Vikes trade Erasmus James to Washington for a ham sandwich (7th)

[WoodysGirl]

VIKINGS TRADE JAMES TO ‘SKINS

Posted by Mike Florio on May 27, 2008, 5:28 p.m.
As it turns out, the Minnesota Vikings didn’t cut defensive end Erasmus James after all.

Instead, the reported move was rescinded by the Vikings on Tuesday, and James has been traded to the Washington Commanders for a conditional seventh-round draft pick.

“We really liked Erasmus coming out of college,” executive V.P. of football operations Vinny Cerrato said. “He’s young and talented, and he has a great deal of potential. We like the fact that his defensive line coach at the University of Wisconsin — John Palermo — is our current defensive line coach.”

James was a first-round pick of the Vikings in the 2005 draft.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Not exactly the place to go for a possible reclamation project.

 

[Typhus]

Not exactly what I like hearing.
Looks like Danny Boy might have figured out that you dont have to fork over first rounders for project players and busts.

 

[Hostile]

That's an easy gamble for the Skins. Good move. If he doesn't work out, it cost them very little. If it does, it cost them very little.

 

[dbair1967]

he's great except for two 'lil teeny tiny issues:

1) he's never healthy

and

2) he's not any good when he is actually out there

B U S T

David

 

[tomson75]

When did this happen? I ask only because Wikipedia already has him updated as a skin.

 

[PosterChild]

I have to say I thought this guy was going to be awesome in the NFL. He has the perfect name for the position, and even that didn't help him.

 

[TNCowboy]

I feel confident in the Commanders' continued futility as long as Cerrato is still there.

 

[jobberone]

Good job at finding a possible player. I liked this kid coming out of college but he was hurt before the draft wasn't he?

 

[Established1971]

Not exactly what I like hearing.
Looks like Danny Boy might have figured out that you dont have to fork over first rounders for project players and busts.

yeah but he gave up a draft pick for a cut player

 

[Skinsmaniac]

yeah but he gave up a draft pick for a cut player

No he didn't.

Edited: well, actually you could argue they did, but the Vikings uncut him.

 

[Stash]

I wonder if this was some type of move by the Commanders to avoid James getting claimed by a team higher on the waiver list?

I've never heard of a team 'undoing' a cut before, so it sounds a bit suspicious to me...

 

[adamknite]

Very solid move by the Skins. He could turn his career around which would be an incredible bargain for a 7th or he could be much of the same and a seventh isn't much of a price to pay on a gamble.

 

[Sarge]

James just never turned out to be the passrusher in the NFL that he was in college . . having said that, why not give up a 7th for him?

 

[Skinsmaniac]

I wonder if this was some type of move by the Commanders to avoid James getting claimed by a team higher on the waiver list?

I've never heard of a team 'undoing' a cut before, so it sounds a bit suspicious to me...

From what I can tell, because of the holiday weekend, either James didn't actually hit the waiver wire, or he did but the Vikings acted quickly enough to snatch him back up (I'm not sure of the exact waiver wire rules). The reason they un-cut him was that the Skins asked them to, so that the Skins could trade for him. The Skins wanted to trade for him because they suspected that someone higher on the waiver list would claim him. Obviously I have no inside info, but I suspect that James' agent told the Skins that other teams ahead of them were interested because the agent wanted James to go to the Skins where he has the best chance of making an impact since we don't have any depth at that position.

 

[Stash]

From what I can tell, because of the holiday weekend, either James didn't actually hit the waiver wire, or he did but the Vikings acted quickly enough to snatch him back up (I'm not sure of the exact waiver wire rules). The reason they un-cut him was that the Skins asked them to, so that the Skins could trade for him. The Skins wanted to trade for him because they suspected that someone higher on the waiver list would claim him. Obviously I have no inside info, but I suspect that James' agent told the Skins that other teams ahead of them were interested because the agent wanted James to go to the Skins where he has the best chance of making an impact since we don't have any depth at that position.

Doesn't that sound shady or against the rules to you?

 

[dallasfaniac]

More importantly for the Vikings, that's practically a 6th rounder.

 

[Skinsmaniac]

Doesn't that sound shady or against the rules to you?

No, to me it just sounds like the Skins were on their toes. As long as the Vikings filed the paperwork and the league accepted it, there's no problem. And the agent should be able to talk to any teams he wants since James was cut (and a trade is in the Vikes interests).

Of course all of this could be for nothing if James fails his physical tomorrow.

 

[Skinsmaniac]

More importantly for the Vikings, that's practically a 6th rounder.

Hehe. Hopefully we can pull a Cleveland this year.

 

[LowTech]

Hehe. Hopefully we can pull a Cleveland this year.

Nothing wrong with dreaming.