Vikings Get Busy!
Sunday March 12, 2006
With a lot of cap space to work with, the Minnesota Vikings have been busy over the past couple days. After taking care of business at home --re-signing wide receiver Koren Robinson and safety Willie Offord-- they signed former Ravens running back Chester Taylor, kicker Ryan Longwell from the division-rival Packers, and linebacker Ben Leber, a four-year veteran of the Chargers.
But the coup de grace may have been delivered when they signed Seahawks offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson to an offer sheet that will make him the highest paid guard in NFL history. The Vikings' cap situation made it possible for them to front load the deal, making it more difficult for Seattle to match the offer. The $16 million in guaranteed money might also discourage the Seahawks from trying to retain the guy.
In their spare time, they're still actively trying to shop quarterback Daunte Culpepper, but haven't found anyone willing to give up their asking price.
Simply holding onto Robinson, in my opinion, was a great move by the Vikings, whose gamble in 2005 on the troubled receiver paid off big when he emerged as a playmaker for the club over the second half of the season. Keeping Offord, a valuable backup safety and special teams contributor, was a solid move as well.
The addition of Taylor to this year's offensive backfield should help solidify the position, but only time will tell if he is the feature back the Vikings have been looking for since Robert Smith retired. If he is, they got a good deal at $14.1 million over four years. If he doesn't establish himself as the go-to guy at running back, they overpaid.
The Longwell signing is a double-whammy because it not only gives the Vikings a small upgrade in the kicking department, but it hurts fellow NFC North competitor Green Bay. Leber was a starter for the Chargers before losing his job last year to Shawne Merriman. His experience should be a steadying influence for the linebacking corps.
But the coup de grace may have been delivered when they signed Seahawks offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson to an offer sheet that will make him the highest paid guard in NFL history. The Vikings' cap situation made it possible for them to front load the deal, making it more difficult for Seattle to match the offer. The $16 million in guaranteed money might also discourage the Seahawks from trying to retain the guy.
In their spare time, they're still actively trying to shop quarterback Daunte Culpepper, but haven't found anyone willing to give up their asking price.
Simply holding onto Robinson, in my opinion, was a great move by the Vikings, whose gamble in 2005 on the troubled receiver paid off big when he emerged as a playmaker for the club over the second half of the season. Keeping Offord, a valuable backup safety and special teams contributor, was a solid move as well.
The addition of Taylor to this year's offensive backfield should help solidify the position, but only time will tell if he is the feature back the Vikings have been looking for since Robert Smith retired. If he is, they got a good deal at $14.1 million over four years. If he doesn't establish himself as the go-to guy at running back, they overpaid.
The Longwell signing is a double-whammy because it not only gives the Vikings a small upgrade in the kicking department, but it hurts fellow NFC North competitor Green Bay. Leber was a starter for the Chargers before losing his job last year to Shawne Merriman. His experience should be a steadying influence for the linebacking corps.
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