Some are writing that the Vikings are to old.  They need a youth movement. Most base this on the philosophy that a players is to old after the age of thirty to play well.  The real fact is that RBs go downhill fast after age thirty. The stats are not so true for other positions.  But considering that the average career in the NFL is over by age 271/2 I guess anything over 30 is considered really old.

Anyway here is the roster and ages for the 2011 Vikings, considering a standard 25% turnover, like every other team in the NFL. It further contemplates the Vikings signing their own free agents. It is standard by the way for most teams to resign their own developed free agents. This is simply the first order of business for the new year.  I hope the Vikings do well in this regard. They have never done a bad job in the past in this regard.

But first jump with me.

WR: Rice 24, Camarillo 28, Jaymar Johnson 26, Freddie Brown 24, Percy Harvin 22, Rookie 22.

QBs: Webb 24, Veteran (30), Rookie 22

TEs: Shiancoe 30,The Saucer 33, Rookie 22

O-Line:  Herrera 30, Hutchinson 33, Mckinney 31, Loadholt 24, DeGeare 23, Cooper 24, Cook 27, Pat Brown 24

RBs:  Peterson 25, Gerhart 23, Booker 26

D-Line: Kevin Williams 30, Guion 23, Evans 27, Rookie 22, E.Griffen 23, J. Allen, 28, Ray Edwards 26,  Robinson 27

CBs:  Winfield 33, Griffen 28, Cook 23, Allen 23, Rookie 22

LBs: Brinkley 25, Farwell 29, Onatolu 28, Greenway 27, Henderson 30, Henderson 24,Rookie 22

Safeties: Abdullah 25, Frampton 26, Sanford 25, Johnson 25, Rookie 22.

Kickers, punters, and long snappers don't count here since they are not really football players. ( Oh give me a break).

There you have it. The departure of Farve, Pat Williams, and Leber significantly lower the age of the Vikings.

Is the O-Line older?  Yes. Do you want an experienced O-Line? Yes.  Now this roster doesn't take into account those with injuries from which they might not heal ( Herrera and Hutch).  It doesn't take into account those that might not play to Leslie Frasiers standards ( insert whatever name you wish).  It just takes todays roster and ages and shows where we are at and what draft/ FA aquisitions need to help the team.

But age isn't the issue.  Talent might be.  Injuries might be.  But age is not.

BTW these are ages as listed today.  I suspect most will have a birthday by next season.