Vikings Already Looking for WR Help

[Mothman]

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Viki ... mers083012

According to Scout.com, the Vikings recently worked out Chris Summers, who was waived by the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Summers, 23, is a big body (6-foot-5, 213 pounds) and had 188 catches for 2,712 yards (14.4 average) and 26 touchdowns in four seasons at Liberty.

He had three receptions, including gains of 28 and 24 yards, in the Bears' first two preseason games before he was cut.

Some pre-draft info on Summers:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/footba ... 84809.html

I imagine they'll be looking at quite a few WRs over the next few weeks. It would be nice if they could find the next Victor Cruz.

Jim

[GQVikesFan]

What is with the Vikings fascination with ex-Bear WRs?

I dont know. But, I like his positives..

Positives: Big receiver who displays the ability to beat down defenders and make the reception. Comes back to the ball out of breaks, nicely adjusts to the errant throw and makes the reception in stride. Uses his large frame to shield away defenders. Plays with excellent balance and body control. Shows good focus and concentration. Extends his hands and offers the quarterback a nice target. Consistently catches the ball with his hands.

[Cliff]

What is with the Vikings fascination with ex-Bear WRs?

This isn't really the same situation. This guy was undrafted this year ... he's basically just another undrafted free agent. There's not much reason to think of him as an "ex-Bear" ... he didn't actually play in any games for them.

[Mothman]

This isn't really the same situation. This guy was undrafted this year ... he's basically just another undrafted free agent. There's not much reason to think of him as an "ex-Bear" ... he didn't actually play in any games for them.

... just in preseason games.

As you're suggesting, he's probably a college player the Vikes scouted and liked and consequently, they're still interested. Since the Bears are a division rival, they may scout them a little more intensely than some other NFL teams too, which could explain why quite a few ex-Bear WRs have ended up in Minnesota.

That can also be explained by the Vikes nearly perpetual desperation at the position since about 2005. They haven't done a good enough job of developing and keeping WR talent. Some of that is due to unfortunate circumstances (for example, Rice's injury history made it difficult to justify signing him to an expensive new deal) and some of it is because they haven't always valued what they had. I still think they made a mistake low-balling Burleson. If they'd kept him, they would have had a solid 50+ catch, 600-800 yard receiver who can still play. That wouldn't solve all of their problems or anything but players like that are valuable and the closest thing they have now is probably Jenkins.

[Eli]

Feels more like due diligence that anything. Honestly, a first cut guy? Maybe they're considering him for the practice squad. With some work, he could be better than Stephen Burton in two or three years.

[Juice]

Here is a YouTube video of the 2011 Liberty Highlights. The video is quite lengthy so I listed the times of his plays down below if anyone was interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n5fCvxB ... ure=fvwrel
1:02 | 2:34 | 2:47 | 3:16 | 4:49 | 5:11 | 7:44 | 8:07 | 8:25 | 9:15

[Mothman]

They didn't low ball Burleson. Seattle gave him a similar poison pill RFA contract we gave Hutch as retribution. The Vikings woulda been insane to match it, not just because Burleson wasn't worth 7m a year but all the crazy clauses* in it woulda screwed the Vikings down the line.

The Vikings low-balled him by offering him a third round tender as a RFA (I think that was the lowest qualifying offer they could make). That made him an easy target for interested teams and essentially made the retaliatory "poison pill" deal Seattle offered him possible. The Seahawks had to give up a third round pick to make that deal happen. If the Vikings had offered Burleson a higher tender, he probably would have re-signed or, at the very least, the Seahawks might have balked at striking back for the Hutchinson deal with a second or first round pick at stake.

Jim

[Cliff]

The Vikings low-balled him by offering him a third round tender as a RFA (I think that was the lowest qualifying offer they could make). That made him an easy target for interested teams and essentially made the retaliatory "poison pill" deal Seattle offered him possible. The Seahawks had to give up a third round pick to make that deal happen. If the Vikings had offered Burleson a higher tender, he probably would have re-signed or, at the very least, the Seahawks might have balked at striking back for the Hutchinson deal with a second or first round pick at stake.

Jim

I also think it says something about the players desire to leave the team that they were willing to sign those kinds of contracts. Both players signed contracts that obviously put their current team at a disadvantage to match.

[Mothman]

I also think it says something about the players desire to leave the team that they were willing to sign those kinds of contracts. Both players signed contracts that obviously put their current team at a disadvantage to match.

It does and that's why I think offering Burleson the lowest tender they could was a mistake. It probably left him inclined to leave.

[PurpleMustReign]

Trade for Moss!!!

[VikingLord]

How about Brock Lesnar at WR? Ball is snapped, Brock puts the DB in a cross-arm breaker. Next guy comes in, same thing. Pretty soon nobody wants to cover Brock and he ends up with the most TD's scored in the history of the NFL. When he tried out for the Vikes before he was just playing in the wrong spot. Defensive line is so... predictable for someone of Lesnar's stature.

[Laserman]

How about Brock Lesnar at WR? Ball is snapped, Brock puts the DB in a cross-arm breaker. Next guy comes in, same thing. Pretty soon nobody wants to cover Brock and he ends up with the most TD's scored in the history of the NFL. When he tried out for the Vikes before he was just playing in the wrong spot. Defensive line is so... predictable for someone of Lesnar's stature.

How about Jake the Snake Roberts or king Kong Bundy at WR too?

[soflavike]

Deion Branch just became available... Pats cut him. I always liked him.

[NextQuestion]

I love Branch too but I doubt we'll talk to him. He's too old for Richard Spielman

[dead_poet]

I love Branch too but I doubt we'll talk to him. He's too old for Richard Spielman

But maybe perfect for Steve.