Sunday Free Agency/Start Of Training Camp Open Thread

I know that Ted said yesterday was going to be the last of the open threads, but since there could still be some movement on the free agent front today, and today is the official start of Training Camp in Mankato, I'll throw another one out here, too.

One of the things that prompted this is the word that the New York Jets are going to sign wide receiver Plaxico Burress to a contract. This is big because they were also rumored to have been in the race for wide receiver James Jones, along with the Packers and your Minnesota Vikings. Now that they've signed Burress, it's quite possible that the price tag for Jones. . .as well as for Braylon Edwards, if the Vikings would still be inclined to look that direction. . .might end up dropping because of this.

Jones was third on the Packers last season in terms of receptions with 50 (only one less than the person ahead of him) and second on the team in receiving yardage with 679. As I mentioned, with the Jets having signed Plaxico, it appears that the race to acquire his services might be between Minnesota and Green Bay, and I'm not really sure how much interest the Packers have even shown in keeping him around. . .but, if he doesn't get any action from there, there's a chance that he could be coming to Minnesota for a discount.

In addition, today is the day that players officially report to Training Camp in Mankato. As of now, the Vikings have only completed the rookie contracts for three of their ten draft picks. . .tight end Kyle Rudolph, wide receiver Stephen Burton, and defensive end D'Aundrae Reed. . .but I'm sure that the rest of the contracts will start falling into line here pretty soon. Quarterback Christian Ponder is one of ten first-round picks that have not yet signed. J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans, who was taken with the selection right before Ponder, has not yet signed either, but Detroit Lions' defensive tackle Nick Fairley, the thirteenth pick, got a four-year deal worth $9,889,900, so one would expect Ponder's deal to be just slightly higher than that.

To recap what has taken place in Minnesota over the past few days:

• The Vikings said goodbye to some folks, including quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, wide receiver Sidney Rice, safety Madieu Williams, and defensive end Ray Edwards. Jackson and Rice went to Seattle, and Edwards wound up with Atlanta. Williams, on the other hand, might be looking for a job for a while. . .but certainly not because he's a bad person.
• The Beloved Purple also said hello to a few new faces, most notably quarterback Donovan McNabb, who they acquired for the bargain-basement price of two sixth-round draft choices (one of which is a conditional choice) from the Washington Redskins. They also brought in former Saints' defensive tackle Remi Ayodele, and wide receiver Michael Jenkins, late of the Atlanta Falcons, whom you can read about here.
• Word on the Twitter is that defensive tackle Fred Evans, who had been let go by the team after last season, has re-signed with the team at a discounted price.

That's it for now, ladies and gentlemen. . .discuss all of the news you see out there today right here, and if anything big happens with our favorite team, we'll be on it as soon as it breaks.