Why is he a head case?!? Because he complained that the Steelers don't throw the ball? That's jsut staing the obvious, and the media hates that so they ripped on him. Word is he actually is a nice guy that got a bad wrap, really for no reason (his hair?); other than complaining about the offense.

As long as we get Darius, I don't care what else they do, I'll be very happy with the offseason.

All valid points Commish, but you know the local media here will rip the front office up-and-down for letting one "bad apple" go and bringing in another.

I'll give him a grace period and reserve judgement for later in the season. But for now, I would have rather had Moss to go along with the signings of PW, FF, and hopefully DD....all could still have been had even with Moss staying.

What will make the difference to me, perhaps is what they do with the #7 pick. If they sign PB and DD, then they only need to upgrade at either LB or possibly RB. Derrick Johnson or one of the Auburn RBs?

I agree Brian, I was just thinking today about how excited I was about the recent spending slurge but it could have happened with Moss still on the team. We could have recieved the same players and had the same money without the Moss trade (this is assuming that the Vikings had picked up a semi-talented LB in free agency to balance out NH). Plaxico Burress (Moss-Wannabe) wouldn't even have gotten a single raised brow let alone a visit if Moss was still here. I said it once and I will say it again, Red McCombs traded Randy Moss to smite Minnesota fans for not calling their congressmen to build a new stadium. He knew he was tied down to the HHH Dome lease and the L.A. thing will never happen so he traded the fan-favorite before he rides away in one of his evil used cars. That bastard!

I think the Buress signing at a below market price, which is what his stock is dropping to, is completely advisable. The guy is a talent and could really bolster the receiving corps.

Imagine Burleson, Buress and Mike Williams with M. Robinson as your number 4. That is pretty good.

Buress was playing with crap/or rookie QB's in a 3 yards and cloud of dust offense.

Cirs Carter was much worse that Buress in Philly and he turned out ok.

One year deals for a top free agent are unheard of. Besides, it doesn't matter because the contracts in the NFL are not guaranteed. All that matters is the guaranteed money i.e. signing bonus.

Buress would be a fine addition to this team and would no doubt be rejuvenated.

JL: If they grab PB they are not going to draft a WR. I don't see if happening. In that case, they are going to grab the best defensive player left on the board whether that is Johnson or Rolle or Pac-Man. Maybe a RB but even that's a stretch.

So your dream Big Four at WR ain't going to happen...log it so you can make fun of me later when it does happen ;)

Mark this. if Mike WIlliams is available at number seven the Vikes will let their time expire and select someone else around the 10-11 pick.

JK.

I think it is possible that the Vikes will try to trade down if they do sign Buress simply because the signing bonuses in the slot system are really high for a number seven pick.

The question is whether there will be any takers. It is a very strange draft this year with not a lot of top QB prospects or other blue chip talents. I think Williams is one of the few players that the Vikes could be tempted to keep that pick.

The Vikes will not pick another rookie LB period. They are too young at that position as it is, so forget DJ.

Rolle will not be the best player available at number seven.

I would be surprised to see the Vikes pick Benson or one of the Auburn guys simply beacuase of the depth at that position. If they did you can assume that there had already been a trade of either Bennet or SOD. But that would still give them a stable of four productive running backs. I might be wrong and certainly at number seven those backs are likely to be the best players available.

JL, yes I would agree that I think if they sign DD and PB then you can kiss #7 goodbye and the Vikes would look to stack 3, maybe 4 picks between 21 and the mid-50s...which ain't nothing to sneeze at. I'd take 3 or 4 top-notch rooks and know that chances are that 1 of those would develop into an All-Pro for certain and quite possibly two. Reminds me of the draft when the Vikes got Gene Washington, Clinton Jones, and someone named Alan Page.

As far as the RB, recall the Tice was wetting his pants at the Indy combine over the Auburn RBs and Benson. And his run plan for this coming season is for a big bruiser with speed. That does not fit the bill for any of the four currently on the team. Bennett is gone, SOD will be gone, Moore is not going to last the whole season. That's why I'm saying it would not be a stretch for the Vikes to go RB.

I agree with your take that Tice is infatuted with drafting another RB, and certainly those RB's would have the potential to be a feature back.

I think Bennett will be moved for draft picks (in a weak draft year). I think that SOD will be given a chance to be the everydown back with spells from MeMoe and real Moe.

I do not spend a number seven pick on one of those RB's if I am the front office, but your argument is defensible, it just means that more men have to be moved to make room.

Two Things

One - weren't the Vikes suppose to throw a smoke screen about what they would do in the first round? And Tice's comments look like a bit of a smoke screen.

Two - Just read that Tice did scalp this year. looks like he will take home a let less dosh (UK slang for cash) this year.....

Opened up a can of worms here!

1) Burress signs a 1 year deal, not a lot of money, Vikes would still entertain drafting a WR. Rookies don't play a lot anyways.

2) I have to believe all the drafting a RB talk (while valid) is a smoke screen unless they trade 1 of their RB's before the draft.

3) On that note, why would they draft Rolle or Pac Man now?

4) What all that said, I bet DJ at 7 or as someone mentioned before trading the pick away for mulitple picks makes sense. The #7 pick comes with a $12 mil bonus! Thats DD & Plex combined!!!

Commish: At this point, should they sign PB and DD I agree that the #7 is h-i-s-t-o-r-y. Would be nice if they waited to see if DJ dropped that far to #7 before trading down. But then, my story will change by Saturday as I'm attending the Mike Tice School of communicating with the media and public.