free agents leaving Vikings because of ‘toxic leadership’

[Purp1eOne]

Rhett Ellison’s father says free agents leaving Vikings because of ‘toxic leadership’ link

[Purp1eOne]

Riki Ellison @rikiellison

Rick Spielman is an idiot- he doesn't know who his leaders are, and their value - you can't win with being clueless on leadership-

[PurplePastor]

Yah, we've really lost some key ones (maybe Munnerlyn), but who else have we lost that we were willing to pay?

[njvikesfan]

Rhett Ellison, Kalil, Audie Cole, Charles Johnson.......Mostly back ups. Munnerlyn is the only one who might be difficult to replace. Most of these guys were marginal players and I doubt anyone is disappointed that Kalil and CJ are gone. Most were distraught with the rumors of Kalil potentially returning.

Marginal players were not offered deals to stay and didn't feel wanted. Now they are bashing their former team? Munnerlyn left for more money. The others we didn't want, they know it and are feeling slighted. When somebody significant leaves and bashes the Vikings leadership I will care.

[Uncle]

Although I agree that the only one leaving so far this FA period that may hurt a bit is Captain, this is just another in the now growing list of seemingly internal problems going on at Winter Park. Right after that 5-0 start, Norv resigned following that brutal MNF game at Chicago, the team fell apart, zero effort in a crucial home game vs Indy, players going "rogue" on defense and Zimmer calling players out (specifically OL).

This definitely could be a case of "sour grapes" by Ellison and his family (similar to Peterson's dad tweeting that AP doesn't feel "appreciated" after the Vikes failed to pick up his ridiculous $18m option), but there just doesn't seem to be something "right" w/ this team at the moment.

I've said it all along that Rick has seemingly "lost" a bunch this FA period - missing out on K'Waun Williams, missing on Wagner, missing on keeping Kalil (I wasn't worried about that, but apparently Rick was), missing out on Jeffrey and Pryor, missing out on Peko, and possibly missing on other FA that left (like Captain - although we don't know if the Vikes offered anything initially). And although I'm not terribly heartbroken over this, Lacey has seemingly left Minnesota without signing a contract after spending a decent amount of the weekend there.

I've laid out what I think would turn the offseason around a bit before the 2017 Draft in the "What Next" thread, and if that doesn't happen, there will just be question mark after question mark heading into the Draft.

[njvikesfan]

Mar 12, 2017 17:04:52 GMT -6 Uncle said:

Although I agree that the only one leaving so far this FA period that may hurt a bit is Captain, this is just another in the now growing list of seemingly internal problems going on at Winter Park. Right after that 5-0 start, Norv resigned following that brutal MNF game at Chicago, the team fell apart, zero effort in a crucial home game vs Indy, players going "rogue" on defense and Zimmer calling players out (specifically OL).

This definitely could be a case of "sour grapes" by Ellison and his family (similar to Peterson's dad tweeting that AP doesn't feel "appreciated" after the Vikes failed to pick up his ridiculous $18m option), but there just doesn't seem to be something "right" w/ this team at the moment.

I've said it all along that Rick has seemingly "lost" a bunch this FA period - missing out on K'Waun Williams, missing on Wagner, missing on keeping Kalil (I wasn't worried about that, but apparently Rick was), missing out on Jeffrey and Pryor, missing out on Peko, and possibly missing on other FA that left (like Captain - although we don't know if the Vikes offered anything initially). And although I'm not terribly heartbroken over this, Lacey has seemingly left Minnesota without signing a contract after spending a decent amount of the weekend there.

I've laid out what I think would turn the offseason around a bit before the 2017 Draft in the "What Next" thread, and if that doesn't happen, there will just be question mark after question mark heading into the Draft.

I do agree with some of the effort in a few games and the DBs going rogue was troubling. I also think all the injuries took their toll on the team. 

Blaming the coaches for having too physical of practices leading to a wave of injuries in week 2? If we were hit later in the season I could see that wearing a team down, but not by week 2. Unless we were hitting a lot in preseason. Players don't like physical practices so they are blaming the injuries on the coaches IMO.

Lets see how things go this year. Hopefully a lot f the issues with this team ere due to the massive number of injuries and playing essentially an entire season as a flawed team.

[SmokedPears]

I was starting to have these concerns too but CP seems to want to be here and I think that says something.

[Uncle]

Mar 13, 2017 6:52:36 GMT -6 SmokedPears said:

I was starting to have these concerns too but CP seems to want to be here and I think that says something.

It sort of says the market he thought there would be isn't there and perhaps his best chance at a big payday might be w/ the Vikings.

On another team he might be forced to actually run routes as a WR. On another team he would be forced to learn a completely new system and work hard to get up to speed. On another team he may not have the same opportunities for touches on offense he thinks he may have earned (RB carries, WR sweeps, etc). 

Patterson isn't known for his hard work. After Musgrave used him the best way he could his rookie year, he didn't work hardly at all to get involved in Turner's downfield system, and as a result, he wasn't involved in the offense in Yr 2 or 3 and only shined in the return game. This past year he actually took advice, worked hard in the offseason and it paid off - he was involved a bit more in the offense and shined on ST not only as a returner, but as a gunner. He took the opportunities that were given to him to play his best. The only problem w/ that is that it took nearly 4 years for him to put that kind of effort in when he should have been doing that from Day 1, especially given the investment the Vikings made in him. When the Vikes turned down his 5th yr option, he finally got his butt in gear, but did he only do it so he could look good this offseason? Before other teams would make a big investment in him, they want to see more of a consistent effort from him and I can't blame them. 

So now he figures his best shot at actually cashing in is to have another 2016-type season in 2017 and show the Vikings and the rest of the NFL that he really is a special player worthy of a bunch of guaranteed money. 

[SmokedPears]

Mar 13, 2017 7:10:37 GMT -6 Uncle said:

Mar 13, 2017 6:52:36 GMT -6 SmokedPears said:

I was starting to have these concerns too but CP seems to want to be here and I think that says something.

It sort of says the market he thought there would be isn't there and perhaps his best chance at a big payday might be w/ the Vikings.

On another team he might be forced to actually run routes as a WR. On another team he would be forced to learn a completely new system and work hard to get up to speed. On another team he may not have the same opportunities for touches on offense he thinks he may have earned (RB carries, WR sweeps, etc). 

Patterson isn't known for his hard work. After Musgrave used him the best way he could his rookie year, he didn't work hardly at all to get involved in Turner's downfield system, and as a result, he wasn't involved in the offense in Yr 2 or 3 and only shined in the return game. This past year he actually took advice, worked hard in the offseason and it paid off - he was involved a bit more in the offense and shined on ST not only as a returner, but as a gunner. He took the opportunities that were given to him to play his best. The only problem w/ that is that it took nearly 4 years for him to put that kind of effort in when he should have been doing that from Day 1, especially given the investment the Vikings made in him. When the Vikes turned down his 5th yr option, he finally got his butt in gear, but did he only do it so he could look good this offseason? Before other teams would make a big investment in him, they want to see more of a consistent effort from him and I can't blame them. 

So now he figures his best shot at actually cashing in is to have another 2016-type season in 2017 and show the Vikings and the rest of the NFL that he really is a special player worthy of a bunch of guaranteed money. 

Maybe but it seems to me there is always a market for special returners. Maybe not the same as a starting WR but it isn't bad. 

[Uncle]

Mar 13, 2017 8:27:20 GMT -6 SmokedPears said:

Mar 13, 2017 7:10:37 GMT -6 Uncle said:

Maybe but it seems to me there is always a market for special returners. Maybe not the same as a starting WR but it isn't bad. 

There is a market for premier kickoff/punt returners, but that market also includes them being an X-factor on offense, too. I think Tyreek Hill set the bar for that in 2016 w/ the Chiefs - special in kickoff returns, punt returns AND on offense - all three phases. Patterson was special on kickoff returns and somewhat on offense, but hasn't shown that consistently enough across his first 4 years in Minnesota to warrant a multi-year deal w/ big-time guaranteed money. 

Tavon Austin set the market w/ his deal in Aug 2016 w/ the Rams - 6 yrs for $56m; $30m of that guaranteed. He was supposed to be what Tyreek Hill is to the Chiefs, but Austin failed to make a significant impact for the Rams in 2016, but he hasn't graduated from being just a "gadget player" and he failed to secure 1,000 yds from scrimmage in 2016. In fact, he had barely over 1,000 all-purpose yards if you factor in return yards (1,037). 

That big deal and Austin's lack of production really turned-off teams to signing gadget players like Patterson to big deals, and with Hill setting the bar on a cheap rookie contract, teams seem to be really hesitant on giving Patterson that kind of money without Patterson proving he can be more than a gadget player on a consistent basis. 

His best bet is to either take a likely lesser deal w/ the Vikes, or a 1-yr "prove-it" deal w/ the likes of Chicago or Washington - a team that won't contend for anything in 2017 other than 2018 draft position. 

[badgervike]

I don't put a lot of stock in what a 2nd tier player's father says. Ellison has been with the Vikings a while...and the Vikings don't see much value in him except as that second tier guy. In the end, it's a business. That has to effect the ego of a guy who has been with the organization a long time....that they don't place a priority on re-signing you. Players have big egos....this has to hurt. It's easier to blame it on "toxic leadership" than the fact that you're a bit player in the grand scheme of things...that can easily be replaced.

[njvikesfan]

Mar 13, 2017 7:10:37 GMT -6 Uncle said:

Mar 13, 2017 6:52:36 GMT -6 SmokedPears said:

I was starting to have these concerns too but CP seems to want to be here and I think that says something.

It sort of says the market he thought there would be isn't there and perhaps his best chance at a big payday might be w/ the Vikings.

On another team he might be forced to actually run routes as a WR. On another team he would be forced to learn a completely new system and work hard to get up to speed. On another team he may not have the same opportunities for touches on offense he thinks he may have earned (RB carries, WR sweeps, etc). 

Patterson isn't known for his hard work. After Musgrave used him the best way he could his rookie year, he didn't work hardly at all to get involved in Turner's downfield system, and as a result, he wasn't involved in the offense in Yr 2 or 3 and only shined in the return game. This past year he actually took advice, worked hard in the offseason and it paid off - he was involved a bit more in the offense and shined on ST not only as a returner, but as a gunner. He took the opportunities that were given to him to play his best. The only problem w/ that is that it took nearly 4 years for him to put that kind of effort in when he should have been doing that from Day 1, especially given the investment the Vikings made in him. When the Vikes turned down his 5th yr option, he finally got his butt in gear, but did he only do it so he could look good this offseason? Before other teams would make a big investment in him, they want to see more of a consistent effort from him and I can't blame them. 

So now he figures his best shot at actually cashing in is to have another 2016-type season in 2017 and show the Vikings and the rest of the NFL that he really is a special player worthy of a bunch of guaranteed money. 

CP84 not being a hard worker his 1st 3 seasons and only putting the effort in for his contract year, now looking for a big payday?

I can see why he isn't getting a lot of interest in Free Agency. Lots of red flags.

[SmokedPears]

An incentive laden deal would be the ticket for him.