Vikings Visits

[cybermuskie]

Scout.com has confirmed that the Vikings met with free agent guard Stephen Neal on Tuesday. The 6-foot-4, 305-pounder started 16 games last year and 14 games in 2004. He played in 34 games with the Patriots over his five-year career.

The visit is a bit of a surprise, but indications are that Neal's visit is part of a backup plan in case guard Steve Hutchinson’s offer sheet from the Vikings (seven years, $49 million) is matched by the Seahawks. However, Hutchinson played left guard and Neal has played primarily right guard with the Patriots. The Vikings have Chris Liwienski, Adam Goldberg and Anthony Herrera already on the roster. Each of those three started at least six games at guard for the Vikings last year, with Goldberg starting 11 at right guard.

Neal played on a one-year, $1.43 million contract last year after being tendered that level by the Patriots as a restricted free agent.

The Vikings have also met with Baltimore safety Will Demps and Packers quarterback Craig Nall over the last two days.

[cybermuskie]

The Vikings are moving quickly to find another quarterback to at least backup Brad Johnson, if not give him competition for the starting role in 2006.

According to published reports, the Vikings have contacted the agent for free agent quarterback Josh McCown (Cardinals).

McCown, replaced by Kurt Warner as the starter in Arizona in 2005, is entering his first season as an unrestricted free agent. Even so, he started six games while filling in for Warner last year, completing 163 of 270 passes (60.4 percent) for 1,836 yards, nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Starting 13 games in 2004, McCown completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 2,511 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He ended 2004 with a passer rating of 74.1 and had a 74.9 rating in 2005.

During that same time frame, Daunte Culpepper’s completion percent was 69.2 and 64.4 in 2004 and 2005, respectively. He threw 39 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2004, and six touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2005 for passer ratings of 110.9 (2004) and 72.0 (2005).

Another option being considered at Winter Park, according to what Scout.com has been told, is Gus Frerotte, who was released from Miami yesterday to make room for Culpepper.

Frerotte only started two games in his two seasons with the Vikings, completing 58.5 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and two interceptions in 2003 for a passer rating of 118.1. As a starter with Miami in 2005, Frerotte completed 52 percent of his passes for 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, ending with a rating of 71.9.

Brad Johnson with the Vikings last year had a completion percentage of 62.6 with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions, a rating of 88.9.

LOST

According to ESPN, safety Will Demps signed with the New York Giants on Wednesday. He was the second safety the Vikings were interested in that signed with another team. Dexter Jackson signed with Cincinnati earlier this week.

FOUND?

The Vikings are meeting with fullback William Henderson today, the team confirmed.

[jigging wader]

I have been wondering when the Steve Hutchinson thing was going to be resolved, it has seemed longer than a week. I just read on NFL.COM that by sunday March 16th we'll get the decision if Seatle will match the offer.

[cybermuskie]

By Tim Yotter ,scout.com

Date: Mar 18, 2006

They weren’t willing to dispense a $3 million signing bonus for 35-year-old fullback William Henderson after both sides agreed he would be a good fit for the Vikings. The two sides met on Wednesday, but Friday Henderson re-signed with the Green Bay Packers.

That has the Vikings eyeing up Kansas City fullback Tony Richardson.

[jigging wader]

Now I have learn from reading the same web site, NFL.COM that a arbitrater is looking at Steve Hutchinson's contract and will make a decision Monday march 20th. I recently reported it would come sunday the 16th, sunday is the 19th, sorry rookie mistake

[cybermuskie]

You watch, Seattle will have the arbitrater rule in favor of them, they will match, and then were are stuck with crappy free agents cuz we had to wait and see with this deal! IMO, as it stands we will be lucky to have last seasons record this year. It's going to be tough going!

[JohnMickish]

Remember, arbitrators don't work for any team, they are indpendant. If an arbitrator has a tendancy to rule more in one direction they lose their credibility and then areren't arbitrators anymore. I did hear that Seatle was a little upset about our "fine print" in the deal and was wondering if they just had to match the money or the whole contract. There was something in there about being the highest paid interior lineman from what I read somewhere, and Seatle didn't like that. I hope it works out for us.

[cybermuskie]

This is a boring weekend for football news! I know....T.O. but really... who cares!

[Big Pine Walleye]

Quote:

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This is a boring weekend for football news! I know....T.O. but really... who cares!

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I would if I was Drew Bledsoe--they better give him a raise right now for all the dump he is going to have to put up with...oh...wait...T.O. just said that he has turned over a new leaf!

[cybermuskie]

Hutch In, Tony Next?

Viking Update Staff - Scout.com

March 21, 2006 at 2:44am ET

The Vikings running game got a huge boost Monday with the addition of guard Steve Hutchinson. But the team may not be done yet. Chiefs fullback Tony Richardson has a deal in place if he wants to take it and if it still applies after the Hutchinson signing.

Before Steve Hutchinson was in the house, the Vikings were looking to fill what they view as the remaining holes in the free agency puzzle. Among them is fullback Tony Richardson , who paved the way for RBs like Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson to post Pro Bowl numbers for the Chiefs.

A decision, at Richardson's behest, will wait until today.

"We have a contract on the table," Richardson said. "One thing I asked was to be able to go home and absorb everything."

With the Vikings tighter against the salary cap, it's uncertain if the offer will remain on the table. Richardson is the second big-time fullback to be wined and dined by the Vikings. Last week, the Vikings came close to signing Packers fullback William Henderson, who opted to re-sign with the Pack.

The signing of Richardson, in concert with the acquisition of Hutchinson, could make the Vikings run offense one of the more dangerous units in the NFC.

[cybermuskie]

03/21 12:08 Vikings: Richardson sleeping on offer

THE NEWS

The Vikings made a contract offer to free agent fullback Tony Richardson, who told the St. Paul Pioneer press he would sleep on the offer Monday night and give the team a decision Tuesday.

Our View

Minnesota's new West Coast offense calls for a fullback, and the Vikings have been aggressive in their pursuit of veterans familiar with the WCO. William Henderson turned them down, and the only fullback currently on the Vikings roster is Joey Goodspeed.

[Rick]

ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to a two-year contract with free agent FB Tony Richardson (Chiefs). The deal will pay Richardson about $2.5 million.

[Quickstrike]

Sports Illustrated online ranks the Vikings the biggest winners in this season's free agency perdiod so far. Biggest losers......you guessed it Daunte Fumblepepper's own Miami Dolphins along with a few other teams.

[nofishfisherman]

I would take that with a grain of salt.

There was one expert that predicts Chester Taylor to be the biggest signing of the year by any team. (probably putting a little too much value on him)

He is predicted by this guy to out rush pretty much everyone excpet Shaun Alexander. I think he should be fine but I don't see him rushing for 1600-1700 yds.

[cybermuskie]

Quote:

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I think he should be fine but I don't see him rushing for 1600-1700 yds.

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If thats all the Vikes can do then he might have a shot!

Just kidding Nofish! Easy big fella!

[Flash]

It's great to get all these offensive guys but defense wins games. Maybe Childress & staff feel we have enough on defense. Who know's?

Flash

"Set the Hook"

[cybermuskie]

Quote:

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It's great to get all these offensive guys but defense wins games. Maybe Childress & staff feel we have enough on defense. Who know's?

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It will probably be a heavy defensive draft! Get the young guys that can still run!

[james_walleye]

I liked the Taylor signing, i think he will be very solid. Its funny though, i read something on a HSOforum that said signing Taylor was one of the worst offseason moves so far this year by any team. It said he was too unproven. In the next line it said why would you pick him up when there are all the RB's available in the draft. What a stupid controdiction. If Chester Taylor is so called unproven than what are these college RB's. And they would cost more too sign than Chester Taylor! Kinda funny too read some of the junk being put out there.

[Havin' Fun]

I feel we have done a pretty solid job this off season. I'm concerned about QB, but Chester Taylor was fairly well proven. He has had several great seasons as a "back up" to Lewis. He has speed, power and is young enough to make a move on.

Hutch was a huge signing and a huge success.

[cybermuskie]

Vikings Free Agency Notes

By Tim Yotter

* In a bit of a surprising move, the Vikings are reportedly visiting with free agent quarterback Mike McMahon on Wednesday, according to the Palm Beach Post. McMahon was recently released by the Philadelphia Eagles. He is also scheduled to visit the Broncos on Thursday.

* Surprisingly, the Vikings are said to be keeping in contact with free agent guard Stephen Neal, even after the Hutchinson signing. Neal is scheduled to take a free agent visit to the Houston Texans and has already completed visits with the Vikings and Bills.

[cybermuskie]

By Tim Yotter

Date: Mar 23, 2006

While the Vikings were pondering a visit they had with quarterback Mike McMahon on Wednesday, they were setting up visits with two more players — this time on defense.

The Vikings still have not re-signed defensive end Lance Johnstone and they saw two free agent safeties they were interested in sign with other teams last week. But their quest at those two positions isn’t over.

The team is the planning to meet with defensive end DeQuincy Scott and strong safety Tank Williams, according to a league source.

Scott is a rush end that has also played some defensive tackle, although he is undersized at that position at 6-foot-1 and 260 pounds. He would fill the role that Johnstone had in previous seasons and be a younger option there.

In four years with the San Diego Chargers, Scott has 14.5 sacks, but hasn’t ever been more than a rotational, situational player. With the Vikings, he likely would get the opportunity to take regular snaps on third downs. In 2003, he had a career-best 6.5 sacks, getting sacks in five games. He has started only one game in his career.

Williams is a 6-foot-3, 223-pound strong safety who spent his first four years in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans after being a 2002 second-round draft pick. He has averaged 66 tackles and 1.25 interceptions per season, but he hasn’t received much interest in the free agent market, possibly because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered on Nov. 14, 2004.

Both players would fill some of the last remaining holes on the Vikings’ roster.

Without Johnstone, the Vikings are a little thin at defensive end, especially a pass-rushing specialist. Also under consideration is the fact that Kenechi Udeze is coming off of microfracture (knee) surgery, with Erasmus James and Darrion Scott the other ends on the roster. Johnstone is still on the free agent market.

If signed, Williams would compete with Willie Offord, who is coming of an ACL tear last year, for the starting spot at strong safety.

[cybermuskie]

Here's What ESPN has to say on Tank Williams. I think he could be a good pick-up. I really like the size of this guy! I hope they sign him!

Here ya go:

Grade 71

Expert's Take: Williams has great size for the safety position. He is a very physical player who is comfortable coming into the box in run support and plays that role like an extra linebacker. He is very effective close to the line of scrimmage and shows good awareness of blocking schemes and good play recognition. He has good foot quickness and good running ability, and he matches up very well with most tight ends and running backs in man-to-man coverage situations. He has good upper-body strength and is capable of re-routing receivers coming off the line when he is in press coverage and intimidating receivers coming over the middle. He takes good angles to the ball in pursuit and is a very aggressive hitter when he gets to the ballcarrier. He is a little stiff in his hips and does not have a smooth transition coming out of his backpedal, and he struggles a little with body control and change of direction. He is more effective the closer to the line of scrimmage he plays, and he still needs to improve his recognition skills and his ability to read companion routes. He still bites on play-action fakes at times, but he has greatly improved in this phase of his play. He shows he can play over the top in a Cover 2 scheme, but he can be late reacting to plays in front of him and is often late breaking to the ball. He needs to become more consistent with his ability to read and react and do a better job of breaking to the ball when it's thrown.