Monday (free agency) edition: Wha’ Happened?
Posted on March 3rd, 2008 – 8:54 AMBy Michael Rand
If you are a fan of the Purple, this past weekend was a reason to be excited. The Vikings dove headfirst into free agency like Nick Punto going into first base. They came away with a fullback (Thomas Tapeh), a safety that might not embarrass himself in stairwells (Madieu Williams) and, the biggest piece of all, wide receiver Bernard Berrian. At least on paper, Berrian makes the Vikings much more dangerous on offense; or, if you want to drop the bar lower, at least they don’t have to be ashamed of running three-receiver sets. Our only trepidation in all this — playing the role of “Vikings fan,” as we do sometimes — is that it can be somewhat misleading when your team is the big winner in a bad free agent market. This year? It is a very bad market. The Vikings had to overpay for Berrian, who is certainly an upgrade but who is also being paid No. 1 receiver money before he’s ever really been a No. 1 receiver. (Remember Denard Walker, the CB paid like a top corner who said he’s not a top corner after he signed here?) We’re not trying to ruin anybody’s good time. We’ve just had too much false hope over the Lorenzo Bromell-types to get too excited before seeing an actual on-field transformation.
Lest you think we’ve turned too cynical, however, let’s now turn our attention to the annual selection process (copyright Fran Foley) otherwise known as the NFL draft. The Vikings have to be taking a defensive end in the first round, right? (Proving we’re not too cynical, we didn’t even sneak the words “future underachiever” in there). Our best guess is they grab at least two linemen on both sides of the ball, maybe a wide receiver late and some help in the secondary.
Fasola-link! Who likes women with accents? 21 of them?
23 Responses to "Monday (free agency) edition: Wha’ Happened?"
Not even a mention of where he played last season?
Most Bears fans started calling him Bury Him because he catches the ball about 1% better than Williamson. He has a fairly common disease in NFL WR’s known as Alligator Arms. He also does not go over the middle at all.
I can’t wait, by week 6, you guys are going to be saying some funny stuff about this guy.
Not even a mention of where he played last season?
I hear the team beat the Packers twice, but I can’t remember the name for the life of me.
He also does not go over the middle at all.
That’s not what he was signed for.
I can’t wait, by week 6, you guys are going to be saying some funny stuff about this guy.
I plan to say funny stuff about him by week 2, minimum. That’s how I roll.
I agree with the Proprietor: he’s an overpaid FA in a historically weak FA class, and the Vikings absolutely did the right thing. Plus, they’re obligated to sign a Bears WR every offseason, and Berrian was the best of the bunch.
I now feel like I understand how Vikings fans have felt about their WR corps for the last couple of years.
The Bears have 4 WR’s signed and none of them have 10 receiving TD’s in their careers. Next season could get really ugly in the Windy City.
Yes, I am turning this into a Bears blog!
Speaking of overpaying, I hope auction league participants are prepared to do so for Michael Turner.
I still can’t believe that Bernard (f’ing) Berrian is currently the 4th highest paid WR in the NFL. How is that even possible?
The Bears signed Lance Briggs a 2-time All-Pro for less than Berrian a career #2 WR. Maybe the Vikings have great plans to put him in the Kick Ass Offense but I suspect he will be released after 2 uneventful seasons.
Well,
I guess Wilf is now in the running for biggest dumbass in the state. It’s a tie right now between Glen Taylor and Zygmund.
This may be the week he extends Childress’ contract.
They gave Berrian way too much for what he has done in his career. I would have rather they paid a little less and got a guy like Donte Stallworth.
And Michael Turner going to the Falcons makes little to no sense for either side. But I guess that’s to be expected from them, these days.
Anyone get a chance to see the McCants snatch defeat from what looked like a secured victory last night? How do you lose when you are up by 4 with 20 seconds left in the game?
I can’t wait until the Lottery. I wonder if Vegas takes bets? If so you have to take the Wolves moving down at least one pick don’t you?
A career #2 is better than all the practice squad receivers that we currently have under contract.
Plus 71 catches for 950 yards ain’t bad when those passes are coming from Grossman/Griese/Orton.
Boy, I can’t wait for next year’s 8-8 record.
Jama,
It’s possible that the Wolves will get a pick in the top 3, or not move down at all. If so, that means whoever is available at our pick is not going to be an impact player, which means MP109 will end up drafting Roy Hibbert because “we like his upside”
Still waiting for the signing of the career back-up QB who has had 2 or 3 games in which he lead a team to a win in a late season, meaningless game. I like to read about how they will push TJack to be a better player.
Current odds on the QB the Vikes sign:
35-to-1 Duante Culpepper
15-to-1 Mike McMahon
8-to-1 Todd Collins
2-to-1 Frank Reich
Ryan
I still think I might take the OGG Trio(Orton/Griese/Grossman) over T-Jack. You are acting like he is Joe Montana or something. If I remember right his stats were closer to Ryan Leaf. I know the Bears suck but at least they weren’t trying to sign Cleo Lemon to battle for the starting job.
Jon 8-8? If 8 is the Over/Under which way are you going?
Jama,
I said nothing about T-Jack and I’m pretty sure Berrian’s stats will drop this year because of T-Jack. I was just saying I was impressed with Berrian’s stats last year with all the QB turmoil in Chicago.
I’m hoping the Vikings add a real veteran QB this season and not JP Losman.
Who do you think is available? Fran Tarkenton isn’t walking through those doors! Warren Moon isn’t walking through those doors! Daunte Cullpepper isn’t, wait could be walking through those doors.
Culpepper would “roll” through those doors doing that stupid dance of his.
My guess is that Daunte would be limping through that door. That knee aint right.
8 is the O/U? I’ll take the under. Gotta build up a healthy base layer of pessimism before training camp.
+1 Jon
If you put the Bears O/U at 6 I’d take the under right now.
Even if it were a better free agent market, for example was Berrian was the fifth best WR available after Moss, we still would’ve ended up with players of Berrian, Williams and Tapeh’s quality. IMHO, the cream of the crop doesn’t want to come here unless they get ridiculous deals (i.e. Steve Hutchinson).
So the Purple’s marketing people are going to brag with skewed perspective. But if there were better players available, instead of bragging about nabbing the best, they’d be spinning it with things like “upside” and “character” and “best fit for the system”. Can anyone really imagine Harrison or Johnson coming here at this point in their careers?
I could see Rob Johnson playing for the Vikings!
Yes you can. And maybe you will. I hear he’s been working out with David Archer and Jeff George.
One thing to remember about Berrian is who he had throwing to him in Chicago….It’s got to be better up here in Mn…What am I saying ??
