Chad Greenway will return to the Minnesota Vikings for one more go around according to a media report.
To the person who made the video imploring the Minnesota Vikings to bring back Chad Greenway: It’s your lucky day. According to a report from Alex Marvez of Fox Sports, the Vikings are about to re-sign the veteran linebacker.
Marvez says the new deal may be done as soon as Friday.
Grizzled Greenway has been somewhat in limbo this free agency season while the Vikings have been busy shoring up their linebacker corps with younger players like Emmanuel Lamur and Travis Lewis.
Despite the moves to get younger and more athletic at the Will linebacker spot, Greenway has expressed all along his desire to return to Minnesota for one more go-around.
Last year Greenway posted a career-low 68 tackles while getting 632 defensive snaps, third among Vikings linebackers behind Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks.
Age and accumulated mileage have slowed Greenway down noticeably in recent years and there are certain times where he looks like a real liability out there. Nevertheless, Greenway still manages to make the occasional big play, like last year’s pick-six against San Diego.
Though Greenway fans will be elated to hear that their favorite veteran linebacker is reportedly coming back for a final rodeo, it is my duty to caution folks that with all the linebacker depth currently featured on the Vikings’ roster, there is certain to be a competition for the starting Will spot in training camp and there are no guarantees that Greenway will come out on top of that particular scrum.
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The Vikings brought in a player in Emmanuel Lamur who is clearly an intriguing talent to Mike Zimmer. Lamur is faster and more athletic than Greenway, and being a converted safety, he brings coverage skills to the table that Greenway can’t match.
Greenway returning will be a great feel-good story in camp and I would never rule out the chance of him sticking on the roster and contributing in a significant way in 2016, but as Greenway surely knows, nothing in the NFL is guaranteed when you get to be his age.