With less than a week remaining until the draft, the Vikings are finalizing their list and one name has emerged among the DT crop.
Mike Tice has all but settled for the fact that the Vikings are going to take a linemen -- offensive or defensive -- with their first pick in the NFL draft Saturday.
While his decision will be predicated on whether one of the two massive offensive tackles -- Florida's Bryant McKinnie or Texas' Mike Williams -- is available, if both are gone, the Vikings may already know who they're going to take.
For readers of VU's mock draft, you know we changed our Vikings pick to DT Ryan Sims of North Carolina. It looks as though the Vikings brass has, too.
After first leaning toward Tennessee's John Henderson, lingering ankle and back problems have dropped him on many draft lists and apparently on the Vikings too. Friday, Mike Tice was talking in terms of Sims as the best fit for the Vikings.
Tice is saying that, of the Big Four defensive linemen -- Sims, Henderson, Albert Haynesworth and Wendell Bryant -- Tice sees Sims as the best pure nose tackle of the group and thinks he's the best fit with what the Vikings need at DT.
The Vikings' choice could be made more difficult if Joey Harrington goes off the board to Carolina, Detroit or Buffalo. If he does, that will likely result in a player the Vikes don't expect to still be on the board -- safety Roy Williams, CB Quentin Jammer, McKinnie or Mike Williams -- to still be available at No. 7.
That could influence who the Vikings' take, but, as it stands six days before the team has to make its announcement, it looks like Sims is their man for right now.
SUNDAY NOTES
Since when is Dallas such a hot landing spot? It looks like plum free agent LB Kevin Hardy is going to sign with the Cowboys this morning and two of the top draft picks -- Jammer and Roy Williams -- have both said they want Dallas to draft them. Jammer is likely to be gone by the time Dallas picks at No. 6, but said he would prefer to stay in Texas and play with the Cowboys, since their defense is very similar to the one he ran with the Longhorns. Meanwhile, Williams -- the top safety prospect in the draft -- said he expects Dallas to take him at No. 6.
The comments from the players gives more indication that a team wanting to move into the top 10 will likely have to deal with the Vikings if they want to make a trade up, since the top five picks seem like locks to remain with their current teams, barring an incredible offer, and with Dallas having potential players talking up its franchise, the odds of them moving off No. 6 look more remote. That means that a team wanting to climb up the draft board will likely have to target the Vikings as the first team available to make a deal with.
Contrary to rumors that circulated late last week, Tice said the Vikings haven't signed OL Roman Oben and have no plans to do so before the draft. According to Tice, the Vikings are done with pre-draft free agency with the exception of expecting to get TE Hunter Goodwin signed sometime this week.
The Rams are expected to announce the signing of Mitch Berger Monday.
Of the 35 draft picks the Vikings had under Dennis Green since he took over full draft control in 1998, only six are expected to be starters in 2002 -- the lowest total of any team in the NFL. Multiple misfirings on the defensive line are partly to blame, but, as the team continues to be overhauled on the fly, only DT Chris Hovan is expected to be a defensive starter this season that started last season.
We hear the presence of LB Henri Crockett, who signed with the Vikings, could be sorely missed in the Falcons’ locker room. Crockett, we’re told, was especially good working with younger players.
There's an odd article that, as of the time of this posting, is at the top of ESPN.com's NFL news blurbs.
The headline is "Too Good To Pass Up? Raiders Agree With OL Badger." In the story, Len Pastabelly makes lineman Brad Badger sound like the second coming of Ron Yary, applauding the Raiders for capturing Badger via a one-year, minimum-salary deal.
Pastabelly says that "[t]he lack of interest in Badger on the part of the Vikings is somewhat puzzling, since he generally played pretty well in Minnesota last season."
The truth, however, is that Badger offered his services to the Vikings for the same minimum deal that he signed in Oakland, and the Vikes said, "No thanks."
And since Badger's position coach for the past two seasons, Mike Tice, is now the head coach in Minnesota, we think that Tice is in the best position to determine whether Badger merits even a bargain-basement deal to stay with the Vikings.
We know that free-agent activity has slowed down a bit lately, but we doubt that the signing of a journeyman offensive tackle for a one-year, minimum deal merits the kind of praise and attention that Pastabelly and ESPN.com is giving the move.
As Mike Tice and the Vikings get closer to being on the clock Saturday for the draft, it seems as though there is a consensus that the top six picks have already been scripted.
There are few certainties in drafting, that is why so many mock drafts are updated so often -- and why VU's own mock draft will go through its 10th change tomorrow.
However, there is getting to be a sentiment that the Vikings and new coach Mike Tice will be the first team to have a real decision to make, since it's starting to look like the first six picks have all but been made.
Houston and David Carr are close to announcing a seven-year, $46 million deal that will be concluded before the draft even begins. At No. 2, despite rumblings otherwise in some circles, Carolina still looks to have Julius Peppers in their sites. At No. 3, Detroit may find it impossible to pass on Texas CB Quentin Jammer. Those three picks now seem almost etched in stone.
At Nos. 4 and 5, things get a little cloudier, as some draft scouts believe Buffalo will give up hope of trading for Drew Bledsoe and draft QB Joey Harrington. However, most of the rest of us believe the Bills and Chargers will jump on the two massive offensive tackles -- Buffalo taking Mike Williams and San Diego taking Bryant McKinnie.
That leaves Dallas between the Vikings and their first pick. If you can believe what a player is saying on the subject, Oklahoma safety Roy Williams has been unabashed in saying he doesn't want any of the top five teams to take him so he can go to Dallas. Jerry Jones is said to be in love with Williams' talent, although safeties rarely go that high in the draft. That said, a player who wants to play for Dallas combined with the fact he is a rare Pro Bowl-quality talent on a team that has added a lot of power to its defense this off-season, Dallas could well take Williams and script the sixth pick of the draft.
So, it could come down to the Vikings being the first team with a question mark next to them. Take DT Ryan Sims? Take DT Albert Haynesworth? Take CB Phillip Buchanon? Trade down for more picks? Those are all possibilities, but, with the way the talk is turning, it may be the first real question of the 2002 draft.
TUESDAY NOTES
In a radio interview last weekend, Rams QB Kurt Warner addressed the Cris Carter issue, saying among other things that the Rams organization was split on bringing him in. VU has been told by sources close to the matter that coach Mike Martz was willing to give C.C. a try, while G.M. Dick Armey and several players, including Warner, had some reservations. Warner said Carter's sideline antics weren't missed by the Rams and there was a worry that he would disrupt the good chemistry the team enjoys. Also, he said that Carter blowing off a dinner meeting with coaches, players and their wives incensed enough people that any offer to C.C. was taken off the board and wouldn't be considered again. In short, Carter made his own bed by his actions and the Rams have a long memory.
Speaking of the Rams, the expected signing of Mitch Berger was delayed until today. We're being told he'll accept a one-year deal for $650,000.
The Vikings are toughening their stance on TE Hunter Goodwin. Much like Byron Chamberlain a month ago, talks with Goodwin have stalled and the Vikings are threatening to take their offer off the table and move on if he isn't willing to sign before the draft.
As expected, the Chiefs signed Bears LB Warrick Holdman to an offer sheet Monday. The offer is for four years and $12 million. The deal has a poison pill the Bears likely won't match, since the second year of the contract would include a cap number of $4 million -- much more than the Bears are apparently willing to spend.
One player who has been whispered to be on the Vikes WR wish list is Keenan McCardell of Jacksonville, who is expected to be released June 1. However, McCardell is said to be drawing interest from the Browns. He began his career with Cleveland and left only when the team moved from Cleveland to Baltimore.
then again, bennett wasn't worth a top 110 pick, so why not take another stab at it? the vikes couldn't do any worse than MB, and they might actually get a back that isn't a gimp.
how do you like my *NEW* suit?!? dandy mouth, the clown queen of the nfc north, lol! squeak his nose and he squirts water!
hey, remember when lost nocompass message couldn't find his suit? so then he went out and got 2 new suits to replace it, right? and then when he couldn't find his old suit, he got all upset and threw a great big hissy fit, pointed fingers that everybody else was wearing his suit, and stormed out of the WC...i think he whined more than nadho, if that's possible.
wasn't 10/12/v12/t10 gone for about a month before he finally came shuffling back? wouldn't it be funny if that happened again?!?
damn. losing tony parrish AND holdman would've had a huge impact on their defense. but losing parrish and walt harris should be enough. with a new secondary, brown won't be able to ball hawk as much...their bored-no-skill offense will continue to struggle...and da bears begin their climb back down the ladder. mmmmmmmm hmmmmmmmmmm. then it's all about the pocket passer.
VU has spent much of Friday night chasing down a hot trade rumor which, contrary to what we've been led to believe at Winter Park, may have some legs.
In the weeks, days and hours leading up to any NFL draft, trade rumors are often viewed like pimples on a teenager's face -- there are many of them and there's no explanation why they're all there.
VU caught wind of one from a well-placed source familiar with previous transactions between the Vikes and the Cleveland Browns that could be the proverbial offer the Vikings can't refuse to move out of the No. 7 spot.
Long story short, the trade proposal would have the Cleveland Browns trading their first-round pick this year and in 2003, WR Kevin Johnson and perhaps an obligatory late (as in seventh) round pick to the Vikings for the No. 7 spot in this year's draft. Short story long, here's the explanation.
From what we've been told by sources connected with the Browns, where Dennis Green's son Jeremy has made multiple deals with the Vikings, there are two players the Browns covet in the draft -- OT Bryant McKinnie and DT Ryan Sims.
Several things must fall into place for the trade to come off. One of them is that either Detroit or Buffalo takes QB Joey Harrington -- which is no gimme. If that team is Buffalo, there is the potential that San Diego will take OT Mike Williams ahead of McKinnie. The reason McKinnie is key to the equation is that he played for Butch Davis at Miami and Davis has a serious yen to draft his former players and he sees McKinnie as a can't-miss bookend for his improving young team.
That covered, even if McKinnie is gone, the Browns are said to be so convinced that Sims can be an impact DT to a much-improved defense that he can be the added piece to the puzzle that makes the Browns a playoff team. From what we've been told, both players are viewed by the Browns as a player that can put them over the top -- even if carries a high cost.
From the Vikings perspective, the trade would have two-fold benefits. The team could add Johnson, a playmaking wide receiver who could immediately become a starter alongside Randy Moss, and have a young player instead of an aging veteran that would be gone in a year or two and need to be replaced. Second, the Vikings could use the No. 16 pick to add an offensive tackle like Levi Jones to fill the current void at the left tackle spot. Third, the team would also carry two picks into the first round next season and, if the Browns fall flat much like Washington did after the Brad Johnson trade, it could be a premium pick.
Keep in mind that several things need to happen to make this deal come about, but, from what we're hearing, this isn't simply a fly-by-night rumor. If the chips fall the right way, the Vikings may not be talking about Mike Williams, Ryan Sims or Roy Williams. They may be talking about a pick in the middle of the first round, a starting wide receiver and two picks in the first round of next year's draft.
DRAFT DAY MORNING NOTES
The Vikes closed out one potential draft day option by finally agreeing to a deal with TE Hunter Goodwin. He signed a one-year contract Friday for $650,000. Because his signing bonus was only $25,000, he will count only $450,000 against the salary cap -- a league agreement with the players association to help keep veteran players in the league instead of becoming salary cap casualties.
An early heads up for Sunday's portion of the draft. The Vikings may be willing to use their compensatory pick at the end of the fourth round to take Purdue punter Travis Dorsch. Since the Vikes have been spoiled by having Mitch Berger as both a punter and kickoff specialist, the team hasn't needed to have an extra roster spot. By drafting Dorsch, it could open the way to bring back Gary Anderson as the field goal kicker for another year.
Javon Walker is 6'3", 210 and ran a 4.33 40. He had the second largest hands in the draft. He's perfect for the West Coast offense. He's extremely mature, having played minor league ball the last two summers.
While Raonall Smith was surprised to be selected when he was, he says he is ready to fill a hole the Vikings have felt all off-season at linebacker.
Even Raonall Smith wasn't convinced he would be taken by the Vikings with the sixth pick in the second round. When asked whether he was surprised to be taken by the Vikes, he was candid in his response.
"I was told I would probably go at the end of the second or early in the third round," Smith said. "I'm glad I got taken when I did and get to come to the Vikings."
Defensive Coordinator Willie Shaw said you find the reason for Smith being drafted in one word -- speed. That, combined with a thinning crop of linebackers left the Vikings with two options -- take Smith or likely not find any linebackers they were interested in being impact players.
"This year there weren't a lot of linebackers that can be expected to be taken early and it was something we need," Shaw said. "We see him coming in here and competing because he has great speed and can play in space."
Aside from speed -- he runs a 4.5 40-yard dash -- Smith has been an adept pass coverage linebacker, able to take on both tight ends and running backs in the passing game. However, his selection also pointed out a first chance for Mike Tice to make his presence in the war room felt.
While the Vikings were looking at wide receiver, safety and defensive tackle at possibilities, Tice imposed his will on the decision.
"I pushed for him," said Tice, who owns a house near Smith's home in Gig Harbor, Wash. "I've seen a lot of Washington sports and knew about him. He brings a lot of speed and ability to the table."
Tice said he expects Smith to start at Will Linebacker ahead of incumbents Lemanski Hall and Jim Nelson. With the Vikings moving Patrick Chukwurah to the Sam 'Backer position, the Vikings now appear to have their linebacker corps set
"We're looking at the draft to fill holes on the team," Tice said. "Linebacker was one of those areas and he was the only player we had graded out as a second-round player. We still have other positions to fill, but this was the best player for that pick."
Mike Tice sought out the media after the selection of Bryant McKinnie to address a growing controversy concerning the process of the selection.
It seemed like a natural question when it was asked. It was the answer that changed matters in the draft.
When Mike Tice and Frank Gilliam were addressing the media following the selection of Bryant McKinnie, the questioning turned to the obvious ending of the time clock for Dallas.
Tice was asked if the Vikings had the opportunity to slide in front of Dallas since the clock had elapsed on the sixth pick. After explaining that he had in fact authorized submitting a pick and thought it had got through, VU asked if the player on the card submitted was McKinnie -- expecting to hear a yes answer.
Instead Tice and Gilliam admitted that they had submitted the name of DT Ryan Sims, which elicited several follow-up questions that Tice finally had to say wouldn't be answered after a few minutes.
Tice later re-entered the media room to explain that there was a reason for submitting Sims name. While he views both Sims and McKinnie as two of four blue-chippers on the draft board, he explained that the Vikings could have addressed their need at left tackle on the second round, where they felt there were still players who could be quality starters. However, at pure nose tackle, there was no such depth.
"We graded players out as to whether we felt they could be starters with us this year or not," Tice said. "There were other offensive tackles that we thought could be players in that group. Other than Sims, we didn't see another nose tackle there. That's the reason we went the way we did."
Tice said when the Vikings were one pick away and both Sims and McKinnie were on the clock, they started high-fiving and back-slapping in the war room -- knowing they would get one player they coveted.
But the giddiness didn't start there. It happened at Pick No. 3.
"When Detroit took (QB Joey) Harrington, that was when we we did our first high-fives," Tice said. "I was going, 'Cmon (Detroit GM Matt) Millen. Do it!' When he took him at No. 3, I knew we were going to get one of the guys we wanted."
Tice also said that teams were calling as the Vikings came close to being on the clock, noteably the Giants and Cleveland, to get into the Vikings' spot, but he said the team had no interest with McKinnie available.
While the Vikings aren't locking in on any specific position for the second round, apparently content to take the highest player on their board. The plan is to address wide receiver, safety or defensive tackle, but if a player the Vikings have rated high is still available, anything is possible.
With less than a week remaining until the draft, the Vikings are finalizing their list and one name has emerged among the DT crop.
Mike Tice has all but settled for the fact that the Vikings are going to take a linemen -- offensive or defensive -- with their first pick in the NFL draft Saturday.
While his decision will be predicated on whether one of the two massive offensive tackles -- Florida's Bryant McKinnie or Texas' Mike Williams -- is available, if both are gone, the Vikings may already know who they're going to take.
For readers of VU's mock draft, you know we changed our Vikings pick to DT Ryan Sims of North Carolina. It looks as though the Vikings brass has, too.
After first leaning toward Tennessee's John Henderson, lingering ankle and back problems have dropped him on many draft lists and apparently on the Vikings too. Friday, Mike Tice was talking in terms of Sims as the best fit for the Vikings.
Tice is saying that, of the Big Four defensive linemen -- Sims, Henderson, Albert Haynesworth and Wendell Bryant -- Tice sees Sims as the best pure nose tackle of the group and thinks he's the best fit with what the Vikings need at DT.
The Vikings' choice could be made more difficult if Joey Harrington goes off the board to Carolina, Detroit or Buffalo. If he does, that will likely result in a player the Vikes don't expect to still be on the board -- safety Roy Williams, CB Quentin Jammer, McKinnie or Mike Williams -- to still be available at No. 7.
That could influence who the Vikings' take, but, as it stands six days before the team has to make its announcement, it looks like Sims is their man for right now.
SUNDAY NOTES
We hear the presence of LB Henri Crockett, who signed with the Vikings, could be sorely missed in the Falcons’ locker room. Crockett, we’re told, was especially good working with younger players.
bet?
Machias bakin'
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK BAK BAK BAK BAK BAK...
D'Wayne Bates will have more yards/TD's then Donald Driver?
yeah, driver. oh, i don't doubt that. i've seen his sister minnie in a couple of flicks....
the vikes only have one legit receiver after bates. that dude...what's his name again? ricky something-or-nother?
baaaaaaaaaaaaah! back in the cellar wid ya!
There's an odd article that, as of the time of this posting, is at the top of ESPN.com's NFL news blurbs.
The headline is "Too Good To Pass Up? Raiders Agree With OL Badger." In the story, Len Pastabelly makes lineman Brad Badger sound like the second coming of Ron Yary, applauding the Raiders for capturing Badger via a one-year, minimum-salary deal.
Pastabelly says that "[t]he lack of interest in Badger on the part of the Vikings is somewhat puzzling, since he generally played pretty well in Minnesota last season."
The truth, however, is that Badger offered his services to the Vikings for the same minimum deal that he signed in Oakland, and the Vikes said, "No thanks."
And since Badger's position coach for the past two seasons, Mike Tice, is now the head coach in Minnesota, we think that Tice is in the best position to determine whether Badger merits even a bargain-basement deal to stay with the Vikings.
We know that free-agent activity has slowed down a bit lately, but we doubt that the signing of a journeyman offensive tackle for a one-year, minimum deal merits the kind of praise and attention that Pastabelly and ESPN.com is giving the move.
LNM, You get the e-mail I sent you?
You get the e-mail I sent you?
the one about a video camera, a german shepherd, and a girl that looks like connie chung riding on a circus pony?
nope. didn't get it.
Why do you want to rent him your copy ?
Whatever trips your trigger, Machias. Just keep me out of your freaky sex fantasy.
Just keep me out of your freaky sex fantasy.
definitely. unless you look like connie....
10th man tapes with beta max....
too complicated.......
As Mike Tice and the Vikings get closer to being on the clock Saturday for the draft, it seems as though there is a consensus that the top six picks have already been scripted.
There are few certainties in drafting, that is why so many mock drafts are updated so often -- and why VU's own mock draft will go through its 10th change tomorrow.
However, there is getting to be a sentiment that the Vikings and new coach Mike Tice will be the first team to have a real decision to make, since it's starting to look like the first six picks have all but been made.
Houston and David Carr are close to announcing a seven-year, $46 million deal that will be concluded before the draft even begins. At No. 2, despite rumblings otherwise in some circles, Carolina still looks to have Julius Peppers in their sites. At No. 3, Detroit may find it impossible to pass on Texas CB Quentin Jammer. Those three picks now seem almost etched in stone.
At Nos. 4 and 5, things get a little cloudier, as some draft scouts believe Buffalo will give up hope of trading for Drew Bledsoe and draft QB Joey Harrington. However, most of the rest of us believe the Bills and Chargers will jump on the two massive offensive tackles -- Buffalo taking Mike Williams and San Diego taking Bryant McKinnie.
That leaves Dallas between the Vikings and their first pick. If you can believe what a player is saying on the subject, Oklahoma safety Roy Williams has been unabashed in saying he doesn't want any of the top five teams to take him so he can go to Dallas. Jerry Jones is said to be in love with Williams' talent, although safeties rarely go that high in the draft. That said, a player who wants to play for Dallas combined with the fact he is a rare Pro Bowl-quality talent on a team that has added a lot of power to its defense this off-season, Dallas could well take Williams and script the sixth pick of the draft.
So, it could come down to the Vikings being the first team with a question mark next to them. Take DT Ryan Sims? Take DT Albert Haynesworth? Take CB Phillip Buchanon? Trade down for more picks? Those are all possibilities, but, with the way the talk is turning, it may be the first real question of the 2002 draft.
TUESDAY NOTES
vikings draft another player for the offense.
clap. clap. clap.
http://www.sportingnews.com/voices/vinnie_iyer/20020418.html
THX...never got your e-mail.
Is that a real addy in your preferences?
That might be why.
Yes it is (or was). It is still active, but I never use it. strictly my junk mail account now. I listed the new one.
It is my home address.
-------------------------------------------------
PACKER-BACKERS,
I'm hearing rumors that FREEMAN might be coming to Minnesota.
He'd be an nice 5th WR for us.
heehee
Stay Hot Milwaukee BUCKS!
real men watch the nfl.
10th man gives a limp wave of the freethrow noodle....
Last year, he caught four passes for 27 yards. He has 29 receptions for 219 yards and a touchdown in his six-year career.
clutch signing. hhhhhhhhhhhhhuge acquisition.
I'm hearing rumors that FREEMAN might be coming to Minnesota.
maybe to play ball, but not for the women.
TSN has the Vikes trading up with Buffalo
too bad there isn't a RB worthy of a top 10 pick.
then again, bennett wasn't worth a top 110 pick, so why not take another stab at it? the vikes couldn't do any worse than MB, and they might actually get a back that isn't a gimp.
sammy,
how do you like my *NEW* suit?!? dandy mouth, the clown queen of the nfc north, lol! squeak his nose and he squirts water!
hey, remember when lost nocompass message couldn't find his suit? so then he went out and got 2 new suits to replace it, right? and then when he couldn't find his old suit, he got all upset and threw a great big hissy fit, pointed fingers that everybody else was wearing his suit, and stormed out of the WC...i think he whined more than nadho, if that's possible.
wasn't 10/12/v12/t10 gone for about a month before he finally came shuffling back? wouldn't it be funny if that happened again?!?
The War Room breaks down the last-minute draft rumors, including a possible deal between Detroit and Dallas so the Cowboys can select Quentin Jammer.
TOP STORIES
Trotter agrees to 7-year, $36M deal with Redskins
Bills GM not optimistic about acquiring Bledsoe
Bears match Chiefs' offer sheet for LB Holdman
QB Blake breaks off talks with Bills
Browns defensive tackle Warren pleads guilty to gun charge
Seahawks trade QB Brock Huard to Colts for fifth-round pick
Bears match Chiefs' offer sheet for LB Holdman
Looks like the Bills might be in the running for Harrington now.
http://www.footballsfuture.com/2002/2002_nfl_mock_draft.html
VU has spent much of Friday night chasing down a hot trade rumor which, contrary to what we've been led to believe at Winter Park, may have some legs.
In the weeks, days and hours leading up to any NFL draft, trade rumors are often viewed like pimples on a teenager's face -- there are many of them and there's no explanation why they're all there.
VU caught wind of one from a well-placed source familiar with previous transactions between the Vikes and the Cleveland Browns that could be the proverbial offer the Vikings can't refuse to move out of the No. 7 spot.
Long story short, the trade proposal would have the Cleveland Browns trading their first-round pick this year and in 2003, WR Kevin Johnson and perhaps an obligatory late (as in seventh) round pick to the Vikings for the No. 7 spot in this year's draft. Short story long, here's the explanation.
From what we've been told by sources connected with the Browns, where Dennis Green's son Jeremy has made multiple deals with the Vikings, there are two players the Browns covet in the draft -- OT Bryant McKinnie and DT Ryan Sims.
Several things must fall into place for the trade to come off. One of them is that either Detroit or Buffalo takes QB Joey Harrington -- which is no gimme. If that team is Buffalo, there is the potential that San Diego will take OT Mike Williams ahead of McKinnie. The reason McKinnie is key to the equation is that he played for Butch Davis at Miami and Davis has a serious yen to draft his former players and he sees McKinnie as a can't-miss bookend for his improving young team.
That covered, even if McKinnie is gone, the Browns are said to be so convinced that Sims can be an impact DT to a much-improved defense that he can be the added piece to the puzzle that makes the Browns a playoff team. From what we've been told, both players are viewed by the Browns as a player that can put them over the top -- even if carries a high cost.
From the Vikings perspective, the trade would have two-fold benefits. The team could add Johnson, a playmaking wide receiver who could immediately become a starter alongside Randy Moss, and have a young player instead of an aging veteran that would be gone in a year or two and need to be replaced. Second, the Vikings could use the No. 16 pick to add an offensive tackle like Levi Jones to fill the current void at the left tackle spot. Third, the team would also carry two picks into the first round next season and, if the Browns fall flat much like Washington did after the Brad Johnson trade, it could be a premium pick.
Keep in mind that several things need to happen to make this deal come about, but, from what we're hearing, this isn't simply a fly-by-night rumor. If the chips fall the right way, the Vikings may not be talking about Mike Williams, Ryan Sims or Roy Williams. They may be talking about a pick in the middle of the first round, a starting wide receiver and two picks in the first round of next year's draft.
DRAFT DAY MORNING NOTES
McKinnie
nice, tice.
OL, what a stretch lol!
the quEENS blow ANOTHER DRAFT!
They could of had their man, but BLEW IT !!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz,
WAKE UP qUeeNS.........SIMS is GANDI !
ROTFLMFAO !!!!!!!!!
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOOLOL !
just sit there quEEns, don't get up and pick your man you been wanting all year........
HOW about them COWBOYS ?
SIMS is GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNE!
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!
Jabar Gaffney, Antonio Bryant, Josh Reed, Lelie was there, Andre Davis, Marquise Walker, Ron Johnson, Reche Caldwell, etc.
DUMBASSES! LOL
real men watch the nfl.
Yeah
Whatever gets ya through the night.
Don't think so...
Denver picked Lelie at number 19.
"Jabar Gaffney"
Sophomore.
"Antonio Bryant"
Baggage.
"Josh Reed"
5' 10"
"Andre Davis"
Health concerns.
"Marquise Walker"
Overrated.
Javon Walker is 6'3", 210 and ran a 4.33 40. He had the second largest hands in the draft. He's perfect for the West Coast offense. He's extremely mature, having played minor league ball the last two summers.
"DUMBASSES! LOL"
13-5.
Yes... dumbasses.
You guys moved up in the draft and gave up a second rounder for WHO??? I guess he'll sit on the bench with what's-his-name.
LMAO!
VIKINGS RULE YOUR WORLD, BABY!!!
Watch Culpepper AND Bennett have great years this season. Mark it down.
hahahaha!
NO super bowls ever........
MARK it DOWN !
lololololol
"Walker was a little inconsistent in that he tends to drop balls."
Looks like he'll fit right in with the pACKers... LOL!
Dumbasses.
LOLOLOLOL
Deal with it........the PACKERS are superior to the quEEns in every way.....
how about that coach the quEEns got?
hahahaha!
what a great draft boob mistake.......this will last AAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL year long........
ROTFLMAO !
GO PACK GO !
420.........420.............420.........
<>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He may be a "WHO" to you...a "no-name" to Bud.
In contrast, there are fans who watch a lot of college football...
and do their homework.
While Raonall Smith was surprised to be selected when he was, he says he is ready to fill a hole the Vikings have felt all off-season at linebacker.
Even Raonall Smith wasn't convinced he would be taken by the Vikings with the sixth pick in the second round. When asked whether he was surprised to be taken by the Vikes, he was candid in his response.
"I was told I would probably go at the end of the second or early in the third round," Smith said. "I'm glad I got taken when I did and get to come to the Vikings."
Defensive Coordinator Willie Shaw said you find the reason for Smith being drafted in one word -- speed. That, combined with a thinning crop of linebackers left the Vikings with two options -- take Smith or likely not find any linebackers they were interested in being impact players.
"This year there weren't a lot of linebackers that can be expected to be taken early and it was something we need," Shaw said. "We see him coming in here and competing because he has great speed and can play in space."
Aside from speed -- he runs a 4.5 40-yard dash -- Smith has been an adept pass coverage linebacker, able to take on both tight ends and running backs in the passing game. However, his selection also pointed out a first chance for Mike Tice to make his presence in the war room felt.
While the Vikings were looking at wide receiver, safety and defensive tackle at possibilities, Tice imposed his will on the decision.
"I pushed for him," said Tice, who owns a house near Smith's home in Gig Harbor, Wash. "I've seen a lot of Washington sports and knew about him. He brings a lot of speed and ability to the table."
Tice said he expects Smith to start at Will Linebacker ahead of incumbents Lemanski Hall and Jim Nelson. With the Vikings moving Patrick Chukwurah to the Sam 'Backer position, the Vikings now appear to have their linebacker corps set
"We're looking at the draft to fill holes on the team," Tice said. "Linebacker was one of those areas and he was the only player we had graded out as a second-round player. We still have other positions to fill, but this was the best player for that pick."
Mike Tice sought out the media after the selection of Bryant McKinnie to address a growing controversy concerning the process of the selection.
It seemed like a natural question when it was asked. It was the answer that changed matters in the draft.
When Mike Tice and Frank Gilliam were addressing the media following the selection of Bryant McKinnie, the questioning turned to the obvious ending of the time clock for Dallas.
Tice was asked if the Vikings had the opportunity to slide in front of Dallas since the clock had elapsed on the sixth pick. After explaining that he had in fact authorized submitting a pick and thought it had got through, VU asked if the player on the card submitted was McKinnie -- expecting to hear a yes answer.
Instead Tice and Gilliam admitted that they had submitted the name of DT Ryan Sims, which elicited several follow-up questions that Tice finally had to say wouldn't be answered after a few minutes.
Tice later re-entered the media room to explain that there was a reason for submitting Sims name. While he views both Sims and McKinnie as two of four blue-chippers on the draft board, he explained that the Vikings could have addressed their need at left tackle on the second round, where they felt there were still players who could be quality starters. However, at pure nose tackle, there was no such depth.
"We graded players out as to whether we felt they could be starters with us this year or not," Tice said. "There were other offensive tackles that we thought could be players in that group. Other than Sims, we didn't see another nose tackle there. That's the reason we went the way we did."
Tice said when the Vikings were one pick away and both Sims and McKinnie were on the clock, they started high-fiving and back-slapping in the war room -- knowing they would get one player they coveted.
But the giddiness didn't start there. It happened at Pick No. 3.
"When Detroit took (QB Joey) Harrington, that was when we we did our first high-fives," Tice said. "I was going, 'Cmon (Detroit GM Matt) Millen. Do it!' When he took him at No. 3, I knew we were going to get one of the guys we wanted."
Tice also said that teams were calling as the Vikings came close to being on the clock, noteably the Giants and Cleveland, to get into the Vikings' spot, but he said the team had no interest with McKinnie available.
While the Vikings aren't locking in on any specific position for the second round, apparently content to take the highest player on their board. The plan is to address wide receiver, safety or defensive tackle, but if a player the Vikings have rated high is still available, anything is possible.