Adam Shefter says Greg Jennings is a Viking!

[Mothman]

Part of that is might be because Harvin is only 24 years old and some may feel that Jennings is supposed to replace him. I disagree with that notion wholeheartedly.

As we both noted in another thread, these two guys are different receivers. I honestly believe that Jennings helps to fill a need that would have been there even if Harvin had remained with the team. Not that there isn't still some gap left but Jennings sure is a welcome addition to a WR corps that didn't even have a complete blueprint in place, let alone its foundation.

Well said. I absolutely agree that Jennings is the kind of receiver they would have needed even if Harvin remained with the team. As you said, there's a still a gap to be filled but it's not the gaping hole it was and hopefully, they can do a great job of addressing it in the draft. If Simpson can stay healthy, he should be better than last year and hopefully, we'll see improvement from Wright as well. Add a quality rookie or two to the mix and with luck, the WR corps really could be better in 2013 than it was in 2012.

Jim

[Demi]

Tom Pelissero ‏@TomPelissero
Per @BobMcGinn Greg Jennings told #Packers he wanted $15M/yr. Offer dropped from $11M/yr in season to $8M/yr before he joined #Vikings. Wow.

huh, guess maybe that whole "make me feel wanted" was really "paid me more".

Not that there's anything wrong with that. Just a lot out there about the 11 million offer that was made during the season and how the Vikings got him for less then Packers previous offer, which again was months ago.

[jackal]

So surprised that the Vikings overpaid for a 30 year old injury prone receiver past his prime!!!

7 seasons - FOUR shortened by injury. BOTH of the past 2 years with sprained knees and pulled groins!!!

Troll Alert .. Ted Thompson is that you

[dead_poet]

@TomPelissero: Per @BobMcGinn Greg Jennings told #Packers he wanted $15M/yr. Offer dropped from $11M/yr in season to $8M/yr before he joined #Vikings. Wow.

[Demi]

According to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Jennings at one point during the 2012 season wanted $15 million per year. And so he rejected $11 million per year from the Packers, ultimately getting only $9 million annually from the Vikings.

Along the way, Jennings rejected (per McGinn) a reduced offer of $8 million per year from the Packers, and a $6 million annual flier from the Patriots.

[NextQuestion]

Love that Packer fans think we are overpaying him yet they were going to pay him more. Sour grapes. This guy was the best WR on the Packers and don't even try to tell me James Jones is good. He got 13TDs last year because Finley sucked, Jennings was hurt, and Nelson was hurt.

Jennings, in the long run, is a nice pick up.

[Demi]

They weren't going to pay him more. Their offer was 8 million a year. The "pay him more" was their offer months ago. Jennings turned that down thinking he'd be able to get more...

[ViciousBritishVike]

Love that Packer fans think we are overpaying him yet they were going to pay him more. Sour grapes. This guy was the best WR on the Packers and don't even try to tell me James Jones is good. He got 13TDs last year because Finley sucked, Jennings was hurt, and Nelson was hurt.

Jennings, in the long run, is a nice pick up.

Oh the hypocrisy, I would have loved to have seen the reaction had the outcome had been opposite, bitterness will get you nowhere. How can you possible label someone as overpaid before they've even seen a snap for us? Ludicrous.

Exactly, James Jones production comes down to the ability of the QB. Their running game is non existent and in throwing it so often, eventually a receiver's bound to grab a score or two.

[Puddin'Taine]

With GJ signed, do you think the Vikings approach to WR's in the draft changes? Do they hold off on drafting a Keene Allen or a Justin Hunter, due to concern of having possibly the two top WR's (Jennings & Hunter/Allen) on the team having an injury history. maybe grabbing someone like Hopkins or Woods instead? Hunter could definitely learn better ball skills from Jennings though, sure up his hands.. Just a thought

Hmmm, Actually no I don't think our approach will change. I think that the addition of Jennings makes that choice even more exciting. and i believe we definitely draft the best WR available at pick 23 or 25. One of those picks will be Wr and the other I am convinced will be either a CB or LB.
"
But drafting a WR now with Jennings has the ability to "help" make a new WR step in faster and hopefully make an impact right away. Wright can easily fill the slot role Harvin was so good at. and a fast Wr on the otherside of Jennings. all would be a pretty cool first real toolbox for Ponder to become who we all want him to be. And, it makes AP's 2500 dream this year even more plausible. it'll be fun watching. AP will definitely be drawing defensive attention normally targeted for jennings away. They both SHOULD have a hell of a year because of each other.

So far I am totally stoked with Speilman. He's making the decisions no one wants to make but has the nuts to do what needs to be done.

[mondry]

"
But drafting a WR now with Jennings has the ability to "help" make a new WR step in faster and hopefully make an impact right away. Wright can easily fill the slot role Harvin was so good at. and a fast Wr on the otherside of Jennings. all would be a pretty cool first real toolbox for Ponder to become who we all want him to be. And, it makes AP's 2500 dream this year even more plausible. it'll be fun watching. AP will definitely be drawing defensive attention normally targeted for jennings away. They both SHOULD have a hell of a year because of each other.

So far I am totally stoked with Speilman. He's making the decisions no one wants to make but has the nuts to do what needs to be done.

I know Jennings prefers the slot so I could easily see him there with Wright outside but it'll be interesting to see how that all plays out.

Generally I don't see Peterson having as good of a year. 1. his last year was pretty ridiculous and 2. as the passing game improves, there will simply be less reliance / opportunity for Peterson in the run game.

Perfect example was with Brett Favre, Peterson had a decent year but he actually had about 375 less yards than his previous year when the passing game was the best it had ever been. In this offense, no one is going to choose to lose to Adrian Peterson so the only numbers I expect to really go anywhere would be in the passing game as our QB and Wr's are able to take advantage of stacked boxes.

[The Breeze]

I know Jennings prefers the slot so I could easily see him there with Wright outside but it'll be interesting to see how that all plays out.

Generally I don't see Peterson having as good of a year. 1. his last year was pretty ridiculous and 2. as the passing game improves, there will simply be less reliance / opportunity for Peterson in the run game.

Perfect example was with Brett Favre, Peterson had a decent year but he actually had about 375 less yards than his previous year when the passing game was the best it had ever been. In this offense, no one is going to choose to lose to Adrian Peterson so the only numbers I expect to really go anywhere would be in the passing game as our QB and Wr's are able to take advantage of stacked boxes.

This is the whole dynamic that intrigues me about AD and the ways he can be used.
AD scored 6 more TDs that year(2009) than any year so far. I agree with you that his yds will go down with a better passing game...but I think the chances are that he becomes much more efficient overall in terms of keeping the offense on the field. Less carries and more opportune carries than running him ragged cause he's all you got. Although, he doesn't seem to get tired.

AD also had over 400yds receiving in 09, his most ever. Yards aside I think AD is a more of a weapon if the passing game solidifies. Whether or not Musgrave can utilize him as such remains to be seen. But I'll take 6-8 more TDs from him over 400 less yds any day.

So, not disagreeing with you....I would bet his yards go way down from last season.

[VikingLord]

I could see AD having a better year, actually, especially if the passing game improves. As it stands, most defenses were wired first to look into the backfield and attack the LOS. It wasn't that they stacked 8 men in the box per se - it was that pretty much every defender was keying on run first. How many times did it seem like AD had to beat 2 guys or break 2 tackles to get to the second level? That he managed to do that so consistently is kind of scary, actually, but it would stand to reason that if Ponder and the passing game can change the calculus of the linebackers and secondary players from key run to key pass AD could go off even more.

I think back to the season in 1998 when the Vikes had the formidable passing attack and Robert Smith running the ball. Smith was an excellent back, but he's not even close to what AD brings to the table. Now granted, I don't expect this season's version of the passing game to strike fear into the hearts of most defensive coordinators and players, but, all it needs to do is make them hesitate that extra second. That single moment of pause makes the difference between AD having to slow up to put on a juke or break away from a tackle, and assuming that happens, I think AD would be more likely to break long runs than he did this last year. These large rushing seasons are not the product of slogging for 3-4 yards, but the spectacular breaks into the secondary and the long runs that result.

I know a lot of people want the Vikes to draft another WR in the 1st, but I would be stoked if by some miracle they snagged a guy like Warmack or Cooper at guard. I can't even imagine what that might do not only for AD, but also for Ponder's pass protection. As much as I hope Fusco continues to mature, putting either Warmack or Cooper over there next to Loadholt would not be fair for most defensive fronts. Not assuming Ponder is capable of putting the ball in the air effectively, and not assuming that AD is going to come back with any less determination to hit that 2,500 yard mark.

Probaby a pipe dream as both are likely to get snagged long before #23 rolls around, but one can always hope enough GM's drafting before the Vikes get distracted by the nice, shiny players that they pass on one of the guys who does the dirty work well.

[Puddin'Taine]

I know Jennings prefers the slot so I could easily see him there with Wright outside but it'll be interesting to see how that all plays out.

Generally I don't see Peterson having as good of a year. 1. his last year was pretty ridiculous and 2. as the passing game improves, there will simply be less reliance / opportunity for Peterson in the run game.

Perfect example was with Brett Favre, Peterson had a decent year but he actually had about 375 less yards than his previous year when the passing game was the best it had ever been. In this offense, no one is going to choose to lose to Adrian Peterson so the only numbers I expect to really go anywhere would be in the passing game as our QB and Wr's are able to take advantage of stacked boxes.

you've got some pretty points there, AP's season last year WAS kind of an anomoly. it'd be near apocolyptic if he actually finds a way to get even close to his 2500 aspiration. As someone else (sorry I cannot remember who as I write this) pointed out, the addition of Jennings is a pretty good bet he may be more apt to set a TD record. Which as also pointed out is something I as well would be more happy to see this season.

[mondry]

you've got some pretty points there, AP's season last year WAS kind of an anomoly. it'd be near apocolyptic if he actually finds a way to get even close to his 2500 aspiration. As someone else (sorry I cannot remember who as I write this) pointed out, the addition of Jennings is a pretty good bet he may be more apt to set a TD record. Which as also pointed out is something I as well would be more happy to see this season.

It'd be absolutely insane, there would be serious discussion about him being the best PLAYER of all time, not just RB, if he managed to run for 2k+ back to back (never been done) AND ran for 2500 yards while doing it!

You guys are right, I forgot all about the TD difference in 2009. That would be another area I expect to improve, and it's not even so much that people would be scared about Jennings or the passing game in the red zone (though it certainly helps) as much as a better passing game GETS you to the redzone more often and thus gives AD more chances at those 1-2 yard TD runs that he's so hard to stop on anyway.

[The Breeze]

It'd be absolutely insane, there would be serious discussion about him being the best PLAYER of all time, not just RB, if he managed to run for 2k+ back to back (never been done) AND ran for 2500 yards while doing it!

You guys are right, I forgot all about the TD difference in 2009. That would be another area I expect to improve, and it's not even so much that people would be scared about Jennings or the passing game in the red zone (though it certainly helps) as much as a better passing game GETS you to the redzone more often and thus gives AD more chances at those 1-2 yard TD runs that he's so hard to stop on anyway.

just for kicks...here's ADs TD's from the 2009 season:

wk 1 ....2 1yd tds 1 64yd td
wk 2.....1 27yd td
wk 4..... 1 1yd td
wk 5.... 1 7yd 1 5yd
wk 7.... 1 2yd td
wk 8..... 1 1yd td
wk 10....1 22yd td 1 1yd td
wk 12.... 1 5yd td
wk 14 .... 1 1yd 1 3yd td
wk 15 .... 1 4yd td
wk 16 .... 2 1yd tds
wk 17..... 1 1yd td
NFCC..... 1 19yd 1 1yd 1 2yd td

16 tds from 5yds or less. more than his season total for any other season in his career. it's only one season and not indicative of a trend....but it's the only year he's had a real passing attack to compliment his game.


we really can't expect Ponder to put up 09 Favre #s 4200yd 531 att 33td......but it will really be interesting to watch what happens if the passing game becomes a respectable component to the offense, because AD is playing the best football of his career.