Routt is 28 years old and signed a 5 year, 54.5 million dollar deal last year but fell as a cap casualty this year. He has played in 110 games while he has recorded 10 interceptions and 50 passes defended during that time. Routt is free to sign anywhere and doesn’t need to wait for free agency to start on March 13.

It’s not a surprise the Vikings are interested with the way the secondary played last year and I’m sure Routt isn’t the only cornerback the Vikings will look into this off-season.

For the full story click here.

Mr. Spielman will not be so happy about this...

“The Vikings…really need to shore up their protection”-Mel Kiper, ESPN

“… if Kalil is available they take him…You become a really good team by having a standout left tackle.” -Judd Zulgad, 1500ESPN

Versatile: Kalil blocks a kick

“All I know right now is Kalil is the logical target for the Vikings and if he’s not there my read is they’ll try to trade down”-Tom Pelissero, 1500ESPN

All the above listed pundits seem to agree that the obvious move for Spielman & co. in April’s draft would be to select Matt Kalil if he is still available. The underclassman from Southern California should need little introduction to most Vikings fans, as none of us have had much to look forward to but the draft for a long time. Suffice it to say, however, he has been likened to Joe Thomas. This common sense move follows from the belief that the team is in dire need of a franchise left tackle to protect the franchise quarterback apparent.

Are there other ways to strengthen the position outside of using the third overall pick? Certainly. Firstly, with proper scouting and coaching a team can acquire an excellent offensive tackle in the draft after the first round. Matt Light and Sebastian Vollmer in New England, Michael Roos in Tennessee, and Jason Peters in Philadelphia are All Pro tackles, none of whom was drafted in the first round. Secondly, offensive tackles drafted in the top five are not bust-proof. Just look at Robert Gallery, Levi Brown and Jason Smith, none of whom has worked out as an offensive tackle. Finally, free agency is another possible recourse for a team that needs a serious overhaul.

Last year’s Super Bowl made free agency a bad word. The all-knowing media decided that Green Bay and Pittsburgh reached the heights that they did due to an ideology that stressed building through the draft. Free agency was cast as a short-cut that could not substitute for the meticulous process of honing draftees and inoculating them with the team philosophy. This view is somewhat medieval. The Patriots have often gone outside the draft throughout their period of prosperity, picking up such productive players as Corey Dillon, Rodney Harrison, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker via trade or free agency. Ditto Baltimore, who has picked up Bryant McKinnie, Matt Birk, Anquan Boldin, and Bernard Pollard from other teams. The fact is the Vikings can and should use free agency to address some of their manifold needs.

Giant Jared in space

The question then becomes, can Wilf’s gang find someone to protect Ponder’s blindside in fee agency (or via trade) and then use the draft to some other end? The quick answer is yes they can. There are two main candidates. Behind door number one stands Jared Gaither, a 6’9 behemoth who disappointed twice, first when his 2010 season was wiped out due to back problems, and again when a costly penalty saw the Chiefs cut him in November this season. Nevertheless, he made good on the potential he flashed as a Raven by finishing the season strongly in San Diego with his “perfect game” against DPOY Terrell Suggs and his former team standing out in particular. Gaither is not only very talented, but also young at a mere twenty five years of age. Behind door number two, is Karl Malone’s lovechild Demetrius Bell who was instrumental in Buffalo’s hot start to the season, and ranks as ProFootballFocus’ most improved player in the AFC East. He is slightly older, at 27, and has a pockmarked health record. Conversely, he would probably be both cheaper and easier to sign. Both of these players could be a suitable alternative to drafting Mr. Kalil.

With multiple veterans hitting free agency, and more to either take a pay cut or be cut, the Vikings will certainly have ample cap space this year. Giving Gaither a fat contract and drafting Blackmon or trading down should be considered a very viable option. Of course, giving that cash to Dwayne Bowe and drafting Kalil or even Riley Reiff is another mouthwatering combination. In either case, it will be hard for the Vikings to regress, and the future looks bright(er). However, given the availability of talented offensive tackles in free agency, it is hard to ignore Justin Blackmon and the intangibles he could bring to this youthful-to-be squad. At this point, I think the front office should be granted good faith with regards to how they handle this team’s shortcomings. Speaking of shortcomings, Blackmon looks awful good. This fantasy will be further developed in a later post…

How far to Minnesota?

Jared Allen and Ndamukong Suh are two of the most feared sack artists in the NFL, but perhaps not for good reason. Which defender is more overrated–Suh or Allen?

It was a bittersweet day for the Vikings, as one of their all-time greats was selected to Pro Football’s highest honor – selection to the Hall of Fame – while another was once again slighted.

Chris Doleman star defensive end, is heading to the Hall in August, this after 15 solid seasons in the NFL playing for the Vikings, Falcons and 49ers.

Doleman played with the Vikings from 1985 to 1993 and again in 1999. He was drafted as a linebacker before moving to defensive end.

He led the NFL in quarterback sacks eight times, finishing with 150.5, which ranked fourth at the time of his retirement in 1998.

Doleman will become the 11th Viking elected to the Hall of Fame, joining Carl Eller, Jim Finks, Bud Grant, Paul Krause, Randall McDaniel, Alan Page, John Randle, Fran Tarkenton, Ron Yary and Gary Zimmerman.

On the bittersweet side is once again wide out Cris Carter being shut out of the Hall, this despite putting up more than enough stats to where he should be voted in.

In case you forgot, he had 1,101 catches, 13,899 yards and 130 touchdowns during his 16 seasons in the NFL.

His catch total ranked second all-time at the time of his retirement and is fourth now. His yardage was third all-time when he retired and ranks eighth now. And his receiving touchdown total also ranked second all-time when he stepped away from the game and ranks fourth now.

Carter seems to be stuck in a position where guys are just not being voted in, as both Andre Reed and Tim Brown were also shut out of the Hall.

Reed joined Carter on the final 10 list, but all three were not able to do enough to sway enough votes to get into the Hall.

Joining Doleman in the Hall in August will be: Dermontti Dawson, Jack Butler, Willie Roaf, Curtis Martin, and Cortez Kennedy.

An attorney for the family of hit-and-run victim Anousone Phanthavong met with the Sensers and their attorney Friday to discuss evidence-gathering issues.

The Star Tribune reports results of the discussion are confidential.

A judge placed the civil case on hold in October. He ordered that neither side gather evidence while the criminal investigation continued.

Amy Senser is scheduled to stand trial April 23 on two counts of criminal vehicle homicide. She’s charged with striking Phanthavong on a Minneapolis interstate ramp and leaving the scene in August.

Defense attorney Eric Nelson contends Senser did not know she struck someone that night. He wants the case dismissed.

Don’t donate those Vikings #28 Peterson jerseys to charity just yet.

The Vikings running back says that he will keep his uniform the same for the Vikings. At least for now.

The star running back said in a series of posts on his Twitter page on Wednesday that he balked at switching because he was told he would have to pay $1 million to cover all the unsold jerseys already produced with his current number.

That’s been NFL policy: Players interested in changing numbers must apply by March of the year in which they want to switch, and they have to buy the unused inventory to compensate the manufacturer.

The league is making a move from Reebok to Nike, creating the potential for players to change without charge, but spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an e-mail on Wednesday the league hasn’t finalized the number-switch policy for 2012.

Peterson said last week on Twitter he was pondering picking either No. 23 or No. 21, posting that No. 28 “has been good” to him but that he felt it was time for something new. Vikings cornerbacks Cedric Griffin and Asher Allen currently have No. 23 and No. 21, respectively, but players in all sports over the years have persuaded — financially or otherwise — teammates to trade them a coveted or customary number.

Peterson is rehabilitating from reconstructive surgery on his left knee after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in late December. He needed 17 tweets — sometimes 140 characters just isn’t enough — to share his point of view on the number-switch policy and the origin of his No. 28. (He said he wanted No. 29 in high school in honor of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson, but his team didn’t have it. So he picked No. 28.)

Peterson acknowledged criticism from some of his Twitter followers for complaining about the money. But he replied that the decision was an “easy one” not to “waste that type of money just to change a number on my work uniform.”

He said the purported $1 million change fee “blew my mind,” including five exclamation points at the end of that particular post.

Peterson declined further comment through Vikings spokesman Jeff Anderson.

Jerseys are about the most noticeable way for fans to show their allegiance and get into the spirit of the games each Sunday, and stadiums around the league each week are filled with folks wearing replicas of the uniform tops worn by the NFL’s biggest stars.

They aren’t cheap, either, so they aren’t likely to be used for rags around the house. There are always a handful of long-outdated jerseys spotted dotting the seats, whether for players who retired, moved on to other teams or simply changed numbers.

When Randy Moss first joined the Vikings in 1998, he briefly wore No. 18 before switching to the more-traditional No. 84 for a wide receiver. But every once in a while, a No. 18 Vikings jersey with Moss on the back is spotted at a Vikings game or somewhere around Minnesota.

TWO 5 ROUND MOCKS

NOTE: I think the Vikings need to be aggressive in both the draft and free agency. If they trade down, they can still get a potential #1 receiver, or – at worst – the kind of great match-up they haven’t had.

Where Justin Blackmon is on the board:

Round 1, pick 3: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State. The next Randy Moss arrives at Winter Park, ready to work hard at opening up the underneath routes for Harvin and Rudolph, and ready to bring some swagger.

Round 2, pick 35: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska. Dennard is physical, with the right temperament to take on Calvin Johnson, Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson. If he’s there, it’s the smart pick as he’s a hard worker and is at a position of definite need. Dennard’s got a hip flexor injury and will miss the Senior Bowl, and did not have a good week of practice.

Round 3, pick 67: George Iloka, FS, Boise State *. The Vikings continue to take high-pedigree athletes who’ve been molded into pro-readiness by some of the most demanding coaches of the collegiate level. While points allowed is the most important stat, the Minnesota pass defense allowed 26 more TDs than they had interceptions last season. The differential was 10 the year before, and 15 the year before that, neither of which are good.

Round 4: Tyler Nielsen, OLB, Iowa. A 6’3, 235 lb. beast has the versatility and work ethic to be moved around and is good in pass coverage.

Round 5: Mitchell Schwartz, T, California.

Where Justin Blackmon is off the board:

Round 1, pick 3: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina *. The Vikings concentrate on helping their secondaries stop Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler and Matthew Stafford, by taking best player available. The Vikings were 2nd in the NFL in sacks, but will get substantially better in run defense on the edge with Coples.

Round 2, pick 35: Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson. Wanting to stretch the field, the Vikings take BPA. With 5-7 wideouts going in the 34 prior picks, Allen will likely slip to here.
Round 3, pick 67: George Iloka, FS, Boise State *.
Round 4: Tyler Nielsen, OLB, Iowa.
Round 5: Mitchell Schwartz, T, California.

In the second scenario, I still think the Vikings will try to get more athleticism and explosiveness without Blackmon. In both scenarios, there is great value at WR in this year’s draft. I suggest Missouri WR Wes Kemp with one of the two 4th round compensatory picks they will probably get. Houston WR Tyron Carrier is a great burner with return ability.


If at all possible, they need to trade down to where the Bengals’ pick from the Raiders is (at 17) and take WR Michael Floyd before the Bears can. They’d get a receiver faster than Floyd, gain an extra pick, and block the Bears.

*Playing in the Senior Bowl today at 4 PM ET on NFL Network.

Follow me at: http://twitter.com/Chris_M_Bach

More 5-Round Mocks.

Senior Bowl
Date:Saturday January 28, 2012
Time: 3PM CST
Where: Mobile, Alabama
Channel: NFL Network

With the Senior Bowl about to kick off this weekend, many seniors will be trying to move up teams draft boards. The Vikings are fortunate to be able to coach the north squad after a 3-13 season and have many holes to address this off season. I had a bunch of notes and players to watch BUT my laptop decided that it had enough and broke this week, losing all my work. I apologize for not being able to get that to you. Instead I’ll give you all some of my favorite places to check out what happened this week at practices and some players to watch on Saturday.

Optimum Scouting

National Football Post

Tom Melton’s Draft Blog

Zygi Wilf said Wednesday he was “optimistic” that the team could agree on a new stadium at the Metrodome site, although the Vikings at least publicly held out hope that the project could still be built in Ramsey County according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

That was a change in tone from earlier in the week, when Vikings officials described themselves as “frustrated” over being told by state officials that only the Metrodome was considered a viable site.

With Gov. Mark Dayton trying to shepherd the Vikings and Minneapolis toward a new $918 million stadium at the Metrodome, city officials and key legislators met with Wilf and Dayton for three hours Wednesday. Afterward they announced they had made progress but came to no agreement.