We have basically assumed the Vikings would cut 2010 Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient Madieu Williams before the 2011 season because of the $5.4 million salary he’s due.
Vikings coach Leslier Frazier seems to have other ideas. In comments at the owner’s meetings last week, Frazier indicated Williams would have every shot to make the team again as a starter. Frazier also said he hasn’t given up on 2008 second-round pick Tyrell Johnson, who fell out of favor during the 2010 season.
“This will be [Johnson's] fourth year. This is the time,” Frazier said via Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
It sounds like Johnson and Williams will compete for the starting free safety spot next year. Considering Williams’ big salary, we’d think that Johnson would have the edge in getting the job if the two players are close in a competition.
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The Vikings won’t have the same defense they’ve had during the Chilly era, so it’s possible that one of these players will do better in a different system. On the other hand, they might both still be terrible.
I couldn’t believe when the Vikings made Madieu Williams one of the highest paid safeties in the league.
My feelings have now been confirmed.
Madieu Williams is worse of the two, and really I don’t know how much worse these two can get. Their lack of tackling and poor angles even would make Deion cringe. Then there is their coverage skill, if you could even call it that..
Being the biggest Minnesota Viking’s fan it won’t matter. The Vikings desperately need a quarterback………so that means the defense will be on the field all day-translated that means both safeties will have their tongues hanging out as they will both get plenty of playing time.
This headline just excited all Packer, Bear and Lion fans while depressing me.
Once again the viking trying to prove they havent made a mistake……. But it wont matter….because no matter who the qb…..the offense will have no vertical component.
The fact that this is Johnson’s 4th year and the Vikings are still giving him every opportunity to prove himself speaks volumes about their defense in 2011.
They can’t depend on Cook, he might be sharing a jail cell with Burress and they can teach each other about gun safety. The secondary is their weakest link and they don’t have enough draft choices to fill in the holes, get a new QB and find a new Offensive tackle at the same time.
Of course it doesn’t help that they traded away a perfectly good draft choice for a 4 game player rental but Favre insisted on getting him. I have a feeling that the Vikings are going to suck for a very long time.
… Why?
Nice guy, quality human being from all accounts. I don’t see the guy having any more impact this season than he’s had which is zero. Plays soft, can’t tackle and is alergic to pig skin. Did I mention he’s a nice guy though?
Even Viking fans consider these two garbage.
Let Cook and Griffin play the corners, and move Windfield to strong safety. Let the other misfits compete for the free safety postition.
Ugh….. While it is not unheard of for the light to finally go on for a player this long after entering the league, I really can’t feel good about this situation.
Expect a mid-round pick to be used on someone like Duenta Williams, Jermale Hines, or Chris Conte. Even a late-round flier like Eric Hagg or Will Hill would push this pair.