Getty ImagesThe Vikings are widely expected to cut veteran receiver Bernard Berrian, in order to get under the salary cap. They’ve begun the process by cutting another veteran player: defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy.
Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Kennedy will get the heave-ho, clearing $2.5 million off the books.
Kennedy announced the move on Twitter. “Viking fans, thank you for accepting me as your own, but I’m sorry to inform you I am no longer with the team,” Kennedy wrote. “I love you guys.”
Kennedy, the 12th overall pick in the 2003 draft, spent three years with the Vikings. He signed a two-year, $5 million contract last year.
The Vikings are $4.8 million over the salary cap, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com. Once Kennedy is cut, the number will drop to $2.3 million, pending other moves. Pelissero speculates that cutting Kennedy could be aimed at creating cap space for veteran Pat Williams.
And Kennedy could always come back at a lower salary. With Pat and Kevin Williams facing four-game suspensions for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy way back in 2008, the Vikings will need replacements.
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look for the Vikings to check the Packers wire….daily…by the hour….
Shiancoe should be next, unless he’s being paid less than $3M.
The Vikings roster might not have much in terms of depth, but at least they’re old and not very talented at several positions.
They’ll be 0-4 when the Williams’ get back, if the Williams’ get back.
funny, whenever i see the words “vikings” and “dump”, i always think of the metrodome..
Pat Williams is a class act and a great player. I wish the Bills never let him get away. The Vikes are wise to keep him
I did not see that coming. When two of your DTs will miss the first four games, I wouldn’t think you would be cutting the guy seen as one of the replacements. Maybe they’ll resign him, although his twitter message didn’t sound like that was an option mentioned to him.
Not sure I understand cutting Kennedy.
This team is going to lose Kevin Williams for the first four games, and Pat Williams isn’t coming back. I would have thought Kennedy would have filled Pat William’s shoes quite well, and he played better in MN than he had anyplace else.
This looks like a bit of a panic move. All the team needs to do is negotiate long-term contracts with Peterson and Greenway, and that along would reduce their cap number significantly.
I don’t see Pat Williams coming back….his play regressed last year, and he’s pretty long in the tooth, pushing 40. Hopefully the Vikings will resign Kennedy at a different cap #.
Shiancoe is great. Favre was the problem, not Shiancoe.
He was a good backup and replacement on the line, but that is too much for exactly that.
so much for teams keeping on Vets in order to be game ready for the first 3 games of the season.
Kennedy isn’t that good and the Vikes have two other young DTs that will likely fill in along with a cheap veteran signing along the way. This is no panic just clearing dead cap weight. Berrian is definitely next….
Welcome to Minny, Cullen.
we’ll miss kennedy
I agree with medtxpack. They’re probably already in talks with Barnett and are patiently waiting the release of Atari Bigby and perhaps Donald Lee
Very classy way for Kennedy to go out. Rather than throw a tizzy about how the fans never accepted him and how the coaches never gave him a chance, he simply thanks the fans for the good times and moves on. Kudos to him.
As a Vikings fan I liked Jimmy K. Obviously not a dominant player but he was pretty good and he’ll no doubt get picked up elsewhere.
Not sure I understand cutting Kennedy.
This team is going to lose Kevin Williams for the first four games, and Pat Williams isn’t coming back. I would have thought Kennedy would have filled Pat William’s shoes quite well, and he played better in MN than he had anyplace else.
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This is why I said the Vikes blew it taking Ponder over Fairly. They could have had Fairly to solve the Tackle problem and got a QB just like Ponder in the Second round. Over the cap big time with an aging defense…….Rice won’t get resigned either…..
Sign Mike Cox!!
Not only should they let Berrian go, Madieu gets burned most of the time Williams, Pat has to sit out 4 games Williams,Ben Leber. Make a reasonable but not insane offer to Rice, McKinney should restructure his contract as maybe should Hutch. Entire O-Line was pathetic last year. McKinney’s heart not into it, often see him loafing while the play continues, you play till the whistle blows ! If he’s Loadholts mentor then there’s another problem. Sully also needs to step up. With TJ gone the last of the Childress stench has been removed. I think 9-7 may be achievable if they play opposing teams 2nd string.
Maybe they’re planning to make a big splash for a free agent. I also know they’re high on Letroy Guion, who has been a capable backup the last couple years.
“Shiancoe is great. Favre was the problem, not Shiancoe.”
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I thought Favre was the savior of the Vikings franchise?
so they are losing both their DT’s for 4 games, and they are going to cut an experienced, well rounded one?
makes sense to me!
0-16
I heard Cletidus Hunt is available.
This is good. Team will save a ton on airfare when they buy the tickets for that flight to LA.
way back in 2008????? and there just now getting punished? lmao gotta love it….
medtxpack says:
Jul 26, 2011 4:15 PM
look for the Vikings to check the Packers wire….daily…by the hour….
carlgerbschmidt says:
Jul 26, 2011 4:51 PM
Welcome to Minny, Cullen.
gregjennings85 says:
Jul 26, 2011 5:27 PM
I heard Cletidus Hunt is available.
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Look for Packer fan idiots to be unoriginal morons for life.
Greg and Carl have already bought and paid for their asshat membership, medtx, well, he’s new to the group, but catching on quickly.