Rick On Dalvin From The Combine

I love Dalvin as much as the next Vikes fan, but if we sign him to a mega contract, given his injury history, I’m going to be calling for Rick’s head.  It would be much worse than when we signed Barr, not really having the finances....   Both are great players, but we have to make smart decisions for the medium to long term viability of this franchise’s chances of winning given our salary cap situation.

@"Studvike84" said: I love Dalvin as much as the next Vikes fan, but if we sign him to a mega contract, given his injury history, I’m going to be calling for Rick’s head.  It would be much worse than when we signed Barr, not really having the finances....   Both are great players, but we have to make smart decisions for the medium to long term viability of this franchise’s chances of winning given our salary cap situation.

Geez, I'm used to being the first one to call for Rick's head in ANY thread, but...this is a bit harsh. My first thought would be, "What are the terms?" and you did say MEGA contract. So I would be unhappy to see him given a deal along the lines of Gurley or Bell. Something with minimal guaranteed money so the team is protected, OTOH, may be OK.
I think teams are really in a tough spot with RBs now. Tough fans can say, "Backs are a dime a dozen, they get hurt and their careers are over, let them walk", but I think GMs hate when they let a player leave and he excels elsewhere. RB is probably the 2nd most visible role on a team, and statistically the easiest to measure. Can't help that half the current Vikings fans spent a decade expecting 100-200 yards from Peterson in any game.

@"Studvike84" said: I love Dalvin as much as the next Vikes fan, but if we sign him to a mega contract, given his injury history, I’m going to be calling for Rick’s head.  It would be much worse than when we signed Barr, not really having the finances....   Both are great players, but we have to make smart decisions for the medium to long term viability of this franchise’s chances of winning given our salary cap situation.

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Studvike84" said: I love Dalvin as much as the next Vikes fan, but if we sign him to a mega contract, given his injury history, I’m going to be calling for Rick’s head.  It would be much worse than when we signed Barr, not really having the finances....   Both are great players, but we have to make smart decisions for the medium to long term viability of this franchise’s chances of winning given our salary cap situation.

Our cap situation will be alleviated by cutting and/or restructuring older players like Joseph, Rhodes, Reiff, Cousins, etc. Not by sacrificing emerging, young talent--a player who is actually in the conversation as the best player in the NFL at his position. On a team that runs the ball. Cook will be extended.  

One of the biggest factors in whether or not we give Cook a large extension may be the development of Mattison.  I think he gives the Vikes a lot of flexibility in the situation that most teams wouldn't have.  

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Studvike84" said: I love Dalvin as much as the next Vikes fan, but if we sign him to a mega contract, given his injury history, I’m going to be calling for Rick’s head.  It would be much worse than when we signed Barr, not really having the finances....   Both are great players, but we have to make smart decisions for the medium to long term viability of this franchise’s chances of winning given our salary cap situation.

Our cap situation will be alleviated by cutting and/or restructuring older players like Joseph, Rhodes, Reiff, Cousins, etc. Not by sacrificing emerging, young talent--a player who is actually in the conversation as the best player in the NFL at his position. On a team that runs the ball. Cook will be extended.  

with his injury history, at a position that is historically injury heavy,  there has to be team protections.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Studvike84" said: I love Dalvin as much as the next Vikes fan, but if we sign him to a mega contract, given his injury history, I’m going to be calling for Rick’s head.  It would be much worse than when we signed Barr, not really having the finances....   Both are great players, but we have to make smart decisions for the medium to long term viability of this franchise’s chances of winning given our salary cap situation.

Our cap situation will be alleviated by cutting and/or restructuring older players like Joseph, Rhodes, Reiff, Cousins, etc. Not by sacrificing emerging, young talent--a player who is actually in the conversation as the best player in the NFL at his position. On a team that runs the ball. Cook will be extended.  

with his injury history, at a position that is historically injury heavy,  there has to be team protections.

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Studvike84" said: I love Dalvin as much as the next Vikes fan, but if we sign him to a mega contract, given his injury history, I’m going to be calling for Rick’s head.  It would be much worse than when we signed Barr, not really having the finances....   Both are great players, but we have to make smart decisions for the medium to long term viability of this franchise’s chances of winning given our salary cap situation.

Our cap situation will be alleviated by cutting and/or restructuring older players like Joseph, Rhodes, Reiff, Cousins, etc. Not by sacrificing emerging, young talent--a player who is actually in the conversation as the best player in the NFL at his position. On a team that runs the ball. Cook will be extended.  

with his injury history, at a position that is historically injury heavy,  there has to be team protections.

That's just it though. Running backs get hurt. And I think that, and their value to an offense, is already baked into their salaries. Among the top 50 salaries in the NFL, there is only one RB.

I remember a stat at one point last year where Cook was on some sort of "iron man" list in the top 5. Most consecutive starts, or maybe most consecutive games played without showing up on the injury report...something like that.  I wish I could find it because I know it sounds hard to believe. But It's just a reminder that backs are always dinged up.

The more time passes , the more the Mattison pick is proving to have been a shrewd choice.  

A lot of fans questioned the 3 times the Vikings traded down , then they questioned why the Vikes took Mattison.

My theory is Mattison was Kubiaks choice. It became obvious by week 5? Kubiak is smarter than Viking fans.

Mattison will be better in 2020.  

Cook is amazing and I hope he retires a Vike. 

@"Mattyman" said: The more time passes , the more the Mattison pick is proving to have been a shrewd choice.  

A lot of fans questioned the 3 times the Vikings traded down , then they questioned why the Vikes took Mattison.

My theory is Mattison was Kubiaks choice. It became obvious by week 5? Kubiak is smarter than Viking fans.

Mattison will be better in 2020.  

Cook is amazing and I hope he retires a Vike. 

@"FSUVike" said:

Rick could have stayed put, picked a Guard that would be starting now, and still drafted Mattison in the 4th. His performance does not change the fact that Minnesota picked him higher than they needed to.

How did we pick him higher than we needed to and what are you basing that on?  Some media rankings?  We've all seen how those can vary widely from what NFL teams actually do come draft day...

@"Wetlander" said:

@"FSUVike" said:

Rick could have stayed put, picked a Guard that would be starting now, and still drafted Mattison in the 4th. His performance does not change the fact that Minnesota picked him higher than they needed to.

Come on now, FSU...  we were just starting to agree on things.  LOL

How did we pick him higher than we needed to and what are you basing that on?  Some media rankings?  We've all seen how those can vary widely from what NFL teams actually do come draft day...