quote:

ORIGINAL: bgdavis

I'm curious to see how the Wilf's will approach hiring a new GM since they've been tied so closely with Spielman during their years of ownership. (Wilf's bought the team and 2005, and hired Spielman as GM in 2006.) Considering how bad things look now, the blame for how they ended up here through a combination bad drafts, ignoring OL, questionable extensions and FA signings seems to fall squarely on Spielman's shoulders. Where will they look to find a new GM, and how likely will they be to find a competent candidate?

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ORIGINAL: Arlowe84

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ORIGINAL: The Happy Norseman

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ORIGINAL: Arlowe84

Feels like this franchise may be at an inflection point going into next season.

This is 2021, NFL is a different league than in the 80's. It a league of mediocrity. Because of FA and salary cap most all teams have some glaring weaknesses. The one's that don't probably had a couple drafts in a row where they killed it.

This team has some pieces, but also has some massive holes, where we are probably bottom of the league in production (CB, C, RG, DE w/o Hunter namely).
Unless they decide to resign a 32 year old P2, the only viable CB we have going into next year is Dantzler
Hunter is a wild card, coming off 2 major surgeries. He's a freak but those injuries take a toll. You're looking at guys like Wonnum (who just get's destroyed vs the run) and Jones. This could be real problem.

We are projected to be well over the cap, and unfortunately the last couple drafts have left the young talent a bit barren. How do you bridge that gap?

Something seems off about Zimmer and Spielman's relationship. Zimmer has sounded like a guy who does not want to be around, for awhile now (IMO)., maybe it's just the wear and tear of the job, but is a completely different guy than we saw a few years ago. He thinks he's Bellicek now without the resume.


Is there enough talent to do a "soft" rebuild where you compete for a W/C spot next year or in 2 years, probably, but I think the Wilf's need to do a complete evaluation/audit of the organization. I suspect they may even need to let a couple guys go, high prices vets, some may even consider pro-bowl caliber players.

For example, is Dalvin Cook really worth the money? Sure he's probably a top 5 RB, but would you rather spend that money on 2 very good O lineman G/RG. Or top money on a very good RB who has no holes to run through. I'm not saying that's the move but I think that's the kind of evaluation/audit this team needs to do.

Zimmer is a terrible in game coach. Too many mistakes that have cost the team games.

If this team is not careful, and they don't do things right, we could be in for a complete rebuild soon, and then you run the risk of being a Jet or Jaguar team for a decade trying to figure things out. Those teams are probably just more bad management, but there is always that possibility.

Needless to say, the Cousins dilemma too. The guy is probably a top 8 arm talent, but lacks the mobility and intangibles oh so important for a QB. At times, he can make eye popping throws, but also has times where is looks much more like a league average QB, missing open guys, not reading the field, getting skittish when it's not there.

I think you have to get rid of Spielman first. He built. He thought Cousins would be the final piece, he traded away draft picks for veterans (one traded the same year), his drafts. he made decisions to trade Hughes and Weatherly.
We need a fresh set of eyes to look at it, and figure out how navigate through this period.

This team will have some serious weapons on offense again next year - Thielen, Jefferson, Osborn, Cook, Conklin, Smith plus 3/5ths of an offensive line. In today's NFL, a team with a great offense can overcome the fact that it has a poor defense. Add a G, a C and replace Cousins with a QB who can actually lead and the team can compete next year. Assuming there's a new HC in place.

I love Adam Thielen, but he will be 32 next year, he's missed 4 games per year the last 3. His yds per target has declined for 5 years now.

He's set to count 12 mil vs the cap next year. Is that really worth it? I think it's naive at this point to assume he'll stay healthy for an entire year. The can't look at things in a silo. I want them to look at everything and everybody.

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ORIGINAL: Todd M

Let's Package Hunter and Cousins for two #1's. 22/23 is fine.

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ORIGINAL: Daniel Lee Young

Zimmer has to go.. he has to..

8 years is enough..

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ORIGINAL: thebigo

Watching the Zimmer postgame presser, looked like he was right on the edge of a Burnsie-like explosion.

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ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

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The team has announced that three of the five members of the current starting offensive line have been placed on the COVID-19 list. They are left tackle Christian Darrisaw, left guard Ezra Cleveland, and right tackle Brian O’Neill. With the new protocols, because they got their positive tests on a Monday, there’s still a chance that they could test out of the protocols before Sunday’s finale at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Chicago Bears.

The team also placed linebacker Eric Kendricks and safety Camryn Bynum on the COVID list. It is believed that all five of the players that the Vikings placed on the COVID list on Monday are fully vaccinated, though if we get news or indications otherwise we will share them with you.

There was some good news from the COVID side of things, as the team activated DE Patrick Jones II from the list. The team has also released quarterback Kyle Sloter.

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ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

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ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

.
.
The team has announced that three of the five members of the current starting offensive line have been placed on the COVID-19 list. They are left tackle Christian Darrisaw, left guard Ezra Cleveland, and right tackle Brian O’Neill. With the new protocols, because they got their positive tests on a Monday, there’s still a chance that they could test out of the protocols before Sunday’s finale at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Chicago Bears.

The team also placed linebacker Eric Kendricks and safety Camryn Bynum on the COVID list. It is believed that all five of the players that the Vikings placed on the COVID list on Monday are fully vaccinated, though if we get news or indications otherwise we will share them with you.

There was some good news from the COVID side of things, as the team activated DE Patrick Jones II from the list. The team has also released quarterback Kyle Sloter.

Thank God Bradbury and Udoh are clean or it'd be a disaster.

Anybody else think making Bradbury the first ever Center-Eligible player in history might be sneaky good?

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ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

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ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

.
.
The team has announced that three of the five members of the current starting offensive line have been placed on the COVID-19 list. They are left tackle Christian Darrisaw, left guard Ezra Cleveland, and right tackle Brian O’Neill. With the new protocols, because they got their positive tests on a Monday, there’s still a chance that they could test out of the protocols before Sunday’s finale at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Chicago Bears.

The team also placed linebacker Eric Kendricks and safety Camryn Bynum on the COVID list. It is believed that all five of the players that the Vikings placed on the COVID list on Monday are fully vaccinated, though if we get news or indications otherwise we will share them with you.

There was some good news from the COVID side of things, as the team activated DE Patrick Jones II from the list. The team has also released quarterback Kyle Sloter.

Thank God Bradbury and Udoh are clean or it'd be a disaster.

Anybody else think making Bradbury the first ever Center-Eligible player in history might be sneaky good?

he's next season's fullback....

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ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

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ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

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ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

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ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

.
.
The team has announced that three of the five members of the current starting offensive line have been placed on the COVID-19 list. They are left tackle Christian Darrisaw, left guard Ezra Cleveland, and right tackle Brian O’Neill. With the new protocols, because they got their positive tests on a Monday, there’s still a chance that they could test out of the protocols before Sunday’s finale at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Chicago Bears.

The team also placed linebacker Eric Kendricks and safety Camryn Bynum on the COVID list. It is believed that all five of the players that the Vikings placed on the COVID list on Monday are fully vaccinated, though if we get news or indications otherwise we will share them with you.

There was some good news from the COVID side of things, as the team activated DE Patrick Jones II from the list. The team has also released quarterback Kyle Sloter.

Thank God Bradbury and Udoh are clean or it'd be a disaster.

Anybody else think making Bradbury the first ever Center-Eligible player in history might be sneaky good?

he's next season's fullback....

Anything but C unless they figure out a way to put him in motion while hiking the ball.

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ORIGINAL: David F.

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ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

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ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

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ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

.
.
The team has announced that three of the five members of the current starting offensive line have been placed on the COVID-19 list. They are left tackle Christian Darrisaw, left guard Ezra Cleveland, and right tackle Brian O’Neill. With the new protocols, because they got their positive tests on a Monday, there’s still a chance that they could test out of the protocols before Sunday’s finale at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Chicago Bears.

The team also placed linebacker Eric Kendricks and safety Camryn Bynum on the COVID list. It is believed that all five of the players that the Vikings placed on the COVID list on Monday are fully vaccinated, though if we get news or indications otherwise we will share them with you.

There was some good news from the COVID side of things, as the team activated DE Patrick Jones II from the list. The team has also released quarterback Kyle Sloter.

Thank God Bradbury and Udoh are clean or it'd be a disaster.

Anybody else think making Bradbury the first ever Center-Eligible player in history might be sneaky good?

he's next season's fullback....

Anything but C unless they figure out a way to put him in motion while hiking the ball.

Bring Patterson back to play C and punt gunner, move Bradbury to FB, Ham to WR, and have no QB whatsoever.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

quote:

ORIGINAL: bgdavis

I'm curious to see how the Wilf's will approach hiring a new GM since they've been tied so closely with Spielman during their years of ownership. (Wilf's bought the team and 2005, and hired Spielman as GM in 2006.) Considering how bad things look now, the blame for how they ended up here through a combination bad drafts, ignoring OL, questionable extensions and FA signings seems to fall squarely on Spielman's shoulders. Where will they look to find a new GM, and how likely will they be to find a competent candidate?

Not to nit pick your post but Spielman was not given the GM job until 2012. He was a member of the TOA from 06 until then. About the only reason why he got the GM job was because he was the lesser of the other two idiots in the TOA.

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ORIGINAL: Brad H

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ORIGINAL: David F.

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Solid post. In particular, I like the take on Dalvin Cook. I've been saying for 12 years that running back is the easiest position on the field to replace. It happens all over the league. Guy gets hurt, replacement doesn't miss a beat. Hell, Rashad Penny has been one of the best backs in the league over the past four weeks.

OMG take a look at the top 3 rushers by week:

Week 17 so far - Rashaad Penny, D'Onta Foreman, Elijah Mitchell

Week 16 - Rex Burkhead, Rashaad Penny, Sony Michel

Week 15 - Jonathan Taylor, Miles Sanders, Craig Reynolds

Week 14 - Dalvin Cook, Rashaad Penny, Alvin Kamara

Week 13 - Jonathan Taylor, Sony Michel, Miles Sanders

Week 12 - Joe Mixon, Elijah Mitchell, Dontrell Hilliard

The Dalvin Cook contract is every bit as crazy as the Cousins or Smith contracts. He's due $43.5-million in base salary over the next four years with a $55.2 cap hit.

At this point, we aren't going to have any money for Justin Jefferson.

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ORIGINAL: Dave Odle

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ORIGINAL: Brad H

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ORIGINAL: David F.

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Solid post. In particular, I like the take on Dalvin Cook. I've been saying for 12 years that running back is the easiest position on the field to replace. It happens all over the league. Guy gets hurt, replacement doesn't miss a beat. Hell, Rashad Penny has been one of the best backs in the league over the past four weeks.

OMG take a look at the top 3 rushers by week:

Week 17 so far - Rashaad Penny, D'Onta Foreman, Elijah Mitchell

Week 16 - Rex Burkhead, Rashaad Penny, Sony Michel

Week 15 - Jonathan Taylor, Miles Sanders, Craig Reynolds

Week 14 - Dalvin Cook, Rashaad Penny, Alvin Kamara

Week 13 - Jonathan Taylor, Sony Michel, Miles Sanders

Week 12 - Joe Mixon, Elijah Mitchell, Dontrell Hilliard

The Dalvin Cook contract is every bit as crazy as the Cousins or Smith contracts. He's due $43.5-million in base salary over the next four years with a $55.2 cap hit.

At this point, we aren't going to have any money for Justin Jefferson.

It's a matter of value. Right now, I think you could probably lure away a solid RB like D' Ernest Johnson from the Browns for a song. He's a RFA next year and their running game didn't miss a beat as he filled in for Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt when they were injured. Along w/ Mattison, our running game would be fine and not drop off too much. Plus, the guy has never had a salary over 850k, which means you wouldn't be breaking the bank on him.

Minshew is intriguing as competition for QB1. I won't bag on Mond when we've never actually seen the guy play in regular season.

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ORIGINAL: marty

You may be able to get a 1st rounder, or more for Danielle, but I have the feeling he would shine for another team, sorta like Hughes.

Hughes and Hunter allowed themselves to get hurt a lot playing with a coach they knew wouldn't get them a SB. Now Hughes is with a HC and team that can win a SB, so he is shining.

I would rather Hunter were doing that with the Vikings, with a capable HC.

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ORIGINAL: TJSweens

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ORIGINAL: Dave Odle

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ORIGINAL: Brad H

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ORIGINAL: David F.

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Solid post. In particular, I like the take on Dalvin Cook. I've been saying for 12 years that running back is the easiest position on the field to replace. It happens all over the league. Guy gets hurt, replacement doesn't miss a beat. Hell, Rashad Penny has been one of the best backs in the league over the past four weeks.

OMG take a look at the top 3 rushers by week:

Week 17 so far - Rashaad Penny, D'Onta Foreman, Elijah Mitchell

Week 16 - Rex Burkhead, Rashaad Penny, Sony Michel

Week 15 - Jonathan Taylor, Miles Sanders, Craig Reynolds

Week 14 - Dalvin Cook, Rashaad Penny, Alvin Kamara

Week 13 - Jonathan Taylor, Sony Michel, Miles Sanders

Week 12 - Joe Mixon, Elijah Mitchell, Dontrell Hilliard

The Dalvin Cook contract is every bit as crazy as the Cousins or Smith contracts. He's due $43.5-million in base salary over the next four years with a $55.2 cap hit.

At this point, we aren't going to have any money for Justin Jefferson.

It's a matter of value. Right now, I think you could probably lure away a solid RB like D' Ernest Johnson from the Browns for a song. He's a RFA next year and their running game didn't miss a beat as he filled in for Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt when they were injured. Along w/ Mattison, our running game would be fine and not drop off too much. Plus, the guy has never had a salary over 850k, which means you wouldn't be breaking the bank on him.

Minshew is intriguing as competition for QB1. I won't bag on Mond when we've never actually seen the guy play in regular season.

Cook should be moved. He and Cousins are only two of several overpriced contracts. I'm more than happy to unload any of the high profile selfish pricks on the roster who missed games because they refused to get vaccinated. They need to purge now. The offense needs to be rebuilt around Jefferson as quickly as possible.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mark Anderson

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ORIGINAL: TJSweens

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ORIGINAL: Dave Odle

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ORIGINAL: Brad H

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ORIGINAL: David F.

quote:

Solid post. In particular, I like the take on Dalvin Cook. I've been saying for 12 years that running back is the easiest position on the field to replace. It happens all over the league. Guy gets hurt, replacement doesn't miss a beat. Hell, Rashad Penny has been one of the best backs in the league over the past four weeks.

OMG take a look at the top 3 rushers by week:

Week 17 so far - Rashaad Penny, D'Onta Foreman, Elijah Mitchell

Week 16 - Rex Burkhead, Rashaad Penny, Sony Michel

Week 15 - Jonathan Taylor, Miles Sanders, Craig Reynolds

Week 14 - Dalvin Cook, Rashaad Penny, Alvin Kamara

Week 13 - Jonathan Taylor, Sony Michel, Miles Sanders

Week 12 - Joe Mixon, Elijah Mitchell, Dontrell Hilliard

The Dalvin Cook contract is every bit as crazy as the Cousins or Smith contracts. He's due $43.5-million in base salary over the next four years with a $55.2 cap hit.

At this point, we aren't going to have any money for Justin Jefferson.

It's a matter of value. Right now, I think you could probably lure away a solid RB like D' Ernest Johnson from the Browns for a song. He's a RFA next year and their running game didn't miss a beat as he filled in for Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt when they were injured. Along w/ Mattison, our running game would be fine and not drop off too much. Plus, the guy has never had a salary over 850k, which means you wouldn't be breaking the bank on him.

Minshew is intriguing as competition for QB1. I won't bag on Mond when we've never actually seen the guy play in regular season.

Cook should be moved. He and Cousins are only two of several overpriced contracts. I'm more than happy to unload any of the high profile selfish pricks on the roster who missed games because they refused to get vaccinated. They need to purge now. The offense needs to be rebuilt around Jefferson as quickly as possible.

Trading players based on vaccination is a good way to get the #1 pick in 2023. Any great vaccinated QBs coming out that year?

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ORIGINAL: bstinger

The best chance we have to get a franchise QB is to be one of the worst teams for a season and get a top draft pick.

I'm OK with a 2-15 season next year if we have a new front office making the picks.

Clean house and bottom out next year with a focus on 2023-2026 being the years we make a run.

JJ, Darrisaw, O'Neil, and Irv Smith are my keepers. Everyone else is fair game.