2014 Free Agent Tracker & Discussion

[Demi]

How about you call him and ask him? You think he's going to say "Yeah, I'm a third down back. I don't want anymore. I don't want a chance at more playing time. I don't want more snaps. I don't want a possible sniff of a starting job"? Of course he wants as many snaps as he can possibly get and signing behind a franchise cornerstone and face of a franchise established best runner in the game is about as far from that as possible.

Does he think any team is going to sign him as a starter, possibly and probably not. But he's still going to want to put himself in a better position.

[Eli]

The only trouble with that is we don't know yet if Sharrif Floyd is a strong fit.

[saint33]

How about you call him and ask him? You think he's going to say "Yeah, I'm a third down back. I don't want anymore. I don't want a chance at more playing time. I don't want more snaps. I don't want a possible sniff of a starting job"? Of course he wants as many snaps as he can possibly get and signing behind a franchise cornerstone and face of a franchise established best runner in the game is about as far from that as possible.

Does he think any team is going to sign him as a starter, possibly and probably not. But he's still going to want to put himself in a better position.

Sproles is 30 years old. He's been a 3rd down back his whole career and has excelled in that role. He doesn't have the size or durability to be a starting running back, nor should he be considered as one at his age. If you think he's going to all of a sudden decide he's not happy with the role he's played his entire career and start demanding a starting job and salary at his age, well I don't know what to tell you.

And playing behind an established player is an ideal situation for him. That way he's not forced to do things he's not strong at, he's a role player, especially at his age. I don't know where you're getting this idea that he's going to have his choice of teams, and he's going to pick the team that gives him the most snaps. Any team looking for a starting RB is going to the younger guys like Moreno, Tate and Gerhart (and CJ2K when he's released) before they look at Sproles.

I know you love saying this every year ("no free agent ever wants to come to Minnesota, this barren waste land of a team with no talent, no hope and no stadium" ) But the fact of the matter is, in free agency, money talks. Playing outdoors, not having an elite QB, familiarity with the scheme and coaches etc. are all factors that go into the decision. Ultimately though, it comes down to money.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Sproles is 30 years old. He's been a 3rd down back his whole career and has excelled in that role. He doesn't have the size or durability to be a starting running back, nor should he be considered as one at his age. If you think he's going to all of a sudden decide he's not happy with the role he's played his entire career and start demanding a starting job and salary at his age, well I don't know what to tell you.

And playing behind an established player is an ideal situation for him. That way he's not forced to do things he's not strong at, he's a role player, especially at his age. I don't know where you're getting this idea that he's going to have his choice of teams, and he's going to pick the team that gives him the most snaps. Any team looking for a starting RB is going to the younger guys like Moreno, Tate and Gerhart (and CJ2K when he's released) before they look at Sproles.

I know you love saying this every year ("no free agent ever wants to come to Minnesota, this barren waste land of a team with no talent, no hope and no stadium" ) But the fact of the matter is, in free agency, money talks. Playing outdoors, not having an elite QB, familiarity with the scheme and coaches etc. are all factors that go into the decision. Ultimately though, it comes down to money.

Exactly what I'm saying Saint!! Demi, I have no clue where you're coming up with your reasoning. Sproles is 30 and has never once been a clear cut starter so what are you even trying to prove? Try to take off those negative blinders for 2 seconds and think about the familiarairity he has with Turner and the fact that this team is in need of a solid 3rd down RB.

[Slick Rick]

Anyone else think Linval Joseph would be an excellent pickup? He just reminds me a lot of Pat Williams. Huge dude who doesn't get many sacks, but is very strong, demands double/triple teams, and even has a little bit of speed and quickness. I don't think he'd cost an arm and a leg either, maybe about 3-4M per year.

Also, apparently we're very interested in Michael Johnson. A front four of Robison/Johnson/Floyd/Joseph IMO could be one of the best in the NFL.

[S197]

Anyone else think Linval Joseph would be an excellent pickup? He just reminds me a lot of Pat Williams. Huge dude who doesn't get many sacks, but is very strong, demands double/triple teams, and even has a little bit of speed and quickness. I don't think he'd cost an arm and a leg either, maybe about 3-4M per year.

Also, apparently we're very interested in Michael Johnson. A front four of Robison/Johnson/Floyd/Joseph IMO could be one of the best in the NFL.

Yeah I think Joseph might be a good fit if he doesn't command top dollar. However, it's hard to tell since we really don't know what Zimm plans on running out there.

[Pondering Her Percy]

The Baltimore Sun reports free agent DE Arthur Jones has drawn interest from the Titans, Giants, Redskins, and Vikings this weekend.
A number of other teams are believed to also be in the mix for Jones, who is going to net a big payday this week. Jones' best fit is as a 3-4 end, but he should be able to push the pocket and support the run from the interior of a 4-3. He'd be a great fit in Tennessee.

...interesting

[maembe]

Exactly what I'm saying Saint!! Demi, I have no clue where you're coming up with your reasoning. Sproles is 30 and has never once been a clear cut starter so what are you even trying to prove? Try to take off those negative blinders for 2 seconds and think about the familiarairity he has with Turner and the fact that this team is in need of a solid 3rd down RB.

I think Sproles would be an amazing fit for us, but we probably aren't the best fit for him. He's a great pass-catcher, but we'd only ever use him on 3rd and medium/long and we wouldn't use him on punt returns either. He would fit better on a team without a big time running back so he can come out of the backfield potentially on any down.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Hahahahaha! Welcome back home I guess Jasper!

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... minnesota/

The Vikings have reportedly done both on Sunday. On the heels of word that defensive end Everson Griffen has landed a fat new contract to stay in Minnesota and forgo free agency comes a report from Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports that linebacker Jasper Brinkley has landed a one-year deal in Minnesota.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Hahahahaha! Welcome back home I guess Jasper!

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... minnesota/

Purely a depth signing. We are losing/lost Henderson, Mitchell, and Bishop so this is a solid depth signing

[Demi]

Purely a depth signing. We are losing/lost Henderson, Mitchell, and Bishop so this is a solid depth signing

Have to say it twice to try and convince yourself? Who do we have in the middle right now? And yet this is "clearly a depth signing".

I think Sproles would be an amazing fit for us, but we probably aren't the best fit for him. He's a great pass-catcher, but we'd only ever use him on 3rd and medium/long and we wouldn't use him on punt returns either. He would fit better on a team without a big time running back so he can come out of the backfield potentially on any down.

Exactly. I'm not the one with blinders on here....

[Mothman]

Ben Goessling ‏@GoesslingESPN 20m
LB Jameel McClain is still scheduled to visit #Vikings tomorrow, per league source.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Have to say it twice to try and convince yourself? Who do we have in the middle right now? And yet this is "clearly a depth signing".

Does your arrogance ever stop?? I posted this in this thread originally and the Brinkley thread opened right after so I took the discussion there.

And who do we have in the middle? Free agency and the draft haven't even hit yet so what's the point of your post? I think you need to relax and see how things unfold pal

[Demi]

Does your arrogance ever stop?? I posted this in this thread originally and the Brinkley thread opened right after so I took the discussion there.

And who do we have in the middle? Free agency and the draft haven't even hit yet so what's the point of your post? I think you need to relax and see how things unfold pal

Oh yeah, I forgot we should judge moves based on fantasy worlds and future will-bes. Not actual real what is on the team right now facts and the depth chart. Like going into last year with Henderson starting. Or before with Brinkley.

[saint33]

Oh yeah, I forgot we should judge moves based on fantasy worlds and future will-bes. Not actual real what is on the team right now facts.

Who cares what the facts say at the MLB spot right now, #### and complain when the facts stay the same on week 1. It's the off season, we're not playing games, free agency and the draft are still ahead of us, as well as cuts from training camp. We have Cole, Mauti and Brinkley right now. But we also have a good chunk of cap space left, McClain is still visiting, we have 7 or possibly more draft picks. Brinkley is a competition signing, he will compete with Mauti and Cole and whomever else we bring in, and he will have to earn his spot. A one year contract guarantees him nothing and IMO he's not even the 2nd best MLB we have currently on the roster. Get over it.