Minnesota Vikings: tough decisions ahead as cut day looms

The Minnesota Vikings will be forced to make some tough decisions as to who to keep and who to release for the September 1, 2015 deadline to bring the rosters down to 75 players.

Many of these players who will be released are young men who are fighting for a career in the NFL. The preseason week 3 contests against the Dallas Cowboys could be their last chance to make a good impression and hopefully find a way to continue on the NFL.

There are currently 89 players on the Minnesota Vikings roster. That means that by 3 pm CT on Tuesday, at least 14 players will no longer be a part of the team.

Some of the players that will be released are from smaller schools, some are journeymen trying to hold on to their place in the league, and others are just hoping they can catch the eye of another team to get picked up and given another shot. However, the NFL is a fickle beast, and many of the individuals who are released may never get a shot to play in the National Football League ever again.

Aug 15, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer looks on during the third quarter in a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings won 26-16. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t envy the Minnesota Vikings around this time of year. Not only do they have to make the decisions on who to keep and who to release for the betterment of the team, but they also have to inform each of these players that their dream of playing in the NFL may not be realized. These are young gentlemen with families, hopes, and dreams, who are getting told that they just weren’t good enough.

That has to be a hard pill to swallow for many and a tough one for the Vikings leadership to give out, but it isn’t over after Tuesday. By September 5, 2015, the teams will have to cut 22 more young men from their roster to reach the final 53 man roster.

Sure, some of the players will be brought back for the practice squad. And if something happens, they could see themselves brought back in if there is an injury which forces a player up from the practice squad. But that occurs less often than not.

Watch for these hungry, young Minnesota Vikings players to play with everything they have in tonight’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. Their future will depend on it.

Next: Minnesota Vikings 2015 Game By Game Previews

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