"Showing interest" could be as simple as telling low level guy "Get me all the footage on free agent X!". Low level guy calls reporter.

Speculation in that linked thread is that the player's agent is blowing smoke & the Vikes are not stupid enough to tamper. I hope not.

@AdrianPeterson
@MikeVick would intently make the vikings a playoff team!

Signing Vick is so lol and such a standard Vikes play here. The sad thing is I can picture MN fans hopping on board with this(including myself). Rational me is like "he's terribad, 60 yrs old, and a dog killer, fk that dude". Irrational me is like "omg he was a 96 speed in Madden 02 and as long as you don't spin move twice he barely ever fumbles + cats>dogs, sign me up".

#intently contenders

Its a good thing you dont have to know the English language very well to be a great player. Its also a good thing AP isnt in charge of our personnel decisions.

I am going to compile a FA list of players the Vikings will be interested in. Remember, Speilman usually signs players coming off a first contract or low risk/high reward type contracts. He stays away from older FA(Bailey, Vick, etc...)

if we cant get one of the top 3 qbs im totally on the vick train.

List of FA Vikings will likely target:

-Matt Cassel. Vikings need a stop gap QB in FA and Cassel(for better or for worse) is on top of the list. Working under Turner may intrigue him but he might go for most money offered(HOU, OAK, JAX).

-Alterraun Verner, CB. Considered the top CB out in FA and coming off his first contract. He can play man or zone, has great instincts. Problem is he will command $10 million a year and in the past Speilman does not usually offer that in FA. Jennings was the exception.

-Captain Munnerlyn, CB. Vikings are in dire need of a slot CB and Munnerlyn fits the bill perfectly. Munnerlyn missed three tackles in 932 regular-season snaps, according to Pro Football Focus and also had 2 pick 6's. He is 25 and fits Speilman's mold of FA.

-Michael Johnson, DE. Could the stand out DE from the Bengals follow his coach to Minnesota? It is possible especially since Everson Griffen wants to test the FA market. Excellent run stopper with good pass rushing skills and Johnson was among the leading defensive ends in batted passes and quarter hurries. Only 27 years old.

-Linval Joseph, DT. This 6'4" 325 DT could fill the role of NT which the Vikings have SORELY missed since Pat Williams has retired. Would supply the run support and can disrupt the middle. Will expect $6 million a year.

-Henry Melton, DT. This could be one of those low risk/high reward contracts RS loves to make. Melton is a top 5 talent but is coming off an ACL tear. Can he come back from a devastating injury?

-Geoff Schwartz, OG. Was on the Vikings in 2012 but never given a proper chance by Frazier. He showed what he had in KC last year and could bolster the O-line at the right price. Question is would he want to come back?

-Brandon Brower, CB. Another low risk/high reward situation. He will be suspended for the first 4 games of 2014 but this tall physical CB would fit well with Rhodes as a tandem.

-Jon Asamoah, G. Was benched in K.C. for Schwartz but is still considered a nasty run blocker and the 5th best G in FA. Young with a mean streak.

-Lamarr Houston, DE graded as the 11th best DE in 4-3. A solid run stopper and pass rusher but not dominating.

This will break most of your hearts but LeTroy Guion was released by the Vikings today. His release saves the Vikings $4 million in cap space and the Vikings will have $36+ mil in cap space for 2014.

Are we targeting and LBs in FA? Thought that was one of our biggest areas of concern?

the list of FA LB's are awful this year.

So Mike Zimmer is having a lunch/film session with local beat writers as we speak. Some great stuff so far and some amazing quotes. Nothing but rave reviews so far from people attending.

This is what has been tweeted so far from the local beat writers talking with Zim:

- says teams first minicamp will be April 28 to May 1
- says Vikings want Jerome Simpson back.
- says it would be great if Allen finishes as a Viking
- Zimmer didn't take too kindly to Chris Cook tweeting about their talk.
- would like Everson Griffen back but says will come down to money
- on Adrian Peterson tweet on Vick: “I think he has his opinions I like Adrian a lot from the little time that I’ve talked to him" Did Mike Zimmer tweet back to Adrian Peterson? “I didn’t. I don’t know how to tweet, to be honest with you.’’
- Zimmer reiterated he wants guys "that want to be here." talked about Cassel, Griffen: "There's a line ($$) in the sand" that MN won't cross
-Zimmer also said former Bengals aren't necessary to add, wants guys that "want to take ownership in something bigger than themselves"
- Zimmer talked about a calm approach to free agency. "Everyone sees that Maserati and wants to buy it and you know you probably shouldn't"

The line of the day when he spoke about Cassel: “He’s got a bunch of pretty girls looking at him right now. So, he wants to explore and see what’s best for him."

And now it has been reported that Greg Childs has been released. So much for the slow days of the NFL...

I like Zimmer. I hope he is as good as he appears to be right now.

What Zimmer did today with local media in unprecedented. He did a film study for them to give them a better understanding about the game took question and had lunch. Really smart move.

Zimmer has the same mind set as Speilman: Don't blow your money on high profile FA's. You can find the right ones for the right money. Get team first guys and not "me" first guys.

Since the Vikings LBs were also bad and many of them are FAs, they're going to have to pursue some.

Vikings brought in Jasper Brinkley and Jameel McClain today. That Jasper Brinkley who played for us. Vikings still have Cole, Mauti and Hodges on payroll as well as Greenway. They will draft at least 2 LB's in the draft. Mauti might be ready to take over the middle. He was coming off blown ACL in his senior year at PSU and was a stud in the middle. Great instincts.

I spoke with a Bengals beat writer tonight and he feels very confident Michael Johnson will make the Vikings his number 1 choice as long as the money is there. Johnson is a Zimmer guy(team first over individual stats) and loves the coach.

Mark Craig posted this in his blog and I never realized that MLB Vincent Ray is a RFA. He had a had a +6.3 grade for the year, which made him the 9th-best MLB in the league according to PFF. Cincy can match any offer but they already have Maualuga in the middle.

Keep the updates coming MM!

I posted this in the main NFL draft thread. I know this thread is pretty active, though, and I'm curious about your thoughts RE: Floyd

reading reports that the jags extended henne and are unlikely to draft a QB. if that happens. vikes are almost guaranteed to have at least one of teddy, bortles and JFF around when they pick.

Floyd had a decent first season. He may be pretty similar to Donald though. The bigger need is probably and edge rusher.

Floyd was in the same boat as CP84: Coaches didn't give trust him enough to keep him on the field full time and used him in both DT positions when he should have been placed in one spot. Zimmer won't have that issue for him.