Minnesota Vikings News and Links, 3/11

Happy (NFL) New Year, everybody! In about eight hours, the money will be flying fast and furious as players across the National Football League can officially start signing contracts with new teams. We know there are going to be plenty of new faces coming to Minnesota, and plenty of familiar faces leaving. We'll do our best to track all the info for you right here.

Since the last time we brought you an Open Thread. . .

-The Minnesota Vikings' last pre-free agency signing appears to be that of special teams ace Larry Dean.

-Ted says that the Vikings are already winners in free agency. I may be biased, but I think he's right.

-Defensive tackle Kevin Williams has been told that Rick Spielman would like him back in purple.

-The rumors are swirling that defensive end Jared Allen is heading to Denver once free agency gets underway today.

From some other sites around the internet. . .

-ESPN's Ben Goessling takes a look back at the Josh Freeman "era" and what his next move might be.

-ESPN 1500's Phil Mackey ranks the Vikings' "retread" quarterbacks since 1993. It's as ugly as it sounds.

-A number of Vikings have said that Missouri linebacker Michael Sam would be welcomed in the Vikings' locker room if the team were to draft him.

-Fran Tarkenton really likes Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.

The rules of the Open Thread are the same as they've ever been, ladies and gentlemen. . .

-No politics
-No religion
-Don't feed the trolls
-Keep the language relatively clean
-Keep the GIFs work-safe

Today's musical selection is a brief description of how NFL fans are going to be feeling at 3 PM Central time today.

With that, the beer light is on and the bar is open for this NFL Free Agency Day, folks! Enjoy the rest of your day, and keep it tuned right here for any Vikings-related happenings.