We discuss the Minnesota Vikings’ money moves and Bud Grant moving on, Kirill Kaprizov’s injury impact on the Wild, Anthony’s curse of the Whitecaps, and how Twins’ Spring Training and the World Baseball Classic is going.
Vikings Release Eric Kendricks and Adam Thielen, Lose Bud Grant, Might Lose Za’Darius Smith
Per Tyler Forness on Twitter, “The Minnesota Vikings front office is making a clear statement. We are moving forward in our own vision, The Spielman/Zimmer era is over. It's the Kwesi/Kevin era.”
Cutting Kendricks results in $9.5 million in cap space, with just a $1.93 million dead cap charge
Played 94% of defensive snaps last year
Allowed a 74.1 completion percentage in each of the last two seasons, and was targeted a career-high 85 times last season, resulting in a career-high 583 yards against
Who will replace him?
Bobby Wagner, Tremaine Edmunds, Lavonte David are available in free agency
We can't afford any of them
We drafted Brian Asamoah last year...maybe we just roll with him
Releasing Thielen saves the Vikings just $6.4 million, leaving a dead cap hit of over $13 million
Could designate Thielen as a post-June 1 release to save that $13 million
By cutting Thielen and taking the entire $13+ million cap hit this year instead of splitting it up with a post-June 1st designation.
With Harrison Smith potentially joining him, that would fall all on this year as well. As of now, the Vikings have slightly more than $120 million in projected cap space for 2024.
That can be used for Justin Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw, and Danielle Hunter, and still have around $50 million to play with to sign free agents and other potential extensions.
Thielen had just 70 catches for 716 yards and 6 TDs last season
K.J. Osborn had 60 catches for 650 yards and 5 TDs
Waiving Cameron Dantzler saves $2.7 million
Now all three of their cornerbacks are free agents
What the hell we doing at corner?
Za’Darius Smith requests release
Already sold his house
$12.2 million against the cap this season, and $20 million next year
What can we expect in return?
Honest question: Losing a lot of “big names,” but our defense was garbage last year and does losing Thielen (and hopefully Cook) hurt our offense at all?
Bud Grant passes away at 95
He and his garage sales will be missed
Grant is, by far, the greatest head coach in the history of the Vikings. From 1967 to 1983, Grant led the Vikings to four Super Bowls, compiling a record of 158-96-5 along the way.
Can Wild Keep Winning Without Kirill Kaprizov?
Out 3-4 weeks with lower-body injury (9-11 games)
16 games remaining
Six-point lead on Winnipeg for final playoff spot
Best-case scenario: back Mar. 29 @ Colorado (8 games remaining)
Worst-case scenario: Apr. 6 @ Pittsburgh (5 games remaining)
Bill Guerin’s guys are already coming up big
Marcus Johansson had a goal and an assist, Saturday @ San Jose
John Klingberg had two helpers, Saturday
Anthony's Curse of the Whitecaps
Winless in last eight games
Did get former Goaltender of the Year Amanda Leveille back, but might not matter
Scored just 9 goals in last eight games
Playoff games will be on ESPN+
Thursday, Mar. 16 @ Boston, 6 p.m. CST
Saturday, Mar. 18 @ Boston, 5 p.m. CST
Sunday (if necessary), Mar. 19 @ Boston, 5 p.m. CST
Spring Twinkies and WBC Update
Twins beat WBC favorites from Dominican Republic, 2-1
Italy moves on in WBC
Brooks Lee boner softens?
Most at-bats amongst Twins
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