Vikings Expected To Exercise Two Of Three 2017 Options
While most NFL teams only have one fifth-year option decision to make in the next couple weeks, assuming they haven’t already made that decision, the Vikings will have calls to make on three separate players. Thanks to a pair of trades, the Vikes had a trio of first-round picks in the 2013 draft, meaning defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, cornerback Xavier Rhodes, and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson are all eligible to have 2017 options exercised.
- Patterson’s option for 2017 will be worth $7.915MM, making it more expensive than Floyd’s ($6.757MM) and nearly as pricey as Rhodes’ ($8.026MM). As such, given the wideout’s limited on-field impact, it would be a surprise if the Vikings pick it up, writes Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. However, Tomasson notes that Floyd’s and Rhodes’ options are near-locks to be exercised.
Vikings Interested In Bowling Green WR Roger Lewis
- Bowling Green receiver Roger Lewis has visited with or worked out for the Bengals, Cowboys, Patriots, Seahawks, Vikings and Chargers, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN. Lewis is a potential third- or fourth-round pick, notes Caplan.
Vikings Met With Ryan Smith
- Cornerback Ryan Smith has taken visits with the Raiders, Dolphins, and Vikings, the North Carolina Central product tells Alex Marvez on SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link).
Zach Line Signs Tender
- The Vikings announced that fullback Zach Line has signed his RFA tender. Line tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he always knew he’d re-sign with Minnesota, he just hadn’t been in the area to physically sign the deal.
Greenway Says 2016 Will Be His Last Season; Joseph Nearing Turf Toe Recovery; Vikes Don't Expect Peterson For Workouts
- This season will almost certainly be Chad Greenway‘s Vikings farewell tour, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. The 33-year-old outside linebacker signed a one-year, $2.75MM deal (with $750K guaranteed) to remain in Minnesota for an 11th season recently. “I have sort of that direction that, yeah, I want to walk away a Minnesota Viking in sort of on my own terms,” Greenway told media Sunday, including Tomasson. “Few NFL players get to do that and have the opportunity to do that. This organization and my career has allowed me to do that and kind of be in the situation.” Greenway has started 140 regular-season and playoff games with the Vikings since being taken by the team in Round 1 of the 2006 draft. He remains the favorite to start alongside Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks this season.
- Linval Joseph has nearly recovered fully from the turf toe that shelved the emerging defensive tackle late last season, Ben Goessling of ESPN.com tweets. Pro Football Focus’ best interior defender not named Aaron Donald or J.J. Watt, Joseph missed four Vikings games with the malady last season.
- The Vikings do not expect Adrian Peterson to attend the start of voluntary portion of their offseason workouts Monday, Tomasson reports. Peterson has been training near his home in Houston and rarely shows for the start of these gatherings.
Auburn OT Shon Coleman Visited Vikings
- In addition to the previously reported Lions, Auburn offensive tackle Shon Coleman has visited the Buccaneers, Panthers, Patriots, Titans and Vikings, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
Stephen Weatherly Visited Vikings
- Vanderbilt linebacker Stephen Weatherly has worked out for the Panthers, Patriots, Colts, and Cardinals, and has visited the Panthers, Broncos, Saints, Raiders, Chiefs, and Vikings. Meanwhile, Maryland linebacker Yannick Ngakoue worked out for the Texans, Cowboys, Saints, Colts, Titans, Ravens, Dolphins, and Patriots, in addition to making several previously-reported visits. Pauline believes both players may come off the board earlier than expected.
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Jared Allen To Retire As Viking
APRIL 14: Allen has signed a one-day contract with the Vikings to officially retire as a member of the team.
FEBRUARY 18: Veteran defensive end Jared Allen, who finished the 2015 season with the Panthers, has decided to call it a career. Allen announced his retirement today in a video published to his Twitter account.
“I just want to say thank you for an amazing 12-year career,” Allen said, joking about riding off into the sunset before literally “riding off” on horseback. The 33-year-old also issued a formal statement on his retirement (TwitLonger link via Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports), which read, in part:
“I want to take this time to thank my family, friends fans, and teammates who have given their continued support throughout my 12 year career. It’s been a great ride for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the memories. It is with a great deal of thought and consideration, that I have decided that I will not return to football next year.”
Since entering the NFL as a fourth-round pick in 2004, Allen has been one of the NFL’s most dominant pass rushers, leading the league in sacks on multiple occasions and earning four first-team All-Pro nods. In 187 career regular-season games, Allen racked up 136 sacks, 32 forced fumbles, 19 fumble recoveries, and even six interceptions.
Allen didn’t exactly enjoy a storybook ending to his NFL career, but this year’s Super Bowl represented the first time that the veteran defensive end got a chance to play for a championship — he fought through a broken foot in order to take the field for Super Bowl 50.
Although he hadn’t a played in a Super Bowl until this year, Allen appeared in playoff games during his time in Kansas City and Minnesota. His best individual seasons came in 2007 – when he totaled 15.5 sacks in his final year with the Chiefs – and in 2011, when he nearly broke Michael Strahan‘s single-season record by piling up 22 sacks. Having spent the brunt of his 12-year NFL career with the Chiefs and Vikings, Allen signed with the Bears as a free agent in 2014, then finished his career in Carolina, after being traded to the Panthers during the 2015 season.
Because they acquired him in a trade, the Panthers won’t carry any dead money on their salary cap this year for Allen. The club also won’t be on the hook for his $8.5MM base salary.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Vikings Waive Plummer, Singleton
- The Vikings announced (on Twitter) that they have waived linebackers Terrance Plummer and Alex Singleton.
Chad Greenway Contract Details
- The Vikings‘ new one-year deal with linebacker Chad Greenway is worth $2.75MM, with $750K in guaranteed money, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Ben Goessling of ESPN.com adds (via Twitter) that the guarantee comes in the form of a $400K roster bonus and a $350K guarantee on Greenway’s $2.3MM base salary.