Breaking News

The Vikes have signed their first player in the free agency period, K Rhys Lloyd. Many people may say we have a kicker, Ryan Longwell. Lloyd is expected to be used as the kick off man. Lloyd and the VIkes agreed on a 2 year contract. This would be 1st time that the Vikes would have a kickoff specialist in the Chilly era.In Lloyds' career, he has averaged 67 yards per kickoff 53 touchbacks on 171 total kickoffs. This is not that bad for a kicker.He will keeps the pressure off the whole unit and defense with his booming kicks. Do you know what is sad, we Vike fan are thrilled with a signing of a kicker.

According to the Star Tribune: Vikings appear to have a genuine interest in running back LaDainian Tomlinson. He would be a possible replacement for Chester Taylor, who left the Vikings after four seasons to sign with Chicago. He would be a great addition to the Vikes, he has had his best years behind him and it looks like he will be a backup from now on in the NFL.He would be a good replacement for CT.

That is all from Cheddar Land
SKOL VIKES

Between Edwards and Taylor

With the NFL heading into free agency coming up in less that a month. The Minnesota Vikings will have some questions to answer on who they will keep and let go to "test" the market. The Vikes need to decide either Ray Edwards or Chester Taylor.  These are the top tier free agents the Vikes will need to play to keep.

Why Would the Vikes Keep Chester Taylor?
Chester Taylor(CT) is a good chance of pace type of a running back.CT was being relied more upon later in the season especially after the fumbling troubles that Peterson was having late in the season.CT is a good screen receiver out of the backfield and a good third down back. He adds a different dimension to the offense when he on the field.
 For a running back, he is getting up there in age turning 31 years old this season. With Taylor it is different.  Taylor has been a back up his entire career except the 2006 season. In 2006, CT was the feature back at Minnesota and went over 1200 yards, then after AD was drafted by the Vikes and the rest is history.CT has not endured the pounding that a every down running back goes through on each play from the defense. I think that their is PLENTY of fuel still left in CT's tank, so it is going to be interesting to see what colors that he will be wearing next season.

Why Would the Vikes Keep Ray Edwards?
Ray Edwards has been the ignored man on Vikes front defensive line.What would you expect from a line that has Jared Allen, Kevin and Pat Williams? Each season Ray Edwards has been improving, this season he had 51 tackles and 8.5 sacks. With him not getting the attention that Allen get opens him up and that is why he had a game like he had against Dallas, five tackles (all for loss), 6 QB hits,three sacks and a forced fumble.A quick stat he forced a fumble in each of the playoff games this season.
 Edwards is 25 years old and entering his 4th Pro season. With Edwards on the market, the Vikes will have to move quick. There are many teams out there looking for a good game disrupted like Edwards. I highly expect Edwards to draw attention from many teams, so the Vikes will need to more fast.

In my opinion, I feel that Vikes should really think about signing Edwards to a lengthy contract as their left end. With the way his is progressing, with the double teams the other three on the line receives, he could have a monster year next season. This would be a great choice if they have to choose between Edwards and Taylor.

Vikes Resign Evans

The Vikings signed restricted free agent backup Defensive Tackle Fred Evans today. He signed a 1 year deal worth roughly $1.5 million. He will be an asset with the possible Williams Wall suspension decision coming up this coming summer.
The former Texas State player was drafted by the Dolphins in the 7th round of the 2006 draft and was active for just one game his rookie year. He got into legal problems, but the Vikes took a gamble with him. He is a good backup in both DT positions.

Who is Karl Paymah

The Vikes have done it. They have signed their first player that was not a Vikes last season. His name is Karl Paymah...WHO?

Paymah is expected to add some depth to the secondary for the Vikes this season. He is expected to compete with Benny Sapp for the nickelback position. He signed a one-year, $1.55 million contract with the Vikings on Saturday.

Every Viking fan knows that the defense has been struggling with pass coverage the past few seasons. Maybe Paymah can help out the Beloved Purple a bit this season to keep team honest in game attacks on the Viking defense.

Here are some quick things about him:

• A fourth-year cornerback who has posted a team-high 31 special-teams tackles in a Denver uniform since his rookie season in 2005.
• Placed third on the Broncos in 2007 with two interceptions, the first of his career, while totaling a career-high six pass breakups and a personal-best 15 tackles in 15 games (three starts).
• Saw his first regular action on defense as a professional in 2006, totaling 14 tackles and two pass breakups for the Broncos.
• Led Denver with seven tackles on punt coverage in 2006 and ranked second on the club with 12 overall stops on special teams for the season.
• Ranked second on the Broncos with 11 special-teams tackles as a rookie in 2005, registering at least a share of the special-teams tackles lead in five games.
• Earned honorable mention All-Pacific-10 Conference recognition during his senior season at Washington State University, where he started the final 24 games of his collegiate career.
• Selected by the Broncos in the third round (76th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft.

Vikes Re-sign

Over the past couple of day, the Vikings have resigned two players from the 2008 team. Defensive Back Benny Sapp was resigned for a one year contract and reports say it is around 620,000 range. Sapp saw most of his playing time at the Nickel back position when Charles Gordon was injured.

The Vikes re-signed linebacker/special teams standout, Heath Farwell. Farwell will be the number one backup linebacker. He is the man on the special teams unit after being the captain on the unit 2006 and 2007.In 2008, the Vikes lost Farwell for the season with a torn ACL. Last season the special teams had no captian. The unit missed Farwell last season.extrememly, considering they were one of the worst in the league on kick coverage. Farwell had signed a three-year, $7.75 million contract that calls for $3.25 million in guarantees.

Vikes Lose Birk

With the loss of Birk, the Vikes will NEED to pick up a lineman in either the rest of Free Agency or the NFL Draft. It is going to be interesting to see how Chilly tries to plug in this hole now. Matt Birk had a visit with the Ravens yesterday. It looks like he was impressed with everything they had to offer. He then had to decide if he was going to stay with the Vikes or go to the Ravens,who were in the AFC Championship this past season. The St. Paul native cut with the only team he has played for. He agreed and signed with the Ravens, three years, $12 million, $6 million guaranteed.
Right now, the Vikes have John Sullivan or Ryan Cook at center. John Sullivan has not started a regular season game in the NFL. Ryan Cook many fans including myself wish that he would not be starting. Now with this blow to Vikes, now what are they going to do.

Free Agency Update

Not holding my breath for this situation to happen. If the Vikes were to get him HOLY SHIT!!!!!!

Other News

Heath Farwell will be visiting with the Patriots as well as another unnamed club before returning to Minnesota. He is our special teams, it was shown last year. The Vikes next priority to get a hard worker like this to stay with the club.

TJ Goes Back to West Coast

With the Vikes one of the three teams on the verge of having the top free agent receiver. It was not meant to be I guess. T. J. Houshmandzadeh has agreed to be a Seattle Seahawk for the next 5 years and will be getting paid over $40 million with $15 being guaranteed. Considering that he lives in California the Seahawks are a team that is close to home.

He spent most Saturday and Sunday getting catered to by the Vikings. Houshmandzadeh was flown to Minnesota on a private jet owned by Vikings owner Zygi Wilf. He then was taken to Manny’s Steakhouse and dined with Vikings coaches and executives. Houshmandzadeh spent five-plus hours at Winter Park on Sunday and at one point team officials seemed confident they would get him.

It would have been nice to late TJ, but Vikes did not have luck on their side this time.

Sage Trade is Offical

Sage Rosenfels is now a Viking officially. Rosenfels is now with a team that he can compete for a starting job in the NFL. It will be interesting to see him and T-Jack going at it every week during preseason. Rosenfels addressed the media Friday after signing what amounts to a three-year, $9 million contract that calls for $5 million in guarantees. He is also glad to to have the chance to start with a team with the amount of talent that the Vikes have.

Other Viking News

The Vikings have re-signed TE Jimmy Kleinsasser. Kleinsasser reportedly got a deal worth $9 million over the next three years. He has played for the Vikes his whole career, it would be nice to end it with them as well.

The Vikings released veteran Gus Frerotte to make room for Rosenfels. Coach Chilly the Vikes may bring up to 4 QBs to camp this season.