Vikes thread!

[LPS]

Ya that's about it.  That scares me too giving anyone that kind of money.  Has it ever been a good thing, baseball, or football or B ball?   When players got a mill or two raise cuz they did good was something that motivated them.  BUT when they get some ungodly number like now it is just out of this world as to how anyone would react to all of the money in the world.  There is no way I could handle that kind of money.   LOL

[glenn57]

I somewhat get it as a player, there pro careers are pretty short. The risk of injury is high, can't blame them for trying to set themselves up for life.

On the other hand the owners are making plenty of cash on these talented athletes also, but agreeing to pay that kind of money in a contract is foolish, especially when they can just cut them loose.

What troubles me is both the player and owners agreed to these contracts and yet neither seems to want to hold up there end of the deal.

[Jerkbiat]

Ya that's about it.  That scares me too giving anyone that kind of money.  Has it ever been a good thing, baseball, or football or B ball?   When players got a mill or two raise cuz they did good was something that motivated them.  BUT when they get some ungodly number like now it is just out of this world as to how anyone would react to all of the money in the world.  There is no way I could handle that kind of money.   LOL

It is amazing to how many of them blow all that money and are broke when they are done playing.

[LPS]

Yes that is just mid boggling how they can end up broke. 

[Jerkbiat]

When they sign them contracts. They should be assigned a financial planner and half of it should be put into safe investments.

[glenn57]

When they sign them contracts. They should be assigned a financial planner and half of it should be put into safe investments.

i heard at one-time that during the rookie camp these new rookies are required to go through some kind of financial planning courses. not sure if thats a fact though???????

[Steve-o]

Yeah, the NFL has those classes for rookies - and probably other sports leagues too, but I think there is an expectation in certain families or certain circles, that when the Alpha hits it big, they are obliged to take care of the posse.

My wife was watching a documentary on Whitney Houston.  Whitney's father passed out credit cards to many friends and hangers-on, which were all paid for by Whitney. 

[Steve-o]

Its official.   

Vikings officially release four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook

"I hold Dalvin in the highest regard and am grateful for his contributions on and off the field. Dalvin is a tough, dynamic player and a respected leader by his teammates, which was evident by his multiple seasons as a team captain," head coach Kevin O'Connell said in a statement from the team's website. "As a finalist for the 2022 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, Dalvin's approach to the game and his commitment to sportsmanship is clearly respected across the league. We appreciate Dalvin's positivity, energy and leadership and will be pulling for him in the future."

Cook's impending departure was first reported by NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero on Thursday, with Minnesota having one last day to find a trade suitor rather than lose the four-time Pro Bowler for nothing, but such a move did not come to fruition.

Instead, the Vikes have moved another veteran off the books in an exodus of an offseason that has already seen them release wide receiver Adam Thielen and trade pass rusher Za’Darius Smith. By releasing Cook after June 1, the team saves $9 million in cap space this season and $12.5 million the following year, with $5.1 million and $3.1 million in dead money the next two years, respectively.

[Steve-o]

This article is a good read if you are looking for rationale why the Vikes released (or didn't release in the case of Harrison Smith) so many veteran fan favorites.

The Method to the Vikings’ Madness

Adam Thielen turns 33 this year, was a $20 million salary cap hit, and among wide receivers with at least 90 targets last season, he was ranked 40th of 41 receivers in receiving grade according to PFF. The Vikings chose to release Thielen not just to save salary cap space, but also because they were looking to upgrade the WR2 position.

Eric Kendricks, 31, has seen his overall PFF grade decline from 90 and 82 in 2019 and 2020 respectively, to around 60 the last two seasons. His coverage grade has gone from 90 in 2020 to 45 last season. Kendricks’ salary cap hit was over $10 million this season and the Vikings see Brian Asamoah as ready to step up into a starting position. Releasing Kendricks made immediate sense.

Harrison Smith, 34, has also seen his performance decline, albeit not as much as Kendricks. He had a 68.1 overall PFF grade last season, which is above average, about ten points lower than the previous season. He was set to be a nearly $19 million salary cap this season, however. He was asked to take a pay cut, which he did, reducing his cap hit to just under $12 million. The Vikings have Josh Mettelus on the roster, who did well replacing Smith last season when he was injured, but with Lewis Cine’s recovery status and readiness still a question mark (at the time), the Vikings weren’t quite ready to move on from Smith at a reduced rate more commensurate with his recent performance. Smith had other offers he said but chose to stay with the Vikings. The deal makes sense for both sides as Smith may be in the last year of his career and $12 million is still a good deal for a 34 year-old safety.

The Cook explanation was more detailed, but it boiled down to this...

Cook was like an average home run hitter in baseball. He got the occasional home run, but most of the time he struck out or made an out in his at-bat. Mattison, by contrast, wasn’t as much of a home-run hitter as Cook, but his batting average and on-base percentage was higher than Cook’s. Kevin O’Connell mentioned more than once this off-season that he wants to be more efficient in the running game, particularly on early downs, staying ahead of the sticks and avoiding unfavorable 3rd and long situations. Mattison may be the better back in that role at this stage in their respective careers.

In any case, taking a $14 million salary cap hit for Cook this season didn’t make a lot of sense for a running back of his age and performance last season- especially if they can get similar or better production from a less expensive player on the roster.

[KEN W]

The Minnesota Vikings officially released running back Dalvin Cook on Friday after an unsuccessful last-ditch effort to trade the four-time Pro Bowl selection.

Makes sense. Apparently Cook would not take a cut like Smith did. Must feel he can get more than they were offering somewhere else
Third career of Viking's running backs behind Adrian Peterson and Robert Smith. Not a bad career here. But time to move on just like they did with Peterson.

[LPS]

Not taking a pay cut was probably his way of saying good bye politely. 

[Steve-o]

As a Vikes fan, it is always interesting to see what the next team gives him and then to wait and see if it was worth it for them.

[LPS]

Yes I am curious too.  He and his agent can play the field too.  They just said if he gets hired he may have to pay the Vikes back some money. 

[glenn57]

chances are he'll end up on a team that will play the Vikings this coming season.........and shred them to pieces!!!!!! most former players do!!!!!!!

[dutchboy]

Bigger contracts are required to cover the rising costs of dope, gold chains & tattoo's.

[LPS]

etc. etc. 

[KEN W]

Are the Vikings looking to "Tank It" this coming season so they can get a top 5-10 draft pick to be able to get a top QB selection. Is that part of the 4-5 year plan? Cousins has 1 year left. Adolfo Menhsa was part of that in Cleveland.

The deeper question is whether they were willing if not hoping to get rid of Cousins, too. Rumors flew at the Scouting Combine of a possible Cousins trade to the 49ers.

The question for the Vikings would have been who do they replace him with? They were drafting too low to get in position for one of the best young quarterbacks in the 2023 draft class, and the free-agency and trade options (other than Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson) would have resulted in another middle-of-the-pack, water-treading, just-good-enough-to-be-good-enough option, perhaps to give the Vikings a chance at another one-and-done playoff run. Or maybe, if they get lucky, a blowout loss in the divisional round.

[KEN W]

So happy to see Hunter getting shopped also! The quickest way to a Super Bowl contender is to be bad for a bit. CIN? JAC? BUF? Those teams were bad and got real good real fast.

[Steve-o]

Teams realize if a guy don't want to play for em any more, mo sense in keepin him.  Why waste a roster spot and $$$ on a guy who wants out? 

[LPS]

It is a nice quiet way for a player to move without saying a negative word about anyone.   

[fishwidow]

Seems like a pretty classy way to handle it on both sides.  Hope he does well wherever he ends up, except of course, if he plays against the Vikings.

[Gunner55]

  They better sign #18 to a new deal before they start to "Tank it" or he may not choose to stay around for the rebuild IMO. He'll get his $ no matter where he plays, so why wouldn't he want to win too?

[LPS]

I have been wondering that too Gunner.  He could pretty much play for anyone he wants with his hands.  I doubt very much we will be a 13 win team this year but may win our division.

[LPS]

I read more and more people think we should trade JJ whilst he is hot for a bunch of picks and save a ton of money.  ???? 

[Gunner55]

He has 2 years left on his rookie deal, so that goes through the 2024 season.

[glenn57]

i donr see the Vikings rebuilding just yet. JJ puts people in the seats!!!!!!!!! they were really strapped with the cap and needed to do what they did to get within it. i also dont think that is how the HC operates.........but i'm just another arm chair QB!!!!

[Boar]

And a arm chair hunter and fisherman to

[glenn57]

And a arm chair hunter and fisherman to

awe who hunts in a heated shack sitting in an easy boy rocker???????

[Boar]

Most of us! Some have evolved into the in smart age yet

[LPS]