OpEd: It's time for RS to reward two more Vikings

[purplefaithful]

Rick Spielman would rather guzzle vinegar than share his strategy on personnel or business matters in a public forum. The Vikings general manager handles deliberations as state secret.
Past decisions often provide an indication of future moves, though. Re-signing Sheldon Richardson and reworking Adam Thielen’s existing contract this offseason seem like natural starting points.
The Vikings have made a habit of locking up their in-house stars with top-dollar extensions in recent years. The organization has become a model in pro sports in that regards. Draft, develop, reward.
The team has handed out more big checks than Publishers Clearing House in constructing a top-heavy roster built to win now. A 24-17 victory over the Packers on Sunday brought another prime-time reminder that the organization isn’t done writing big checks.
Thielen and Richardson delivered monster performances, providing more proof that they should be in line for hefty paydays.
Rob Brzezinski, the team’s salary cap magician, can expect another challenging offseason trying make the numbers fit in a complex financial puzzle.
Thielen leads the NFL in catches (93), ranks second in receiving yards (1,138) and is tied for fifth in touchdown catches (eight). His catch total ranks as third-highest in league history through 11 games.
No NFL wide receiver this season has performed at a higher level than Thielen, who has thrust himself squarely into the “best receiver in the league” conversation.
In terms of average salary, he ranks 49th among all wide receivers, according to the contract website Over The Cap, making his $4.8 million salary one of the league’s best bargains relative to production.
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Richardson has proved himself to the organization by providing the kind of interior pass rush that Mike Zimmer covets from his three-technique tackle. Richardson sacked Aaron Rodgers twice on Sunday and has complemented the line’s heralded edge rushers by collapsing the pocket up the gut.
The Vikings signed Richardson to a one-year, $8 million contract last March. Essentially a prove-it deal before deciding whether to invest in him long term.
Richardson is proving it.
“It’s a blue-collar organization,” Richardson said Monday. “One of the main reasons why I like the organization is nobody is a prized possession here. No politics. They don’t play their draft picks sometimes. You can pay a guy a lot of money, [but] he won’t play if he’s not up to par.”
http://www.startribune.com/it-s-time-to-...501301691/

[Guest]

I'm not sold on Richardson.  He's weak vs. the run and- on one of his sacks last night, Hunter did all the work (drew 2 defenders to him); all Richardson had to do was loop around.  He's played OK; but he sure doesn't appear to be a "game-breaker".  Thielen, on the other hand...

[Guest]

Thielen may get an adjustment at some point next off season.  Probably right around the start of training camp like they did with Griffen and Joseph.
But he and his agent asked the Vikings to give him a larger contract that the 2nd round tender.  They made public comments about wanting a new deal.
He had just completed a 69 catch 967 yard and 5 TD season which was his only season worth mentioning to that point.
The Vikings honored his request and gave him a new deal that now is ranked lower.
If he would have waited then he likely would have received a deal like Alshon Jeffrey or maybe Davante Adams.
Richardson could be tougher to sign especially if he wants over 12 mil per year which may be too high.  He had 1.5 sacks entering this last game against the Packers.
The draft is stacked at defensive tackle too.  He might be too expensive for them to keep.

[Guest]

Can't 'reward' everyone and you certainly can't if you want to attempt to upgrade the offensive line next year. 

[Guest]

Dline talent in the first round of the draft might be too good to pass up this year unless there are several OLineman who make a late push in the offseason. Same with OLB. There will definitely be some strong candidates in the draft that could replace Barr or backup Wilson if they elevate him to start. I think the Vikings will make it a priority to resign one, if not both of them next year, but if their price tags are too high, I'm not at all opposed to letting them walk so we can beef up the OLine, draft a field stretching Tight End, or an explosive scat back that we can lineup all over the field although I'm not sure Flip would have any idea how to use someone like that. If we had kept McKinnon this year, my guess is that he would be languishing on the bench while they continue to push the Treadwell agenda and steal reps from our playmakers.    

[Guest]

I think the biggest reward for the team and fanbase is to invest in the OL.

[Guest]

I think they need to add Waynes to that list and hold off on Richardson,  I am not ready to say move on from him,  but one game hardly makes him worthy of a high dollar extension IMO.  he is decent but certainly hasnt shown to be worth 12 milllion or more per season.

[Guest]

@pumpf said:
I'm not sold on Richardson.  He's weak vs. the run and- on one of his sacks last night, Hunter did all the work (drew 2 defenders to him); all Richardson had to do was loop around.  He's played OK; but he sure doesn't appear to be a "game-breaker".  Thielen, on the other hand...

I am with you, but Zimmer seems to like what he quietly does for the D.  Dunno how much of that is coach speak, but he has certainly filled a void this year.  I wouldn't break the bank for him and may look for an upgrade in the draft.
Thielen is certainly worth getting reworked.  But he isn't worth Diggs money IMO.  Diggs still draws the defenses attention and Adam is the master at beating the #2 or the slot corner.  He is a great WR, but not worth top dollar IMO.

[Guest]

@JimmyinSD said:
I think they need to add Waynes to that list and hold off on Richardson,  I am not ready to say move on from him,  but one game hardly makes him worthy of a high dollar extension IMO.  he is decent but certainly hasnt shown to be worth 12 milllion or more per season.

I agree about Waynes.  I think he's better this year than last, and keeps getting better.  I think he's going to be the number one defensive player they'll want to keep.

I'm starting to wonder about Griff, however.  Maybe it comes down to Richardson vs Griff.  We still have quite a few games left, and if Richardson keeps on putting up numbers like he did last Sunday, that could change everything.

[Guest]

@HappyViking said:

@JimmyinSD said:
I think they need to add Waynes to that list and hold off on Richardson,  I am not ready to say move on from him,  but one game hardly makes him worthy of a high dollar extension IMO.  he is decent but certainly hasnt shown to be worth 12 milllion or more per season.

I'm starting to wonder about Griff, however.  Maybe it comes down to Richardson vs Griff.  We still have quite a few games left, and if Richardson keeps on putting up numbers like he did last Sunday, that could change everything.

To your point, don't know how things will shake out but: Hunter is even better over in Griff's RDE spot. And Weatherly has played really well, so.....not sayin', but sayin'. Griff is 31 years old come December, but he's an athletic freak. He's got plenty in the tank. I can't imagine they'd shuck Griffen to sign Richardson.