[Bette]

Bryant McKinnie rejoined his teammates for OTA's and hopes he will avoid punishent and wont have to leave. He has not received any punishement from the team. Coach Childress refuses to talk about it and says they may have to face a tough decision down the road.

Darren Sharper is entering the final year of his contract. He says he can play beyond 2008. The problem is, with a rookie successor waiting in the wings, do the Vikings?
Sharper will be 32 in Novemember.



What's going to happen with McKinnie?

Do you think Sharper is still good enough to be a starter after this year?

[Bryan88]

I am not sure what will happen with McKinne, but I would probably advise him against buying property in Minneapolis right now.
As for Sharper, he is gone, simple as that. The Vikes have little interest in bringing him and his diminishing skills back, not to mention that they are very high on rookie Tyrell Johnson. Now I think Sharper will probably land a starting gig somewhere else, because he is a very intelligent player who knows how to read the offense, but he is done in Minny after this year.

[Bleedin Purple]

It will be sad to see him go, one of my favorite Vikings, he can still play as good as any other starting safety. I believe they should extend his contract just one season just incase Tyrell doesnt work out as planned. But most likely he will be gone. The vet we should be keeping is Matt Birk!

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Bleedin Purple

It will be sad to see him go, one of my favorite Vikings, he can still play as good as any other starting safety. I believe they should extend his contract just one season just incase Tyrell doesnt work out as planned. But most likely he will be gone. The vet we should be keeping is Matt Birk!

Yeah I am with you on Birk, but it seems like the Vikings have been looking to groom someone to take over for Matt for the last couple years. He certainly isn't a spring chicken anymore and his play will probably start dropping off in the next few years, but he still is a very good player.
As for Shaper, I think his intelligence and instincts will allow him to play at a starters level for the next few years, but you can't deny that his physical skills are starting to go. Since your new to the board I haven't really heard your opinion on that draft, so what do you think of Tyrell Johnson?

[Bryan88]

Little blurb at the bottom of article about McKinnie's trial

Scout.com: Jackson Wants to Prove Critics Wrong

A judge in the Miami-Dade County Court granted LT Bryant McKinnie a two-week continuance for his trial stemming from a brawl outside a Miami nightclub in February. McKinnie’s hearing is now scheduled for June 20. McKinnie faces four charges from the Feb. 24 incident, including one felony for aggravated battery, after fighting with a member of the nightclub’s security staff. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. McKinnie has had four legal entanglements since joining the franchise in 2002; charges were dropped in two of the incidents. No matter what happens legally, McKinnie could be fined or suspended by the NFL because he is a repeat offender of its personal conduct policy.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Bryan88

Little blurb at the bottom of article about McKinnie's trial

Scout.com: Jackson Wants to Prove Critics Wrong

You're right, he's going. Since the Vikings owner and coach are so big on personal conduct and responsibility I dont see how they can possibly keep this guy and remain credible. Childress keeps saying they have to wait and see. Wait and see what? Even if charges are dropped.
I have always liked Sharper. But he's slowing down. It happens to all of us. But his mental skills are great enough to overcome it for a while as you said.

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Bette

You're right, he's going. Since the Vikings owner and coach are so big on personal conduct and responsibility I dont see how they can possibly keep this guy and remain credible. Childress keeps saying they have to wait and see. Wait and see what? Even if charges are dropped.
I have always liked Sharper. But he's slowing down. It happens to all of us. But his mental skills are great enough to overcome it for a while as you said.

I think the way they usually handle this is to let the legal process run it's course and then make the final decision to let him go or not. To add to all of this, the Vikings have very little depth at OT and we will most likely have to plug Marcus Johnson in at LT if McKinnie is let go. I still think he is gone, but the fact that we do have little depth will certainly make the Vikings think a little harder than they normally would.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Bryan88

I think the way they usually handle this is to let the legal process run it's course and then make the final decision to let him go or not. To add to all of this, the Vikings have very little depth at OT and we will most likely have to plug Marcus Johnson in at LT if McKinnie is let go. I still think he is gone, but the fact that we do have little depth will certainly make the Vikings think a little harder than they normally would.

I dont think they have a choice Bryan. This is not the guy's first or even second incident. Remember Goodell says he is cracking down on teams who have troublesome players. Dont know how it will play out in the end, there's still a lot of details to work out, but I'd be worried if I were the Vikings.

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Bette

I dont think they have a choice Bryan. This is not the guy's first or even second incident. Remember Goodell says he is cracking down on teams who have troublesome players. Dont know how it will play out in the end, there's still a lot of details to work out, but I'd be worried if I were the Vikings.

I bet they are agonizing over this decision and like I said not having a good backup is making this all that much tougher. I would say 75% chance he is gone.
I am always amazed at how some athletes put themselves into situations like this. I mean you have the world at your finger tips and all you have to do is act like a normal civilized human being, but instead they do things like this.

[Bryan88]

Minnesota Scene: McKinnie meets with commissioner

With the NFL considering disciplinary action against Bryant McKinnie, Commissioner Roger Goodell met Friday with the Vikings left tackle.

The meeting -- first reported Saturday on ProFootballTalk.com -- had been expected after McKinnie's latest legal troubles in Florida. He was arrested Feb. 24 after being involved in a brawl outside a Miami nightclub and is facing four charges, including one felony for aggravated battery, after fighting with a member of the nightclub's security staff. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

McKinnie's attorney, Larry Kerr, has asked that Florida allow McKinnie to enter a pretrial diversion program; that could lead to the charges being dismissed. McKinnie has a court hearing set for June 20 in Miami-Dade County Court.

McKinnie could face a possible fine or suspension from the NFL because he is a repeat offender of the league's personal-conduct policy. It's the fourth time that McKinnie has had legal issues since the Vikings took him in the first round of the 2002 draft.

[Bleedin Purple]

Originally Posted by Bryan88

Yeah I am with you on Birk, but it seems like the Vikings have been looking to groom someone to take over for Matt for the last couple years. He certainly isn't a spring chicken anymore and his play will probably start dropping off in the next few years, but he still is a very good player.
As for Shaper, I think his intelligence and instincts will allow him to play at a starters level for the next few years, but you can't deny that his physical skills are starting to go. Since your new to the board I haven't really heard your opinion on that draft, so what do you think of Tyrell Johnson?

Yea it was a pretty good draft for the Vikings. The only thing im worried about is our O-Line, our only solid man is Hutch. We have many possible options, but im not sure if any of them are the answer. I guess we will find out in 2008.

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Bleedin Purple

Yea it was a pretty good draft for the Vikings. The only thing im worried about is our O-Line, our only solid man is Hutch. We have many possible options, but im not sure if any of them are the answer. I guess we will find out in 2008.

Yeah, I was hoping for O-Line with that second 3rd rounder (before it was traded), especially considering McKinnie's situation.