Seattle Seahawks – Cry Babies

Here’s a roundup of the headlines from Seattle’s major newspapers regarding the :

Oh. My. God. They clearly like the revenge factor in Seattle. This Seahawks blogger probably sums up the attitude of Hawks fans: Eat it, Minnesota! Seahawks sign Burleson to ridiculous offer sheet.

Could an organization display more childish behavior?!? It’s breathtaking. I admit, mirroring the was cute…but also dumb. , I’ll take Seattle’s 3rd round pick and I very much suspect that they are overpaying for the privilege of signing Burleson.

Not that there’s necessarily something wrong with overpaying for a player you really feel you need. We did that by signing Hutchinson. But to overpay out of spite? Not so smart.

I hope Burleson thrives in Seattle. Given the right circumstances, he could thrive; he demonstrated that in 2004–but then he was lining up opposite , too. Few people have that luxury. , when he was given the chance to be the featured receiver, he didn’t step up and size the opportunity. I think he’s fine slot receiver, but is he worth what the Seahawks are giving him?

I don’t think so.

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Seattle Seahawks – Cry Babies

Here’s a roundup of the headlines from Seattle’s major newspapers regarding the :

Oh. My. God. They clearly like the revenge factor in Seattle. This Seahawks blogger probably sums up the attitude of Hawks fans: Eat it, Minnesota! Seahawks sign Burleson to ridiculous offer sheet.

Could an organization display more childish behavior?!? It’s breathtaking. I admit, mirroring the was cute…but also dumb. , I’ll take Seattle’s 3rd round pick and I very much suspect that they are overpaying for the privilege of signing Burleson.

Not that there’s necessarily something wrong with overpaying for a player you really feel you need. We did that by signing Hutchinson. But to overpay out of spite? Not so smart.

I hope Burleson thrives in Seattle. Given the right circumstances, he could thrive; he demonstrated that in 2004–but then he was lining up opposite , too. Few people have that luxury. , when he was given the chance to be the featured receiver, he didn’t step up and size the opportunity. I think he’s fine slot receiver, but is he worth what the Seahawks are giving him?

I don’t think so.

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Steve Hutchinson, Tony Richardson Are Vikings

It sure took a long time. But in the end, it was worth the wait. Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl guard is now a Viking. At 6′ 5", 313 pounds, Hutchinson will be a massive presence lining up between center (6’4", 309 lbs) and the even more massive tackle 6’8", 335 lbs). This left side helps explain why the Vikings didn’t go after a marquee running back like : Anyone should be able to run behind these guys.

Anyone is and the Vikings new back got some help today, as well, when the team signed Kansas City Chiefs fullback . Richardson was a nice pick up. At 6’1", 238 lbs, Richardson is a true fullback who can do it all. Though he has been used primarliy as a lead blocker for the past several seasons, he’s got soft hands and he can carry the ball as well.

Frankly, if the Hutchinson deal had fallen though, the Vikings efforts in free agency would’ve been a disappointment. We needed at least one rock star signing and we got that with Hutchinson, turningg a weakness into a strength by shoring up at least half of a line that was disasterous last season.

But we did sign him and you gotta give the Vikings all the credit for putting their money where they mouth is.

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Vikings First Day Of Free Agency

Not a bad first day of free agency for the .

They signed former kicker , former running back , and former linebacker .

As expected, they lost cornerback , who reunited with by signing with the for six years for $32 million, including a $10 million signing bonus. was reunited with former Vikings offensive coordinator and now head coach, . Chavous a five-year deal worth $16 million that includes a $4 million signing bonus.

Losing is tough but he deserves the big contract. The Jags made a good move.

I liked Corey Chavous but he wasn’t all that great last year; he was out of position so often. You gotta wonder what happened. He was amazing in 2003, making the Pro Bowl with 108 tackles, eight interceptions and 15 passes defensed. Maybe he’s lost a step since then or maybe he’ll return to form with the Rams where he will apparently play free safety, instead of the strong safety position he played last year.

Thirty minutes before free agency began the Vikings signed wide receiver to a three-year deal is worth $12.7 million with a $1 million signing bonus.

Chester Taylor’s four-year contract is worth $14.1 million and includes $5.6 million in guaranteed bonuses. From , it appears Taylor’s slated to carry the load for us in the backfield, getting 20 to 30 touches a game. That probably means we’re not going after a first round running back. Too bad; I would’ve like to see Maroney in Purple.

Ryan Longwell signed a five-year deal for $10 million that included $3 million in guaranteed bonuses. I liked but Longwell is definitely an improvement; he’ll improve in the Dome and he knows how to kick in inclement weather as well.

Ben Leber’s deal is for five years, $20 million and includes guaranteed bonuses of more than $4 million. The Vikings must see something about this guy beyond what’s on paper because, well, there’s not much there on paper. It is disappointing that it appears is not in the Vikings plans because, gawd, that would’ve been fan-tast-ic! But even though this is a great draft for linebackers, I don’t see how the Vikings can’t sign another veteran linebacker or two when you consider that is probably a goner and definitely is. The other top-ranked linebackers available are the Julian Peterson and the Redskins .

The Seattle Seahawks’ Pro Bowl guard is supposed to be in town today. He’s a transitional player, so if the Vikings want him (and I really hope they do, considering the Cleveland Browns landed the other superstar free agent lineman, ), they’ll need to make him an offer that the Seahawks will not even want to consider matching so we don’t have to continue to shop for a guard).

Also visiting today is safety and on Monday, ‘ safety will visit.

Dexter Jackson by intercepting two passes. With Tampa, the 6′ 10" 210 pound Jackson played free safety under Vikings defensive coordinator . The seven-year veteran had 32 tackles last year with 13 assists, one sack, one interception, and four passes defended. He’s played his entire career with Tampa Bay except for 2003, when he played for the . That was his best year, statistically: He made 75 tackles with 13 assists, six intereceptions and seven passes defended. 

Will Demps has his own web site (). He’s a four-year veteran stands 6′ 0" and weighs in at 205 pounds. Last year he had 48 tackles with four assists and two passes defended. The year before he had 66 tackles with 19 assists, 2.5 sacks, one interception, and six passes defended.

It is interesting that both safeties played free safety, which tells me they want a swifter, more roaming type defensive back to fill their strong safety position.

Check out the Vikings site for .

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Chargers LB Ben Leber To Visit Today

that outside linebacker will visit the Vikings today and probably sign.

Craig quotes Leber’s agent– Jeff Nalley–saying: “The way we work is the first team we visit is the team we feel we’ll get a deal
done with that day…Seven teams called us [Friday] night. The Vikings are No. 1
on our list.”

Leber is a four year veteran. He’s 6′ 3" and weighs 244 pounds. He played only nine games last year because of a foot injury, Craig reports. The previous three years, he played in all sixteen games. He had a career-high 69 tackles in 2003 and 5 sacks in his rookie year, 2002. He has never intercepted a pass.

He was picked by the Chargers in the third round–71st overall–in 2002.

The Chargers’ Web site has some in-depth, year-by-year, as well as .

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Koren Robinson Signs, Chester Taylor To Visit

The signed to a three-year deal and will have running back in for a visit today. .

The Koren Robinson signing is big because in addition to being our best reciever, he’s a great return man, something we haven’t had in a long time. Robinson would certainly have garnered quite a bit of interest because he would’ve been among the best of a thin free agency field of receivers. I would’ve hated to lose him.

‘ backup his entire career, Taylor’s best season was 2004 when he played in all 16 games and started four. He finished second on the team in rushing and made a career high 160 carries for 714 yards, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. He scored two touchdowns and caught 30 receptions for 184 yards.

Though he gained on 487 yards on 117 carries last year, that was still good enough for a 4.2 yard per carry average. He upped his reception total to 41, gaining 292 yards.

Taylor was used primarily as a third-down and change of pace back by the Ravens.

that the Vikings are trying to arrange a visit with guard .

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Vikings Free Agency Wish List

While I’m waiting for word of the (NFL Network’s Adam Schefter ), I thought I’d put together my Vikings free agency wish list this year.

Quarterback
I’m fine with
running our offense next season. But if Daunte’s gone, then we’re
probably in the market for another quarterback but there just ain’t
much out there among the available free agents.
is the name that keeps popping up and the allure is that he’s young and
athletic, so I guess he’s probably as good as anyone if you don’t want
to pay top dollar. And I don’t. Otherwise, depending upon how Childress
feels about , they might want to consider drafting a quarterback in the second or third rounds.

Running Back
I like . A lot. But we shouldn’t overpay for him. If not James, I’d be fine with the Seahawk’s backup running back , then prehaps picking up a rock star running back in the draft– would be sweet. This draft class is loaded with running backs and it’s a position a rookie can often succeed at right away, so I’d be happy if we waited till the draft to address the position. The only caveat there, though, would be that you’d want someone who can pick up the blitz.

Offensive Line
On the offensive side of the ball, this is where I think the Vikings need to make the biggest splash in free agency because it’s our most glaring weakness. At the top of my list is the Saints’ because he’s started at both Center and Guard and he’s top-ranked lineman available. The Vikings have got to be concerned about ‘s health and signing the rock star Bentley would give the team the flexibility of starting Birk at center, Bentley at Guard, and if Birk goes down, you’ve got a Pro Bowl center to fill his space.

Failing that, I’d make a run at the Seahawks Guard , upon whom the Hawks have put a transition tag. I’d also resign if he’s not too expensive. I can’t imagine he’d command that much because, after all, he came to us last year injured, got healthy, played one game, and then got injured again and was out for the season. If he can stay healthy, he looks like a beast.

I’ve read a few things that say the Vikings aren’t interested in Eagles Right Tackle , but let’s hope that’s just talk. The guy’s a nasty tackle and he’s coming off two excellent seasons.

Defensive Line
The Vikings could use another speed rusher at Defensive End to accompany because it remains to be seen if will be that guy. The Jets is the biggest name available at DE; he’s been franchised but he’s also on the trading block. I’d love to see him in Purple.

The Saints’ is the next best available at end. He, too, would be a fantastic addition.

Linebackers
This is the Vikings greatest area of need on defense and luckily for us, both free agency and the draft are thick with Linebackers. Unfortunately, however, the pickings are thin at Middle Linebacker, and I don’t want to trust that position to a rookie and I still don’t want to trust it to . The best free agent MLB is , but he’s a restricted free agent, so you may have to cough up a lot to get him.

The one player who most makes me salivate on the defensive side is Carolina’s and there will be a lot of competition for him but if I had to chose just one defensive player that I had to have, it’d be Witherspoon. is available. The book on him is that you just have to run at him to render him ineffective. But if anyone would know, it would be Brad Childress who faced him twice a year when he was at Philly.

The other big name is San Francisco’s .

I’d like to pick up two high profile Linebackers and then draft one or two as well.

Cornerbacks
It looks like we may be in the market for a Nickleback because the Vikings withdrew the transition tag they had on , so expect him to walk and earn some big bucks.

is available but damn, he’s an 11 year veteran and even though he’s coming off a great season, he does want $7 million. That’s too much for an old Cornerback. I have no interest in and doesn’t do much for me, either.

I think we’re probably looking at someone like a or a or an , which I’d be fine with. I’d also be fine with our very own .

Safety
re-signed but though he picked up his play last year, he also has never remained health. We’ve got last year’s third round pick waiting in the wings, so the plan could be to go with that combination at Strong Safety and pick up a low-level free agent safety to fill out the roster.

But if the Vikes wanted to spend a little on the position, my top picks would be the Rams or, failing that, the Steelers’ .

Kicker
I’d be happy bringing back but if you wanted to upgrade at the position, this would be the year. If you’re planning on going after a top kicker, then I don’t know how you don’t persue Mr. Clutch, . The Colts’ is almost as good but he’s no good at kickoffs. The Packers would be a good fit.

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Javon Walker As A Viking?

Way to go, FAV-rah.

quarterback has chased away the team’s star wide receiver by criticizing for holding out last season, breaking an unwritten rule among NFL players that you don’t mess with a man’s livelihood. He wants no part of the Packers as a result, .

It looks like Walker is trying to force a trade or his release.

Thanks, Brett: He’d look damn good in Purple!

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Free Agency Delayed

On the positive side, the delay of till, at the earlies, Monday, gives me some extra time to put together my 2006 NFL Free Agency Resources post. On the downside, damn, we gotta wait!

Had talks broken down for good, as they appeared they had, the would have been in the sweet position of being $24 million below the cap while most other teams would have to cut high-priced veterans, flooding the market with talent, lowering the asking prices for all free agents, in an environment when only a couple of teams–the Vikes and most prominent among them–would be in a position to pay anyone anything.

The Vikes could practically have had their choice of free agents at bargain prices. That would have put them in the enviable positon of not only being positioned to get the top picks of the free agent litter, but it would have also greatly reduced the bargaining leverage of such players as and .

But had that happened, the Vikings had better win the Super Bowl because with a lack of an agreement and, as a result, a salary-capless 2007 season, the Vikings would all of a sudden have transformed into the of football, a small market team trying to compete against major media market free spenders such as the .

The downside would have been far to dire; let’s count ourselves luck for the repreive.

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