Minnesota Vikings Place Restricted Tenders On Potential Free Agents
by Christopher Gates on Mar 2, 2011 7:46 PM CST
in Minnesota Vikings
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PrintWhile we don't know whether or not there's going to be a Collective Bargaining Agreement any time soon, or what that CBA will contain, the Minnesota Vikings have placed restricted free agent tenders on some of their players with five years of experience or less.
The highest tenders went to wide receiver Sidney Rice and defensive end Ray Edwards, who were both tendered at the first-round level, as opposed to a first and a third, which is what I had anticipated them being at. They also placed second-round tenders on defensive end Brian Robison, safety Husain Abdullah, and offensive tackle Ryan Cook.
The Vikings also tendered linebacker Erin Henderson and safety Eric Frampton at the "right of first refusal" level, according to Tom Pelissero.
Edwards and Cook are five year players that will likely be unrestricted when the new CBA is signed. Rice, Robison, and Frampton are four-year players that may or may not be restricted. Abdullah and Henderson are three-year players that are likely going to end up being restricted regardless.
The Vikings also have four other five-year players that may or may not receive tender offers. They are quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (not bloody likely), wide receiver Hank Baskett (see Tarvaris Jackson), defensive tackle Fred Evans (who could possibly receive an offer), and fullback Naufahu Tahi (which would surprise me).
Like I said, these offers may or may not mean anything, but it's good to know that the Vikings are at least making an effort to keep some of these folks around.
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I think it is interesting
This is what I posted in the Chad Greenway Signs Tender thread …
Many teams are doing it right now to try and protect themselves from losing key free agents. But it is really a bad deal for these players involved. Like the Vikings placing a first round tender on Edwards again. Come on man. You think he will be happy with that or will even play for that amount? I wouldn’t. I would hold out until the 10th week and then show up.
First the owners decided not to reward these players with new deals because of the uncapped year. There were some RFA players who got new deals but the majority did not. That was obviously collusion but the signing of a few may let the owners get by. So now the owners are probably trying to extend the ability to place a RFA tag on the players who became free agents in the uncapped year in this new deal as part of the new CBA. And the players may go for it if they get something else in return. That would mean a guy like Edwards is getting screwed again by the CBA.
The young man did what any responsible person would do and fulfilled his original contract. He signed on the dotted line for 4 years and he performed for the entire four years. He did not complain about his deal once during that time even when in 2009, Jayme Mitchell was making more than him as his backup. He finally spoke up when he saw that the Vikings were taking advantage of the uncapped year and the fact that they could place a RFA tender on him. He saw that they had broken from their normal pattern of rewarding young key players with new contracts before their current contract expired. They did it for Griffen & EJ. Now they change all of a sudden. Why is that? Because they could claim they had no idea about the future of the CBA yet were willing to throw extra money at Favre and 1.5 mil and a 3rd round draft pick at Moss.
I hope that these tenders mean nothing once the new CBA is agreed upon. Edwards deserves a new deal and one that pays him very well. Maybe not top DE money but pretty close and at least above average.
I think that the new CBA may end up allowing the owners to place RFA tags on players who completed 4 years of service in 2010 like Rice but not on players who completed 5 years of service. It really is not fair to a guy like Edwards. He was slapped with this RFA tender once before and should not have to suffer through it again. Of course there will be posts about "suffering" while getting paid more than the average person, etc. But those are ill informed and really show a lack of understanding about the market in which Ray is working. He is underpaid in his field.
I will say that this will not be received very well by Ray and it certainly will not help the Vikings to try and sign him to a new deal in the future.
do we know for sure that Ray Ray was never offered a long term deal?
I know that Rice was offered a long term deal and he decided to test the market first. I’m just wondering if there’s room for that type of explaination for Ray Ray.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
I do not know if Ray was offered a long term deal or not
but usually it comes out from one of the two sides trying to gain favor or just to let fans know.
I personally believe that there were some discussions between his agent and the Vikings but that the sides were too far apart discussing ballpark figures to even bother with a formal offer.
I would have to believe that his agent would have at least presented a formal proposal on an extended contract for Ray. I would want my agent to at least do this for me.
The bottom line is the Vikings are on the verge of losing Ray for nothing in return besides a compensatory pick possibly. And they have not created an environment where the players will feel like the Vikings will take care of their own.
and perhaps
what ever the Vikings offered to Rice and Ray is what they (FO) felt they (Rice and Ray) are worth.
I just wish the numbers were public so we could make a fair opinion of this situation. I mean if the Vikes offered Rice a 5 year 50 million dollar deal with 30 guarunteed and he still turned it down, well that would speak to his and Drew’s greed or lack of desire to play in Minnesota.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
I don't think they offered Rice that much
pretty close though but the guaranteed amount would be close to 18 mil I think.
It could be that he may not want to get stuck in MInnesota on a rebuilding team with no QB at this time.
The bottom line is that we are having this conversation now when we shouldn’t.
I feel confident that they could have signed either one prior to 2009 and they both would have been happy. They managed to sign Griffen & EJ. So I do not think signing the other two would have been difficult. Maybe Rice because of Rosenhaus but the Vikings have other players who are clients of his so I really do not think dealing with him is an issue.
I think the players are pissed that they get treated differently than their fellow teammates. And they have every right to be.
but still it's all speculation on our part
As far as Rice goes, he was hurt in his first two years, so I can understand why he wasn’t a priority to get signed to a long term deal prior to ‘09. I mean now hindsight is 20/20, but at the time I can understand. Even after 2009 he was hurt again, this time it was a career threatening injury. The Wilf’s are business men and they go about this as a business.
It sucks for us fans, because there is so much uncertainty right now. And we all know how much of an asset Rice is to this team when he’s healthy.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
Well we will just have to agree to disagree on this one
There is no way that Greenway should not have been given a new deal already. He got hurt his first year and produced very well since then. And I dare say if they had given him a new deal prior to the 2010 season it may have been cheaper than the 10 mil plus that he is going to get via the franchise tag.
Edwards should have definitely been given a new deal and I think it would have been cheaper to extend him earlier rather than later. As it stands now, he probably will be moving on. I doubt that the RFA tenders will hold up in the new CBA especially on players with 5 years of service completed. Maybe the guys with 4 years of service.
What you say about Rice is true but I will again say that giving him an extension earlier would have been cheaper most likely.
youre probably right about saving money if the contracts were done earlier
I will admit that on the surface it does appear as though the FO missed the boat with these guys.
But until I know for sure what was offered to them or until I know that nothing was offered to them, I will reserve my judgement.
I don’t think we really know for sure just how much the pending lock-out has affected the desire to negotiate contracts on both sides. And this labor situation has been 2-3 years in the making; just look at the 4 billion that the owners had been stashing away.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
I've always wondered
why the Vikings haven’t seen enough value in Ray Edwards to really make an effort to keep him on board. Mark’s absolutely right in regards to EJ Henderson- he was locked on board, why not Ray Edwards? And after ticking him off once with a RFA tender, this is the nail in the coffin I’m sure for Ray-Ray’s career as a Viking.
It could be that Edwards was simply not interested in returning this year for the Vikings. If that’s the case, well, might as well do this and hope for at least a compensatory pick- it’s better than nothing. But even if that’s the case, I would still point my finger at the FO for creating the situation.
We’ve already lost Phat Pat- losing another starter at D-line hurts both depth and consistency at a position that’s normally been a strength for our team, even in dark days. And while Ray Edwards was no Jared Allen, I always felt he kept up his end of the bargain- he played well enough and was never a quitter on the field or a troublemaker off of it, even after last offseason’s drama.
Now, regarding Rice- I have always referenced his situation as a gamble. We just don’t know for sure what we’ve got in him. Chad Greenway proved himself for several years after being injured. Rice hasn’t. For all we know, Rice was really just riding Favre’s coat tails in a magical season. And again- maybe he’s really as awesome as many of us here want to believe he is. But we just don’t know. In this situation, I side with the Viking FO- last offseason, they wanted some proof that one great season after two poor to mediocre ones wasn’t just a fluke. And I don’t think it would have been any cheaper to sign him then compared to now- heck, in fact, it probably would have been more expensive (which might be why he hid his injury, hoping to get the contract extension then and there before the Vikings got scared by that situation).
Hail the Minnesota Vikings, ye mortals.
All other NFL fans are heretics.
All I know is the team broke from their usual pattern
And that is what is most important to other players. If you get a raise after 3 years then I would expect to get a raise too. Sure it does not happen like that exactly and there may have been offers and counter offers (to Ray for example) where the two sides were just too far apart. But if that is the case it gives more credence to what I was saying in last year’s draft and that was to trade Edwards then for a pick.
I think that the Vikings may have been able to finagle Cincinnati’s 2nd round pick for Edwards last year. Imagine if they had done that? They may not have had to give up the two picks to move up to get Toby. They may have been able to give up less to move up for Toby and still have the 2nd and 3rd round picks.
Rice will get paid plenty and his injury was known about by the team. He said after the New Orleans NFCCG game he had an MRI. Who do you believe paid for this MRI? It would be very surprising to find out that the FO had no clue their star WR had an MRI right after that game.
Here is what Rice wrote himself …
Rice’s words.
I’m in physical therapy getting my hip iced up right now. I can tell you that physical therapy is not fun.
I injured my hip during the Saints game and it was pretty bad afterwards. I got an MRI right after the game and the doctors said at that point that I had time and it could heal on its own. So I just tried to take it easy from there. No one wants to have surgery if it can be avoided, especially if the injury has a chance to heal on its own.
I gave it some time and it started getting better over the next couple of months. Mini-camp came around and I tweaked it during practice. I wasn’t feeling good after that so I went and got another MRI out in Colorado with Dr. Philippon. He looked at the results and basically said it looked the same as after the MRI I had after the Saints game. He said I could have the surgery or I could continue rehabbing and see how it felt and it could still heal on its own.
So once again, no one wants to have surgery, so that’s the route I took. He said it could be taken care of after season, that I could play with it this season and then get it fixed in the off-season, so that’s what we were hoping for.
I went to training camp not at 100 percent but I started feeling better. I was running, doing some cutting drills, things like that. Last week I was a little sore after the cutting drills, but the pain was something I thought I could tolerate.
Like a week and a half ago I went back to see the doctor for another MRI and he said it showed significant changes. It was something he thought would be a serious problem if I didn’t get it taken care of right then, a problem that could shorten my career. I was feeling better, I had my full range of motion back and felt like I was ready to go, but the doctor compared the last two MRIs and said I should get it taken care of right now.
I talked to a couple of my teammates about it and our trainers and felt like it was the right move to make because I would still have an opportunity to finish the season strong and help the Vikings make a push for the Super Bowl.
Once the doc got in there and checked everything out, he said having the surgery was the best move I could have made, so I don’t regret it now. He said it could have been much worse if I would have tried to play on it during the season. He said it could have been my last year of playing football, so I know I made the right decision.
The surgery was successful. I was surprised when I woke up from the surgery and they told me I would be getting on the exercise bike that same day. I was still out of it from the anesthesia, so I figured they were mistaken. But at 7 o’clock that night they got me out of bed and put me on one of those light fitness bikes and had me peddling for about 20 minutes.
It’s only been a couple of days but I’m feeling better and better with less pain. I have to take it slow, I don’t want to rush it, but everything should be fine and I should be back to 100 percent if I follow my rehab plan, which I will.
People are going to say what they want to say about my contract or whatever, I’m not really worried about that at this point. My main focus is getting back on the field and performing at a high level like I did last year and helping the Vikings win a Super Bowl. It’s not my concern what people say about my contract, whatever happens, happens. If the Vikings decide to give me an extension, that’s great. If not, life goes on. I’ll continue to work hard and do everything I can to be successful in what I’ve been doing my whole life, and that’s playing football.
When I get back it’s nice to know Brett will be out there. Everybody is happy to have Brett back, he’s a great leader, a great player and has a football mind. It’s always good to have a guy like that around and guys look to him as a team leader.
As for when I’ll be back, I’m not really sure but I’m aiming for being back on the field before midseason. I want to do as much rehab as I can as fast as I can without jeopardizing the injury or making it worse. Whatever the doctor says, I’m shooting for two weeks before that.
I want to thank the fans who have supported me throughout this ordeal. Just keep your heads up and know that I’m working hard. Dallas is still the destination
-——————————————————————————————————————————
If the Vikings did not know about his MRI then I do not know what is going on.
Dallas gave Miles Austin a 7 year 57 mil deal in September and Austin did not have a better start to his career than Sidney. Check their stats for the first four years. The bar has been set and I am sure that Rosenhaus is pointing to that deal in negotiations. I will say that if the Vikings would have signed him after the 2010 season it would have been cheaper than Austin’s deal.
The bottom line is the Vikings should not even be in this position
Thanks once again for digging that up
But it would still be nice to have both sides of the story.
In a perfect world, the vikes would have given him an extension during the bye week of the playoffs of the 09 season.
Hey Mark, do you happen to know how many extensions were signed league-wide over the last season? I’m just wondering if there was a trend that coincides with the CBA expiring…Perhaps if there is a trend it could explain why the team broke from its trend of rewarding its players…?
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
Is there any ramifications for
Offering a player the highest tender available instead of just a first rounder? If not then why doesn’t Rice get offered the 1 & 3 if we know he’s gonna test the market?
What you just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your entire rambling incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Mar 2, 2011 9:06 PM CST via mobile reply actions
the higher the tender, the more money they stand to make for that season
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
Oh ok. Thanks
What you just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your entire rambling incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Mar 2, 2011 10:55 PM CST up reply actions
The rest
Of the rest I say make an offer to Evans, let the rest find a job somewhere. There is word that the team spoke with the agents of Evans & Tahi during the combine, I just hope Tahi is let go. I am happy to say that Jackson looks like he will be finding a new home. So will Baskett & sadly he will be taking his wife with him.
L. A. Player
by L. A. Player on Mar 3, 2011 5:09 AM CST via mobile reply actions
think about it, guys...
i really don’t think Rice will be in purple for much longer. that goes double for Ray Ray. had we slapped 1st and 3rd tenders on them, no team would pay that and we’d eventually lose them as UFA’s this or next season. but applying the 1st rd tender…that could get a team or two to bite, and we get something good in return.
to be absolutely honest, and i know this won’t be a popular statement, Rice and Edwards are replaceable — i’d trade each of them for 1st rd picks 10 out of 10 times. i know it all depends on how the CBA shakes out, but if we operate under the same guidelines, we could be looking at a handful of first rounders in the near future. smart move by the FO — even if it does end up to mean nothing.
1st round picks are better?????
Really? You would rather put down similar money for unproven talent, interesting. Me, I’d much rather take the known than the unknown. We have needs, but with Rice and Ray gone we’ll have 2 more needs.
1st rd picks could be used on...
OT (a need); CB (a need); DT (a need); LB (a need)…
is there risk involved?? there always is. but i’d rather start young and fresh and get a jump start so we won’t end up in complete rebuilding mode two or three seasons down the road — b/c at that point, you’ll have a lot of unhappy star players (Percy, Jared, etc) who may pull the same stunt Rice is pulling now.
and Edwards has a bad attitude. always has. i will be happy to see him gone. Rice would be a disappointment, but he’s hardly “proven talent” — with Brett Favre, in arguably his best season, he was wonderful…but you can’t assume he’s going to be like that every season onward, especially after hip surgery which may or may not be associated with an arthritic condition, which may or may not be a long-term issue.
yeah, i’ll take the 1st rounders, please.
Without Rice: WR (a need).
I’m on Rice’s side on this one. I don’t think he’s pulling a stunt. He’s been trying to get a new deal and keeps getting the shaft because of the CBA. Can’t really blame him for trying to find his value.
Face facts, we are already in rebuilding mode.
don't get me wrong, i'd love to retain Rice...
…but until we have all the answers on his hip (which, at this time, is a stretch to say we do), it’s too risky to sign him long-term at the price tag he/Rosenhaus seem to be fishing for. if he can prove he can have another season like ‘09, then alright, he might be worth top 10 WR money. i just don’t want to see an ’07 Braylon Edwards situation in MN.
i agree you can’t blame him for trying to find his value, but he should certainly receive a lot of flack for not getting surgery when it was clear he wasn’t progressing as he should have (i.e. last June). in that regard, i’m not on his side with the smoke and mirrors he and Rosenhaus are putting out there. perhaps it’s more agent-driven, but that’s still no excuse.
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