Tag: Minnesota Vikings (Page 48 of 61)

      2009 NFL Mock Draft Version 1.0

      March 19, 2009 /

      It would probably be good for me to do an intro to this piece, but I’m going to skip all the foreplay and just get right to the action. And let’s be honest – you probably wouldn’t have read the intro anyway.

      Below is my first mock draft of the year. You can disagree all you want, but just make sure you go into detail in the comments section so I know you care. I hate those bastards that trash my work and don’t have the common courtesy to tell me how much of a moron I am in print…

      Let’s mock!

      1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
      Jason Smith (Baylor), Eugene Monroe (Virginia) and Aaron Curry (Wake Forest) are all possibilities for new GM Martin Mayhew with this pick. But the offensive tackle and linebacker positions are deep in this year’s draft – the quarterback position is not. Mayhew can get his franchise quarterback in Stafford, select an offensive tackle at No. 20 and then fill the middle linebacker need in the second or third round. There, I just fixed the 0-16 Detroit Lions in less than 100 words.

      2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
      If Smith goes No. 1 to the Lions, then I fully expect the Rams to take Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe. With the jettison of long-time veteran Orlando Pace this offseason, St. Louis needs to address their need at left tackle and they’ll do so with either Smith or Monroe depending on who’s available. If it’s Smith, then they land one of the most athletic offensive lineman in the draft.

      3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
      The Chiefs could really use a right tackle to pair with last year’s first round pick, Branden Albert, but Curry would be too good to pass up here. GM Scott Pioli put a premium on versatile defenders while he was in New England, and that’s exactly what Curry is. The Wake Forest product could play either outside or inside in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme and is easily the best defensive prospect in this year’s draft.

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      NFL, NFL Draft

      Ravens re-sign Ray Lewis, add Matt Birk

      March 4, 2009 /

      The Ravens made two significant moves on Wednesday, agreeing to a deal with linebacker Ray Lewis and signing free agent center Matt Birk.

      “We have agreed in principle on a multi-year contract that will allow Ray to finish his career as a Baltimore Raven,” general manager/executive vice president Ozzie Newsome announced.

      (Note: Lewis’ contract will not be official until he signs, which will take place sometime in the next two weeks. At that time, the Ravens will hold a press conference with Lewis. Please understand that travel schedules for owner Steve Bisciotti, Newsome, head coach John Harbaugh and Lewis are causing this delay.)

      Also agreeing to a contract this afternoon is six-time Pro Bowl C Matt Birk. Birk, who has played all 11 of his NFL seasons with Minnesota, will meet with the media Thursday morning (3/5) at the Ravens’ Owings Mills training facility at 11 a.m.

      Re-signing Lewis was pivotal after the Ravens lost Bart Scott to free agency. Lewis wore down towards the end of last season but proved he can still play at a high level. Now Baltimore can turn its attention to addressing the hole left by Scott.

      The addition of Birk was huge because the Ravens lost Jason Brown to the Rams. Birk has more years on Brown, but is a seasoned veteran and one of the most intelligent centers in the league. He was also the best center on the market after Brown inked his deal with St. Louis.

      The other team impacted by this signing is Minnesota – Birk’s former team. They lost the bidding war for T.J. Houshmandzadeh (who signed with the Seahawks on Monday) and now have to replace Birk on their offensive line. It’s been a rough start to free agency for the Vikes.

      NFL

      Houshmandzadeh signs with Seahawks

      March 2, 2009 /

      According to the National Football Post, free agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the Seahawks. The deal also includes $15 million in guarantees.

      Barring any last-second problems, free agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh will sign a multi-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks, according to sources close to the situation.

      According to the source, the Seahawks have offered close to $2 million more than the closest competitor in the race for Houshmandzadeh’s services.

      An eight-year veteran out of Oregon State, Houshmandzadeh caught 92 passes for 904 yards and 4 touchdowns in 15 starts for the Bengals last season.

      In addition to the Seahawks, the Vikings and Bengals were pursing Houshmandzadeh.

      Well…slap…me…hard. I thought Housh would wind up in Minnesota after the Vikes made a decent push this weekend and if not there, surely back in Cincinnati where the Bengals seemed to be offering the most money. Out of the top three choices, I would have ranked Seattle third as Housh’s likely destination. Yikes.

      The Seahawks landed the best receiver on the market, although they probably overpaid considering he’ll be 32 in September. He’s highly dependable, an excellent target and he’s not afraid to go over the middle if he has to. Hopefully he doesn’t mind blocking either, because he’ll be doing plenty of it in Greg Knapp’s West Coast Offense because the Seahawks will definitely run the ball next year.

      I just wonder how Knapp and Housh will get along. Knapp seems like a good guy, but he’s been known to frustrate receivers in the past (i.e. Terrell Owens and Peerless Price), and Housh isn’t afraid to voice his frustration when he feels that what the offense is doing isn’t working.

      I also wonder what this signing means for Michael Crabtree, who some predicted would go fourth to the Seahawks in the April. With Seattle needing to address other holes, I doubt Crabtree will be their pick in round one now that Housh has been signed. (Or is expected to sign, that is.)

      NFL

      Housh to sign with Vikings soon?

      March 2, 2009 /

      Perhaps the biggest name still left on the free agent market is wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who appears poised to sign with the Vikings if you read between the lines.

      When the free agency period began last Friday, Housh set up a visit with the Seahawks. He left Seattle without signing a contract, however, and despite rumors that the Lions, Bengals and Bears were interested, Housh headed to Minnesota for a visit with the Vikings on Saturday.

      He hasn’t left Minnesota since.

      According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Housh remained in Minnesota overnight Sunday and is expected to make a decision on whom he’ll sign with by Monday night. He is supposed to pay a visit to Tampa early this week, but it appears that the Vikes are trying hard not to let him leave Minnesota without a contract.

      Houshmandzadeh and Bernard Berrian would make quite the underrated receiving tandem in Minnesota. Coupled with bruiser Adrian Peterson and a solid line, the Vikings would have one of the better offenses in the NFC and certainly the best in the North. Some fans might not be enthralled with the Sage Rosenfels trade, but he’ll give Tarvaris Jackson some competition and head coach Brad Childress will allow the best man win this summer.

      If the Vikings could eventually land Housh (and for what it’s worth, I think they will), then they’d easily be the favorites to once again with the NFC North. Signing Housh would also mean that they could concentrate on filling some holes on the defensive side of the ball and add good overall depth to the entire team.

      Unless the Bucs make a strong push, the last time the Vikings probably have to worry about swooping in and stealing Housh would be the Bengals. Cincy still remains in the mix and even though Housh would probably be upgrading his situation if he went to Minnesota, he has history with the Bengals and his heart could remain there.

      NFL

      Vikings on the verge of acquiring Texans’ QB Rosenfels

      February 24, 2009 /

      The Minnesota Vikings have an answer for anyone wondering what they’ll do next season at quarterback: Sage Rosenfels.

      Sage RosenfelsThe Texans and Minnesota are close to completing a trade that would send quarterback Sage Rosenfels to the Vikings, possibly for a fourth-round draft choice.
      The Texans had no comment on the report.

      This is the second year in a row in which the Vikings have been interested in acquiring Rosenfels as their starting quarterback. Rosenfels, who won six games in the last two seasons when replacing the injured Matt Schaub, is approaching the last year of his contract. If the trade is completed, the Vikings will want to extend Rosenfels’ contract.

      Rosenfels, who grew up in Iowa and played at Iowa State, was hoping to be traded to the Vikings last year. Media reports said Minnesota offered a third-round draft choice, but the Texans wanted a second-round pick. Both teams denied an offer was made. The reason Rosenfels wants to be traded to the Vikings is that he would have a chance to start for a team that has Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor at running back and as has led the NFL in run defense for the last two years.

      This isn’t a move that will blow the tops off many Vikings fans, but Brad Childress is trying to foster competition at the quarterback position and acquiring Rosenfels does just that. Minnesota isn’t thrilled about starting another season with just Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte at quarterback, but they’re not ready to give up on TJ either. So trading for Rosenfels and holding an open competition at quarterback makes sense on some levels.

      The bottom line is that Childress doesn’t want to play musical chairs again with his quarterbacks next season. He wants more stability at the most important position on the field and if Rosenfels can do that, then he’s worth the mid-round pick that the Vikes will have to give up to acquire him.

      Some fans love Jackson and think he can develop into a quality starting quarterback some day. If he has the talent to succeed, then he should be able to beat out Rosenfels in preseason and earn the starting gig. If he can’t, Rosenfels may not be spectacular, but he’s experienced, instinctive and is a fit for Childress’s West Coast Offense.

      NFL, Rumors & Gossip

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