I was just putsing on the internet and realized that the Redskins are looking for a second round or third round pick for Ramsey. Perhaps an interesting pick up??

I do agree however that the Vikings could very well be looking to make a serious move "up" in the draft. This certainly has played out well for them with many of the top teams signing free agent qb's and the Vikings adding more picks. However, I wouldn't be surprised if they went after a young "back-up" style qb as well (Shaube, Ramsey, ect.) and still look to move up in the draft.

Demps and the guy from Pittsburg are still out there for safeties. I look for signing soon.

[Havin' Fun]

Oh yeah, Arrington is still out there!!! Man he would look good in Purple huh?

[nofishfisherman]

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It was a joke, but I knew I could get someone to bite!

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I fully understood the joke. Still couldn't resist posting.

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Oh yeah, Arrington is still out there!!! Man he would look good in Purple huh?

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Personally I don't want him at all. He doesn't play the run very well and he freelances to much. He isn't going to stick to his responsibility in coverage and gap plugging. He tries to make every play which makes him look fabulous at times but also is what caused him to get benched when he started missing assignments and started getting burned.

He also as had attitude problems from day one in the NFL, we don't want that.

[Down to Earth]

I did hear, but haven't seen a confirming legit link, that Washington is sending Ramsey and a 2nd round pick to the Jets for DE John Abraham.

[cybermuskie]

The Oakland Raiders added some girth to their offensive line by adding Toniu Fonoti.

Scout.com has learned the Oakland Raiders have reached a one-year contract agreement with UFA G Toniu Fonti (Vikings) on Tuesday.

He'll receive a base salary of $585,000 and 415,000 in guaranteed money/$1 million total.

[island guy]

Time will tell. Still not for sure if it was a 2006 or 2007 2nd rd pick for DC. Also sounds like Seattle will resign Hutchington. They'll wait till the final minutes of the 7 day period just to mess with the vikes and then match the offer. In the meantime the Vikes can't do much with all the money they offered Hutch. Seattle matches and we're sitting with egg on our face and no other big name guys picked up. I think it's a "Les Steckle" dejavu all over again!!!

[cybermuskie]

2006

[cybermuskie]

John Holler - Scout.com

March 15, 2006 at 11:46am ET

* News out of Seattle is that the Seahawks are seeking a clarification on the contract language of the offer sheet the Vikings signed Steve Hutchinson to. The team is asking the league if it can merely meet the specifics -- seven years, $49 million with $13 million counting against the 2006 salary cap -- without meeting some of the poison pills built into it, such as guaranteeing Hutchinson to be the highest paid offensive lineman on the team and in lieu of that guaranteeing the entire contract.

* There has already been talk that the Vikings may look to package picks Nos. 17, 48 and 51 on draft day to move into a spot to grab one of the top quarterbacks in the draft. Because of the iffy nature of teams moving up and down on draft day, if that is the Vikings' plan, it would likely not be a done deal until the draft starts and the guy they want is assured of still being available.

* The Seahawks are going to have Nate Burleson come in for a visit. A restricted free agent, Burleson would only cost a third-round pick if the Vikings don't match Seattle's offer. It would be ironic if the Seahawks tried to lace a contract that would make it costly for the Vikings to match.

[Down to Earth]

That will be interesting to see how they rule on the "poison pill" part of the contract. Personally I can't see it holding up. If it does I think teams will start putting in all these goofy clauses, etc. Each teams salary make up is different and I don't think it should come into play when writing up contracts. Obviously it is a lot easier for Hutch to be the highest paid lineman on the Vikings that it is for Seattle, given the Vikings haven't had to deal with issues of having to keep a player of Jones' caliber. Curious as to how the league will rule on this.