Zadarius Smith in for a visit

[StumpHunter]

You mean like Cousins?

Exactly like Cousins.

I must have imagined him coming here in free agency then.

[VikingsVictorious]

Exactly like Cousins.

I must have imagined him coming here in free agency then.

We signed him as a free agent. What does that have to do with this discussion. Cousins is now our good player and we kept him. That is the part I highlighted and commented on.

[StumpHunter]

I must have imagined him coming here in free agency then.

We signed him as a free agent. What does that have to do with this discussion. Cousins is now our good player and we kept him. That is the part I highlighted and commented on.

What does a free agents brought we brought in have to do with a discussion about the value free agents?

[VikingsVictorious]

We signed him as a free agent. What does that have to do with this discussion. Cousins is now our good player and we kept him. That is the part I highlighted and commented on.

What does a free agents brought we brought in have to do with a discussion about the value free agents?

Washington very much wanted to keep Cousins. Cousins just didn't want to be kept. Cousins was a free agent and in charge of his destiny. We have Cousins now. He wants to be kept and the Vikings want to keep him.

[Texas Vike]

You like apples?

How do you like these apples?

Tom Pelissero
@TomPelissero
Za’Darius Smith agreed to terms with the Minnesota Vikings, per source.

3 year deal
Base value of 42 million
Worth up to 47 million with incentives
14 million APY

I hate apples and that is too much money who played one game last year but I hope he works out

You don't REALLY hate apples do you? That's down right un-American.

Given his injury history, I understand the reaction to the signing. We are going all in on two edge guys who could absolutely dominate or they could spend the season injured once again. It's a high risk bet, in some ways, but I feel strangely confident that it will work out. I do know that Kwesi was part of the 49ers franchise that viewed QB pressure as CRUCIAL, and this aligns with that philosophy.

[vikeinmontana]

I hate apples and that is too much money who played one game last year but I hope he works out

You don't REALLY hate apples do you? That's down right un-American.

Given his injury history, I understand the reaction to the signing. We are going all in on two edge guys who could absolutely dominate or they could spend the season injured once again. It's a high risk bet, in some ways, but I feel strangely confident that it will work out. I do know that Kwesi was part of the 49ers franchise that viewed QB pressure as CRUCIAL, and this aligns with that philosophy.

I touched on this last week, but again, I feel like fans throw around the "injury history" far too often. I don't feel he has an injury history.

He had a nagging back injury last year. Despite this he gave it a go to start the year. It didn't work out and he had surgery. Even after surgery he still made it back for the playoffs. All injuries are not the same, and all surgeries are not the same. I don't have insight on exactly what his procedure was. But given the fact he was able to return late in the season, I take that as a huge plus.

In his 7 seasons so far, his games played break down like this:
15
13
14
16
16
16
1

So prior to last season he missed 6 total games in 6 seasons. That's great production and doesn't suggest an injury history at all in my mind. Again, I don't know what his back injury was or what it entailed. But I guarantee the Vikings do. And our doctors. Injuries will always happen in this league, but I am very excited for this signing and have no reason to believe that just because he was hurt last season we should expect to see him hurt again. Of course it could happen. Like every single player that suits up on Sundays.

[StumpHunter]

What does a free agents brought we brought in have to do with a discussion about the value free agents?

Washington very much wanted to keep Cousins. Cousins just didn't want to be kept. Cousins was a free agent and in charge of his destiny. We have Cousins now. He wants to be kept and the Vikings want to keep him.

That isn't true, but even if it was, doesn't that mean that the poster I was responding too is not correct when he said FAs are just other team's garbage?

[VikingsVictorious]

Washington very much wanted to keep Cousins. Cousins just didn't want to be kept. Cousins was a free agent and in charge of his destiny. We have Cousins now. He wants to be kept and the Vikings want to keep him.

That isn't true, but even if it was, doesn't that mean that the poster I was responding too is not correct when he said FAs are just other team's garbage?

It is true. Some of the time FAs are other teams garbage. Some of the time they just can't afford to keep them and the rest of the time they just don't want to stay.

[J. Kapp 11]

What does a free agents brought we brought in have to do with a discussion about the value free agents?

Washington very much wanted to keep Cousins. Cousins just didn't want to be kept. Cousins was a free agent and in charge of his destiny. We have Cousins now. He wants to be kept and the Vikings want to keep him.

Dude, I know you're a Cousins fan, and that's cool.

But are you honestly going to tell me that Jay Gruden wanted to keep Cousins? Gruden has hardly ever said a good thing about him, while Cousins was playing for him or since. But he's said plenty of derogatory things.

In a way, it serves the Redsk ... I mean Commanders right. Their quarterback situation has been a dumpster fire ever since Cousins left. And now they think Carson Wentz is the answer.

Truth is, Daniel Snyder never got over RGIII, and the organization took it out on Cousins. I'm not a fan of him like you are (I'm a fan of whoever wears purple) but the guy got the shaft in DC.

You're right. Cousins didn't want to be kept in Washington. But Washington didn't want to keep him, either.

[VikingsVictorious]

Washington very much wanted to keep Cousins. Cousins just didn't want to be kept. Cousins was a free agent and in charge of his destiny. We have Cousins now. He wants to be kept and the Vikings want to keep him.

Dude, I know you're a Cousins fan, and that's cool.

But are you honestly going to tell me that Jay Gruden wanted to keep Cousins? Gruden has hardly ever said a good thing about him, while Cousins was playing for him or since. But he's said plenty of derogatory things.

In a way, it serves the Redsk ... I mean Commanders right. Their quarterback situation has been a dumpster fire ever since Cousins left. And now they think Carson Wentz is the answer.

Truth is, Daniel Snyder never got over RGIII, and the organization took it out on Cousins. I'm not a fan of him like you are (I'm a fan of whoever wears purple) but the guy got the shaft in DC.

You're right. Cousins didn't want to be kept in Washington. But Washington didn't want to keep him, either.

They wouldn't have franchise tagged him multiple years if they didn't want to keep him.

[J. Kapp 11]

Dude, I know you're a Cousins fan, and that's cool.

But are you honestly going to tell me that Jay Gruden wanted to keep Cousins? Gruden has hardly ever said a good thing about him, while Cousins was playing for him or since. But he's said plenty of derogatory things.

In a way, it serves the Redsk ... I mean Commanders right. Their quarterback situation has been a dumpster fire ever since Cousins left. And now they think Carson Wentz is the answer.

Truth is, Daniel Snyder never got over RGIII, and the organization took it out on Cousins. I'm not a fan of him like you are (I'm a fan of whoever wears purple) but the guy got the shaft in DC.

You're right. Cousins didn't want to be kept in Washington. But Washington didn't want to keep him, either.

They wouldn't have franchise tagged him multiple years if they didn't want to keep him.

If they had wanted to keep him, they would have made a legitimate contract offer. In case you hadn’t heard, the franchise tag is not something players want.

[VikingsVictorious]

They wouldn't have franchise tagged him multiple years if they didn't want to keep him.

If they had wanted to keep him, they would have made a legitimate contract offer. In case you hadn’t heard, the franchise tag is not something players want.

They had to pay him a crap-ton of money though and did it two years in a row.