Archive for July, 2011

On Thursday evening The Washington Post’s Mark Maske reported that the right of first refusal and benefits for players in retirement are the last two stumbling blocks on finally solving the lockout. The probability is there we will have some form of modified free agency with either at least one right-of-first-refusal per team or an exclusive negotiating window. We’ve written at length how the right-of-first-refusal would work, so no need to rehash… In the event it is an exclusive negotiating window the good is the Vikings would have a set timeframe (which is believed to be 2-3 days) where Sidney [...]

You probably didn’t need more proof that the NFL is by far the world’s dominant sports league, at least in terms of revenue, but here it is anyway: Of the 50 most valuable sports franchises on planet earth according to Forbes, 32 are NFL teams. As you know, there are only 32 teams in the entire NFL. That means every single franchise in the NFL is in the top 50 when it comes to value. That’s top 50 in the entire world. The Vikings placed 41st on the Forbes most valuable franchises list with an estimated worth of $774 million. [...]

Brett Favre famously said he wouldn’t play mentor to Aaron Rodgers, the man drafted to replace him in Green Bay. This led to many hard feelings between Favre and Rodgers, hard feelings that I don’t think have softened to this day. Happily, no such acrimony exists between Favre and Joe Webb, the man who ended up replacing him in Minnesota. Webb and Favre are so chummy, in fact, that Old #4 has even been helping Webb work on his throwing this off-season. For the past couple weeks, Webb has been in Hattiesburg, Mississippi soaking up as much wisdom as he [...]

With news that the NFL is days of ending the lockout, one topic that has been floated on a new collective bargaining agreement pertains to this year’s free agent crop. During the old CBA players that had four years of service were eligible for unrestricted free agency through 2009. But when the salary cap expired last offseason a clause was trigged requiring six years in the league for players to shop their services to any possible team. And here we are without a CBA and a glut of free agents set to hit the open market leaving owners wondering what [...]

Some seven months after a snowstorm caused it to collapse (just hours before a scheduled game with the Giants), the Metrodome roof is now fully repaired and reinflated. Were I the type to go for such symbolism, I would see this as a sign that the Vikings themselves will reinflate in 2011. Unfortunately resurrecting the Vikings will be a tad more challenging than patching a roof and blowing it up. Here’s some neat time-lapse video of the reinflation from both outside and inside.

A couple weeks ago the finest Vikings fan-based blogger on the web, Dan Zinski, stated Donovan McNabb to the Vikings is in play. Over this lockout filled summer McNabb’s workout buddy, SI’s Peter King, NFL Network’s Jason LaCanfora & everyone of substance at ESPN (Adam Schefter, Chris Mortensen and John Clayton) have all suggested that McNabb to the Vikings is very much a possibility. And not one local beat writer has dismissed those reports. Just yesterday LaCanfora said that the Redskins will try to trade McNabb for a late round pick, but ultimately won’t be able to due to McNabb’s [...]

Labor peace – yes, it’s coming…eventually – will bring with it a new salary cap of $120 million. Thanks to several very large contracts handed out during the first five years of Zygi Wilf‘s ownership, the Vikings will find themselves $5 million over that cap, and needing to cut salary. One player almost certain to be cut loose as part of the salary dump is Madieu Williams, who in 3 years with the Vikings has proven himself to be a marvelous humanitarian and a mediocre safety. To be fair, Williams’ struggles have not been entirely his own fault. A neck [...]

Larry Fitzgerald won’t be a free agent until 2012, but that’s not going to stop fans from speculating upon – and drooling over – the possibility of the All-World receiver and Minnesota native becoming a member of the Vikings. When it comes to pining for players, there’s no such thing as too soon. Here’s the reality though: Larry Fitzgerald is still a member of the Arizona Cardinals. And when his time comes to hit the market, Fitzgerald says the Cardinals will get the first shot. “I try to put it like this,” the receiver explained. “I have one more year [...]

Finally a little bit of positive news for Viking fans amid this offseason of stadium uncertainty, lockout malaise and dumb Favre rumors. The Metrodome roof is ready to be reinflated! Charley Walters reports that around 100 of the 106 roof panels have been reinstalled, and sometime next week the dome will be blown back up. On August 20th an open house will be held at the Dome so the public can come in and see that indeed the roof is back on. Also, Walters says that, contrary to previous reports, the one-year-old turf will not have to be replaced. The [...]

I feel safe in reporting that you can officially strike Kerry Collins‘ name from the list of prospective Vikings veteran back-up QBs, as today the 38-year-old announced his retirement from the NFL. It was believed Collins would return to Tennessee and at least compete with new draft pick Jake Locker, but obviously Collins had other ideas, which probably involve cocktails. So with Collins gone, who remains on the list of possible experienced back-ups/Christian Ponder mentors? Well there’s still Marc Bulger. And maybe Matt Hasselbeck. And Jake Delhomme could be out there if the Browns cut him. Not exactly a scintillating [...]