The Viking Age
FanSided

Why Vikings fans should root for the XFL’s Dallas Renegades

By Nik Edlund

ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 01: A Dallas Renegades helmet lays in the grass during the open practice for the XFL Dallas Renegades on February 1, 2020 at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 01: A Dallas Renegades helmet lays in the grass during the open practice for the XFL Dallas Renegades on February 1, 2020 at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) Reshard Cliett
(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) Reshard Cliett /

Former Vikings defensive players in Dallas:

Greer Martini – LB

Greer Martini was a guy the Vikings signed after watching him play in the AAF. That league attempted to be the minor league of the NFL, but it ran into financial issues and had to fold.

Martini was a former NFL Linebacker who spent time with the Green Bay Packers before his stint in the AAF. He was with Minnesota last preseason and he played sparingly making four tackles in the team’s final two exhibition games.

Perhaps Martini can figure it out in the XFL and earn himself another look in the big leagues.

Derron Smith – S

Derron Smith was another former AAF player that the Vikings took a chance on after that league’s demise last year. Smith was interesting, as he was one of the few former AAF players who had a fair amount of NFL experience.

He appeared in a total of 38 games during stints with the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns. During his time with these two teams, he accumulated 17 tackles and a fumble recovery.

He actually played fairly well last preseason for Minnesota, but the team opted to keep a promising rookie (who they later cut) over the veteran who was looking for one more chance.

Smith is one of the more experienced players in the XFL and maybe this time he’ll be able to make the most out of his latest opportunity.

Reshard Cliett – LB

Reshard Cliett was with six other NFL teams before the Vikings signed him in March of 2018. He played well in the preseason, but he was among Minnesota’s final cuts prior to the start of the 2018 season.

Cliett was later signed to Minnesota’s practice squad and he hung with the team all year with the hope that he could crack the final 53 in 2019.

Cliett again showed his talent in the 2019 preseason with 11 tackles, but it still wasn’t enough to make the Vikings’ final roster.

He is 27-years-old, so this may be his last chance to make an impression for NFL teams. He’ll probably need to lead the Renegades in tackles and make some game-changing plays if he’s going to get another shot in the NFL.

Home/Minnesota Vikings News