Morning Walkthrough Tweets -08/09/12

[Reality]

Signing a free agent center, who was not wanted enough to get invited to any of the 32 training camps, to a contract now is very foolish. When the final cut downs occur, there are going to be veteran centers available to choose from and I am sure there are going to be some teams who know they are rebuilding who will likely release an older proven center if they drafted or already had a young center on their roster that they feel can handle the job.

Anyone they sign now would likely be replaced before the season starts and since they very likely saw no available centers they feel will make the team, they are holding off on signing any of them so the young players can at least get some experience doing it.

I'm not as down on Costa as others are, but I am not sold on him either. Even worse, I am not overly confident in our backups including the injured backups. However, I would rather get some of these other guys some snaps at center and see if they can improve some until other teams start cutting proven veteran centers in the coming weeks.

At that time, we can sign one of them and then we will have at least one or two young lineman with some experience at center should an emergency need ever arise during a game where they are activated.

#reality

 

[Kangaroo]

Signing a free agent center, who was not wanted enough to get invited to any of the 32 training camps, to a contract now is very foolish. When the final cut downs occur, there are going to be veteran centers available to choose from and I am sure there are going to be some teams who know they are rebuilding who will likely release an older proven center if they drafted or already had a young center on their roster that they feel can handle the job.

Anyone they sign now would likely be replaced before the season starts and since they very likely saw no available centers they feel will make the team, they are holding off on signing any of them so the young players can at least get some experience doing it.

I'm not as down on Costa as others are, but I am not sold on him either. Even worse, I am not overly confident in our backups including the injured backups. However, I would rather get some of these other guys some snaps at center and see if they can improve some until other teams start cutting proven veteran centers in the coming weeks.

At that time, we can sign one of them and then we will have at least one or two young lineman with some experience at center should an emergency need ever arise during a game where they are activated.

#reality

 

[ethiostar]

Signing a free agent center, who was not wanted enough to get invited to any of the 32 training camps, to a contract now is very foolish. When the final cut downs occur, there are going to be veteran centers available to choose from and I am sure there are going to be some teams who know they are rebuilding who will likely release an older proven center if they drafted or already had a young center on their roster that they feel can handle the job.

Anyone they sign now would likely be replaced before the season starts and since they very likely saw no available centers they feel will make the team, they are holding off on signing any of them so the young players can at least get some experience doing it.

I'm not as down on Costa as others are, but I am not sold on him either. Even worse, I am not overly confident in our backups including the injured backups. However, I would rather get some of these other guys some snaps at center and see if they can improve some until other teams start cutting proven veteran centers in the coming weeks.

At that time, we can sign one of them and then we will have at least one or two young lineman with some experience at center should an emergency need ever arise during a game where they are activated.

#reality

Well said!

 

[xwalker]

Trust me........I have spent many hours over the last 2 months going over the pluses and minuses of EVERY center in the NFL.....

Here is the story.

There is the top handful of the most elite centers,...the Pounceys, Mangolds,...guys like that. Forget it.......their teams wouldnt even dream of trading them.

Then there are a whole wagon load of players that are only maginally better than what we have in Costa. So........why do it? Doesnt pay.


This guy here is the ONLY top quality center in the NFL who " MIGHT" be available in trade.

Reasons why he MAY be available...


The vikes are in rebuild mode

They have a desperate NEED at C.B

They could use the extra 3rd in their rebuilding.

They have another young Center named Fusco that they are VERY high on.


Heres what I find funny. So many people have told me a 3rd and Jenks is way too high to pay for Sullivan. Maybe so.......BUT.........with the center market being soooooooooooooo thin it is the Vikes who may very well tell US to go fly a kite in regards to that offer.


And yes,....of coarse I know that Jenks has to be medically cleared before we could even dream of working a deal.


You have to remember. The odds of Jenks being on the team next year are about zero percent. A 3rd and a player we are only renting for a young, top notch,...near probowl type center? I'll take that deal EVERY time considering the situation we are in. .

Good work reviewing the Centers on other teams, however...

1. If the Vikes are in rebuilding mode, then what value does Jenkins have to them?

2. Sullivan signed a contract in 2011.
12/17/2011: Signed a six-year, $25.6 million contract. The deal contains $10 million guaranteed, including a $5 million signing bonus. 2012: $3 million, 2013: $3.15 million, 2014: $3.65 million, 2015-2016: $4.65 million, 2017: Free Agent

The Vikes would have to eat the remaining part of the signing bonus.

3. Sullivan just turned 27, he is still plenty young to be part of a rebuilding team. The Vikes were probably in rebuilding mode when they gave him the contract last December.

4. If Sullivan and his backup are great at Center, then at least 1 of them is probably a good Guard also.