GM Rick Spielman reiterated that he wants to re-sign free agent RT Phil Loadholt.
One of the unsung heroes in Adrian Peterson's miraculous 2012 season, Loadholt is a candidate for a major payday. He's missed just one start in his four-year career and is one of the game's premier run-blockers at 6'8/343. "Continuity is a huge part of it on the offensive line because those guys have to work as one unit and they have to know each other inside and out," Spielman said. "We'd love to keep Phil Loadholt, so we'll try to do everything we can to keep Phil Loadholt but we also have a lot of guys we'd like to keep." Source: vikings.com
I agree that he is good, but have the standards of OL play dropped that much that he is considered "premier"? Doesn't that strike anyone else as odd?
The Devil whispered in the Viking's ear, "There's a storm coming." The Viking replied, "I am the storm." #SKOL2018
PurpleMustReign wrote:
I agree that he is good, but have the standards of OL play dropped that much that he is considered "premier"? Doesn't that strike anyone else as odd?
Well, he is a "Premier Run Blocker" ... of course we watched him in pass protection all season which is why this probably seems strange. As a run blocker though he is very good.
I'm certain that between now and then you'll see multiple lists ranking this year's free-agent class from No. 1 right on down the line. While I understand why those lists exist, it is not how a real NFL GM approaches free agency. There are several elements that make a comprehensive ranking moot. For starters, players have different values in different systems. A team that plays a lot of Cover 2 might not emphasize a cornerback the same as a blitz-heavy team such as the New York Jets. Dwight Freeney might be a great pickup for a team utilizing a Wide-9 scheme, although he makes less sense as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 set. And while Andy Levitre is a great player, how much does a team want to pay a guard? With all these variables unique to each team, there's no universal value for a player.
As a GM, when I approached free agency, I utilized a tier system based on how I valued players. It involved three classes, which you'll see below:
Free-agency tiers
A Players: Worth paying big, starter-caliber money.
B Players: Guys I would sign but only if the value made sense.
C Players: Guys I'd sign for low-salary, short-term (one or two years) value, with low bonuses.
More at the link. You'll need to be an ESPN Insider to read it all. Unfortunately, I'm not...
I am an insider, and I read it. I don't agree with it. He has way too many players in the 'A' category but has players such as Manny Lawson, Greg Jennings, and Dwayne Bowe in the 'B' category.
A Randy Moss fan for life. A Kevin Williams fan for life.
Forget Kelly. What piqued my attention was the part on DHB. He flashed in 2011 (64/975/4 stat line). Might be a "Tier Two" guy to consider. Of course, he might be Jerome Simpson Part II, which wouldn't be much of an upgrade.
Tommy Kelly - DL - Raiders
The Contra Costa Times considers Raiders NT Tommy Kelly an "obvious" release or restructure candidate.
The Raiders are right up against the expected $121 million cap despite having one of the league's worst rosters. They could free up roughly $10 million in space by parting with Kelly and Darrius Heyward-Bey. We expect both moves to be made. Source: Contra Costa Times
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly
I wonder where the Vikings are in negotiations with their free agents. We're starting to see teams sign their soon-to-be FAs and a lot of stories in the news of ongoing contract negotiations. Not much news out of Winter Park beyond the never ending Percy Harvin saga.
I suspect Sanford could command more than a smallish contract. He flashed this year and a team looking for a cheap upgrade could go after him. There is a dearth of safety talent in the league as it is. I hope they get him locked up ASAP.
I want Loadholt back, the reality is they are not going to get anyone better cheaper and the assumption they can get soemone better is quite dubious IMO.
The LB sitaution is crappy. You can let those two drift in the wind in FA, like they did with Henderson last year, then resign them late. Howver, if one or both do get picked up, then what? We defintitely need more talent than these two offer, but if we let them both go, then what is left on the roster? I think they both deserve to be set out to pasture, but I'm not sure they both will be unless Spielman makes some FA moves.
WR - been beat to death. I think JS comes back, not sure on where new talent will come from (FA/Draft/both) but they need more depth.
Winning is not a sometime thing it is an all of the time thing - Vince Lombardi
Appearing on SportsCenter Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter said the Chiefs may wind up franchise tagging Dwayne Bowe for a second straight year.
"The Chiefs are gonna figure out a way to keep him," said Schefter. The Chiefs would prefer a long-term deal, but they may not want to commit Vincent Jackson money to Bowe for fear of "decreased effort" once he gets paid. Keeping Bowe hungry and in another contract year could prevent against that. If tagged consecutively, Bowe would command over $11 million guaranteed for the 2013 season.
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly
Free agent G Geoff Schwartz has no intention of signing on as a backup.
With Brandon Fusco locked in at right guard in Minnesota, Schwartz is expected to move on. He's still just 26 and started 16 games for the Panthers in 2010, so there's some potential here. Expect a Schwartz to land somewhere he can compete for a starting gig. Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly
dead_poet wrote:Hopefully Fusco can turn into another Sullivan.
Geoff Schwartz - T - Vikings
Free agent G Geoff Schwartz has no intention of signing on as a backup.
With Brandon Fusco locked in at right guard in Minnesota, Schwartz is expected to move on. He's still just 26 and started 16 games for the Panthers in 2010, so there's some potential here. Expect a Schwartz to land somewhere he can compete for a starting gig. Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Double awesome in that story. Another year of Fusco and a very underrated player moving on from our team.
I think Geoff should go to Cleveland and play with his brother Mitchell. They would form a very good right side of the offensive line in Cleveland.
A Randy Moss fan for life. A Kevin Williams fan for life.
Appearing on SportsCenter Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter said the Chiefs may wind up franchise tagging Dwayne Bowe for a second straight year.
"The Chiefs are gonna figure out a way to keep him," said Schefter. The Chiefs would prefer a long-term deal, but they may not want to commit Vincent Jackson money to Bowe for fear of "decreased effort" once he gets paid. Keeping Bowe hungry and in another contract year could prevent against that. If tagged consecutively, Bowe would command over $11 million guaranteed for the 2013 season.
Under the new CBA, I thought a player could only be tagged once.
dead_poet wrote:Hopefully Fusco can turn into another Sullivan.
Hopefully the Vikings haven't shot themselves in the foot by waiting to see if he does. Their depth at guard is pretty bad without Schwartz, who should have been starting, IMO.
Here's our first 2012 one-year contract that didn't work out in the Vikings' favor. Schwartz got over his injury of 2011 and showed that he could play. But now he has no desire to remain a Viking, as he's been a starter in the past and will be a starter once again somewhere else.
