Note: For those of you who only ready the VU a few times a week I should bring you up to speed. I have a free agent signing of my own to announce. We've signed Vikes Geek to a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract that will only count 30% towards this year's salary cap. And we're damn glad to have him aboard. I take you now to VG.

Entering the 2006 off-season, the Minnesota Vikings had a clear list of needs—needs that they could address entirely through free agency if they so desired. Less than one week into the NFL’s 2006 free-agency period, the Vikings find themselves in a bit of an uncomfortable position and potentially with too much money left over to fill needs for which the talent pool may no longer exist.

Modus Operandi Quickly Changes

Two weeks ago, the Vikings inked free agent, veteran offensive lineman Jason Whittle to a modest deal. The move suggested that the Vikings would be frugal—though not miserly—in their approach to signing free agents this season. The model appeared to be one of signing veteran talent at good—if not bargain-basement—rates and avoiding overspending on one position or for one player.

Last weekend, the Vikings suggested there intention to employ an alternative free-agent signing model this off-season when they inked transition player Steve Hutchinson of the Seattle Seahawks to a seven-year, $49 million deal that includes $16 million in guaranteed money and counts $13 million against the 2006 salary cap. In addition to the tender made on Hutchinson, the Vikings also signed running back Chester Taylor, outside linebacker Ben Leber, wide receiver Koren Robinson, and placekicker Ryan Longwell.

Not including Hutchinson’s salary cap hit, the Vikings have already spent approximately $19 million of their approximately $33 million in cap space for 2006. Should the Seahawks fail to match the Vikings’ tender to Hutchinson, the Vikings will have spent approximately $32 million of their $33 million in cap space with several holes left to be filled and rookies left to be signed.

Included among the remaining holes—assuming Hutchinson becomes a Viking in 2006—are left offensive tackle, strong safety, middle linebacker, and backup quarterback. And that assumes that the Vikings are set with what they have at wide receiver, outside linebacker, right guard, and defensive end—a sizeable assumption.

For Vikings’ fans who have suffered the past three seasons under the miserly yolk of former owner Red McCombs, it would appear to be a welcome change to have an owner who is willing to bid for the better players. But the offer to Hutchinson is perplexing not only for the difficult position in which it places the Vikings as they attempt to fill equally pressing needs, but also because the move doesn’t quite do what it is billed to have done.

Seattle Calling

As the media outlets began gushing over the large deal that the Vikings had offered Hutchinson—“largest ever for an offensive guard�—public perception followed suit. Immediately, Vikings’ fans began calling local sports’ talk stations gushing over the supposed genius of the offer. “Seattle will have to make a tough decision on this one,� was the common refrain. “Either way, they’re screwed.�

That was the prevailing sentiment. And that appears to remain the prevailing sentiment.

The reality, however, is that it could be the Vikings who are screwed in the end. And, while fans undoubtedly would prefer to believe otherwise, the Vikings’ might be screwed by their own design.

Option Forsaken

At the beginning of the free-agency period, the Vikings were in the market for two offensive linemen. LeCharles Bentley appeared to be a logical target since he has played both guard and center and the Vikings have, in Matt Birk, a player capable of playing both guard and center. Signing Bentley would have made sense for the Vikings not only from the perspective of signing another All-Pro caliber player to fill a hole on the offensive line but also from the perspective of signing a player who would allow the Vikings to move Birk to guard—a position that the Vikings have long-considered Birk’s future home.

In addition to the benefits that signing Bentley would have conferred upon the Vikings from a personnel perspective, the Vikings unquestionably could have signed Bentley to a much more cap-friendly contract than that offered to Hutchinson—one that would have allowed the team to fill other glaring holes in the off-season. With the Vikings electing not to pursue Bentley, the former Saint signed with the Browns for $36 million over six years with $12.5 million guaranteed.

But the Vikings’ pursuit of Hutchinson is odd even without the decision not to pursue Bentley, because it does not ensure the Vikings anything. For, despite the large offer that the Vikings made to Hutchinson, they might end up without Hutchinson and without a viable backup. And that’s something that the Vikings’ personnel people could not help but understand.

Math Problem

Seattle currently has $17 million of cap space, with approximately $6.5 million of Hutchinson’s current offer from Seattle already counting against their 2006 cap. The Vikings are applauding themselves for putting the Seahawks in a box. Clearly, however, that is not the situation.

If Seattle matches Minnesota’s offer, the Seahawks will be on the hook for another $6.5 million in 2006. That would leave Seattle with $10.5 million of cap space to sign the safety and wide receiver that they apparently need and to find a lesser replacement for Hutchinson. While Seattle undoubtedly would have preferred that the Vikings not force them to pony up an additional $6.5 million for Hutchinson in 2006, most of the hit on Hutchinson under the Vikings’ offer sheet is in 2006 and Seattle has the cap room to match the offer and still meet its other needs in 2006—in addition to having an owner more than willing to spend up to the cap ceiling.

That makes the Vikings’ move for Hutchinson somewhat suspect. Combined with the team’s decision not to pursue an outright free agent in Bentley in favor of making a matchable offer for a transition player, the move is even more suspect and somewhat disingenuous. And combined with the reality that if the Vikings do not obtain Hutchinson in 2006 they might be left with no viable free agents left to pursue—and, coincidentally, close enough to the salary floor to make a few contract moves to reach that floor without additional signings—and one has to wonder about the Vikings’ intentions.

Even if the Vikings’ intentions are pure in their offer to Hutchinson, the move still is odd, at best, given the commitment that the Vikings are making to an offensive guard. For, even with the offer front-loaded, the Vikings are asking for trouble by even making such an offer.

Should Hutchinson become a Viking, he is certain to ask for more money in year two of the deal. And, whether or not Hutchinson becomes a Vikings, the mere magnitude of the offer to Hutchinson will have the wheels churning in the minds of other Vikings’ players who undoubtedly will consider themselves underpaid in the current climate—particularly players such as Bryant McKinnie, Brad Johnson, and Matt Birk. And that could have more of an unraveling effect on the Vikings than would have another three years of Mike Tice at the helm.

Up Next: More free agency discussion. Plus, stadium issues.

The VU NCAA Fantasy Tourney: by Mr. Cheer Or Die

We did this last year and had a blast. I confess to know nothing about NCAA basketball but the NCAA tourney is as much America as the Super Bowl. You have to participate!

Therefore, the first fifty entrants are hereby cordially invited to join The VU's Private Group in the Yahoo! Sports Yahoo! Sports Tournament Pick'em.

In order to join the group, just go to the game front page and click on the "Sign Up" button to create your team. After completing registration, or if you already have a team, click the "Create or Join Group" button and follow the path to join the VU's existing private group. Then, when prompted, enter the following information...

Group ID#: 94801
Password: winter

Remember, the league is limited to the first fifty people who sign-up. Good luck everyone!

Posted by maasx003 at March 14, 2006 1:18 AM