Vikings Message Board.Com

mansquatch wrote:Also and you look at that list and if you take Simpson off, then who fills that slot?

Almost anybody...

Okay, I don't mean that but Simpson was unreliable and unproductive in 2012 and "unreliable and unproductive" isn't hard to replace. I have no objections to what you proposed. If they bring him back on a short, inexpensive deal and make him compete for/earn whatever playing time he ultimately receives, I'd understand that and be fine with it. You say they aren't going to sign more than one free agent but by including Simpson in your WR roster forecast, you already have them signing more than one free agent. Unless they sign him to a new contract before the free agent signing period begins, he'll just be another WR on the market. If they can sign a free agent and re-sign Simpson they can sign a free agent and sign someone else.

If Harvin and Wright are back, that leaves 3-4 more WR positions to fill and they'll have options. There will be plenty of WRs available in free agency and the draft and they may choose to see what a player like Chris Summers (who spent this season on their practice squad) can do as well. Bringing Simpson back is certainly an option but not because it would be hard to fill his spot on the roster. It should be relatively easy to find a player who could match or surpass the 26 receptions and 274 yards he produced in 10 starts this season. I understand that he was hurt. I'm just saying, this is exactly a quandary.

The Giants released LB Michael Boley on Tuesday, the team announced.

“Michael came in and learned our defense quickly and he added speed, coupled with big-play ability, to our defensive unit,” said GM Jerry Reese. “He also played an important role in helping us win Super Bowl XLVI. I wish him well as he moves forward in his career.”
Sounds like someone of interest perhaps.

Louis Vasquez - G - Chargers

Pro scouts around the NFL reportedly "love" free agent RG Louis Vasquez.

ESPN AFC West blogger Bill Williamson considered 25-year-old Vasquez the Chargers' "best offensive lineman" in 2012, and Pro Football Focus graded him as a top-13 overall guard. Vasquez, at 6'5/335, is a particularly effective pass blocker. He could be viewed by clubs as better fit for left guard on the open market.
Source: ESPN.com

CB might be deepest position in free agency. 1) Aqib Talib 2) Brent Grimes 3) Sean Smith 4) Chris Houston 5) Derek Cox 6) DRC 7) EJ Biggers Mike Jenkins 9) Brad Fletcher 10) Cary Williams 11) Keenan Lewis 12) Antoine Cason 13) Quentin Jammer 14) Leodis McKelvin.

Evan Silva on Twitter

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Also Eric Wright

Mothman wrote: He's as good as as cut and I hope they just replace him with a better receiver but it's possible that they could cut him to avoid paying the roster bonus and then choose to re-sign him. I doubt there will be a significant market for his services.

I see this as a definite possibility.

Sounds like several of the areas where we need help are deep in FA. That is good, but I wonder if they’ll address all of them that way? Seems risky given the cap hits we’d take.

You have to figure they’ll want to improve at LB/CB/WR/OL

Of those I think we all agree that WR/LB are the biggest priority and LB is at the moment probably the shallowest pool in the FA market. I think we’ll see them spend $$ on WR, CB I’m less certain as that position is demanding premiums right now in Free Agency, it might be wiser to invest a 3rd round pick like they did last year. OL I have no idea, they’ve shown they like developing guys, but Spielman also brought in Hutch, so anything is possible. I could speculate that LB will be most likely addressed via the draft, but it could also fly under the radar and be a place where the Vikings could add talent at a relative discount. At this point I think it is safe to say anything is possible. Should be an interesting offseason…

I think our OL should just be left the way it is. We have a pretty solid OL and I think there are other positions that need to be addressed before we even think about changing the OL.

dead_poet wrote:Louis Vasquez - G - Chargers

Pro scouts around the NFL reportedly "love" free agent RG Louis Vasquez.

ESPN AFC West blogger Bill Williamson considered 25-year-old Vasquez the Chargers' "best offensive lineman" in 2012, and Pro Football Focus graded him as a top-13 overall guard. Vasquez, at 6'5/335, is a particularly effective pass blocker. He could be viewed by clubs as better fit for left guard on the open market.
Source: ESPN.com

I think if we were able to Land Louis Vazquez that would be HUGE! Think about A.D Running behind that line... We have mediocre at best guards and adding a top notch guard like Vazquez could really help!

Dark wrote:I think our OL should just be left the way it is. We have a pretty solid OL and I think there are other positions that need to be addressed before we even think about changing the OL.

Just think of having the left side of our line under the age of 25 for the next 7 years and having Pro Bowlers over their. It brings me back to when we pulled in Steve Hutchinson from the Seachikens. Games are won in the trenches and we all know that Ponder needs as much time as possible

Mercy Percy wrote: Just think of having the left side of our line under the age of 25 for the next 7 years and having Pro Bowlers over their. It brings me back to when we pulled in Steve Hutchinson from the Seachikens. Games are won in the trenches and we all know that Ponder needs as much time as possible

If an awesome Offensive Lineman is completely available, I would usually say go for them. But since we have more need for WR, LB, and CB, I think we have to address those problems before we go for an OL. It doesn't matter if ponder has a ton of time in the pocket if there aren't any WR's to throw to.

Ahhh, lame. Im thinking build up everything for the next quarterback we get in a couple of years so he can walk in and have a team full of weapons, and a great line at his disposal. I was optimistic about Ponder for the longest time but now im starting to become pessimistic.

The only players I can see that the Vikings will keep for sure is FB Jerome Felton, LB Jasper Brinkley, OT Phil Loadholt & maybe WR Jerome Simpson if he isnt asking for to much money.

dead_poet wrote:Louis Vasquez - G - Chargers

Pro scouts around the NFL reportedly "love" free agent RG Louis Vasquez.

ESPN AFC West blogger Bill Williamson considered 25-year-old Vasquez the Chargers' "best offensive lineman" in 2012, and Pro Football Focus graded him as a top-13 overall guard. Vasquez, at 6'5/335, is a particularly effective pass blocker. He could be viewed by clubs as better fit for left guard on the open market.
Source: ESPN.com

Wow would I like to see him on our team.

Dark wrote:I think our OL should just be left the way it is. We have a pretty solid OL and I think there are other positions that need to be addressed before we even think about changing the OL.

Did you watch any games this past season? Most of the pressure came from HORRIBLE guard pass protection. Our guards suck. Let me repeat that. Our guards SUCK. Load isnt even real good at pass protection, Kalil and Sully are pretty good. All of them can block, they better be good at it, its should be second nature to them. Pass protection is a skill they need to learn.

Phil Loadholt - T - Vikings

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