The realistic Rick Spielman free agency moves thread

[NextQuestion]

- Picks up a guy like Steve Smith (not the Panters guy) as a way to address the WR situation

- Sleeps on every good possible defensive FA and goes with some cast off from the Dolphins

[dead_poet]

- Picks up a guy like Steve Smith (not the Panters guy) as a way to address the WR situation

- Sleeps on every good possible defensive FA and goes with some cast off from the Dolphins

[Cliff]

I know that many of us were disappointed with the way that Rick Spielman handled aquiring players last year. Skipping over-priced free agents in favor of young draft picks sure backfired on him in the 2012 season so I can't imagine he would continue pushing forward with that idea.

He should pick up any and every free agent that might possibly help the Vikings just to keep everyone entertained during the offseason.

[NextQuestion]

At least TALK to the WRs!

[Mothman]

I know that many of us were disappointed with the way that Rick Spielman handled aquiring players last year. Skipping over-priced free agents in favor of young draft picks sure backfired on him in the 2012 season so I can't imagine he would continue pushing forward with that idea.

He should pick up any and every free agent that might possibly help the Vikings just to keep everyone entertained during the offseason.

At least TALK to the WRs!

He probably will. He pursued at least one of the high profile FA WRs last year:

Incomplete pass: Vikings made a strong run at Pierre Garcon before he signed with Redskins

The Vikings' patient free agency approach almost took an aggressive turn that would have appeased a fan base hungry for more playmakers on offense.

The Vikings made a strong push to sign free-agent wide receiver Pierre Garcon, according to two people with direct knowledge of the situation, but weren't willing to match the Washington Redskins' five-year, $42.5 million deal with $21.5 million guaranteed that ultimately secured the former Indianapolis Colt.

One source said the Vikings were among the "top three teams" vying for Garcon, calling shortly after free agency opened at 4 p.m. EST on March 13, prepared to make a competitive offer. But the Redskins' sizable offer locked up Garcon within a few hours.

Even upon hearing about Garcon's rapidly growing market, the Vikings still considered ways to make it work. They had cleared around $23 million in salary cap space, cutting a trio of starters the weekend before free agency.

[mansquatch]

Why this thread must be some sorry attempt at humor:

During 2012 Free Agency the Vikings made an offer that was competitive within the market of FA WR to Pierre Garcon. They lost out on Garcon when the Redskins offered Garcon a heavily inflated deal and Spielman was unwilling to overpay for the player. So yes, we can all lament that our GM is unwilling to overpay players, but not even talking to them? Apparently the Vikings FO has Charles Xavier from the X-Men on staff so he can communicate all offers telepathically just so a few Vikings fans can have their illusions that the GM doesn’t talk to players above a certain value. Cool beans, can we have Wolverine start as MLB next season? Maybe we can get the Flash to play WR?

[dead_poet]

He probably will. He pursued at least one of the high profile FA WRs last year:

In addition to Garcon in 2012, let's also not forget nearly resigning Sidney Rice in 2011 (was offered a very competitive contract, only sticking point was guaranteed money) and signing one of 2008's premiere FA wide receivers (Bernard Berrian).

It's not like Spielman has a history of overlooking top free agent WRs. It has to make sense for both sides and I imagine he'll do his due diligence on the Big Three (in addition to Harvin, which will probably be a sticking point). It'd be pretty stupid NOT to.

[VikingLord]

At least TALK to the WRs!

The WR he'll be talking to about a big-money deal is already on the team.

[NextQuestion]

Garcon made no sense to me though as I wanted VJax from the start and he was great for TB. Garcon maybe played 6 games this year and doesn't he play the slot? Jackson would have been perfect.

[Mothman]

Garcon made no sense to me though as I wanted VJax from the start and he was great for TB. Garcon maybe played 6 games this year and doesn't he play the slot? Jackson would have been perfect.

Garcon played in 10 games and he's used as a slot receiver but he can play outside at flanker too.

Jackson would have been a nice addition but right or wrong, a player his age and his price, simply didn't fit with the rebuilding philosophy the Vikes put in place last year. I understand why that's frustrating but I think Spielman wants to open a sustainable, long term window to a championship rather than spending in free agency to open up the kind of narrow window the Vikes did during the Childress era. Big spending in free agency can open the that short term but when it slams shut, the results are pretty painful if the team didn't win a championship when they had the chance.

[PurpleKoolaid]

Garcon played in 10 games and he's used as a slot receiver but he can play outside at flanker too.

Jackson would have been a nice addition but right or wrong, a player his age and his price, simply didn't fit with the rebuilding philosophy the Vikes put in place last year. I understand why that's frustrating but I think Spielman wants to open a sustainable, long term window to a championship rather than spending in free agency to open up the kind of narrow window the Vikes did during the Childress era. Big spending in free agency can open the that short term but when it slams shut, the results are pretty painful if the team didn't win a championship when they had the chance.

Sad to say, but virtually no FA fits Spielmans plan for this team. Oh, except overspending for an injury prone TE. What was he thinking giving Carlson that deal, yet not giving Ponder any real targets, or any real help at the guard posistion?

Every time someone brings up, we build through the draft and not FA, ask yourself wtf Spielman was doing with Carlson. When we already had 5? TE's.

[NextQuestion]

The Carlson thing was baffling because I promise you no other team was ringing his agent's phone. Isn't Mike Wallace only 26? Seems like a good age to me

[Mothman]

The Carlson thing was baffling because I promise you no other team was ringing his agent's phone.

You might want to re-think that promise. Carlson was in Kansas City, preparing to meet with the Chiefs, when the Vikings contacted him and offered him a deal he couldn't pass up:

http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_20 ... ve-year-25

Isn't Mike Wallace only 26? Seems like a good age to me

It is a good age and he has the speed and big play ability the Vikes need on the outside even if he's not the most consistent receiver.

[NextQuestion]

Of COURSE the Chiefs were interested. We just had to snatch his big play ability away from Matt Cassel's dangerous passing attack

[Demi]

In addition to Garcon in 2012, let's also not forget nearly resigning Sidney Rice in 2011 (was offered a very competitive contract, only sticking point was guaranteed money) and signing one of 2008's premiere FA wide receivers (Bernard Berrian).

It's not like Spielman has a history of overlooking top free agent WRs. It has to make sense for both sides and I imagine he'll do his due diligence on the Big Three (in addition to Harvin, which will probably be a sticking point). It'd be pretty stupid NOT to.

And Housh when...well people actually wanted him.

It doesn't matter who he wants when the QB situation is what it is, and what it has been. He can target anyone he wants they're not coming here to catch balls from Ponder when they can get similar money elsewhere and actually have some sucess.