By Ted Glover
Vikingsboard.net
3/13/06

The Minnesota Vikings dropped a contractual bomb on the Seattle Seahawks with
the 7 year, $49 million offer to All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson, one that most
third world countries could not afford. Unfortunately, the Ivory Coast does not
own the Seahawks, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen does, and the Seahawks are in
pretty good shape financially, at least when compared to the Ivory Coast.
However, when compared to the rules and regulations of the NFL salary cap, this
offer could pose problems for the Seahawks, both short term and long term.

But to me, whether the Vikings sign Hutchinson is almost irrelevant. Don't get
me wrong, I hope he becomes a Viking, and with him, McKinnie, and Birk, they
could prove to be a very formidable line that would harken back to the recent
glory days of Christy, McDaniel, and Steussie, before he became the false start
king.

The relevance here is the message this offer sheet sends, and it is one that
the fans of the purple haven't gotten in recent years. It says emphatically that
"We're here to build a winner, and we won't let anything get in the way." In
years past, there would be pronouncements that the Vikings would be aggressive
and that they would go after top talent, but they didn't. The first few days or
even weeks of free agency would go by, the top guys would slip away, and the
Vikings would be left with the Lorenzo Bromells and Henri Crocketts of the free
agency flotsam and jetsam. Two years ago, they signed the premier CB in free
agency, Antoine Winfield, but that was to get the team above the mandated salary
floor. Last year, Red opened up his wallet, but he was spending Zygi's money, so
you can't really say that counts, although they did get some good free agents.

This year it has been different, in a dramatic and jaw-dropping sort of way.
There were actually rumors that the Vikings were looking at and had even
possibly signed linebacker Ben Leber BEFORE free agency officially began. Rumor
or otherwise, Leber signed with the Vikings on day one, as did one of the top
kickers in Ryan Longwell, and a promising running back in Chester Taylor. Then
today the news of the Hutchinson contract, the largest in the history of the NFL
for a guard. Ironically, the chief complaint from Viking Nation was that the
team had overpaid for some of the talent. I was guilty as charged; but after
thinking about it, why the hell am I complaining? They were active in free
agency early, they got solid players on day one, and they were willing to spend
money. And I'm bitching about it? Criminey, what's my problem?

Many fans, me included, were upset that the Vikings did not go after a premier
running back, but the Triangle of Authority has a methodical, calculating plan
to free agency, and they have executed it to near-perfection. Getting a premier
running back isn't necessary if a dominant offensive line is the objective. A
good running back can become great behind a top line. If Hutchinson becomes a
Viking, they will have the potential for a dominant line, and the Vikings have
good, but not great running backs, with Chester Taylor, Mewelde Moore, Ciatrick
Fason, and possibly Onterrio Smith. And conversely, a good running back will
struggle behind a porous offensive line, which is what the Vikings have suffered
from for the last two years and the new regime is determined to stop. Edgerrin
James might have been the sexy pick, but Steve Hutchinson was the right pick.

No, the TOA has done it right. Build a dominant offensive line, and you have a
running game, regardless of who is running the ball. Just ask the Denver
Broncos. A solid running game opens up the passing game, and if you give a
veteran like Brad Johnson time, he'll kill you.

Will Seattle match the offer sheet? Only they can answer that. At face value,
it would seem that they will have a difficult time in fitting that contract
under their cap, but they have seven days to try and make it fit. And if they do
match it, I’m sure that the Vikings have a contingency plan.

I would be surprised if they didn't.


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