Are the Vikings now done with FA?

[The Breeze]

I haven't had time to follow much the last couple of days... has Winfield signed anywhere?

n'yet

[dead_poet]

Seth Olsen - G - Vikings

Vikings signed OG Seth Olsen, formerly of the Colts.

A restricted free agent, Olsen wasn't tendered by Indy. He's returning to team he briefly spent time with in 2010-11. Pressed into four starts last season, Olsen wasn't better than replacement level. He'll be a reserve in Minnesota.
Mar 19 - 4:16 PM

[Eli]

Seth Olsen was on the Vikings practice squad a couple years ago. I wonder if he has any PS eligibility left. The need to find a body to replace Geoff Schwartz at guard, but Olsen would be a distinct step backward.

[Rus]

The CB market was deep this off season. When he got released he was rated on nfl.com as the 3rd or 4th best CB avaliable ... and that was after 1-2 had already been signed.

If they get him back I just hope they're not bringing back a discontented player. Otherwise it would be great to have him back. His leadership is valuable.

Exactly why he's more valuable to the Vikings at this point than another team. For another team, he's a stopgap. For the Vikings, he's a recognized team leader.

[Demi]

If the Vikes are going to sign a free agent MLB, they'd be better off going with Dansby.

Urlacher has more years in the cover 2 then our defensive coordinator does! Not only will he contribute on the field, but the "helping the young guys" everyone loves! Perfect guy to bring in for 2-3 years while they find their future star at the position! He has all the skills Frazier is looking for in the position.

And he'd be hurting a division rival in the process.

Dansby has no experience in this system. Even with the step Urlacher lost he's better in coverage then Dansby has ever been.

Urlacher for MLB 2013!!!

[The Breeze]

i get the feeling urlacher wants more than we could give him....

[Mothman]

Urlacher has more years in the cover 2 then our defensive coordinator does!

... and his knowledge and experience would undoubtedly by helpful. However, if you truly want someone who can run at that position, as you've been saying, if you want a player who doesn't have to turn his back to drop and cover downfield, that's not Urlacher anymore. He's s-l-o-w at this point, not even close to the player he was in his prime. He's a smart player and a good leader but he's not a 2-3 year solution. He might not even be a one year solution anymore. Why do you think the Bears haven't re-signed him yet? They've put an offer on the table but they know overpaying him would be a mistake and overpaying is almost certainly what the Vikes would have to do to sign him. I doubt he's really interested in playing anywhere but Chicago anyway. I'll be very surprised if he signs anywhere else.

You're usually opposed to signing players over 30 and yet here you are beating the drum for a MLB who will be 35 in May. I'll never figure you out, Demi!

[ViciousBritishVike]

n'yet

Word on the street is a return to the Vikes, fingers crossed!

[losperros]

Exactly why he's more valuable to the Vikings at this point than another team. For another team, he's a stopgap. For the Vikings, he's a recognized team leader.

Well said. I agree. The team needs Winfield back.

[losperros]

... and his knowledge and experience would undoubtedly by helpful. However, if you truly want someone who can run at that position, as you've been saying, if you want a player who doesn't have to turn his back to drop and cover downfield, that's not Urlacher anymore. He's s-l-o-w at this point, not even close to the player he was in his prime. He's a smart player and a good leader but he's not a 2-3 year solution. He might not even be a one year solution anymore. Why do you think the Bears haven't re-signed him yet? They've put an offer on the table but they know overpaying him would be a mistake and overpaying is almost certainly what the Vikes would have to do to sign him. I doubt he's really interested in playing anywhere but Chicago anyway. I'll be very surprised if he signs anywhere else.

I'm sure that living in Chicago means you get to watch Urlacher way more than I do, Jim, so I appreciate your comments on him. I have to admit to wondering why the Vikings weren't more interested in him and my reasons would have been similar to Demi's points, which is that Urlacher knows the system and would fill a big gap with experience.

That said, what I didn't know is that Urlacher's skills had diminished so dramatically. I should have figured it out because of the Bears being reluctant to re-sign him. If that's the case, then we're talking stopgap territory and no way do I want the Vikings to invest cap money, especially big money, in someone that is a shell of his former self.

[Mothman]

I'm sure that living in Chicago means you get to watch Urlacher way more than I do, Jim, so I appreciate your comments on him. I have to admit to wondering why the Vikings weren't more interested in him and my reasons would have been similar to Demi's points, which is that Urlacher knows the system and would fill a big gap with experience.

That said, what I didn't know is that Urlacher's skills had diminished so dramatically. I should have figured it out because of the Bears being reluctant to re-sign him. If that's the case, then we're talking stopgap territory and no way do I want the Vikings to invest cap money, especially big money, in someone that is a shell of his former self.

He would definitely be a stopgap at best. Despite being an unrestricted free agent, he's received very little interest from other teams and I think that's why. It's not that he can't play at all anymore but the perception here (in Chicago) is that his game has been in decline for a while now. If that wasn't the case, I suspect the Vikes would be pressing to sign him since he was the premier MLB in the same basic defensive system for many years.

I'm convinced he'll take a substantial pay cut, re-sign with the Bears and probably retire in a year.

[PurpleMustReign]

lol

Yes!! I was going to post the same thing!

[dead_poet]

Brian Urlacher - LB - Bears

Speaking Wednesday, Bears coach Marc Trestman said he believes free agent Brian Urlacher can still "help our football team," and that the team's interest in a new deal "(isn't) just from a locker room perspective."

They're Trestman's most glowing comments about the future Hall-of-Famer, and suggest the sides are finally closing in on a new deal. Trestman did hint Urlacher may be phased out on passing downs, but at this point it would be a surprise if an accord isn't reached.
Source: Chicago Tribune

[Demi]

I could say the same thing about the Vikings signing Jennings. Coming off lowest production. An injury. 30 years old. But hey, we needed a WR and they decided to grab one. And have to hear about how much he'll help the guys behind him. If we're signing past their prime washed up players to try and have more success now, then let's do it. What does one more matter? We don't even have a player on the roster with any real starting experience at the position, and we have a division rival trying to re-sign theres.

I also don't recall hearing the exact same negatives about Jennings. No other team interested other then his former team, who wasn't willing to pay him what he felt he was worth. Along with what I already mentioned. But he's got the horns now so woow amazing signing skol Vikings the future is now.

[Mothman]

I could say the same thing about the Vikings signing Jennings. Coming off lowest production. An injury. 30 years old. But hey, we needed a WR and they decided to grab one. And have to hear about how much he'll help the guys behind him. If we're signing past their prime washed up players to try and have more success now, then let's do it.

Jennings is hardly past his prime or washed up. He's about 5 years younger than Urlacher. The situations aren't equivalent.