Retaining free agents as important as signing new players for Minnesota

By Mike Schoemer  |   Friday, February 29, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

Minnesota Vikings
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As fun as it is for the casual fan, or even the front office guru, to think about the names a franchise could add through the trials and tribulations of free agency, priority No. 1 for a successful squad is keeping the free agents you need.
The Minnesota Vikings have been given the proverbial "green light" by the Wilf family, their ownership, to shop this offseason. And the Vikings will go hard at various big names, such as wide receiver Bernard Berrian of Chicago and defensive end Justin Smith of the Bengals.
However, Minnesota has lost one of its unrestricted free agents already, special-teamer and backup linebacker Dontarrious Thomas. The team will also, likely, part ways with running back Mewelde Moore, who will take his morose temper to Tampa.
But Minnesota has a couple of free agents it would like to keep in purple and gold. Who are they, and why?
• Robert Ferguson, wide receiver - Minnesota made a push to sign Ferguson before the free-agent could file his paperwork late Thursday. However, talks feel apart, and it looks like Ferguson will be able to dip his toes into the market.
Minnesota likes Ferguson for a couple of obvious reasons. Once he got a grasp of the offense, he was a solid possession receiver. He is a big target, and his athleticism and experience helped with a young quarterback like Tavaris Jackson. He's also a good locker room guy on most counts.
Ferguson has said he wants a deal to stay in Minnesota, but he'll now have to entertain other offers.
• Tony Richardson, fullback - O.K., so it's easy to say you want to hang on to a Pro Bowl-caliber fullback. But, the argument could be made that Richardson has been injury-prone during his stint with Minnesota, and Vikes could be better served by going after someone else, such as Lorenzo Neal of the Chargers, who was released Feb. 28.
Yet, Richardson is a franchise guy. He's a great representative for the Vikings, working with several charity organizations in the area. He's a constant presence on the radio during the season, as well.
While that's not enough to say you want to keep a player, he can perform at a high level, as he did last season. Richardson was instrumental in Adrian Peterson's huge rookie season, taking on linebackers and safeties as defenses mounted eight or nine-man fronts against the Viking offense.
• Darion Scott, defensive line - Scott's versatility make him a keeper, perhaps ahead of fellow free-agent Spencer Johnson. Scott can back up Kevin Williams at the tackle position, or move out on the end and rush the passer.
What will be key to who, if anybody, the Vikings keep on defense, is who they pick up. Minnesota has already acquired Madieu Williams of the Cincinnati Bengals, which means either Mike Doss or Tank Williams might be expendable.
If the Vikes sign Justin Smith, another Bengal, then Johnson's expendable, as both play off the end.
Scott's flexibility, and his knowledge of the defense, make him a solid piece of the puzzle.

Keep in mind, Minnesota might lose all three of these guys. But, of the eight free-agents it still has on the books, these four would be the best to keep in camp.
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About Mike Schoemer

• Currently serving as managing editor of the award-winning Monticello Times after promotion in September of 2007. • Took the helm of the Edina, Minn., community newspaper, The Edina Sun Current in September 2006 in the heart of an election year. • Promoted to the Managing Editor of the ...
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