Sidney Rice has hip surgery....out at least half the season!

[retailguy]

Losing Rice has to hurt the Vikings. How could it not?

But really, what else do you do in the 3rd week of August? You have a massive hole, maybe two, and this is what is available. If you know about it in March, maybe you trade for Anquan Boldin, or somebody else, but who is willing to trade right now?

AJ Smith might be, but he's so hard headed, you have to be able to make a deal. I don't believe Spielman ignored the fact that Vincent Jackson is sitting at home, but if you can't make a deal, you have to move to the next guy.

My guess, is that these are the best guys he could get.

[mission]

This is the headline at the star tribune

"Keep in mind that Favre helped make Rice"


Well, it shouldn't be a problem then. Favre can just make a new guy, since he's the guy who makes them.

That can't be true... that headline.

Everything about them is so B-rate right now, it's great.

[Patler]

I will be shocked if Walker provides much of anything to the Vikings. Realistically, he was more hype and illusion than performance anyway. His best year was fine, but not a shocking or "wow" performance as it was, and it happened a LONG time ago for a football player.

As a Packer, Walker never liked being a possession type receiver, and his #s dropped drastically when he was used more in that way. At his age and with his history, he needs to have a "short game".

[hoosier]

Losing Rice has to hurt the Vikings. How could it not?

But really, what else do you do in the 3rd week of August? You have a massive hole, maybe two, and this is what is available. If you know about it in March, maybe you trade for Anquan Boldin, or somebody else, but who is willing to trade right now?

AJ Smith might be, but he's so hard headed, you have to be able to make a deal. I don't believe Spielman ignored the fact that Vincent Jackson is sitting at home, but if you can't make a deal, you have to move to the next guy.

My guess, is that these are the best guys he could get.

According to the Minneapolis rag they were not willing to pay Jackson's salary demands. They must be truly exorbitant seeing how desparate the Vikings are to win this year.

[Patler]

This is the headline at the star tribune

"Keep in mind that Favre helped make Rice"

Is it really?

[retailguy]

Losing Rice has to hurt the Vikings. How could it not?

But really, what else do you do in the 3rd week of August? You have a massive hole, maybe two, and this is what is available. If you know about it in March, maybe you trade for Anquan Boldin, or somebody else, but who is willing to trade right now?

AJ Smith might be, but he's so hard headed, you have to be able to make a deal. I don't believe Spielman ignored the fact that Vincent Jackson is sitting at home, but if you can't make a deal, you have to move to the next guy.

My guess, is that these are the best guys he could get.

According to the Minneapolis rag they were not willing to pay Jackson's salary demands. They must be truly exorbitant seeing how desparate the Vikings are to win this year.

Well, that goes a long way to explaining why Jackson is sitting at home, I guess.

[hoosier]

I will be shocked if Walker provides much of anything to the Vikings. Realistically, he was more hype and illusion than performance anyway. His best year was fine, but not a shocking or "wow" performance as it was, and it happened a LONG time ago for a football player.

As a Packer, Walker never liked being a possession type receiver, and his #s dropped drastically when he was used more in that way. At his age and with his history, he needs to have a "short game".

I have a different recollection of Walker from the second half of 2003 (his second year, when he really began to emerge) and 2004: while he excelled at going and getting Favre's often underthrown deep floaters he was also very effective in the short passing game because of his strength; it often took two or more defenders to bring him down while he was picking up extra yardage dragging the first guy with him.

I don't disagree, of course, with your observation that those years were a lifetime ago in football time.

[Patler]

I will be shocked if Walker provides much of anything to the Vikings. Realistically, he was more hype and illusion than performance anyway. His best year was fine, but not a shocking or "wow" performance as it was, and it happened a LONG time ago for a football player.

As a Packer, Walker never liked being a possession type receiver, and his #s dropped drastically when he was used more in that way. At his age and with his history, he needs to have a "short game".

I have a different recollection of Walker from the second half of 2003 (his second year, when he really began to emerge) and 2004: while he excelled at going and getting Favre's often underthrown deep floaters he was also very effective in the short passing game because of his strength; it often took two or more defenders to bring him down while he was picking up extra yardage dragging the first guy with him.

I don't disagree, of course, with your observation that those years were a lifetime ago in football time.

I'm not talking about being tackled after a reception on the outside, I mean going after the balls when you know a safety or a linebacker is barreling down on you. The short crossing routes. Short routes outside he was fine with.

I remember long discussions on what ever board it was at the time about Walker not having the guts of Driver to go get the ball on the short crossing routes, short-arming balls and not so good efforts when the ball came his way on those routes. If he ran up field routes he was fine, or short routes outside, but not crossing routes. He was the big guy not playing like it.

To a large extent that year, Driver did the dirty work while Walker go the glory plays.

That's one of the great things about the Jennings/Driver combination (and Jones and Nelson, too). They all go after the balls even when they know a hit is coming.

[RashanGary]

This is the headline at the star tribune

"Keep in mind that Favre helped make Rice"

Is it really?

Yeah. That's the headline, on their website anyway.

[red]

I will be shocked if Walker provides much of anything to the Vikings. Realistically, he was more hype and illusion than performance anyway. His best year was fine, but not a shocking or "wow" performance as it was, and it happened a LONG time ago for a football player.

As a Packer, Walker never liked being a possession type receiver, and his #s dropped drastically when he was used more in that way. At his age and with his history, he needs to have a "short game".

I have a different recollection of Walker from the second half of 2003 (his second year, when he really began to emerge) and 2004: while he excelled at going and getting Favre's often underthrown deep floaters he was also very effective in the short passing game because of his strength; it often took two or more defenders to bring him down while he was picking up extra yardage dragging the first guy with him.

I don't disagree, of course, with your observation that those years were a lifetime ago in football time.

I'm not talking about being tackled after a reception on the outside, I mean going after the balls when you know a safety or a linebacker is barreling down on you. The short crossing routes. Short routes outside he was fine with.

I remember long discussions on what ever board it was at the time about Walker not having the guts of Driver to go get the ball on the short crossing routes, short-arming balls and not so good efforts when the ball came his way on those routes. If he ran up field routes he was fine, or short routes outside, but not crossing routes. He was the big guy not playing like it.

To a large extent that year, Driver did the dirty work while Walker go the glory plays.

That's one of the great things about the Jennings/Driver combination (and Jones and Nelson, too). They all go after the balls even when they know a hit is coming.

are you sure you're not thinking about "gator arms" ferguson?

[Patler]

This is the headline at the star tribune

"Keep in mind that Favre helped make Rice"

Is it really?

Yeah. That's the headline, on their website anyway.

Those things always bother me a little, because it is so discrediting to the other players.

People argued that even on here (and prior boards) about Driver. That he really wasn't that good, might not even start a lot of places, was made by Favre, etc. etc. Well, some of those receivers made by Favre are doing OK in GB since he left, and Rodgers seems to be "making" Finley quite nicely.

A receiver needs a decent QB, but doesn't become an all-pro without his own efforts, primarily.

[Patler]

I will be shocked if Walker provides much of anything to the Vikings. Realistically, he was more hype and illusion than performance anyway. His best year was fine, but not a shocking or "wow" performance as it was, and it happened a LONG time ago for a football player.

As a Packer, Walker never liked being a possession type receiver, and his #s dropped drastically when he was used more in that way. At his age and with his history, he needs to have a "short game".

I have a different recollection of Walker from the second half of 2003 (his second year, when he really began to emerge) and 2004: while he excelled at going and getting Favre's often underthrown deep floaters he was also very effective in the short passing game because of his strength; it often took two or more defenders to bring him down while he was picking up extra yardage dragging the first guy with him.

I don't disagree, of course, with your observation that those years were a lifetime ago in football time.

I'm not talking about being tackled after a reception on the outside, I mean going after the balls when you know a safety or a linebacker is barreling down on you. The short crossing routes. Short routes outside he was fine with.

I remember long discussions on what ever board it was at the time about Walker not having the guts of Driver to go get the ball on the short crossing routes, short-arming balls and not so good efforts when the ball came his way on those routes. If he ran up field routes he was fine, or short routes outside, but not crossing routes. He was the big guy not playing like it.

To a large extent that year, Driver did the dirty work while Walker go the glory plays.

That's one of the great things about the Jennings/Driver combination (and Jones and Nelson, too). They all go after the balls even when they know a hit is coming.

are you sure you're not thinking about "gator arms" ferguson?

Ferguson never had gator arms until he nearly lost his head.

No, it was Walker during his "breakout" season and a half in GB.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Apparently Jackson wants a ridiculous amount of money. He reportedly wants a 5 yr/$50M deal with $30M guaranteed. Given he's been arrested twice for a DUI, he's one more incident away from a 1 yr suspension. That's a hell of a risk to take on a guy with the attitude that Jackson's had. I know the DUI situation worked out great with Jared Allen, but he's got a way better attitude and better head on his shoulders than Jackson.

Add in that the Vikes are paying more for Favre this year than originally planned and their budget got a bit tighter. They simply couldn't take on what Jackson wanted to be paid.

[MichiganPackerFan]

That's one of the great things about the Jennings/Driver combination (and Jones and Nelson, too). They all go after the balls even when they know a hit is coming.

One of the things I love about Driver is even after taking that hard hit, he still managers to fight and squirm for 3-5 more yards.

[mngolf19]

Apparently Jackson wants a ridiculous amount of money. He reportedly wants a 5 yr/$50M deal with $30M guaranteed. Given he's been arrested twice for a DUI, he's one more incident away from a 1 yr suspension. That's a hell of a risk to take on a guy with the attitude that Jackson's had. I know the DUI situation worked out great with Jared Allen, but he's got a way better attitude and better head on his shoulders than Jackson.

Add in that the Vikes are paying more for Favre this year than originally planned and their budget got a bit tighter. They simply couldn't take on what Jackson wanted to be paid.

He's also suspended for the first 3 games this year. So he doesn't help much either.