Archive for February, 2008

DE Justin Smith, a guy the Vikings have targeted to help alleviate their issues at that position, visited the San Francisco 49ers first, but has reportedly left San Fran without a contract. He is now en route to Winter Park. Smith is not a guy known for putting up huge sack numbers, but then again, he never played on the same line with Pat and Kevin Williams before. Perhaps the presence of those two huge tackles will free Smith up to realize his potential.

Josh McCown has signed with the Miami Dolphins.  Trent Green is rumored to be heading back to the Rams.  Cleo Lemon has been snapped up by the Jaguars.  The Vikings are running out of QB options.  There’s only J.P. Losman left.  Or…  

…and don’t forget about Donte’ Stallworth, who was let go by the Patriots.  Brad Biggs of Inside the Bears says if the Vikings can’t nab Bernard Berrian, they will go after Stallworth as a fall-back.

Michael Smith of ESPN says the Broncos have released Javon Walker. Denver was trying to trade him but apparently there were no takers. The Vikings are going to talk to Bernard Berrian, but if they don’t get him, they could be in a bit of a pickle. Jerry Porter has already signed with Jacksonville and Seattle’s D.J. Hackett is expected to choose Tampa Bay. Walker may be about the only decent thing left out there for the Vikes to get, unless they want to go for someone like Isaac Bruce or (gulp) Eddie Kennison.

The Vikings have signed Thomas Tapeh, late of the Philadelphia Eagles, to a contract.  Tapeh never got much action either running or catching the ball with Philly, so obviously he is a blocking back.  He replaces Tony Richardson who made the Pro Bowl last year mostly on reputation.  He played his college ball with the Gophers.

Bernard Berrian is going to fly into Winter Park to meet with Vikings brass. The Tennessee Titans are believed to be the other team that’s in on him. Will quarterback be a factor in his decision? It’s not like Vince Young is some great ball-slinger either, but Berrian could think he has a better chance to put up numbers with Tennessee. Then again, the Vikings have such a great running game, maybe Berrian will like the idea of playing on a team that routinely sees safeties being taken out of pass coverage. Bengals DE Justin Smith will also visit the [...]

Safety Madieu Williams has agreed to a 6-year, $33 million contract with the Vikings. He will fly to Minnesota today to make it official. Williams popped up on radar screens in the wake of Dwight Smith’s release. Reportedly, Williams’ relationship with Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who was D-coordinator in Cincinnati Williams’s rookie year, had a lot to do with Madieu settling on the Purple. Williams had 73 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 interceptions in 2007 for Cincy, before having his season cut short by a thigh injury. He’s described as having good ball skills – some have even likened [...]

Talks have broken off between the Vikings and Texans regarding QB Sage Rosenfels.  The Texans wanted a 2nd round pick and the Vikings were not willing to go higher than a 3rd.  Too bad too because I was starting to like the idea.  Maybe they shouldn’t be so stubborn about the draft pick.  The new rumor is that they’re after J.P. Losman.  Christ, no…

As expected, the Vikings will go hard after free agent wide reciever Bernard Berrian. Their main competition will come from the Tennessee Titans, with the San Francisco 49ers as a dark-horse. Berrian is the #1 guy I have wanted all along. It is absolutely essential that we get a field-stretching, fast outside receiver to stretch defenses. The free agent period begins tonight at 11 central.

…Sage Rosenfels. The Purple have reportedly offered the Houston Texans a 3rd-round pick in return for Rosenfels, who went 4-1 last year in 5 starts in relief of Matt Schaub. Here were Sage’s overall numbers: 1684 yards, 15 TDs, 12 INTs, 64.2 % completions, 84.8 QB rating. Okay, so Rosenfels wasn’t even on my radar at all. But he had a decent year last year and he seems like a sound guy to bring in and push Tarvaris Jackson in camp. He’ll be 30 on March 6 so he’s not overly old. I like him better than some of the [...]