Cutler

[Scott K]

This just posted earlier today. Its hard to believe anything the media puts out there. This from the Washington Post

Quote:

Weekly Round-Up: Obligatory Cutler Stuff, Free Agent Wrap, Etc.

Things have certainly slowed down, but wanted to address two of the topics that seem to be on your collective minds before the weekend. So here goes:

The Jay Cutler Speculation: We continue to hear nothing tangible about this "trade" whatsoever. Vinny Cerrato has denied it up and down, not just to the media but to football people around the league. He's also denied it to agents for some Redskins players, according to league sources, some of whom could be potentially directly affected by the alleged swap(s). It's one thing to be less that truthful with the media and fans, and quite another to do so with people you hope to maintain an ongoing business relationship with.

Make no mistake, there was some chatter going around the league earlier this week, unsubstantiated talk and not backed up by fact (the kind of gossip that is a part of any business/corporation/league), that the Skins had a thing for the Denver QB. But it's quite another to report the inner workings of alleged three-way blockbuster deals as if they are potentially imminent. And, again, fitting a guy like Cutler under the cap, and absorbing massive cap hits from dealing guys like Chris Cooley, at a time when you only have the space to offer vet minimum deals for potential starters, is still something that seems impossible and render such deals as nonstarters.

Dwindling Free Agent Options: Yes there are holes to fill, but the options are limited. OT Elton Brown, a player the Skins flirted with, re-signed in Arizona this week, and unless they wait on an injured veteran like Mark Tauscher, they may have to address this in the draft. The Skins have made no contact on former Pro Bowl OT Orlando Pace, according to league sources, and, again, have very little wiggle room with the cap.

Also, to that end, I get a ton of emails about WRs like Torry Holt and D.J. Hackett -- the Redskins have not expressed interest in any of the receivers out there, these two included, and the word inside Redskins Park is that the team's budget at that position is set (dangerous gamble there, with Devin Thomas exhibiting knucklehead tendencies as a rookie and Malcolm Kelly trying to recover from yet another knee surgery). I expect DE Phillip Daniels to re-sign at some point, and LB Khary Campbell may not have any other options, either. And in that case OT and LB would be vital spots in the draft (to say nothing of what will be an ongoing dearth of young ends with every-down potential).

Also, DTs Kedric Golston and Anthony Montgomery had not signed their offer sheets as of last night. Both have plenty of time to do so, and it makes sense to keep options open should another team fancy them. In the end, though, I figure both of them are back here one-year deals.

[Scott K]

I would say odds are he will be a Bronco in September, but if he does get traded, I would say Tampa Bay, or the Vikings will be the teams that are going to complete the deal.

[rodmaker]

Cutler, for the Vikes #1 , Sage, and a their #3. Get it done!!!

[Craigums]

The longer this drags on the less I want cutler here. Kids got to big of an ego

[SledNeck]

huh?

If your boss talked about trying to get someone to replace u and it fell through...... Would u still feel the same working for the guy knowing you are so highly sought after on the open market?

[KTapper]

Honestly I think that the lions should keep all there picks. They have many needs and could use all their picks. I think that Culpepper will be ecent next year with a full off-season workout. He has Megatron catching balls also. I hope the vikings somehow get cutler.

[zepman]

Kfan reported today that out of the 10 teams interested in and making calls about aquiring Cutler now...the Vikes were NOT one of them.

[rodmaker]

I hope this isn't true. If that is the case , I hope they only win 5-8 games and Childress gets fired!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's the QB spot that has killed them for the last few seasons.

Maybe there is something going on in Philly. McNabb is not happy

[koonie]

With everybody interested in Cutler I'd say we have about a 3% chance of pulling off a deal for him. I doubt anything will happen until very shortly before the draft.

[FISHINGURU]

i'll be happy as long as t-awesome isn't qb....i really can't believe how lame we are in free agency this season though.

you'd think if they were content with having the sage vs t-awesome battle they'd atleast get them some new targets out there or some beefed out o-line players....we just missed out on weaver for FB.

you are supposed to build around your star RB not just think everything is good enough because u have him back there....who needs a line and a good FB when u have peterson? heck we don't even need wr's with peterson out there!!! we are being really stingy this year and missing out on players that would help out alot.

[zepman]

Sounded like Weaver was heading this way until we were outbid once again...he would have been a really nice pick-up. I believe the Vikes are currently without a fullback on the roster now.

[rodmaker]

Maybe lightning will strike twice. Last year, who would have thought would have thought we would acquire Allen from KC.

Come on Ziggi, step up and get Cutler, or be prepared fgor a season like last year. Maybe make the playoffs and lose the first game because of the QB play.

[FISHINGURU]

Last year, who would have thought would have thought we would acquire Allen from KC.

Maybe make the playoffs and lose the first game because of the QB play.

i did....i called the jared thing before it was even a twinkle in the media's eye...it is still a miracle we actually went and got him though.

people need to give sage a chance if he ends up being the starter...i don't see how people can say our seasons a bust, and we won't make playoffs, and if we do we are one and done because of the qb play when you never even seen the potential starter qb play for the team.....but if t-awesome is qb i agree.

cutler would rule but from this point it just might be a big pipe dream...who knows what the vikes are up to...all we do is sign and resign our current players which is cool, but other then that all we do is sign some special team free agents? they must plan on having the best draft anyone has ever seen!!!!!

heck we can just go get some o-line, FB, WR's, CB's, DT's, QB, and have them all be starters right out of the draft....nothing on offense matters and anything will work because we have peterson right? muahahahahahahahhahaahahahahaha

[rodmaker]

I'm not giving up hope on an additional QB before the draft.

[Scott K]

With the owners meeting starting today, if we dont make a deal for him before Monday night, I dont see it happening.

I really dont understand the Vikings front office, you have a team that has a lot of good players, and as a team it only needed a few more pieces to make this an elite team. They had a few chances to improve the team with a few top notch players, but came up short. I would think they would go the extra mile to get a couple more pieces to complete this team, and to sell season tickets.

I know the season hasnt started yet, and they have time to still get some players in here, but they havent impressed me yet.

[rodmaker]

Keep your fingers crossed!!!!

[PierBridge]

Yeah just go out and sign a bunch great players at the posistions we need help at...... you guys make it seem like it's a trip to the Dairy Queen for an Ice Cream cone.

[Scott K]

Its as easy as writing a check in todays game.

[Sandmannd]

I agree, if you write a check, they'll come for sure.

[goblueM]

unless they dont like cold weather, the city, the owners, the facilities, or the coaching staff. Although if you're TO i guess you just don't care about anything but money...

[slipbobbin]

That is all it is ever about. The ALMIGHTY dollar

[Scott M]

ESPN Insider had this to say about the Vikes:

Minnesota Vikings

Biggest need: QB

If the apocryphal stories about T.J. Houshmandzadeh's not signing with the Vikings after meeting Tarvaris Jackson are true, it should just be another sign of how far gone Jackson's status is, and how imperative it is for the Vikings to improve their situation at quarterback.

The problem is that the only free agent left on the marketplace who represents a possible upgrade on Jackson is Jeff Garcia, and he's attracted absolutely no interest from anyone. Jay Cutler may or may not be available in trade, but the Vikings won't want to sacrifice their first-round pick to acquire Cutler with depth issues around the lineup to be filled. In addition, when the Vikings traded for Jared Allen and then gave him a $74 million deal last year, owner Zygi Wilf had to put out a cash call to ensure that his team would have cash on hand throughout the offseason. Any team acquiring Cutler would likely be expected to finance a new deal, which Wilf might be loathe to do.

With a team designed to win right now, there are two potentially palatable options in trade. Matt Leinart and Vince Young have become linked as busts from the 2006 draft, but neither's really had much of a chance to prove that he's a bust. Leinart's been called a bust because he lost his job to Kurt Warner, but he got that tag before Warner emerged as an MVP candidate this year. Merely being worse than Kurt Warner does not make you a bad quarterback -- plenty of teams would still benefit from your presence. The Vikings would be one.

Young became a much more accurate quarterback in 2007, even as his touchdown-to-interception ratio dropped. He's had all of 31 starts as a pro, and considering the lack of receiving options around him, it's pretty harsh to already place him firmly in the "bust" category.

Buying low on either Young or Leinart gives the Vikings the chance to acquire a potentially elite quarterback on the cheap. Either one should be an upgrade on the devil they already know.

[Scott K]

But we have Sage

[koonie]

Although I wish the Cutler deal would go down, I just don't see the Vikings doing it.

I think Sage and TJack are going to have to get us through this year so we can draft our next franchise(hopefully) quarterback. A very good group of quarterbacks should be in the draft next year. I mean a VERY good group. Although a high draft pick doesn't guarantee a great quarterback.

I just believe the Vikings brain trust doesn't want to trade away any more draft picks. I think they are a little gunshy about pulling off a "panic" trade just because Cutler is available. Visions of the Walker trade will haunt the purple and gold forever.

[FISHINGURU]

vince young is about as bad as t-awesome...as sad as it sounds i would almost rather have t-awesome lol.

i'd rather have leinart then either but i doubt they want to get rid of him with warners age.

i'm betting they are happy enough with sage for the price they paid and possible potential.