Do you release Griffen?

@"JimmyinSD" said: The team showed Griff loyalty last year,  as it has done in the past.  its time he does the same...which I think he will.

He would hardly be the first Viking player to be shown loyalty through off-field problems and still expect to be treated like he's a superstar.
Many players seem to think signing a "$58M contract" means they are definitely going to receive all of that money. But everything beyond the guarantee is a team-choice option, so does Griffen understand he signed for "only" $34M, has already received $31.5M, and the Vikings owe him only $2.4M more? I hope he does, but a lot of these guys seem to have agents who tell them their glass is double full.
Griffen sticks out in our current 2019 payroll with the biggest difference between what he expects to be paid ($11.7M) and what is actually guaranteed ($1.2M). It would be nice to keep him for about $3M next year with little or no guarantee beyond 2019.

Everson Griffen - DL - VikingsThe Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Ben Goessling considers Vikings DE Everson Griffen a candidate for release this offseason.
Griffen is now 31 and coming off a year where he battled mental health issues and had to leave the team for a period of time. When he was on the field, Griffen notched just 5.5 sacks across 11 games. That came after Griffen had 43.5 takedowns of quarterbacks the previous four seasons. Due a $10.9 million salary in 2019, the Vikings can save $10.7 million against the cap by cutting Griffen. Danielle Hunter is the best edge rusher on the team, and Stephen Weatherly played well in Griffen's absence. Minnesota's cap situation may work against Griffen.Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

@"BarrNone55" said:

Everson Griffen - DL - VikingsThe Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Ben Goessling considers Vikings DE Everson Griffen a candidate for release this offseason. Griffen is now 31 and coming off a year where he battled mental health issues and had to leave the team for a period of time. When he was on the field, Griffen notched just 5.5 sacks across 11 games. That came after Griffen had 43.5 takedowns of quarterbacks the previous four seasons. Due a $10.9 million salary in 2019, the Vikings can save $10.7 million against the cap by cutting Griffen. Danielle Hunter is the best edge rusher on the team, and Stephen Weatherly played well in Griffen's absence. Minnesota's cap situation may work against Griffen.Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Best guess is the Vikings will offer him a base salary of $930K, give roughly $4M in a signing bonus (at time of restructure), turn $500K into a per game active roster bonus, and lastly offer $1.5M escalators at 6, 8 and 10 sacks. 

If he plays 16 games and gets 10+ sacks he'll end up making about $10M compared to $10.9M he is scheduled to make now. The signing bonus also gives the Vikings a strong incentive to keep him on the roster securing his $500K roster bonus. For the Vikings this would reduce his 2019 cap hit to around $3.2M from $11.9M giving the Vikings an additional $8.7M to work with.

I think that whatever meds they gave Griffen to "fix" him, as the more meds and bigger pharma side says, needs to be toned down a bit and maybe adjusted. He just doesn't have that edge like he used to and seems like a zombie. No emotions.
I would guess he is going to restructure as that is his only choice. I am pretty sure he knows that.

@"Canthony" said: I think that whatever meds they gave Griffen to "fix" him, as the more meds and bigger pharma side says, needs to be toned down a bit and maybe adjusted. He just doesn't have that edge like he used to and seems like a zombie. No emotions. I would guess he is going to restructure as that is his only choice. I am pretty sure he knows that.

BookmarkDo you release Griffen?
I guess if no team is willing to give us a 7th, then yes cut him.

Well, you sure as hell trade him...if you can.

The reality is, fans are over-valuing this entire roster. NOBODY on the Vikings should be considered "untradeable".  NOBODY.

MAYBE Hunter and, er, ummmm,.......I can't think of any other irreplaceable player. Maybe Theilen, but for all his stats, he's still not a true #1 WR like Moss/Brown/Jones/Beckham, etc. Cousins? LMAO!! No team would give anything more than a 4th round pick with his ridiculous salary. 

Every player on this current roster SHOULD be available in a trade scenario. MY problem is that it would be the current GM and scouts making the determinations/selections before/during/after any trades. 

Based on 12 seasons and 2 playoff wins, I have ZERO confidence in this current "braintrust" to make the necesarry decisions that will lead to a CHAMPIONSHIP. Certainly not next season. 

Enjoy your mediocrity, Schpielman fluffers. It's gonna continue for a 13th season! Congrats! 

@"Hidalgo" said: Restructure his contract to benefit the team and then cut him just before the season starts. Isn't that what Spielman does with our defensive leaders

There's an ugly truth in that. If I'm Everson, i'm looking at Robison's situation and being very cautious about restructuring.

I've absolutely loved the guy playing here for years and can't imagine him suiting up in another uniform. That said, he's counting for something like $10 mil against the cap, we (actually) have a proven guy this time in Weatherly that can fill in, and we're cap strapped. We need interior offensive lineman in the worst way.

I think i'd rather roll with Weatherly/Hunter and sign a lineman than keep the DE position stacked while struggling on the offensive line again. I'll be happy if Griffen sticks around, but I think the smartest move forward is restructuring/moving on. 

I also don't believe that Griffen is overvalued or overrated, but I do believe that his issues this season are very underrated. He'll be viewed as major boom/bust type player and I think he will get generous short term "prove it" offers. Last season will be the main factor in a short term deal, and his prior performance will have a couple teams willing to invest short term to find out.

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"BarrNone55" said:

Everson Griffen - DL - VikingsThe Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Ben Goessling considers Vikings DE Everson Griffen a candidate for release this offseason. Griffen is now 31 and coming off a year where he battled mental health issues and had to leave the team for a period of time. When he was on the field, Griffen notched just 5.5 sacks across 11 games. That came after Griffen had 43.5 takedowns of quarterbacks the previous four seasons. Due a $10.9 million salary in 2019, the Vikings can save $10.7 million against the cap by cutting Griffen. Danielle Hunter is the best edge rusher on the team, and Stephen Weatherly played well in Griffen's absence. Minnesota's cap situation may work against Griffen.Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

The decision will ultimately be made at the combine when the Vikings meet with Griffen's reps. My guess is the Vikings will be willing to prorate some of his 2019 salary in a signing bonus across the remainder of his deal. In return they'll expect Griffen to take a substantial cut with the opportunity to make some of the money back through incentives. 

Best guess is the Vikings will offer him a base salary of $930K, give roughly $4M in a signing bonus (at time of restructure), turn $500K into a per game active roster bonus, and lastly offer $1.5M escalators at 6, 8 and 10 sacks. 

If he plays 16 games and gets 10+ sacks he'll end up making about $10M compared to $10.9M he is scheduled to make now. The signing bonus also gives the Vikings a strong incentive to keep him on the roster securing his $500K roster bonus. For the Vikings this would reduce his 2019 cap hit to around $3.2M from $11.9M giving the Vikings an additional $8.7M to work with.

@"MarkSP18" said:

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"BarrNone55" said:

Everson Griffen - DL - VikingsThe Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Ben Goessling considers Vikings DE Everson Griffen a candidate for release this offseason. Griffen is now 31 and coming off a year where he battled mental health issues and had to leave the team for a period of time. When he was on the field, Griffen notched just 5.5 sacks across 11 games. That came after Griffen had 43.5 takedowns of quarterbacks the previous four seasons. Due a $10.9 million salary in 2019, the Vikings can save $10.7 million against the cap by cutting Griffen. Danielle Hunter is the best edge rusher on the team, and Stephen Weatherly played well in Griffen's absence. Minnesota's cap situation may work against Griffen.Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

The decision will ultimately be made at the combine when the Vikings meet with Griffen's reps. My guess is the Vikings will be willing to prorate some of his 2019 salary in a signing bonus across the remainder of his deal. In return they'll expect Griffen to take a substantial cut with the opportunity to make some of the money back through incentives. 

Best guess is the Vikings will offer him a base salary of $930K, give roughly $4M in a signing bonus (at time of restructure), turn $500K into a per game active roster bonus, and lastly offer $1.5M escalators at 6, 8 and 10 sacks. 

If he plays 16 games and gets 10+ sacks he'll end up making about $10M compared to $10.9M he is scheduled to make now. The signing bonus also gives the Vikings a strong incentive to keep him on the roster securing his $500K roster bonus. For the Vikings this would reduce his 2019 cap hit to around $3.2M from $11.9M giving the Vikings an additional $8.7M to work with.

Interesting restructure (er., pay cut) scenario.  Right now he has dead money of 1.2 M, 800K, & 400K the next 3 years.
You are suggesting for the Vikings to take on more dead money for a player who is already 31 and turns 32 next December.
in 2020 his dead cap would be the 3 mil plus 800K right.
And what about the other years remaining in his deal.  I only see details for 2019.
I am just asking here not saying it is bad or anything like that.  What would your guess be for the remaining years on his deal?

@"MarkSP18" said:

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"BarrNone55" said:

Everson Griffen - DL - VikingsThe Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Ben Goessling considers Vikings DE Everson Griffen a candidate for release this offseason. Griffen is now 31 and coming off a year where he battled mental health issues and had to leave the team for a period of time. When he was on the field, Griffen notched just 5.5 sacks across 11 games. That came after Griffen had 43.5 takedowns of quarterbacks the previous four seasons. Due a $10.9 million salary in 2019, the Vikings can save $10.7 million against the cap by cutting Griffen. Danielle Hunter is the best edge rusher on the team, and Stephen Weatherly played well in Griffen's absence. Minnesota's cap situation may work against Griffen.Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

The decision will ultimately be made at the combine when the Vikings meet with Griffen's reps. My guess is the Vikings will be willing to prorate some of his 2019 salary in a signing bonus across the remainder of his deal. In return they'll expect Griffen to take a substantial cut with the opportunity to make some of the money back through incentives. 

Best guess is the Vikings will offer him a base salary of $930K, give roughly $4M in a signing bonus (at time of restructure), turn $500K into a per game active roster bonus, and lastly offer $1.5M escalators at 6, 8 and 10 sacks. 

If he plays 16 games and gets 10+ sacks he'll end up making about $10M compared to $10.9M he is scheduled to make now. The signing bonus also gives the Vikings a strong incentive to keep him on the roster securing his $500K roster bonus. For the Vikings this would reduce his 2019 cap hit to around $3.2M from $11.9M giving the Vikings an additional $8.7M to work with.

Interesting restructure (er., pay cut) scenario.  Right now he has dead money of 1.2 M, 800K, & 400K the next 3 years.
You are suggesting for the Vikings to take on more dead money for a player who is already 31 and turns 32 next December.
in 2020 his dead cap would be the 3 mil plus 800K right.
And what about the other years remaining in his deal.  I only see details for 2019.
I am just asking here not saying it is bad or anything like that.  What would your guess be for the remaining years on his deal?

@"Jor-El" said:

@"MarkSP18" said:

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"BarrNone55" said:

Everson Griffen - DL - VikingsThe Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Ben Goessling considers Vikings DE Everson Griffen a candidate for release this offseason. Griffen is now 31 and coming off a year where he battled mental health issues and had to leave the team for a period of time. When he was on the field, Griffen notched just 5.5 sacks across 11 games. That came after Griffen had 43.5 takedowns of quarterbacks the previous four seasons. Due a $10.9 million salary in 2019, the Vikings can save $10.7 million against the cap by cutting Griffen. Danielle Hunter is the best edge rusher on the team, and Stephen Weatherly played well in Griffen's absence. Minnesota's cap situation may work against Griffen.Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

The decision will ultimately be made at the combine when the Vikings meet with Griffen's reps. My guess is the Vikings will be willing to prorate some of his 2019 salary in a signing bonus across the remainder of his deal. In return they'll expect Griffen to take a substantial cut with the opportunity to make some of the money back through incentives. 

Best guess is the Vikings will offer him a base salary of $930K, give roughly $4M in a signing bonus (at time of restructure), turn $500K into a per game active roster bonus, and lastly offer $1.5M escalators at 6, 8 and 10 sacks. 

If he plays 16 games and gets 10+ sacks he'll end up making about $10M compared to $10.9M he is scheduled to make now. The signing bonus also gives the Vikings a strong incentive to keep him on the roster securing his $500K roster bonus. For the Vikings this would reduce his 2019 cap hit to around $3.2M from $11.9M giving the Vikings an additional $8.7M to work with.

Interesting restructure (er., pay cut) scenario.  Right now he has dead money of 1.2 M, 800K, & 400K the next 3 years.
You are suggesting for the Vikings to take on more dead money for a player who is already 31 and turns 32 next December.
in 2020 his dead cap would be the 3 mil plus 800K right.
And what about the other years remaining in his deal.  I only see details for 2019.
I am just asking here not saying it is bad or anything like that.  What would your guess be for the remaining years on his deal?

I would be disappointed if the Vikings gave him an extension with additional guaranteed money. His contract was overly long on paper, but structured to let them get out of it if he declined. That has happened; time to tell him he takes a new prove-it deal or tests the waters.

Get better or go backward. Vikes have some big decisions this offseason and into the draft.

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"MarkSP18" said:

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"BarrNone55" said:

Everson Griffen - DL - VikingsThe Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Ben Goessling considers Vikings DE Everson Griffen a candidate for release this offseason. Griffen is now 31 and coming off a year where he battled mental health issues and had to leave the team for a period of time. When he was on the field, Griffen notched just 5.5 sacks across 11 games. That came after Griffen had 43.5 takedowns of quarterbacks the previous four seasons. Due a $10.9 million salary in 2019, the Vikings can save $10.7 million against the cap by cutting Griffen. Danielle Hunter is the best edge rusher on the team, and Stephen Weatherly played well in Griffen's absence. Minnesota's cap situation may work against Griffen.Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

The decision will ultimately be made at the combine when the Vikings meet with Griffen's reps. My guess is the Vikings will be willing to prorate some of his 2019 salary in a signing bonus across the remainder of his deal. In return they'll expect Griffen to take a substantial cut with the opportunity to make some of the money back through incentives. 

Best guess is the Vikings will offer him a base salary of $930K, give roughly $4M in a signing bonus (at time of restructure), turn $500K into a per game active roster bonus, and lastly offer $1.5M escalators at 6, 8 and 10 sacks. 

If he plays 16 games and gets 10+ sacks he'll end up making about $10M compared to $10.9M he is scheduled to make now. The signing bonus also gives the Vikings a strong incentive to keep him on the roster securing his $500K roster bonus. For the Vikings this would reduce his 2019 cap hit to around $3.2M from $11.9M giving the Vikings an additional $8.7M to work with.

Interesting restructure (er., pay cut) scenario.  Right now he has dead money of 1.2 M, 800K, & 400K the next 3 years.
You are suggesting for the Vikings to take on more dead money for a player who is already 31 and turns 32 next December.
in 2020 his dead cap would be the 3 mil plus 800K right.
And what about the other years remaining in his deal.  I only see details for 2019.
I am just asking here not saying it is bad or anything like that.  What would your guess be for the remaining years on his deal?

You would have to give something to get something. If the Vikings ends up restructuring with Griffen this off-season they'll need to take on additional guarantees. The question really comes down to whether you guarantee salary this season (isolate the impact) or spread it out. The obvious advantage to spreading it out is that you save cap this year. If you played out my structure above the cap/cap benefit would be: 

2019 - Cap Hit $3.2M / $5.2M Dead  
2020 - Cap Hit $14.9M (up to 4.5M in incentives) / 3.8M Dead
2021 - Cap Hit $15.4M / 2.4M Dead  
2022 - Cap Hit $16.5M / 1.0M Dead  

So if you really dig into the above you end up pushing money into the future but in no way is it going to negatively impact the teams ability to move on for any reason. If you were to trade/release Griffen this off-season you would have a cap benefit of $10.5M. I would argue you're better off keeping him on the roster in 2019 for $3.2M with the money pushed down the road since you still would have a cap benefit of $11.1M in 2020. So you aren't losing any leverage. You also get to utilize the $8.5M in 2019 and/or roll it into 2020 if you don't.