Mothman wrote:
I was simply suggesting that they may want to limit his focus right now. Returning punts would be an additional demand on his time and he's already being asked to handle kickoff returns and learn the WR position. There's a finite amount of practice time available.
Maybe that's not what they're thinking at all. It was just a guess. It certainly wasn't intended as a comment on his ability to learn.
I do not think that anyone else "took it" that way Jim. Almost anyone
Do not mistake KINDNESS for WEAKNESS!
Best to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool rather than open it and remove all doubt.
What arguments? If you don't know what offers he received, which were reported by those NFL insiders, what can I possibly argue against that level of ignorance? The offers were reported. All 3 of them from two interested teams. 40% of WRs? That's the bar? We're tying quite a bit of money into a player with a number of issues on a "rebuilding" team (not that the Vikings know the meaning of the word...). And comparing Harvin's receptions and skill set to Jennings? They're completely different players the way they used Harvin as a crutch for Ponder isn't going to work with Jennings.
And then you end it all by saying he doesn't even have to be personally productive or efficient and it's a good signing if the team is? You're already hedging your bets on the guy! If the passing game is the same as last season but we win 10 games. Successful signing? What if he misses half the season? Success? You just threw the bar on the ground and he has to take a step and voila, success? Or has he already done enough as a glorified WR coach, team inspiring Dalai Lama of the gridiron that the 9 million was money well spent now, and into the next few seasons?
All I'm saying is investing large contracts in 30 year old players who had a pretty significant injury the previous year is a gamble, a big one, that teams that keep preaching getting younger and building through the draft don't take (like the one that let him hit free agency). Unless they're desperate...this team isn't ready to win a super bowl in the time Jennings is going to be able to contribute. But hey, miracles happen I guess. So let's just keep up the Vikings way...trading for/signing big name barely-was players to try and fix positions for the short term while other positions work their way towards becoming desperate needs. Packers fans whine about not signing guys like Jennings or Randy Moss and have significantly more success, Vikings fans get excited about division cast offs and haven't been to a super bowl in most of their lifetimes...if at first you don't succeed...keep doing the same thing. Or is that insanity?
All of this because I questioned signing beat up old players after the second of the two suffers an injury and the preseason hasn't even started. Wonder how Urlacher is doing anyway. Haven't heart any ankle or groin injuries there.
you guys sure do like to argue over a lot of irrelevant crap at this point. wait for the team to play some before making judgments. patterson hasn't caught a ball yet and neither has jennings (as a viking). demi, perhaps they did overpay for jennings, but guess what, he is a MUCH better receiver then wallace. and trust me on that one; i know i'm stuck in the middle of steeler country. if anyone overpaid, it was miami so be thankful that didn't pan out. and as far as not being contenders, i'm not so sure i agree with that yet. whether or not we contend will come down to ponder this season. personally, i think patterson has something special (i may be wrong) but they need to be able to utilize him down the field in some manner for us to have success this year. whether or not he returns punts, who cares? i'd say don't let him do it at the risk of injury. punt returners can be found on the streets. this team needs to focus on one thing, putting together a passing game. our d-line will be strong again (our linebackers are shaky) but i don't think our secondary is all that bad. harrison smith will be a pro bowl caliber safety in this league, and chris cook is a good cover man even though he is lacking big time in the interception area. anyone who can shut down calvin johnson is a solid corner because i can't remember many people doing that successfully over the past 2 seasons. and of course health is a concern, but when isn't it? health matters to all of us not just athletes.
This is ridiculous. lol The Vikings were very thin at WR last season. Getting Jennings wasn't a sign of desperation, he was one of the top FA available if we didn't make a offer at him somebody would have got him. He is a proven WR, and so far he is still making our secondary look stupid during their practices in training camp. We needed him because not only is he a good WR but he cant teach the younger guys. And if you have a lot of cap room, why not spend money on Jennings?
If they didn't get Jennings who would the money be spent on? Urlacher?? Yeah he wanted a lot of money too, and he has previous injury history. And last time I checked the Vikings first choice was Mike Wallace. We would have definitely come out the pocket for him but fortunately the Dolphins saved us from signing that ball dropping goof. Jennings is not old at all. He is only 29 soon to be 30. He is still in his prime and well worth the money.
We are trying to get younger but we wont get younger in 2 seasons under Spielman's regime. But at the same time you want a mixture of vets and young guys. A team full of young guys may not be mentally able to win a close game or a post-season game. Gotta give this unit a chance.
One thing I noticed about this team compared to the guys who played under Mike Tice and Chilly, the Vikings now have been playing with more heart, more passion than I ever seen before. All im hearing from these guys is wanting to win a super bowl. Never really heard that too much until this season. We can do it, but Jennings will be an important piece to the puzzle
Jennings will do a lot of the field as well, which is one of the reasons we wanted him ..
Hopefully in two years he brings Wright, Simpson, and Patterson to their maximum level..
If you look at the way we are building now its simalar to the steelers method we are building
a strong core through the draft and adding a few pieces here and there
jackal wrote:Jennings will do a lot of the field as well, which is one of the reasons we wanted him ..
Hopefully in two years he brings Wright, Simpson, and Patterson to their maximum level..
If you look at the way we are building now its simalar to the steelers method we are building
a strong core through the draft and adding a few pieces here and there
I'm beginniing to wonder if we hired him to coach or to play?
A successful coach needs a patient wife, loyal dog, and great quarterback - and not necessarily in that order.
JEC334 wrote: All im hearing from these guys is wanting to win a super bowl. Never really heard that too much until this season. We can do it, but Jennings will be an important piece to the puzzle
I think you're forgetting the Favre days
A successful coach needs a patient wife, loyal dog, and great quarterback - and not necessarily in that order.
headless_norseman wrote:I'm beginniing to wonder if we hired him to coach or to play?
Ha! They obviously hired him to play but the experience he brings and the knowledge he can impart to young players like Wright and Patterson is a nice bonus.
The immediate thing he has shown in camp that we lacked last year was sure hands. Having a guy like that who can bring the ball in when it is at his shins will help Ponder. It also sets a great example for the other guys in the locker room which certainly helps develop the younger players.
Winning is not a sometime thing it is an all of the time thing - Vince Lombardi
mansquatch wrote:That kind of talk is a fringe benefit IMO.
The immediate thing he has shown in camp that we lacked last year was sure hands. Having a guy like that who can bring the ball in when it is at his shins will help Ponder. It also sets a great example for the other guys in the locker room which certainly helps develop the younger players.
What should help Ponder most is having an outside receiver who is not only open but is where he's supposed to be. That's a huge benefit for a QB.
mansquatch wrote:The immediate thing he has shown in camp that we lacked last year was sure hands.
I think that's the least of what Jennings brings to the WR corps. Even just from watching video snippets of camp, it's immediately apparent how much smoother and more polished he is than any other receiver on the team when running routes.
In the same vein, it's been very reassuring to watch Cordarrelle Patterson run. Although not 1/1000th as polished as Jennings, it's still clear that there's something very special in the way he moves.
Wonder how Urlacher is doing anyway. Haven't heart any ankle or groin injuries there. 
