Vikings Work Out Ex-Bear Brian Price

Oct 23, 2011; London, ENGLAND; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Brian Price (92) in the NFL International Series game against the Chicago Bears at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

The endless search for roster depth continues. Friday the Vikings reportedly looked at a defensive tackle, working out former Bear and Buccaneer Brian Price. This according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

The 6-1, 303 pound Price has been an underachiever thus far in his career. He was taken by Tampa in the second round of the 2010 draft out of UCLA, but injuries limited him to only five games his rookie season.

Things seemed to be looking up for Price his second year but then discipline problems reared their head, climaxing in a bad incident during week 13. In the game vs. Carolina, Price incurred an unnecessary roughness penalty for shoving Panthers lineman Mackenzy Bernadeau, and this lapse so enraged his coach Raheem Morris that Morris booted him from the sideline for the rest of the game. Afterward Price’s agent went after Morris, saying the coach overreacted. The incident was seen as the most glaring example of a general discipline problem afflicting the Buccaneers, who ended up a dismal 4-12 on the season.

After the season both Morris and Price would be sent packing. The Buccaneers got a 7th round pick for Price who headed to the Bears to replace Amobi Okoye. But personal problems and injuries set Price back in Chicago and he would end up being cut so the Bears could bring back Okoye.

Price has certainly shown flashes of talent but he’s never been able to bring it with any consistency and the negative stories from 2011 with Tampa have to give you pause. However, he does have experience in the Tampa-2 and would seem to fit what the Vikings are looking for as an interior lineman with some penetrating ability. Right now the Vikes have Letroy Guion and Fred Evans in the nose tackle rotation, and Kevin Williams and Christian Ballard as the top two at 3-tech. Price could probably play either spot and that versatility might be attractive to a team that is looking to rotate in multiple defensive linemen during games.

Like The Viking Age on Facebook.
Follow Dan Zinski on Twitter.