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He Made the Difference
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Food 4 thought - would Bill's linebacker fetish be piqued by either of these two?
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Henderson, Harris on way out?
During the preseason, the Vikings' linebackers were universally labeled the weak link of a potentially stout defense. The defensive line was loaded with talent, particularly with the Williams Wall in the middle, and the secondary was packed with proven veterans.
But the linebackers featured the following:
• a little-known free agent from the San Diego Chargers;
• a throwaway in the Randy Moss trade with the Oakland Raiders;
• an underachieving former Butkus Award winner;
• a rookie who some believed was an overachiever;
• a third-year, former second-round selection who has been an underachiever.
Yet heading into the final quarter of this season, the Vikings' linebackers have been the most reliable unit on the fifth-rated defense, even with rookie Chad Greenway sidelined in August.
E.J. Henderson, the former Butkus Award winner, leads the team with 95 tackles, and has two sacks and two interceptions. Napoleon Harris has manned middle linebacker better than anyone since Ed McDaniel in 1999. Ben Leber leads the team with three forced fumbles, and he has scored a touchdown and created another. And the athletic Dontarrious Thomas filled in capably for Leber and Harris in three games this season.
Despite the unit's solid play, the Vikings apparently are content rolling the dice at the linebacker position next offseason. Cornerback Antoine Winfield, defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, safety Darren Sharper and cornerback Cedric Griffin are among the key defensive players locked up for 2007. But two of the starting linebackers, Harris and Henderson, are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents, and the Vikings did not make a strong push to re-sign either of them.
And unlike many other NFL teams, the Vikings aren't limited by the salary cap. In fact, the Vikings have enough room to craft respectable contracts for both players, which makes their idleness all the more surprising.
Rob Brzezinski, the Vikings' vice president of football operations, always has been proactive about re-signing players. Consider the monstrous seven-year contract he negotiated with agent Ben Dogra for left tackle Bryant McKinnie.
So based on Brzezinski's track record, the Vikings might not be all that interested in bringing back either player. Surely Brzezinski knows what a frenzied market it will be in the offseason. The salary cap will increase to $109 million in 2007, up $7 million from this season, and with the upcoming class of free agents lacking star power, a handful of players could land better-than-expected deals.
Harris and Henderson could be two prime candidates who eventually fetch multiyear deals with guaranteed bonuses in excess of $8 million.
Lance Briggs of the Chicago Bears headlines the free-agent linebackers. But Harris could benefit because he appears to be one of the top inside linebackers expected to be available. Harris clearly hasn't been as effective since dislocating his wrist Oct. 30 against the New England Patriots. But his above-average speed and smarts would make him an ideal fit in any scheme, including the 3-4.
Henderson, meanwhile, has proven this year that he can blitz the quarterback, and he has proven durable.
So, what are the Vikings thinking?
Perhaps the Vikings believe Harris and Henderson aren't ideal fits for their scheme and are expendable, and that Greenway and Thomas can have heightened roles on the team. As for Leber, perhaps the Vikings think he's versatile enough to swing to the weak-side spot or can even replace Harris in the middle. Or, perhaps the Vikings are confident in the pool of 46 other unrestricted free-agent linebackers, as well as another 19 who are restricted free agents.
Perhaps Rick Spielman, the vice president of player personnel, has identified the next Leber, a somewhat unheralded young player who the Vikings project is on the verge of stardom.
Regardless, although there is time, the clock seems to be running out on Harris and Henderson's future in Vikings uniforms.
Sean Jensen can be reached at sjensen@pioneerpress.com.
SEAN JENSEN
_________________________________
Henderson, Harris on way out?
During the preseason, the Vikings' linebackers were universally labeled the weak link of a potentially stout defense. The defensive line was loaded with talent, particularly with the Williams Wall in the middle, and the secondary was packed with proven veterans.
But the linebackers featured the following:
• a little-known free agent from the San Diego Chargers;
• a throwaway in the Randy Moss trade with the Oakland Raiders;
• an underachieving former Butkus Award winner;
• a rookie who some believed was an overachiever;
• a third-year, former second-round selection who has been an underachiever.
Yet heading into the final quarter of this season, the Vikings' linebackers have been the most reliable unit on the fifth-rated defense, even with rookie Chad Greenway sidelined in August.
E.J. Henderson, the former Butkus Award winner, leads the team with 95 tackles, and has two sacks and two interceptions. Napoleon Harris has manned middle linebacker better than anyone since Ed McDaniel in 1999. Ben Leber leads the team with three forced fumbles, and he has scored a touchdown and created another. And the athletic Dontarrious Thomas filled in capably for Leber and Harris in three games this season.
Despite the unit's solid play, the Vikings apparently are content rolling the dice at the linebacker position next offseason. Cornerback Antoine Winfield, defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, safety Darren Sharper and cornerback Cedric Griffin are among the key defensive players locked up for 2007. But two of the starting linebackers, Harris and Henderson, are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents, and the Vikings did not make a strong push to re-sign either of them.
And unlike many other NFL teams, the Vikings aren't limited by the salary cap. In fact, the Vikings have enough room to craft respectable contracts for both players, which makes their idleness all the more surprising.
Rob Brzezinski, the Vikings' vice president of football operations, always has been proactive about re-signing players. Consider the monstrous seven-year contract he negotiated with agent Ben Dogra for left tackle Bryant McKinnie.
So based on Brzezinski's track record, the Vikings might not be all that interested in bringing back either player. Surely Brzezinski knows what a frenzied market it will be in the offseason. The salary cap will increase to $109 million in 2007, up $7 million from this season, and with the upcoming class of free agents lacking star power, a handful of players could land better-than-expected deals.
Harris and Henderson could be two prime candidates who eventually fetch multiyear deals with guaranteed bonuses in excess of $8 million.
Lance Briggs of the Chicago Bears headlines the free-agent linebackers. But Harris could benefit because he appears to be one of the top inside linebackers expected to be available. Harris clearly hasn't been as effective since dislocating his wrist Oct. 30 against the New England Patriots. But his above-average speed and smarts would make him an ideal fit in any scheme, including the 3-4.
Henderson, meanwhile, has proven this year that he can blitz the quarterback, and he has proven durable.
So, what are the Vikings thinking?
Perhaps the Vikings believe Harris and Henderson aren't ideal fits for their scheme and are expendable, and that Greenway and Thomas can have heightened roles on the team. As for Leber, perhaps the Vikings think he's versatile enough to swing to the weak-side spot or can even replace Harris in the middle. Or, perhaps the Vikings are confident in the pool of 46 other unrestricted free-agent linebackers, as well as another 19 who are restricted free agents.
Perhaps Rick Spielman, the vice president of player personnel, has identified the next Leber, a somewhat unheralded young player who the Vikings project is on the verge of stardom.
Regardless, although there is time, the clock seems to be running out on Harris and Henderson's future in Vikings uniforms.
Sean Jensen can be reached at sjensen@pioneerpress.com.
SEAN JENSEN