Time For The Vikings To Go Big At WR?

Vincent Jackson

   As rumors continue to swirl that the Vikings are in the market to trade for San Diego wide receiver Vincent Jackson, team officials spent the weekend setting up visits for four free agent receivers at Winter Park.
The Vikings plan to look at Sam Aiken (Patriots), Reggie Brown (Eagles), Ruvell Martin (Seahawks) and Demetrius Williams (Ravens) as early as Monday. The visits were first reported on Fox and ESPN's pregame shows Sunday and the door also appears to have been left open for veteran Javon Walker to return. Walker was let go in the Vikings' final roster cuts on Sept. 4 after he joined the team late in the preseason.
The flurry of activity came only two days after Vikings coach Brad Childress told reporters he was not thinking about adding to a wide receiver group that is only four deep and combined for four receptions in the Vikings' 14-9 season-opening loss Thursday night at New Orleans.
Quarterback Brett Favre attempted to take the blame for the fact that none of his wide receivers had more than one catch saying he wasn't sharp enough on some passes. But there was little doubt Favre missed the presence of the 6-4 Sidney Rice, who turned into the quarterback's favorite target last season as he had 83 catches for 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns.
Rice is expected to miss at least half the season after having hip surgery. Bernard Berrian, who is 6-1, has big play ability but had only one catch for 3 yards against the Saints.
Jackson would be the most attractive of any available receiver because he would give Favre a Rice-like presence. The 6-5 Jackson had a career-high 68 receptions for 1,167 yards and nine touchdowns last season. However, there are questions regarding his availability that will need to be cleared up before any team pursues him.

    Jackson, a restricted free agent, remains unsigned and has not reported to the Chargers because he isn't happy with his contract situation. Things get murky because Jackson has been suspended for the first three games of the season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. San Diego also placed him on the roster exempt list, meaning he could end up missing six games to start the year.
The NFL contends that Jackson should have to sit out the entire six games even if he is traded; the NFL Players Association says the six-year veteran shouldn't have to miss those final three games if he is with a new team.
    There have been multiple reports that an arbitrator will hear the case Thursday morning and if the ruling goes in Jackson's favor he could be moved quickly. If he is forced to sit out six games, his attractiveness to the Vikings decreases in a big way because Rice might return shortly thereafter.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported in August that the Vikings had made a call to check on Jackson's availability but "immediately balked" at his demands. That would be the same $50 million, five-year contract, with $30 million in guarantees, that caused Seattle to stop talking to Jackson's reps after they received permission to do so.
      The Jackson-to-Minnesota rumors picked up again when reports circulated that his agents had a deal completed Sept. 4 with a team they would not identify. The Union-Tribune said this time the agreement was believed to be for one year and $7 million plus incentives but that it fell through because the unknown team could not come to an agreement with the Chargers.
If Jackson had signed and reported by the 5 p.m. deadline Sept. 4, he could have served his suspension and his time on the roster exempt list concurrently but the league no longer sees it that way. The Vikings, who probably will have Favre for only the remainder of this season and are trying to make another deep playoff run, became the likely candidate as the unnamed team when the Rams and Seahawks were eliminated as the potential suitors by the Union-Tribune.
   One of Jackson's agents, Jonathan Feinsod, and Vikings officials have both declined to comment on whether the team is interested. Even if Jackson doesn't end up with the Vikings, it appears the team could have a fifth receiver on its roster when it plays its home opener on Sunday against Miami.


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Vincent Jackson: Chances Increasing For Vikings To Acquire Pro-Bowler

     

Bernard Berrian Might Be Traded Away For Vincent Jackson

                              

                       San Diego Chargers' Wide Receiver Vincent Jackson

For those that have not been following the Vincent Jackson suspension/trade talks, allow me to fill you in really quick.

Vincent Jackson of the San Diego Chargers is currently facing a three game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy, which was announced on July 1, 2010.   Last Saturday, an unnamed team reportedly made Jackson's agents a one-year deal to acquire the 2009 Pro-Bowler. The offer was rejected by the Chargers. San Diego's asking price was originally expected to be for a  first-rounder, maybe even more. But with nobody willing to give up that much, the Chargers were out of luck.

Since then, they have lowered their asking price to both a second and third round pick.

It's not been revealed how much Minnesota offered, but we just know that it wasn't enough for San Diego to let him go to the NFC.

On September 11, rumors resurfaced that the Vikings would be willing to offer more if Jackson's suspension is kept at only three games, rather than six, which he could face.

Vincent's best season occurred last year when he recorded 68 catches for 1,167 yards, and nine touchdowns in only 15 games.

Even though his reception numbers aren't great, Philip Rivers is a quarterback that loves to distribute the ball to all of his targets, which include Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd.

With his 6'5", 230 pound frame, Jackson has the ideal size for a wide receiver. Despite not having the greatest speed, he is able to overpower the defenders that attempt to cover him.

It became abundantly clear that the Vikings are missing Sidney Rice after only scoring nine points on Thursday night's opener against the New Orleans Saints.

The fact that Brett Favre doesn't have a "big" receiver to throw to at the moment could be a cause for concern for Minnesota.

Although Sidney Rice is expected to be back after week eight, the Vikings could use Vincent Jackson for only one year.

If he fits in well with Minnesota, they could opt to sign him to an extension, but that doesn't seem very likely at this point in time.

As a Vikings fan, I am willing to admit that Minnesota's offense could be in trouble if Minnesota's main targets can't step up.

Bernard Berrian has seemed to struggle ever since Sidney became "the man" for Brett to throw to. Perhaps jealousy really does factor into football.

Only joking, people.

Don't get me wrong, I do not condone the multiple times Jackson has broken the law, but his talent on the field is something that will undoubtedly overshadow his troubled past.

It's been stated that Vincent will likely never play a down for San Diego again, so why not trade him away to a team that you will only face every few years or so?

Both the Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams were in the hunt for Jackson at one point, but talks between respective parties fizzled after they couldn't come up with the proper deal for San Diego to accept.

At this point, the Chargers should accept whatever they can get for him. Nonetheless, anything less than a fourth-rounder would be ludicrous for San Diego.

Minnesota's offense would reach the level of unstoppable with Jackson, Rice, Percy Harvin, Berrian, and Visanthe Shiancoe as weapons for Brett Favre to throw to.

However, I do believe Berrian could be included in the deal for Jackson.

San Diego's passing game will take a serious hit if they are unable to find a suitable replacement for Vincent. Legedu Naanee won't cut the cake, unfortunately.

Where we stand now, trade talks are somewhat at a minimum, but you never know what can happen in a matter of hours when it comes to the NFL.

With the false reports of T.J. Houshmandzadeh signing with the Vikings, and Brett Favre retiring for good, I'm not sure what to believe or not believe any more these days.

Until I hear it from Brad Childress, himself, I tend to ignore whatever rumors come about. With that said, I am hoping that this one is absolutely true.

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