During a recent interview, the former Buffalo Bills offensive lineman revealed that the Minnesota Vikings were among the teams to contact him this year.
Heading into the 2018 offseason, some were curious as to how the Minnesota Vikings would try an improve their offensive line. The unit made strides in 2017, but there was still plenty of room for improvement and the Vikings also had to find a replacement for guard Joe Berger, who retired this year.
Despite the need to fill Berger’s spot and there being chances to add top free-agents and draft prospects, Minnesota did not really do a ton to upgrade their offensive line this offseason.
Tom Compton was the lone blocker they added through free agency (11 starts in four seasons) and the Vikings selected two offensive linemen (Brian O’Neill and Colby Gossett) in last April’s draft. None of these three players were added to the team to be immediate starters in 2018.
But it’s not like Minnesota did not at least make an attempt to add starting-caliber blockers to their roster this offseason. Apparently, the Vikings even contacted Richie Incognito this year.
Yes, that Richie Incognito.
In a recent interview with TMZ, the former Buffalo Bills offensive lineman said that he has been in contact with a number of teams this offseason including Minnesota and the Seattle Seahawks.
With the recent injuries on the Vikings’ offensive line, many seem to assume that the team reaching out to Incognito is something that happened within the past week. However, the current free-agent blocker never specified when Minnesota contacted him and it could have easily been something that happened months ago.
After his odd departure from the Bills in May, the Vikings were probably one of a handful of teams checking to see what Incognito’s interest was in joining their roster. He had a connection to Minnesota since he and former Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano were both with the Miami Dolphins in 2010 and 2011.
But with Sparano now gone, so may be Minnesota’s interest in Incognito.
Minnesota Vikings
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer constantly boasts about the quality of men that are inside his team’s locker room. A group of guys that tend to shy very far away from any sort of off-the-field controversies.
What kind of message would Minnesota be sending to their locker room if a guy like Incognito were to be brought in? He’s had a history of creating issues within teams and at this point in his career, the 35-year-old offensive lineman is really not worth the hassle.
If the Vikings were truly interested in bringing in a veteran interior blocker, why not someone who just spent the 2017 season playing in the NFC North like Jahri Evans?
The four-time First-Team All-Pro spent last year with the Green Bay Packers and at 34-years-old, he was Bleacher Report’s 26th-best guard in the NFL last season (Incognito was 22nd). Plus Evans doesn’t come with the reputation of being a locker room nuisance like Incognito does.
Minnesota might have reached out to Incognito recently or it could have been months ago. But no matter when they contacted him, there is no reason for the Vikings to add the offensive linemen to their current roster.