Oct 9, 2011; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) carries the ball as Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Jarrad Page (41) defends in the first quarter at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE

So it turns out Jarrad Page wasn’t just dreaming when he tried out with the Dodgers. On Saturday the L.A. baseball team actually signed the former Vikings safety to a minor league contract as an outfielder. If Page ends up making it to the big club – a long-shot – he’ll join Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders and Brian Jordan on the short list of guys who’ve played in both the NFL and MLB.

As for Page’s football career? It looks like that’s over at least for the time being. There was no guarantee the Vikings would’ve brought back Page, who was a free agent after playing the last couple games of 2011 for the Vikes as a desperation fill-in, but there was at least a chance for him to be in the mix. Now he won’t be in the mix. Former Colts SS Melvin Bullitt, on the other hand, might be.

Update your free agent trackers accordingly.

Signed: Patrick Brown (1 year/$540,000)

Not Coming Back: Greg Camarillo, Jarrad Page

Remaining Free Agents:

Lorenzo Booker (RFA)

Kenny Onatolu (RFA)

Husain Abdullah

Xavier Adibi

Devin Aromashodu

Fred Evans

Letroy Guion

E.J. Henderson

Erin Henderson

Tyrell Johnson

Matt Katula

Scott Kooistra

Sage Rosenfels

Benny Sapp

Visanthe Shiancoe

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Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Erin Henderson (50) before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

NFL free agency starts on March 13, only 33 days away. So now is the time to dissect our pending free agents. After the resigning of Pat Brown, the Vikings have 17 free agents to be.

Since we’re all Vikings fans and in need of some good news, I’ll start there. There are only four starters on this list: EJ and Erin Henderson, Husain Abdullah, and Visanthe Shiancoe. So not to worry, the team that went 3-13 and tied for the worst record in Vikings history will almost completely return! Oh, wait. Well, it’s news anyway.

In that list of four starters, the only guy I see as a lock for returning is Erin Henderson. With two-thirds of the Vikings’ linebacking core set to be free agents, at least one will need to be resigned. It could get a little awkward if they split up the brothers, but the NFL is a business and Erin is younger and healthier.

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But replacing a guy on the roster and replacing him in the line-up are two different things. Katula is ready to long-snap right away, and Burton might be able to contribute given that he has been on the practice squad most of the season, but the two safeties are coming right in off the street and probably won’t be much of a factor on Sunday. In light of this situation, Leslie Frazier has announced that Mistral Raymond will get the start at safety alongside Jamarca Sanford vs. Denver. Raymond and Sanford figure to spend a lot of the day in run support as Denver doesn’t like to throw it much. (more…)