Vikings Message Board.Com

Unrestricted free agency opens one week from tomorrow (March 10th), and the 'legal tampering window' opens this Saturday (March 7th). Here is the rundown of those two keys dates from PFT:

Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2014 contracts at 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on March 7. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on March 10.

Exciting stuff, there should be a lot of news coming down the wire this week and next (and the next).

zimmer has basically said something along the lines of he would rather build and develop players through the draft instead of focusing on free agency. something tells me peterson is going to be gone; so on offense alone we need a receiver, a rb, and o-line help. is it just me, or none of this looks very optimistic at all? on defense, it appears we will need at least 1 linebacker as well.

mosscarter wrote:zimmer has basically said something along the lines of he would rather build and develop players through the draft instead of focusing on free agency. something tells me peterson is going to be gone; so on offense alone we need a receiver, a rb, and o-line help. is it just me, or none of this looks very optimistic at all? on defense, it appears we will need at least 1 linebacker as well.

The Vikes will either have the best back in the NFL (AD) or receive a king's ransom for a trade. In either event, they will have those extra picks to draft a Gordon type running back and they already have a very good running back in McKinnon.
As far as the o-line, many problems will be resolved replacing Johnson and welcoming back a healthy Fusco and Loadholt.
They need a definate upgrade at MLB but that can be addressed via the draft, free agency or a trade.
So sorry that things do not look "optimistic to you at all" but I see a play-off contending team in the very near future.
IN RICK I TRUST!!!

Two other names that could (roughly) fit into my wish for free agency are O'Brien Schofield and Taylor Mays. Would like to see us do our due diligence on those two, I think they would be worthy additions, especially Schofield.

I doubt they go after a big FA but if Spielman does decide to break the bank for someone, I hope it's McCourty. Blanton had some moments and was serviceable but just imagine Smith and McCourty back there together. That duo would be right up there among the best in the league. This team has so many young players on rookie deals that they can afford to hand out a big deal. If AP and his cap hit are gone, that clears up even more to make a move.

I'm also more than fine with doing what they've been doing and having Zimmer develop younger players. Can't go wrong either way.

a king's ransom for peterson? be sure and notify me when that happens. we'll be lucky to get 2 picks (any two) for him at this point.

Purple bruise wrote: The Vikes will either have the best back in the NFL (AD) or receive a king's ransom for a trade. In either event, they will have those extra picks to draft a Gordon type running back and they already have a very good running back in McKinnon.
As far as the o-line, many problems will be resolved replacing Johnson and welcoming back a healthy Fusco and Loadholt.
They need a definate upgrade at MLB but that can be addressed via the draft, free agency or a trade.
So sorry that things do not look "optimistic to you at all" but I see a play-off contending team in the very near future.
IN RICK I TRUST!!!

MLB has gone from a 2 down to a 1 down position. Its basically a specialist position to react to teams going heavy. Sure, we could se an upgrade, but if the guy can't cover and move in space, its not the highest priority.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... r-vikings/

So... Let's see here, 3 to 4 years and something along the lines of 4 million a year I would assume? Doable I suppose, but, salary cap wise, we can afford to move on as well.

mosscarter wrote:we'll be lucky to get 2 picks (any two) for him at this point.

Would love to hear the logic behind this post

Pondering Her Percy wrote: Would love to hear the logic behind this post

Logic, really? You are kidding

Purple bruise wrote: Logic, really? You are kidding

I remember when every analyst and their mothers were saying we would be lucky to simply get a 2nd for Harvin and that it would probably be a 3rd. Yet, what does Spielman pull off?? A 1st, 3rd, and 7th. For an injury prone, cry baby no less. Spielman absolutely worked Seattle on that trade and in turn, it gave us Xavier Rhodes.

Is anyone really going to sit here and tell me Spielman is just going to let Peterson walk for a 3rd or 4th?? Give me a break. Spielman knows how valuable AP is. I don't care if the guy is 35 years old. He's the best RB to play the game in years, maybe ever. Trust me, Spielman will squeak out every pick he can get for him.

Logic, really? You are kidding [/quote]

I remember when every analyst and their mothers were saying we would be lucky to simply get a 2nd for Harvin and that it would probably be a 3rd. Yet, what does Spielman pull off?? A 1st, 3rd, and 7th. For an injury prone, cry baby no less. Spielman absolutely worked Seattle on that trade and in turn, it gave us Xavier Rhodes.

Is anyone really going to sit here and tell me Spielman is just going to let Peterson walk for a 3rd or 4th?? Give me a break. Spielman knows how valuable AP is. I don't care if the guy is 35 years old. He's the best RB to play the game in years, maybe ever. Trust me, Spielman will squeak out every pick he can get for him.[/quote]

That's what I am talking about IN RICK WE TRUST

Andre Johnson. I think he would be rather cheap to aquire. He would have to restructure his contract but I would be fine picking him up for a 2 yr deal. Thoughts?

Norv Zimmer wrote:Andre Johnson. I think he would be rather cheap to aquire. He would have to restructure his contract but I would be fine picking him up for a 2 yr deal. Thoughts?

I love AJ, but I don't see the fit. Spielman likes a younger team to grow with Teddy. Adding a soon-to-be 34 year-old receiver to pair with 31 year-old Jennings doesn't feel like the direction the organization wants to go. The Patriots or Seahawks make more sense to sign the declining receiver.

sounds like the colts and johnson have mutual interest.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-foo ... on-in-2015