>>>ALL THINGS VIKINGS<<<

Anthony Barr stiff arms the Jets, stays with the Vikings...

There’s a reason that it’s smart to point out that deals negotiated during the free-agency negotiating window aren’t done until they’re done. It’s because they aren’t done until they’re done.

Linebacker Anthony Barr has decided not to sign with the Jets, after all. Instead, Barr will remain with the Vikings, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Media.

Multiple reports emerged on Monday night that Barr would leave the Vikings and join the Jets. But the deal isn’t binding until it’s signed, and Barr hadn’t signed the deal.

Barr can sign with the Vikings at any time, since he was under contract with them last season. In all, he has been under contract with the Vikings for five seasons, and the relationship will continue.

As long as he signs the contract. (PFT)

 

Vikings get Anthony Barr back after his change of heart, but lose Sheldon Richardson, Latavius Murray...

Free-agent linebacker Anthony Barr, who had agreed to a deal Monday with the New York Jets, has reversed course and will re-sign with the Vikings.

NFL Media, which first reported Tuesday that Barr changed his mind, reported that he will sign a five-year contract worth $67.5 million. The deal includes $33 million in guaranteed money and incentives could bring the total package to $77.5 million.

Also Tuesday, defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson agreed to leave the Vikings as a free agent to sign a three-year deal with Cleveland, which ESPN reported will be worth $39 million with $21.5 million in guaranteed money. And the Vikings lost free-agent running back Latavius Murray to New Orleans on a four-year, $14.4 million deal.

On Monday, the Vikings, who started free agency with salary-cap issues, let go of starting right guard Mike Remmers and safety Andrew Sendejo, who mostly had been a starter in eight seasons with the team.

By Monday night, Barr looked to be gone from Minnesota, too. However, ESPN reported Tuesday that Barr, after telling the Jets he would join them, got “cold feet.”

Barr is a four-time Pro Bowl selection who made $12.3 million last season. He was the No. 9 pick in the 2014 NFL draft, making him the Vikings’ first player drafted after Mike Zimmer became head coach.

Barr can re-sign at any point with the Vikings. He would not need to wait until Wednesday’s first day of the new league year, which would have been the first day the Jets could have signed him.

The Vikings, who now have about $7 million of cap room, would need to come up with money to re-sign Barr. They have approached defensive end Everson Griffen about restructuring his contact.

Griffen’s base salary of $10.9 million would become guaranteed if he is still on the roster Friday. If Griffen does not agree to a restructured deal, the Vikings could cut him.

When reached Tuesday, Griffen declined comment.

Richardson played last season on a one-year, $8 million contract and wanted a multi-year deal.

There was a hint that Richardson would not return when the Vikings agreed to a three-year, $12.45 million contract with Shamar Stephen, who played for them from 2014-17. Stephen, the starter at three-technique defensive tackle in 2016, is expected to take that role over from Richardson.

Murray had a salary-cap number last season of $5.2 million after agreeing to restructure his contract. He had expressed interest in returning to the Vikings, but they weren’t going to pay the money Murray was seeking for a player likely to be a backup.

Minnesota’s starter has been Dalvin Cook, but Murray stepped up during each of the past two years when Cook was out with injuries. When Cook suffered a torn ACL in 2017, Murray started 11 games and rushed for 842 yards that season. When Cook had a hamstring injury in 2018, Murray started six games and finished the year with 578 yards.

The Vikings are expected to look in free agency or in the draft for a backup behind Cook. (twin cities pioneer press)

 

With all the movement going on why are Vikings doing nothing,as far as I know is anybody doing anything or are they waiting on the draft kind of nervous about the Vikings pick will they pick an O-linemen

 

Barr is getting paid,the Odell Beckham to the Browns just blows me away the Mayfield to Beckham hookup could be awesome

 

When the Vikings struck a deal with linebacker Anthony Barr to stay with the team earlier this week, there was word that defensive end Everson Griffen‘s spot on the roster might be in danger as a result.

The Vikings came into the offseason without much cap room and Griffen was reportedly facing a decision about reworking his deal or being released. It appears he’s decided on an answer to that question.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Griffen, whose $10.9 million salary was set to be guaranteed this afternoon, has revised his deal in order to remain in Minnesota. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports he will make around $8 million.

Griffen missed five games last season while dealing with mental health issues that led him to be hospitalized following an incident that required police intervention. He returned to action and recorded 5.5 sacks in 11 overall appearances.

 

I'm glad Everson Griffen has revised his contract but they still need to draft a DE,I hope they draft an O-linemen with the 18th pick but I fear there first pick will a defensive pick

 

If they do that they are doing Cousins and Cook a disservice....I would take Dillard or Jonah Williams and then even think about Risner or Lindstrom round 2

 

Zimmer: People don’t realize how much other teams game plan for Anthony Barr...



Anthony Barr is an outside linebacker who has just 13.5 sacks in his five-year career. So why is he worth the big new contract the Vikings gave him?

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer says most people don’t understand how big an impact Barr makes because of the lengths that other teams go to to keep Barr from beating them.

“I know a lot of laymen don’t understand this, but Anthony is a guy that every team that we play game plans for,” Zimmer said. “There’s not one team – there might have been one team last year that didn’t, and we got 10 sacks. They all game plan for him.”

Zimmer appeared to be referring to the Dolphins as the team that didn’t game plan for Barr. In that game the Vikings got nine (not 10) sacks, and Barr was a huge problem for the Dolphins’ pass protection.

“A lot of that is him sacrificing himself for being able to have other guys free on rushes and blitzes and things like that. That’s why he’s such an unselfish guy,” Zimmer said. “We understand that no team that we play is ever going to say, ‘We’re not going to worry about Anthony Barr.’ That’s part of it, and sometimes we do it anyway. That’s just part of it. We’re always going to try and scheme the best way to win on that particular Sunday.”

Zimmer thinks opposing offenses are going to continue to struggle against Barr, even if his sack numbers don’t show it.

 

Ok Barr is back that does not mean SB they still need to Address the O-line!!!! it's been neglected for so long,it's like every year the same old same old Vikings D good Vikings O-line kind of a mess...at times I wonder who in the hell is in charge here

 

Looks like Easton is going to be a New Orleans Saints,fixing the O-line is becoming a situation they MUST fix now no more half-stepping!!

 

Tom Compton signed with the Jets,Tricky Ricky it's time to earn your paycheck and who's next?

 

I’m not sure those are guys that are needed...go get better in the draft

 

Josh Kline visiting Vikings, other teams this week...

Offensive guard Josh Kline indeed is expected to visit the Vikings this week as he currently is “coordinating visits with different teams,” Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reports.

Nick Easton‘s departure for the Saints leaves Minnesota with only one guard under contract for 2019 who has played in a regular-season game. Danny Isidora has taken 361 career snaps.

The Vikings also have expressed interest in interior offensive lineman Stefan Wisniewski, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press reports. Wisniewski will visit the Jets this week.

Tennessee recently released Kline, who signed a four-year, $20 million extension with the Titans a year ago.

Kline, 29, has made starts at left guard and right guard in his career.

The Titans claimed him off waivers from the Patriots in 2016. He moved into the starting lineup early that season at right guard after Chance Warmack was injured.

Kline started 46 games for the Titans over three seasons after starting 18 in New England.

 

I was watching this mock draft on the NFL network with Bucky Brooks and he had the Vikings taking Ed Oliver DL out of the university of Houston,they need O-linemen WTF it's what I have feared there first pick will a defensive pick ( sigh )

 

I assure you, the Vikings brass is not looking to see who Bucky Brooks took in a fake draft in March to set up their war board...

 

That’s a good thing cause his mock was terrible

 

Vikings sign guard Josh Kline to three-year, $15.75 million contract...

The Vikings finally in free agency brought in some help for their much-maligned offensive line.

The Vikings signed Josh Kline on Wednesday to contract that a source said is worth $15.75 million over three years. He is primed to take over as the starting right guard.

Kline, a six-year veteran who was released by Tennessee last week, arrived in the Twin Cities for a visit Tuesday and it extended into Wednesday before a deal was reached.

Also Wednesday, the Vikings lost quarterback Trevor Siemian in free agency to the New York Jets. A source said Siemian, Kirk Cousins’ backup last season, got a one-year, $2 million deal that could be worth as much as $3 million with incentives. The Vikings tried to keep Siemian, who made $1.9 million last season, but they have salary-cap issues.

Prior to Kline signing, the only guard on Minnesota’s roster was Danny Isidora, who has started three games in two seasons. Since free agency started last week, the Vikings had lost off their roster Mike Remmers, their starting right guard last season, Nick Easton, their starting left guard in 2017 who missed all of last season with a neck injury, and Tom Compton, their starting left guard in 2018.

Remmers was released after declining to restructure his contract. The Vikings made an offer on Easton, but he went to New Orleans on a six-year, $24 million contract. And they did not make an offer on Compton, who signed with the Jets.

Kline, undrafted out of Kent State, played with the New England Patriots from 2013-15, including winning a Super Bowl after the 2014 season. He was with the Titans for the past three years, and has started 46 straight games at right guard.

However, Kline, 29, was let go by the Titans after a season in which, according to Pro Football Focus, he allowed 38 pressures and was ranked as the No. 53 guard in the NFL. Kline made $2.5 million last season, so he basically was able to double his seasonal salary by being released.

The Vikings had issues last season protecting quarterback Kirk Cousins. They still need to solidify who will start at left guard. Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press reported last December that the Vikings were considering moving Riley Reiff from left tackle to guard and then shifting Brian O’Neill from right to left tackle.

The Vikings had about $5 million of salary-cap room before signing Kline. Priorities now include addressing their backup quarterback situation and possibly re-signing punt returner Marcus Sherels, who made $1.4 million last season.

With Siemian gone, a possible candidate to back up Cousins is Kyle Sloter, who is entering his third season and has never taken a regular-season snap. However, the Vikings also likely want to bring in a veteran to compete for the job.

One possibility is free agent Sean Mannion, who has played the past four years for the Rams and has thrown 53 regular-season passes and made one career start. Mannion made a base salary last season of $877,778 and he perhaps could be signed for a deal for 2019 for not much more than $1 million.

Siemian came to the Vikings in a trade last March from Denver. With Cousins having taken every regular-season snap in 2018, he did not get into a game. (TwinCities.com)

 

Don't know a lot about him hope plays well and draft an O-lneman,still po the Vikings not picking Willie Hernandez ( sp ) last year hope they pick Cody Ford or Dalton Risner ( sp ) if there on the board to pick,it's time to give the backup qb job to Kyle Sloter to see if he got some game cause in pre-season games he has looked impressive

 

I know nothing about Sean Mannion

 

Kyle Sloter says he’s ready to be Vikings backup...

As the Minnesota Vikings continue to explore possible veteran options to back up Kirk Cousins, a current member of the roster says he’s the man for the job.

According to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Kyle Sloter, who has spent the last two seasons on the Vikings roster, believes he’s ready to step into the role.

“As far as the backup job, I’m more than ready to do it,” Sloter said “I’ve been ready I feel like for a while. For one reason or another, they have kept me in the role that I’ve been in and that’s their decision.”

Sloter has spent the last two seasons with the Vikings buried on the team’s depth chart. Originally signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of Northern Colorado, Sloter moved on to the Vikings after he was released at the end of training camp. He was active for six games as a rookie as Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Bradford dealt with injuries, but he never saw any action. He was inactive for every game last season with Cousins starting and Trevor Siemian as the backup.

Siemian is now out of the picture after signing with the New York Jets. However, the Vikings are interested in former Los Angeles Rams backup Sean Mannion as a possible veteran option instead. Even if the Vikings add Mannion or a different veteran option, Sloter said he’s ready to show he deserves the job.

“It’s never a given, it’s always earned,” Sloter said. “I’m going to have to prove that I can do it first, and if that’s something they want to put on my plate, I’m ready to tackle it.”