Vikings’ Michael Pierce ‘super excited’
Minnesota on Monday night agreed to terms on a
two-year, $22 million contract with three-technique defensive tackle
Dalvin Tomlinson and he will sign as soon as Wednesday’s first day of
the new league year. Tomlinson will be paired inside with Pierce, a nose
tackle who opted out of last season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m
super excited to play next to (Tomlinson),’’ Pierce, an Alabama native,
wrote in a text message Tuesday to the Pioneer Press about the former
Crimson Tide star. “I’ve very familiar with his game since his Bama
days. … He’s another guy like myself who dominates the line of scrimmage
and he’s found a way to get to the quarterback.’’
Overhauling
the line has been the Vikings’ primary mission lately. Earlier this
month, they re-signed defensive end Stephen Weatherly, who first played
for Minnesota from 2016-19. And general manager Rick Spielman has
likened the return of Pierce and defensive end Danielle Hunter to
signing two top free agents. Hunter sat out last year following neck
surgery.
With the Vikings adding the
6-foot-3, 318-pound Tomlinson, they released Shamar Stephen on Tuesday
with one year left on his contract. Stephen started at three-technique
in 2019 and nose tackle last year but now both those spots are filled.
The move eliminated $3.75 million of Stephen’s $5.083 million cap
charge, and provided a savings of $3.09 million since he was displaced
on the top 51 salaries by a player making $660,000.
With Weatherly back, Minnesota did not tender restricted free agent
Ifeadi Odenigbo, last year’s starter at right defensive end, and he will
become unrestricted Wednesday. Odenigbo evidently said goodbye to the
Vikings in a tweet in which he wrote, “Thank you, Minnesota!”
The
Vikings did not tender any of their three restricted free agents, with
the lowest possible amount being one year for $2.133 million. Also
becoming unrestricted will be receiver Chad Beebe and running back Mike
Boone, but Minnesota has interest in re-signing both at a lesser amount.
Boone, though, might opt look for a possible No. 2 running-back job
after being No. 3 with the Vikings.
For
now, the Vikings have beefed up a defensive line that had difficulty in
2020 stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback.
“It’s
going to be fun to play next to (Tomlinson),’’ Pierce, who played for
Baltimore from 2016-19, wrote. “Kind of reminds me of when I had Brandon
Williams next to me in Baltimore. Things should be interesting next
season.’’
Pierce, a native of Daphne,
Ala., long has followed the Crimson Tide. He paid plenty of attention to
them during Tomlinson’s 2013-16 tenure since it included Pierce’s
Daphne High School teammates T.J. Yeldon and Ryan Anderson also being on
the team.
has started all 64 games in his four seasons. He has played all over the
line, including getting 3 1/2 sacks in each of the past two seasons as a
nose tackle. He was a 2020 team captain. “It’s
really sad the Giants weren’t able to get him back,’’ said Howard
Cross, a Giants television and radio analyst after being a longtime New
York tight end. “He’s a phenomenal player. He’s worked really hard and
grown tremendously not just in talent, but in leadership. When you wear a
C on your chest and you’re an interior defensive lineman, it means a
lot. He was excellent against the run. He put pressure up the middle (as
a pass rusher).’’
Cross, also an Alabama alum, has followed Tomlinson since he was in college.
“Dalvin
went to Alabama over Harvard, so he’s not only a big, strong player
with a lot of ability, but he’s a really smart guy,’’ Cross said.
Next
up for the Vikings could be signing a defensive back. They have
expressed interest in former Minnesota cornerback Mackensie Alexander,
who played last season with Cincinnati, and Atlanta free-agent safety
Keanu Neal.
Please keep Hunter.....please keep Hunter.......Hunter-Tomlinson-Pierce-Weatherly (motivated) could be NICE.
@"StickyBun" said: Please keep Hunter.....please keep Hunter.......Hunter-Tomlinson-Pierce-Weatherly (motivated) could be NICE.
Yeah, I gotta believe Zim knows he needs Danielle too. I can't
imagine the Vikings trading him unless the offer was just insanely huge.
Hey Danny, play a year post neck surgery, and we'll talk.
@"StickyBun" said: Please keep Hunter.....please keep Hunter.......Hunter-Tomlinson-Pierce-Weatherly (motivated) could be NICE.His instagram photos are back! And you know what that means! B) I'm only half joking. Seems to be how players communicate these days.
I heard someone mention the possibility the Vikings could put a contract together now that gives Hunter the money he wants. It's agreed to in principal now, the cap space is worked out for 2022, but it's not signed or made public until later. Maybe 8 games into the season, or after 2021. Not sure if this is even possible, but someone was talking about it on a podcast.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said: Please keep Hunter.....please keep Hunter.......Hunter-Tomlinson-Pierce-Weatherly (motivated) could be NICE. His instagram photos are back! And you know what that means! B) I'm only half joking. Seems to be how players communicate these days.
" 'gram-pic leverage ".... so hot in the NFL streets right now.
If you aren't following him on Twitter, you need to.
@"BarrNone55" said: Pierce, not Tommasson.Just to be clear.
I was going to say if you're recommending following Tomasson, you lost your damn mind hahahaha
@"Wetlander" said:@"BarrNone55" said: Pierce, not Tommasson.Just to be clear.
I was going to say if you're recommending following Tomasson, you lost your damn mind hahahaha
I would hope if I ever complimented Tomasson, someone would contact local authorities for a Health Check.
https://www.vikings.com/news/michael-pierce-defense-visits-tco-performance-center
Just love this guy.
@"BarrNone55" said: https://www.vikings.com/news/michael-pierce-defense-visits-tco-performance-centerJust love this guy.
Me too. And he appears to be in much better condition than he was when he was a Giant. That was my greatest concern. I'm optimistic about both of the defensive tackles complimenting each other. It starts up front and he has the potential to be special.
Dude can sure fill out a sport coat nicely, I'll give him that.
@"jargomcfargo" said:@"BarrNone55" said: https://www.vikings.com/news/michael-pierce-defense-visits-tco-performance-centerJust love this guy.
Me too. And he appears to be in much better condition than he was when he was a Giant. That was my greatest concern. I'm optimistic about both of the defensive tackles complimenting each other. It starts up front and he has the potential to be special.
You might be thinking of Dalvin Tomlinson from the Giants, maybe? In any case, I'm looking forward to seeing our re-tooled defense. And I hope all of that crossfit paid off.
@"BarrNone55" said: https://www.vikings.com/news/michael-pierce-defense-visits-tco-performance-centerJust love this guy.
He had me at Miles Davis.
@"Nichelle" said:@"jargomcfargo" said:@"BarrNone55" said: https://www.vikings.com/news/michael-pierce-defense-visits-tco-performance-centerJust love this guy.
Me too. And he appears to be in much better condition than he was when he was a Giant. That was my greatest concern. I'm optimistic about both of the defensive tackles complimenting each other. It starts up front and he has the potential to be special.
You might be thinking of Dalvin Tomlinson from the Giants, maybe? In any case, I'm looking forward to seeing our re-tooled defense. And I hope all of that crossfit paid off.
No he's thinking of the right guy but mis-Id'd the former team. Pierce was a Raven.
@"savannahskol" said:@"Nichelle" said:@"jargomcfargo" said:@"BarrNone55" said: https://www.vikings.com/news/michael-pierce-defense-visits-tco-performance-centerJust love this guy.
Me too. And he appears to be in much better condition than he was when he was a Giant. That was my greatest concern. I'm optimistic about both of the defensive tackles complimenting each other. It starts up front and he has the potential to be special.
You might be thinking of Dalvin Tomlinson from the Giants, maybe? In any case, I'm looking forward to seeing our re-tooled defense. And I hope all of that crossfit paid off.
No he's thinking of the right guy but mis-Id'd the former team. Pierce was a Raven.
I was thinking that the mis-ID was due to Tomlinson being from the Giants. Since both are additions to the team (even last year for Pierce), I can easily see swapping the teams they are from.
That's right, Ravens. Brain fart! Definitely the right guy and I'm excited to see what Pierce and Tomlinson can do together.
I miss the days of Pat and Kevin Williams, Henry Thomas and John Randle.
I don't want to see the interior defensive line pushed backwards 3 or 4 yards on run plays up the middle.
They couldn't stop the run last year. I think that will change this year.
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