Everson Griffen re-signed to 5 year deal.

[KSViking]

I think we spent a little too much on him, compared to what he has actually done production wise. But, if he can step up his game, then Im all for it. Its still alot cheaper than Allens contract hit was the last couple of years.

Now if we bring in a decent CB, and Joseph at DT, I would be pretty happy with the F/A offseason the Vikings put together. And after the draft, maybe grabbing some of those steals that that some of the other good teams get every year.

[Purple bruise]

I think we spent a little too much on him, compared to what he has actually done production wise. But, if he can step up his game, then Im all for it. Its still alot cheaper than Allens contract hit was the last couple of years.

Now if we bring in a decent CB, and Joseph at DT, I would be pretty happy with the F/A offseason the Vikings put together. And after the draft, maybe grabbing some of those steals that that some of the other good teams get every year.

Production wise He was playing his whole three years BEHIND an All Pro defensive end who will be in the hall of fame some day. Every time he got the opprotunity, it seems as though he was making big plays. Fact is they were even using him at defensive tackle often times. He is coming into his prime, playing for a defensive guru and will be most likely starting on day one of the regular season. I see great things in his career and I am glad he resigned.

[soflavike]

I love this signing... the contract is fine for a starting DE in the NFL. I think Griffen has the chops to be a very dangerous man for several seasons to come.

[dead_poet]

I'd rather they focus on Verner and Soliai/Joseph now. Johnson is going to tie up way too much cap at the DE position.

Agreed. I don't see any way Johnson is going to be in Purple now. While I agree you don't tie up way too much cap at the DE position, you also don't sign Griffen to that much cash and then move him to an unnatural position (LB, for example) and just "hope" he works out there while you sign Johnson to be DE. That would be an astronomical gamble for a guy they experimented there already before moving him back to his more natural end position.

The way I look at it now, they've stopped the bleeding, but the gaping wound is still there (particularly at CB, MLB and NT). Agree with Verner, Soliai/Joseph now. I'm on the fence about McClain, who has never been a very good linebacker and comes with a spinal cord injury. It would also possibly serve to further bury Mauti, whom I'm still interested in seeing compete. What a muddled, unimpressive group that is/will be.

I also think there's probably no chance we sign Spikes after we essentially got a poor man's Spikes in Brinkley. Really hoping for Mack or Mosely (possibly Borland) in the draft. In my eyes we've GOT to land one of Soliai or Joseph now (preferably Joseph, who's younger and a better talent). There's such a remaining hole at the center of our defense. This is going to be a vital draft.

[NextQuestion]

I'm not super sold on Michael Johnson either. He was a full time starter at DE and put up 3.5 sacks. Griffen put up 5.5 in a back up role.

[UltraNasty850]

People tend to think that their "gut instincts" set them apart from everyone else when debating or discussing the future of an NFL player.

My gut has been telling me Griffen will be a stud. He is a great example of a raw kid coming into the league, playing under a vet, and earning himself a nice contract and starting role. We are about to see a monster released.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GUY RUN?

Don't worry about his contract, in the end it will seem like pocket change.

SKOL!

[PurpleHalo]

I have to eat crow on this one! I didn't think it was gonna happen, but I'm glad it did. You pay so much more in FA for other teams castoffs, it's much more economically sound to resign your good young players instead. My next dream signing would be a slick DB to team with Xman, and I also really want them to get LB Vincent Rey, Cincy gave him the lowest tender as a restricted FA, so the Vikings wouldn't have to give up a lot to get him.

[jackal]

we could still sign Johnson we would just have to back load some of his money.

One benefit to not having a top tier QB is the 100 million plus money you have tied up in the one player... AKA ROMO

[PurpleHalo]

we could still sign Johnson we would just have to back load some of his money.

One benefit to not having a top tier QB is the 100 million plus money you have tied up in the one player... AKA ROMO

FA DEs are way too expensive, this team is not in position where having a Dline rotation is going to make a difference. There is no benefit in my mind to not having a top QB, lets look at our trophy case shall we?

[Mothman]

Vikings: On Griffen, Johnson and schemes

It's also interesting that Johnson will be playing in Tampa Bay for former Vikings coach Leslie Frazier, who is the Buccaneers' new defensive coordinator, instead of Mike Zimmer, his old defensive coordinator in Cincinnati.

Johnson should see his sack numbers go up, while the Vikings will have to meld their new system with Griffen's strengths. He's versatile enough that the Vikings should be able to use him in a number of ways, but he'll have to learn a scheme that figures to be markedly different from the one the Vikings had in the past.

In some senses, it might have made more sense for Griffen to go to Tampa Bay and Johnson to come to Minnesota, based on what each player had been doing in the past. Now we'll see how each does with a big deal and a new set of responsibilities.

[Mothman]

Just tweeted by Ben Goessling ‏@GoesslingESPN ...

Everson Griffen said Mike Zimmer still plans to put him on the defensive line, but "he's going to use me."

Griffen: "I'm going to use all this knowledge and apply it to my freakish athletic ability." He's fired up.

Griffen: "When I become a master at my craft by playing one position, is there a ceiling in here? I’m going to keep on looking."

Griffen said he doesn't mind rushing from a stand-up position. And he closes by inviting the media to his workout tomorrow. Very excitable.

Griffen yells, "Minnesota Vikings ... STAND UP!" tells Cassel he loves him and hangs up. Just awesome.

[dead_poet]

Nice.

[headless_norseman]

FA DEs are way too expensive, this team is not in position where having a Dline rotation is going to make a difference. There is no benefit in my mind to not having a top QB, lets look at our trophy case shall we?

Agree. If we can get Mosely in the 1st, I think we do that. And maybe get a Carr in the 2nd. But I'd also like to see them draft anothehr QB in next years draft. Drafting two QB's is good strategy, I think.

[Eli]

The Vikings probably overpaid for him, but I like the idea of overpaying for our own better than someone else's. Last year it was Loadholt.

[dead_poet]

Everson Griffen is ready to start, but needs to embrace system change

Griffen will play more as an every-down player, but he's going to play differently.

A key to Griffen's future success will be buying into Zimmer's system, one that asks its defensive linemen to stop the run first. Even if the Vikings have enough depth along the defensive line to shift Griffen into the interior on passing downs - more than two-thirds of the time he'll be asked to crash the line of scrimmage and/or contain a running back first before looking to take down the quarterback.

The Vikings went all-in on Griffen with this contract and it sounds like he's already bought in.

"These guys here, they know how to use their players. I feel that just talking to the coaches that I sat down with a little bit, they know how to use their players, they know how to put you in the right situation at the right time to make a big play," Griffen said. "I just feel with [Zimmer's] mastermind skills and what he brings to the table, he's going to use not just me, he's going to use every single player on the team the right way and that's what we need. We've got all the talent in the world but when all the talent is used right, then the sky is the limit."

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Ever ... ange031214