Vikes come through again in Free Agency

ANTOINE WINFIELD            CAPTAIN MUNNERLYN

The Minnesota Vikings continued to show me just how bad they want to turn this ship around. I am on cloud 9 with the signing of Linval Joseph on Tuesday and now Thursday late afternoon around 5 word came the team has signed Captain Munnerlyn.

I have not been this excited about a signing for the defensive backfield  since the signing of Antoine Winfield. I looked at size of these 2 players which shows 1 inch difference in height and 5 pounds. If Munnerlyn can tackle anything like Winfield hang onto your purple hats.

Captain as you know comes to the Purple from the Carolina Panthers who finished 4^th in defense overall in the NFL and 3^rd against the pass. The Vikes got a man who was part of this tough group of Panthers.

I love having 2 new Vikings who have come from teams that the defense has been strong. I have serious football fever. Thank you Viking organization for making this push and spending money in an effort to make the team more competitive in 2014.

I love having dreams of seeing Xavier Rhodes art one corner and Munnerlyn at the other. I know the season is far away yet but this fan can always enjoy thinking positive.

The team also announced the resigning of Defensive Tackle, Fred Evans for another season. Fred gives the team some more depth at this position.

All I can say is Coach Zimmer has come in all the team has done thus far is bolster the defense. I can only imagine the future to what the offense will get for help.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

 

Saying goodbye to Toby

32-Toby Gerhart signs with Jacksonville Jaguars

The free agency sage continued Tuesday night. I hope quite often when a Vikings player becomes a free agent that we can resign that player.

Toby Gerhart, I had hoped the team would resign him but also felt in my heart that Toby would like a chance at seeing the field more often.

The problem in Minnesota is we have all-world Adrian Peterson and is the face of the Vikings organization.  My question to myself was: “Would Toby resign and be willing to backup AP?” I honestly could not answer that with a yes.

NFL is a business and players often go where money speaks along with a chance for players to get their time to shine.

I have nothing but praise for Toby. I had met him several times in Mankato and he seemed to come across as a quiet guy yet took time to meet his fans.

Toby has had quite the football beginning. He finished 2^nd in the Heisman balloting and then gets drafted and plays 2^nd behind the great Peterson. It is time for him to get a shot at being the number one back.

I wish Toby well in Jacksonville. I feel with Maurice Jones-Drew potentially on the move that Toby will be the man.

Thanks Toby, for your time in Minnesota. Good Luck to you in the rest of your NFL career.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Joseph signing gets an A plus in my book

It was finally March 11th, the day I have been waiting for ever since the Super Bowl ended. It is Free agency Christmas. Are the Vikes going to be a shopper? How long do we have to wait? What is the team thinking?

The answer came roughly an hour and 45 minutes after the starting period. I am ecstatic with this move.

The defense keeps on getting the attention and I for one am totally in favor of rebuilding the 2013 porous defense.

Rick Spielman, Mike Zimmer and the cast of characters did not disappoint me. It is only one but I believe a huge one literally.

Shariff Floyd and Linval Joseph should be quite the duo in the middle. I am not ready to say the Williams Wall as of yet but I do believe it will be formidable and definitely better than 2013.

I look back and see the size of Pat Williams seeing he was listed at 6’3” and 317 pounds while Joseph comes in at 6’4” and weighs 323. Can you say run stuffer?

Linval Joseph 323 pounds

Pat Williams  317 pounds

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Defense gets the attention on March 9th

Sunday March 9th, the announcement came that Everson Griffen was signed a 5 year deal. I have already been reading from a few fans that believe the team overpaid. I sit on the side of the fence that likes the signing. The team has been pushing for a youth movement and now the evidence once again surfaces as Griffen remains with the team as well as earlier during last season Brian Robison was also extended. I know the argument can be made that Griffen has not been an every down player. We will see in 2014 how he performs. I love the fact that we have 2 young speed rushers that will terrorize the opposing tackles. Congrats to Everson

JASPER BRINKLEY

The team also brought back a former Vikings when Jasper Brinkley was signed to a one year deal. I love what the Vikes have with the youth of Michael Mauti, Audie Cole and Gerald Hodges. Mauti and Hodges come from an outstanding college of Penn State who seems to put very good linebackers into the league. I really liked Brinkley when he played here and was disappointed when he left for Arizona. I do not know if I see him starting right out of the gate but it is sure nice to have NFL experience like Brinkley brings. The one asset I really liked of Jasper was his toughness and able to tackle. 2014 Training camp just got that much more interesting.

The tough news out of this is the reallnes that Jared will not be back. I read a tweet from his agent that they have informed the Vikings that Jared is moving on. He is and always will be one of my favorite players that ever wore purple. I remember the chance I got to interview him at Winter Park. He is so down to earth and tells it like it is. He is one of the fan favotires in Mankato as well. The guy plays with all heart. I thank Jared for all the memories. His sack and then the act of calf roping will be never forgot. I was at the Chicago game when he broke Chris Doleman's team sack record. I wish Jared well no matter were he ends up. He is one first class guy.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Thoughts on the Cassel return

Matt Cassel returns to the Purple for 2 more years gives me a feeling of relief. I may be in the minority by saying this but I really like what he showed last season,


It was in 2013 that the Vikings made a big splash when they signed Greg Jennings. It seemed early on that the investment was not showing as Jennings was not involved. It was not until Cassel made his appearance that Jennings finally showed his value.


The Vikings bringing in Norv Turner to run the offense also gives me hope that the 2 paired together will bring a better success than last seasons debacle of quarterback merry go round. I say the word,stability to describe for now this early offseason.







The 2014 draft I feel now will be looked at different by the coaching staff. I still would love to see a Manziel, Bridgewater or Bortles being taken at number 8.


I was thinking with Zimmer in charge that the team may take defense with 8 and now with Cassel resigning I am more convinced,


The defense has so many holes and now with Tuesday the 11th coming I am looking for the Vikes to lose a lot of their defense by way of free agency.


The bottom line for me is no matter what happens by free agency or draft I will love the team and support.


I will throw out my mock draft in a different way and only speaking Vikings at number 8. I predict the Vikes take Johnny "Football" Manziel or one of 2 linebackers and they are C.J. Mosley (Alabama) or Khalil Mack (Buffalo University).


Thanks for reading
Purplestick

2014 roster changes have begun

 85-Greg Childs

98-Letroy Guion

 89- John Carlson




It's been a busy week in Vikings land as the team said goodbye to Childs, Carlson and Guion setting up for a potential busy week next week with the start of free agency. Greg Childs is my most disappointing of the three. I will never forget attending the team scrimmage at Blakeslee Field in Mankato on family night. I can recall Childs going up for the ball and also rem the scene that followed as Childs lay on the ground.


The best news came on Friday with the resigning of Marcus Sherels.
The Marcus Sherels story keeps on going

 35-Marcus Sherels

 

 

This story has to be one of the rare stories in the NFL. Marcus Sherels was born in Rochester, Minnesota. He attended Rochester John Marshall High School then played 4 years for the University of Minnesota for 4 years. Friday March 7th the Vikings resigned Marcus making me one happy fan.

The man has been able to follow a dream and not leave his home state for any reason. How many players in the NFL can lay a claim to this fact?

Marcus has paid his dues coming in as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2010 to the Vikings in 2010 and was cut. He was brought back in 2011 to try out and ending up on the practice squad and then elevated to the 53 man roster late in 2011.

The magic year was 2012 when he made the 53 man squad coming out of training camp. I am a big fan of Sherels on the punt return. He seems to have a knack at finding the crease. It was 2012 on his 25^th birthday in Detroit when Marcus took the ball 77 yards for a touchdown. Happy Birthday, Marcus!!! What a way to celebrate a birthday and the Vikings won to top the day off.

Marcus is a case of hard work paying off so far. 2014 brings another season to show his talents. His size has been questioned for years but all the man does is use his speed and quickness to his advantage. We saw the results once again in 2013. I love the signing and believe he deserves every dollar he signed for. Marcus represent those who work hard will be rewarded. If you do not succeed at first do not give up. Marcus has been cut in the past but did not stop him and now look 2014 he gets a new contract.

A story I do not want to end we have here watching a home grown man make the most of his opportunities in football life.

Continued success, Marcus

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

March=Free Agency- I can't wait, how about you?

The month of March is finally here and with that being said it is time to crank up the excitement as the NFL calendar brings us closer to March 11^th. Yes, 3:00 CST it is a free for all as free agency will begin.

The people in Minnesota are currently living in the 3^rd coldest winter in the history of the state. I feel we will feel the NFL heat as it gets hot on March 11^th. I will read the internet websites and watch all the football I can to see what Minnesota does.

I came upon an article by ESPN Minnesota Vikings writer, Ben Gosseling who reported even more exciting news for Vikings fans. The fact that Minnesota will have the 4^th most money to spend gets my purple blood flowing even faster.

As excited as I am about free agency it also makes me think and reflect on current Vikings free agents and the fact I may never see them in purple again. I will have my picture book as a keepsake of that player who may not be back.

The Vikings cut ties already with one of the possible free agents when they released Erin Henderson. The remainder of the list shows one true high profile player and that is Jared Allen.

The list of free agents:

Jared Allen, Charlie Johnson, Marvin Mitchell, Joe Berger, Joe Webb, J’Marcus Webb, Everson Griffen, Desmond Bishop, Chris Cook, Toby Gerhart, Fred Evans, Jerome Simpson, Matt Cassel and Kevin Williams is a long list with many possibilities.

My personal feeling is we have seen the last of Jared Allen in purple. I would love to see him back but I believe he will command a lot of money and the Vikes seem to have the theme of youth going.

Matt Cassel even though he opted out of the contract I believe the Vikes will get him back. Toby Gerhart is the most interesting free agent to me. He is a true talent but with Adrian being the man my heart tells me Toby will leave for a team that he will see more playing time.

I do feel Everson Griffen is a must to have back, He is young and two years ago he showed his tremendous upside. I do love that Brian Robison is already locked up so to have Griffen on the other side will give the team 2 speed rushers.

Kevin Williams has been a tremendous player for the Vikings and I believe the team will bring him back for a minimum of a year. I also am a fan of Fred Evans who has showed his value as a backup. I just don’t believe it will take a ton of money to bring these back.

The article write by Gosseling has the Vie thought to have roughly 23 million in salary cap room. I just feel last year was a real eye opener to what the team needs to do. The Wilf’s  remain committed to the future. I only speak for myself in saying I believe Mark and Zygi will not let me down with buying the best.

The combine is now over and with that said I will tell you I watched every minute I could. The amount of athletes that participated was awesome along with the speed of some of these guys.

I will admit the mock drafts are fun to watch but really does anyone really know? Do the teams even know?

I am pulling for a quarterback and the 3 I like are, Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel and Blake Bortles. I would take anyone of those and enjoy watching them in the future wearing purple.

I am high on a quarterback but will not be shocked if the team went defense with the number 8 pick. I do not believe the team will move up especially after reading a statement from Rick Spielman who said he wants 10 picks instead of 8.

It is a time of year to dream and talk smack on what fans want. If the team takes defense first how will fans react?

I am going to enjoy the ride and whatever happens I will be there with the team supporting the heck out of them.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Source:Ben Gosseling ESPN Minnesota Vikings