Richard Neussendorfer
Posts: 19591
Joined: 12/7/2007
From: Alamogordo, NM
Status: offline
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ORIGINAL: David F. quote:
ORIGINAL: Mark Anderson quote:
ORIGINAL: bstinger quote:
ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer . . Chris Tomasson@christomasson Pro Football Focus ranks #Vikings safety Anthony Harris as the third-best free agent available in the NFL. He could be looking at deal worth around $13 million a season. Pro Football Focus also ranks CB Trae Waynes as No. 38 free agent available. It was a big mistake not to extend Ant last season. We probably tried. His agent isn't dumb. He isn't going to take a below market deal. Franchise him. Then negotiate. I shouldn't torture myself like this: 2015 On May 2, 2015, the Minnesota Vikings signed Harris as an undrafted free agent after he was not one of the 15 safeties selected during the 2015 NFL Draft. The Vikings signed him to a three-year, $1.58 million contract that includes a $10,000 signing bonus.[12] Harris going undrafted surprised many scouts and analysts, due to the 2015 NFL Draft being very thin at the safety position with only four true safeties being selected in the first two rounds. His fall in the draft was attributed to his shoulder injury and many reporting his recovery process could possibly extend into the beginning of the regular season.[13] ESPN analyst Todd McShay listed Harris as the top undrafted free agent after the draft.[14] Throughout his first training camp, Harris competed against Andrew Sendejo, Antone Exum, and Robert Blanton for the starting strong safety position. On September 5, 2015, he was waived by the Minnesota Vikings, but was re-signed to the practice squad the following day.[15] On December 8, 2015, Harris was promoted to the active roster after spending the first 12 games on the practice squad. He was named the starting free safety, alongside cornerback Terrence Newman, after multiple injuries to safeties Harrison Smith, Andrew Sendejo, and Antone Exum. On December 10, 2015, Harris made his first career start and professional regular season debut during a 23-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals and led the team with eight combined tackles while also deflecting a deep pass attempt by Carson Palmer.[16] The following game, he made his second consecutive start and collected five combined tackles and defended a pass in a 38-17 victory at the Chicago Bears. He finished his rookie season with 15 combined tackles (12 solo) and two pass deflections in four games and two starts.[17] 2016 Harris entered training camp competing for a job as the backup safety against Michael Griffin, Antone Exum, and Jayron Kearse. Head coach Mike Zimmer named Harris the backup free safety to Harrison Smith to begin the 2016 season.[18] On December 11, 2016, Harris started at free safety in place of an injured Harrison Smith who suffered a severe high ankle sprain.[19] He recorded seven solo tackles in a 25-16 victory at the Jacksonville Jaguars. The next week, Harris collected a career-high 15 combined tackles and defended a pass as the Vikings were routed 34-6 by the Indianapolis Colts. On January 1, 2017, he started at strong safety in place of Andrew Sendejo who injured his knee during practice. Harris went on to make eight combined tackles in a 38-10 victory over the Chicago Bears.[20] He finished the season with 30 combined tackles (11 solo) and a pass deflection and played in 16 games with three starts.[21] 2017 Harris began the 2017 regular season as the backup free safety to Harrison Smith. On October 29, 2017, he started at strong safety after Andrew Sendejo was sidelined with a groin injury.[22] He recorded two solo tackles in a 23-10 victory for Minnesota. During a Week 11 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, Harris recorded a season-high seven combined tackles after starting at strong safety with Sendejo inactive due to a groin and hamstring injury. Harris also deflected a pass, as the Vikings defeated the Rams 24-7.[23] 2018 On March 8, 2018, Harris re-signed with the Vikings.[24] In Week 11 against the Chicago Bears, Harris intercepted quarterback Mitchell Trubisky twice in a 25-20 loss.[25] 2019 On March 11, 2019, the Vikings placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on Harris.[26] Following the release of Andrew Sendejo, Harris was named a starting safety alongside Harrison Smith. In Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, Harris intercepted Matt Ryan twice and recovered a fumble as the Vikings won 28-12.[27] For his Week 1 effort, Harris was awarded NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[28] In Week 8 against the Washington Redskins, Harris recorded his third interception of the season off Dwayne Haskins Jr. in the 19-9 win. [29] In the NFC Wild Card game against the New Orleans Saints, Harris intercepted a pass thrown by Drew Brees and returned it for 30 yards during the 26–20 overtime win. [30] How in hell did we manage to start the 3rd ranked free agent less than half of his games? Were there no injuries would he ever even played? Zimmer needs to start running competitions for starting spots. I think that's my main complaint with Zimmer. The whole entrenched starter BS. It goes back to Diggs for me. Diggs was clearly the most talented receiver on the roster yet we had him inactive to begin his career. We definitely need some better vision going forward. Seems like Zimmers statement about getting younger may be a sign that he's realizing just that.
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