How much cap room do the Vikings have?

[PikeTipper]

Mushin Muhhamed would be a great addition to the Vikes. Since the Bears cut him I'm sure they are planning on signing Berrian.

The Giants sure showed everyone how valuable a couple of good DEs are so if Jason Taylor is available expect a bidding war to start.

[tisosy11]

yeah - the vikes definately need an upgrade at DE, S, and WR

The other positions could come together and our DBs are on the doorstep of being very solid...especially if 'Toine stays healthy.

[james_walleye]

The vikings need some speed. Muhammed would fit right in with all the other has beens the vikings normally sign. Berrian has gamebreaking speed and is a real deep threat. The kind of threat that could open things up for Peterson. Put Wade in the slot where he belongs. Sydney Rice is a younger faster version of Muhammed. Rice showed last year he can go up and get the ball. The vikes need someone who can stretch the field and Berrian would fit that bill. But i agree i don't think the bears let him get out of town. Crayton is probably more likely and wouldnt be bad. Hes also a guy who can stretch the defense out.

[Bluegill1510]

 Originally Posted By: tisosy11

Bluegill - I dare you to count the drops that Jackson's receivers had this year that were easily catchable balls. Its hard to bag on a young QB that hasn't had any legit receivers.

Oh I noticed Tisosy, it made me turn off a few games this fall and go hit the bow stand a little earlier than I wanted because of the terrible recieving core the vikes had this year! Grant it the only positive things I saw was Sidney Rice can be a dependable WR when healthy and Bobby Wade is an overall good player when given the chance to play. Allison didn't look to bad either and has some good returning skills. Everyone rips on T-Jack though (even me) cuz he is the QB, and should be a pro bowl even though he was only in his 2nd year in the league..1st year starting. But the vikes need to add an insurance policy behind Jackson because Holcomb or Bollinger scare the heck out of me!

Also you guys are thinking of Mushin to when he was in his days for Carolina, and he isn't that anymore and to old, and not cost effective for the vikes. The vikes don't have speed, they are a team built to run the ball, what they do need a WR that as JW stated, will stretch the field like Moss did. Williamson was suppose to be that guy but he couldn't catch a ball if his hands had gorrilla glue on them! Make Berrian an offer otherwise sign an Andre Davis or Bryant Johnson...oh and does Jerry Porter ring a bell to any of you?? He's a free agent as well too.

I think Moss stays in New England, or heads down south and joins Mr. Tice and the Jags in sunny Florida where he will get paid more than what the Pats would offer. Moss a Cowboy wow! I honestly do not think there is enough room in the Cowboy's locker room for all 3 egos of TO, MOSS, and ROMO.

[tisosy11]

Jones wants to make a splash! The playoff losses are going to mess with his sanity...

The vikes do need to find a liable back up, i agree. Competition breeds confidence...T-Jack needs to prove he can stay healthy and show he can carry this team. The receivers need to catch the ball and it will be nice that Rice and Allison will be a year older. Wade, Rice, Allison are all nice guys and none are really slow. Allison could be that deep threat the vikes are looking for because berrian will be stupid money if the bears don't sign him outright...

[james_walleye]

If the vikes can get their hands on him, Berrian would be instant success. He will make defenses pay over and over for bringing 8 or 9 guys in the box. Hes a proven deep threat. He would instantly bring a dimension that defenses would have to respect. Something defenses didnt have to do last year. Having to respect that dimension would just open up Peterson. Adding Berrian would add an element of "pick your poison". Lets face it, if you have a reciever that can get you deep its going to open up lanes to run. This is the type of reciever we need. But again, will the bears pay him? But then again, is he sick of playing in Chicago? Would the prospects of playing on the fast track of the metrodome and playing with a home run hitter like Peterson be appetizing enough to get him in town? Maybe....

[Bluegill1510]

The bears didn't use their franchise tag on him so he will become a Free Agent and then the bidding wars will begin for him. Also heard on PA and Dubay from Adam Caplan (footballinjuries.com) that the bears front office and Berrian's agent aren't seeing eye to eye on things and that the bears are more interested in signing Lance Briggs long term. I really hope the vikes land him because then we could focus on other needs like signing a safety and Justin Smith DE.

[saloonsoftball76]

I am going to suggest a guy. He had issues in oakland. but porter would be better. Or him and berrian with rice.

[james_walleye]

Berrian is twice the reciever and isnt a headcase.

[tisosy11]

OK - before everyone signs berrians check. What has he really done to prove he can be the main target in an offense?

I'm not saying I wouldn't take him...but I don't know that another 6' nothing receiver that weighs 180 will do for us...He's a nice player, don't get me wrong. But i don't know that hes going to be worth the price tag that he will assuredly come with...

[Wadinator]

 Originally Posted By: tisosy11

...But i don't know that hes going to be worth the price tag that he will assuredly come with...

Not many free-agency players are.

If the Vikes are gonna spend real money on a receiver, I'd rather see them pick up Moss or Stallworth. If they can get a deal on Berrian (odds are pretty slim), then go for it.

[tisosy11]

Moss will not be a Viking...i would imagine we are 28 or 27 on his list...

[koonie]

The Vikes need a true #1 reciever. Berrian is not it and neither is Johnson or Porter. Yes, Berrian is fast but just because you put him out there doesn't mean the whole field will open up for AP. He really hasn't proven anything so far in the NFL. He has never had a quality QB throwing to him and he wouldn't have one with the Vikes either. From what I've seen he basically only runs two patterns well(fly and double move). We run a modified wco and Berrian doesn't really fit. Plus with the lack of quality #1 wr's in this years free agency he will be vastly overpriced. We need to build through the draft and there is tremendous quality and depth at the wr position this year. WE AREN'T GOING TO WIN IT ALL THIS YEAR OR NEXT! There is no quick fix wr out there for us. Our best option is to draft and develop.

[Born2Fish]

Id like to see the vikes go after one of the big name receivers in the draft. Either Limas Sweed, Malcolm Kelly, or Desean Jackson. I have looked into a TON of mock drafts and alot have MN taking a DB/WR/S. I like Kelly alot(6'4", 4.40, and great hands). There's just so many options in the draft. Can't wait.

[james_walleye]

I don't know, Berrian had 71 catches, 950 yards and 5 TD's last year on an offense that was horrible. Seems as though he's proven alot more than any reciever thats still in college yet. Drafting a reciever is getting to be to much of a "shot in the dark". The vikings will address the WR need somehow in free agency. Berrian most certainly is a #1 reciever and there will be a high market for him. I think his talent is very possibly highly untapped playing on the rotten offense he's played on. Don't get me wrong, if you could draft Sweed and know hes going to be a 85 catch 1200 yard guy at some point then that would be great, but you don't know that. We've seen Berrian put up decent numbers on a horrible offense. We all know he can play. Its certainly a safer bet. And he's a guy that can step in game 1 next season and produce for a team that was a win against the skins last year from the playoffs. We've seen with the giants how just getting into the playoffs can turn into gold. Add a reciever who you know can play next year and you've filled an awfully big hole on a team that isnt to shabby as it stands. Having Berrian might not instantly open up things for AP, but anyone whos seen him play knows if you leave him 1 on 1 on the outside he can make you pay. He is the kind of guy this team lacked last year. An outside reciever who can make you pay dearly for stacking the box. The vikes are at a point where they have to make a run this year or next. You arent going to keep this defense together forever. They've built through the draft nicely the last couple years. Its time to supplement those drafts with some free agents now. Put the pieces together and try to make a run. The NFC isn't that strong, a few pieces could put the vikings in the mix. An outside reciever is an absolute must!

[tisosy11]

ahahha berrian hasn't been a 85 catch 1200 yard guy so, you'd be willing to pay 8 times more than a rookie receiver

[tisosy11]

B squared isn't any slouch but hes not worth the house

[koonie]

Berrian has decent numbers but he's far from a #1 reciever. He's better than our other options but not worth the price we'd have to pay. He's a #2 and nothing more.

#1 recievers: Moss, TO, Fitzgerald(sp?), Wayne, House and Ocho. Berrian aint even sniffin those guys.

Just some stats: Berrian was 26 in the league in yardage and 47 other guys had as many or more TDs than him.

I'd take Berrian if the price was right or if we had an established, quality quarterback,

[Bluegill1510]

 Originally Posted By: koonie

#1 recievers: Moss, TO, Fitzgerald(sp?), Wayne, House and Ocho. Berrian aint even sniffin those guys.

Yeah, these guys are #1, but really the only one who is really available is Moss, and frankly he isnt coming here. So you need to settle for what is left and the best talent available in FA. The vikes need a WR, cuz as of right now we basically have Rice, Wade and Allison so we need another playmaker, regardless if he is a #1,2,3,4 WR. Names that have come up are Berrian, Andre Davis, jerry Porter, Bryant Johnson...they aren't the best players overall but the Vikes need to sign 1 or 2 vetern WR's that can come in now and produce. Unless you can guarentee any of these WR's in the draft can produce like AP did last year. I honestly think they should make a valid push for Alge Crumpler because he would do wonder for T-Jack or go the route of draft Michael Rucker TE from Missouri on day one in the 2nd round.

All I know is the vikes will take a player at #17 that fits well with the overall character of this team, and is a stand out athlete regardless of position. Plus whom ever drops to us will determine that as well....there are so many mock drafts that half the time they don't even know what they are talking about and judge players off of combine numbers! The combine has its purpose but I am more concerned what these players do on the field (can they catch the ball, run with it, hang on to the ball, block, read the QB, tackles well, has a nose for the football, etc) rather than how fast they run some shuttle drill or 40 yard dash or how much they can bench press for how many reps! So really anything can happen and the vikes could take a Kenny Phillips or DeSean Jackson or Mario Manningham or Calais Campbell, etc. Just to list a few names but strange things happen come draft day, and I think after what the Giants did this year look for alot of teams to load up on DE's. Meaning it would be a good idea if the vikes looked into signing Justin Smith of the Bengals once FA opens on friday! Just 4 days away guys!

[james_walleye]

LOLOL AHAHAHA Yeah I would pay Berrian. None of the rookies have ever caught a ball in the NFL and you may end with Troy Williamson. LOLOL. You get a reciever or two in free agency and get your safety in the draft, its the safe way to go. I sat and had this discussion on here 2 seasons ago about Matt Schaub. I said hes played a few games, we've seen him play in the NFL. Well worth the 2nd round pick in my mind so bring him in. Everyone else thougth he hadnt played enough, don't waste a 2nd round pick on him. Draft a QB and groom him people said. How has that turned out in hindsight? Schaub was pretty darn good last season and our QB's werent. Similiar situation here and here you don't have to even trade from him. A solid reciever who's been trapped on a terrible offense. A guy whos talent i believe is largely untapped. I'm not saying hes a Fitz, Owens, Moss, Ocho, but you don't have to be one of these guys to be a solid #1 reciever either. Like i said though, as much as i want him the FAN said there is at least 10 teams that will be after his services. The market is big for him. Hes a good reciever whos talent hasn't been exploited and teams know it. We havnen't seen the best of Berrian. Wherever he ends up he instantly makes any reciever core much, much better. You don't know that with any rookie. Take the top 4 recievers in the draft and you'll be lucky if 2 them ever get to be better than average. And you most likely won't see that until season 2 or 3. Don't know if the vikings can keep a really good defense together long enough to sit and try to groom recievers for a couple years down the road. Then in 2 years you still might be sitting where you are now because the reciever didn't pan out. Acually the ideal situation is to get a buy like Berrian. Go get Williams, the safety from the Bengals and you could still then draft a reciever because the vikings actually need 2 recievers, not just 1.

[tisosy11]

 Originally Posted By: james_walleye

LOLOL AHAHAHA Schaub was pretty darn good last season and our QB's werent.

T-jack - 70.8 1911 yards 12 tds (3 rushing) and 12 picks

Schaub - 87.2 2241 9 tds 9 picks

You would be willing to swap first rounders and lose two 2nd rounders for 330 yards. I wouldn't...[PoorWordUsage] Williamson dropped more yards than that in half the games he played in...

If you say the Vikes screwed up by not getting Schaub you should return your authentic AP jersey because he'd be a Falcon right now...Sidney Rice wouldn't be in purple either. Plus your # 2 this year.

Not sure Schaub was worth it...Give t-jack a chance with some receivers that will not drop the ball...

[james_walleye]

Going into the 2006 NFL draft the talk was a 2nd round pick for Schaub. I would have done that. No i wouldnt have done what the texans did.

Just read on Paul Allens bit on KFAN that the browns are interested in Berrian. He says the vikings will seek out Berrian but if the bidding gets to high they will back out.

[Bluegill1510]

JW....Schaub looked good in the 1st half of the season but getting injuried and then after teams started taking the Texans seriously he didn't look so great. I honestly would of gone the route that the Vikes took anyways because I remember when Schaub was up for grabs and the vikes did bring him in but I think his age and the asking price was a bit high for him. Especially for the Vikes at the time when they needed every draft pick they could use.

Good news is we traded Williamson to the Jags for a 6th round draft pick! So now the vikes can focus on signing their own unrestricted free agents and guys like on the open market come Friday. Who do you guys think the vikes will resign from the list of free agents that we have now? (Mewelde Moore, Tony Richardson, Robert Ferguson, Spencer Johnson, Darrion Scott, Dontarrious Thomas, Ronyell Whitaker, Tank Williams, Mike Doss)

As a fan I'd like us to retain Richardson, Johnson, and Williams, but reality is I bet the vikes only retain 2 of these guys and they will probably be Ferguson, and Willams. I think with an abundance of teams with money to spend Moore, Richardson, Johnson, and Scott will get good contracts for more what they are worth.

Another name that came up in the free agent WR talks on the PA show was Devard Darling of the Baltimore Ravens...any thoughts? Remember the vikes have $30 million in cap room so they can splurge one 1 or 2 players (Berrian, Justin Smith), I think Madieu Williams or Jamori Wilson the safeties that the vikes are looking at won't demand as much money as Berrian, Asante Samuel will.

[james_walleye]

Going into the 2006 season he was 3 years into his career and the talk was a 2nd round pick would do the trick. I would have done that. Anymore than that, no i wouldnt have. It may all work out great. If they would have had Schaub they probably wouldnt have had the 7th pick last draft and probably wouldnt have gotten AP. So yeah in hindsight so far it probably has worked out.

[tisosy11]

Right, the talk was a 2nd rounder...proves that PA & Dubay aren't the all knowing.

But evidently he wasn't attainable for a 2nd rounder...