>>>ALL THINGS VIKINGS<<<

maybe he might make the practice squad i really thought he would make the team

 

Finally Dru Samia has been waived by the Vikings

 

Mike Zimmer WTF is going on I'm very nervous here and Sack Daddy Everson Griffen is gone explain that move oh and Dakota Doizer is gone what took so long.....why is Rick Spielman still here?

 

Everson Griffen returned to the Vikings with a mix of remorse and gratitude for being back with the team he knew well. His stay lasted eight days.

The Vikings released Griffen as part of the team's cuts to 53 on Tuesday, the team announced.

Griffen could return to Minnesota in the coming days, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported, as the veteran wants to finish his career with the Vikings. His release could merely be procedural, with the Vikings keeping others before making corresponding moves that could free up space to bring Griffen back.

Such a move isn't uncommon as teams strategically juggle their rosters, keeping players they'd eventually like to move to the practice squad to increase their chances of retaining them while releasing others who have a lesser likelihood of being scooped up by other clubs. Griffen, a vested veteran, is not subject to waivers, meaning he can wait for Minnesota to make subsequent moves with the hopes he returns to the active roster this week.

NFL.com
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Looks like when the dust settles they will re-sign Griffen (maybe).

Its an awkward move, but from what ive read this morning, its not un-common.

 

MINNEAPOLIS – The timetable is unknown for Irv Smith Jr.’s return from the meniscus injury he sustained in the Minnesota Vikings’ final preseason game. The rising star at tight end could be sidelined several weeks and miss a handful of games, or he could be subjected to a months-long recovery process. That’s the nature of this injury.

Smith will undergo surgery this week, and until team doctors get a look inside his injured knee, no one can know for sure how long he’ll be out. But Minnesota couldn’t afford to play the wait-and-see game, not with how critical the tight end position is to the success of this offense.

Minnesota sent a 2022 fourth-round pick to the New York Jets on Tuesday in exchange for fourth-year tight end Chris Herndon and a 2022 sixth-round selection. The move reflects how seriously the team is taking the potential that Smith could miss considerable time.

So for now, an offense that deployed the third-most two-tight end sets in 2020 has at least one other starting-caliber tight end next to Tyler Conklin.

ESPN

 

I hope they bring back Everson Griffen and the Sack Daddy Dance to help and coach up the young players, now I don't trust em they do some strange things hope this Chris Herndon works out for the Vikings

 

Report: Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr. likely done for year after meniscus surgery

This is bad news for the Vikings. Irv Smith‘s knee injury will likely shelve him for the entire season, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).

Smith is looking at a four- to five-month timetable for recovery. Even in a best-case scenario, that would effectively rule the tight end out for the regular season. A postseason return remains possible, in theory, but that’s a long way away. For now, Smith will have to focus on rehab while the Vikings plan to be without him for 2021.

Smith, 23, flashed serious potential last year while posting 30 catches for 365 yards and five touchdowns. The football world (and fantasy world) was awaiting a breakout year for Smith, who would have benefited from all the attention paid to Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and the rest of Kirk Cousins‘ weapons.

Instead, the Vikings will lean more on Tyler Conklin, who is dealing with a hamstring injury. Brandon Dillon stands as the only other tight end on the roster after rookie Zach Davidson and Shane Zylstra were waived on Tuesday. It stands to reason that one of those two players will be re-signed to the 53-man roster once Smith is placed on injured reserve. Alternatively, the Vikings could scour the waiver wire for an out-of-house alternative.

YardBarker

 

Herndon and Conklin.... 'come on down' !

 

He's Back !



The Vikings made it official, re-signing defensive end Everson Griffen, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports.

They opened roster spots by placing tight end Irv Smith, receiver Dan Chisena and running back Kene Nwangwu on injured reserve. Tight end Chris Herndon and long snapper Andrew DePaola are taking the other two spots.

As a vested veteran, Griffen did not have to pass through waivers, so his release merely was a procedural move.

Griffen spent 10 years with the Vikings before signing a one-year deal with the Cowboys as a free agent last offseason. The Cowboys traded him to the Lions during the 2020 season.

Griffin, 33, made 74.5 sacks, 355 tackles, 190 quarterback hits and nine forced fumbles in his time in Minnesota. He totaled six sacks in 14 games last season.

PFT

 

as Aaron Rodgers says Relax Badd_Man1 just Relax laughing but where are the Vikings headed in 2021-2022? the Sack Daddy is so cool

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For a franchise that is no stranger to drama, the Minnesota Vikings have already dealt with their share of it with the regular season opener still more than a week away.

Forgive coach Mike Zimmer, then, if he’s feeling as though he has spent much of the last month figuratively extinguishing fires.

“I think it’s been eight years,” Zimmer said, flashing a smile that hinted of weariness and promising his memoir would one day be a must-read. “You know what? It’s like that at probably every place. Everybody has their trials and tribulations, I guess.”

No matter how much it might appear the Vikings have the market cornered on bad luck, they’re indeed never alone in this high-stakes, low-stability league. The Vikings, though, have not exactly had a smooth training camp after a promising recharge this offseason for a strong rebound from a 7-9 finish in the 2020 schedule of virus disruptions and empty stadiums.

Popular offensive line coach Rick Dennison took an advisor role to remain with the organization, his refusal to be vaccinated for COVID-19 prohibiting him from in-person interaction with players.

The most prominent unvaccinated Vikings employee, quarterback Kirk Cousins, had to sit out five days of practice per NFL protocols after being deemed a close contact of backup Kellen Mond after the rookie tested positive.

Several other vital players also remained against getting the vaccine, putting them under a stricter set of protocols that make them more at risk to miss a game. Their stance also subjected them to the bewilderment and irritation of Zimmer, who lamented his team’s low vaccination rate compared to the rest of the league.

First-round draft pick Christian Darrisaw, the left tackle the Vikings targeted to replace their steadiest blocker, salary cap casualty Riley Reiff, needed a second surgery on his midsection after struggling to fully heal from a groin injury he had in college at Virginia Tech.

The offense managed only four field goals in the first 10 quarters of exhibition games. Then up-and-coming tight end Irv Smith Jr. injured his knee, needing meniscus repair surgery that will likely sideline him for 2021.

“There will always be curveballs thrown at us, and you still have to find a way to deliver and produce, so you’re always looking to find that way,” Cousins said. “If anything, you kind of expect change to happen so you’re not caught off guard when it does, but a big part of lasting in this league and having success consistently is finding a way to be resilient and still produce no matter what may change in your environment.”

Zimmer’s contract was extended last summer through 2023, but the pressure is on the 65-year-old with only two postseason wins over his first seven years. General manager Rick Spielman, who was promoted to his post in 2012, is under the same scrutiny. Cousins, carrying a $31 million salary cap hit that’s the second-highest in the league, has a 51-51-2 career regular season record as a starter.

The Vikings spent big in free agency on the suddenly vulnerable defense, bringing in defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and cornerback Patrick Peterson among others and bringing back cornerback Mackensie Alexander and defensive end Everson Griffen.

There’s a last-chance vibe around the Vikings these days, four years removed from their appearance in the NFC championship game. Perhaps these late-summer bumps in the road will be irrelevant by winter, or maybe they’re harbingers of more disappointment and major change.

“We added a lot of talent, a lot of smart guys. We’ve all mixed in pretty well,” said safety Harrison Smith, the longest-tenured player. “I’m excited about the group we have and what we can do.”

FRONT MEN

The Vikings have added Tomlinson, Michael Pierce and Sheldon Richardson to the interior of their defensive line, accomplished newcomers to cover two spots that linebacker Eric Kendricks playfully described as a trio of “meaty boys.” Stopping the run was a major problem in 2020.

SACK HUNTING

Just as energizing has been the healthy return of defensive end Danielle Hunter, who missed last season with a neck injury but will be in a contract year as one of the league’s premier pass rushers. Griffen was brought in for depth, with D.J. Wonnum emerging as the starter at the opposite spot.

SPECIAL HELP

The Vikings have a new kicker in Greg Joseph, part of a continued revamp of the special teams units that deteriorated into the league’s worst last season. The kickoff and punt returner roles have needed a boost as badly as any, and rookie Ihmir Smith-Marsette will get the first crack.

ON THE LINE

For five years and counting, the offensive line has been the team’s biggest question mark. Darrisaw will be behind veteran Rashod Hill on the depth chart for now. The new starter is at right guard, with Oli Udoh replacing Dakota Dozier.

THE ELITE

For all the issues that might have popped up for the Vikings this summer and all the problems that might still be unsolved, they still boast two of the NFL’s best players in running back Dalvin Cook and wide receiver Justin Jefferson. When Jefferson missed a couple of weeks of practice as a precaution with a minor shoulder injury, Cousins sure noticed.

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” Cousins said to Jefferson recently. “When you showed back up and kept making plays, it’s like, ‘This guy is pretty good.’”

 

this really HURTS cause I I expecting you to have a big year

 

Man WTH the Green Bay Packers it just seems like a powder keg waiting to go off.....as long as there winning games cool and dominating but as soon as they start losing big time it's gonna get UGLY REAL FAST!!!!! tick tick tick

 

Vikings first-round pick Christian Darrisaw has been off the field in recent weeks because of a core muscle injury, but the offensive tackle will start working his way toward his regular season debut this week.

Head coach Mike Zimmer said at a Monday press conference that Darrisaw is set to do individual work at Wednesday’s practice. Darrisaw had surgery on August 12 to address the issue and word at the time was that the Vikings hoped he’d be back in time for the opener against the Bengals.

PFT

 

the core muscle is a soft tissue injury and it takes some time to recover, would he really be ready to play? I just hope he's not injury prone

 

Vikings right tackle Brian O'Neill has secured his future in Minnesota.

O’Neill, who was heading into the final season of his rookie contract, has signed a new deal, the team announced. There’s no immediate word on the terms of the contract.

The Vikings’ second-round draft pick in 2018, O’Neill started all 16 games last year.

At 25 years old, O’Neill should just be entering the prime of his career, and now the Vikings have ensured that he’ll spend his prime years in Minnesota.

PFT
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The Vikings are the youngest offense in the entire NFL.

UPDATE: The deal is for five years, $92.5 million

 

Mike Zimmer: Vikings are “top-heavy with finances,” depth is a concern



At a time of year when some NFL head coaches are outwardly optimistic about the upcoming season, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer admitted some concern today.

Zimmer acknowledged that the Vikings have a lot of salary cap space tied up at the top of the roster, and said that makes it hard for the team to have a lot of depth.

“It’s concerning,” Zimmer said, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN. “I feel really good about the top guys, and then some of these young guys got to come on. But when you’re kind of top-heavy with finances, that’s what you’ve got to do. Hopefully we’ll stay healthy, and try to get these younger guys better.”

Although Zimmer didn’t single out Kirk Cousins by name, the reality is Cousins is the reason the Vikings are “top-heavy with finances.” Cousins’ cap hit this season is $31 million, the second-highest of any player in the NFL behind only Russell Wilson. Other than Cousins, the Vikings aren’t particularly top-heavy.

But Cousins’ contract is the one the Vikings have saddled themselves with, and they’re either going to win or lose with Cousins this year. Zimmer may be laying the groundwork for a ready-made excuse if they lose more than they win.

PFT

 

ok you got PAID big bucks now just keep playing top level football

 

after this year they got to let him go the Vikings can't afford him

 

Linebacker Anthony Barr‘s chances of being in the Vikings lineup for their Week One game against the Bengals are looking cloudy at best on Thursday.

Barr dealt with a knee injury for most of the summer, but he was able to practice in limited fashion on Wednesday. He was not able to follow that up with another session on Thursday and head coach Mike Zimmer said that the team will make a call about his status after seeing how things go on Friday.