Vikings Message Board.Com

I'm not taking it literally, I agree that using free agency for depth still falls under that category of building thorugh the draft. But going after the highest profile names in the NFL is jumping right into the fire of free agency. Signing TE's to $25 million deal is jumping into the fire.

There's a big difference between kicking the tires and actually signing someone. Wallace at a decent price may have been a good pickup but not at the amount the Dolphins payed.

As for teams failing with free agents in the past, like us, don't you think the players you choose has something to do with it? And don't you think the coaching is a factor and the rest of the team of players you DID draft like the QB (at that time Tarvaris)? You'd rather blame Pat Williams, Darren Sharper, Antoine Winfield and Chester Taylor? heck last I checked those guys played pretty darn good for the Vikings. As for the Dolphins, they will be CONSIDERABLY better "overpaying" for Mike Wallace since that was a smart move.

Tarvaris was drafted under Foley and Childress, I really don't see how it's a relevant example to the Spielman/Frazier era. As for whether or not the Dolphins will be considerably better, that remains to be seen. Look no further than the Eagles and the supposed "dream team" they created in free agency that never materialized. Asomugha, Babin, Jenkins, Rodgers-Cromartie... all highly touted free agent pickups at the time that flopped.

The Bears have been a top team for a few years now and almost made the Super Bowl based on their splashy free agent/trades. Jay Cutler, Julius Peppers, Brandon Marshall are probably the 3 best players on the team and the ones most responsible for their success. Are you saying they're fools for having those guys?

The Bears had a nice season but they didn't even make the playoffs last year.

Free Agency is not evil, just picking the wrong guys is.

I'll admit, Spielman's track record for wide receivers in free agency is far from stellar but a big splash in FA doesn't always translate to success. It's about building through the draft and augmenting that with free agents.

I am really pleased the way things are going in the right direction. The Vikings latest move to get rid of a malcontent (Harvin) and replace him with Jennings and three draft picks (including a first round) was a real coup. Jennings has been carving up the Vikings almost every time that they played against him and to take him away from the much hated Peckerwoods was a definate win win
Now Jennings brings his class act to the Vikings giving them a dynamic wr that they desperately needed. He should help not only our young receivers (including Wright and who ever we draft at that position) but also with Ponder who has never had a receiver of this quality seemingly willing to "get together" and work on their timing and skill sets.
Things seem good here in Viking Land