Any interest in Vikings K - Ryan Longwell?

[jbeecham]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7902533/minnesota-vikings-release-ryan-longwell

The Minnesota Vikings have released 16-year veteran kicker Ryan Longwell. The surprising move was made Monday, a little more than a week after the team drafted Georgia kicker Blair Walsh in the sixth round. His 94.4 field-goal percentage over the 2009 and 2010 seasons was the best in the NFL, though he slipped a little last year with 22 of 28 tries.

 

[JeffGollin]

Feely's fine. It's a punter I'm more concerned about.

 

[Jetstream Green]

not Longwell,we already got Feely who is a better option

 

[Proteus]

How's his kickoffs?

 

[Solar7]

Like others have said, all I care about at this point is upgrading at punter, which I don't think we'll try to do. Feely is reliable enough, and a good representative of the team. (Regardless of our opposing politics.) If we hadn't re-signed Feely yet, I'd go for it.

 

[Stout]

Can he hit touchbacks? I don't care what people are saying, Feely is NOT good enough. If he can hit touchbacks at this stage of his career, I'd sign Longwell. Feely is none too reliable in the clutch either.

 

[john h]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7902533/minnesota-vikings-release-ryan-longwell

The Minnesota Vikings have released 16-year veteran kicker Ryan Longwell. The surprising move was made Monday, a little more than a week after the team drafted Georgia kicker Blair Walsh in the sixth round. His 94.4 field-goal percentage over the 2009 and 2010 seasons was the best in the NFL, though he slipped a little last year with 22 of 28 tries.

Speaking of the Vikings there is a chance they will be moving to another state. The city has refused to offer up the money they requested to build a new 950 million dollar stadium. I do not recall just how much the city offered but I think it is way off target from what the Vikings want/need. In this day and age states/cities/people are all short on money and rich owners are going to have to pony up more than in past years or there are always cities who will give them what they want. The Vikings should make sure they do not do a deal with where ever they might go like the Cards did. No definite terms on a a new stadium and we end up playing in 110 degree outdoor stadium more attuned to running track meets than playing football. A lot of wasted years in Sun-Devil. They would need to change their name as what state would want a team called the Vikings? That is a perfect name for Minnesota. Can you imagine being called the Los Angles Vikings?

 

[earthsci]

Can you imagine being called the Los Angles Vikings?

Can you imagine a team moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles and keeping the name Lakers?

 

[ARZCardinals]

no interest...none

Lakers suck

 

[john h]

Feely's fine. It's a punter I'm more concerned about.

Since we just resigned Feeley there seems to be little question. Like you say I am more concerned about a punter. I ofter wonder how many games a year are decided by a punter? We seem to give little importance to a kicker in comparison to the games that are decided by
a kicker. Never could wrap my brain around that. Seems this year some team drafted a kicker rather early and there was a lot made of that in a negative sort of way. If you have a kicker that can routinely make 50 yard field goals and one who can only make 40 yard field goals the value added would be tremendous. The difference between going to the Super Bowl and not in some cases. Every week in the NFL there are games decided by a field goal. Other than the QB you cannot say that about many positions.

 

[NJCardFan]

Speaking of the Vikings there is a chance they will be moving to another state. The city has refused to offer up the money they requested to build a new 950 million dollar stadium. I do not recall just how much the city offered but I think it is way off target from what the Vikings want/need. In this day and age states/cities/people are all short on money and rich owners are going to have to pony up more than in past years or there are always cities who will give them what they want. The Vikings should make sure they do not do a deal with where ever they might go like the Cards did. No definite terms on a a new stadium and we end up playing in 110 degree outdoor stadium more attuned to running track meets than playing football. A lot of wasted years in Sun-Devil. They would need to change their name as what state would want a team called the Vikings? That is a perfect name for Minnesota. Can you imagine being called the Los Angles Vikings?

It's a give and take proposition. The team remains in the area supplying jobs and other economic benefits like providing customers for surrounding restaurants/bars not to mention that most, if not all, stadium parking is controlled by the city. If the team moves, all of that goes away. L.A. is already committed to building a new stadium and would gladly accept the Vikings as is.

 

[TJ]

Can he hit touchbacks? I don't care what people are saying, Feely is NOT good enough. If he can hit touchbacks at this stage of his career, I'd sign Longwell. Feely is none too reliable in the clutch either.

Feely led the league in average kickoff distance last season. Not sure how much better you want.


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[Stout]

Feely led the league in average kickoff distance last season. Not sure how much better you want.


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Did you post this with a straight face? You know that's meaningless, right? Sure, he kicked it a long way--in a flat trajectory that let returners run the ball out for good field position. Sure you want to go with average kickoff distance still?

 

[DakotaCardsFan]

Can you imagine a team moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles and keeping the name Lakers?

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[TJ]

Did you post this with a straight face? You know that's meaningless, right? Sure, he kicked it a long way--in a flat trajectory that let returners run the ball out for good field position. Sure you want to go with average kickoff distance still?

Geez, Stout. Calm down a bit. You've been on the warpath with posters lately.

Yes I posted that with a straight face and yes I will continue to roll with that because it is factual evidence. Perhaps the field position on kickoffs was a byproduct of mediocre coverage, not kickoff distance. More returners were taking the ball out of the end zone last season, resulting in less touchbacks. I don't think the physics of his kickoffs had much of an impact.

And for those wondering, Longwell is not an upgrade over Feely in kickoffs. They spent a few minutes on Sirius radio criticizing his kickoff ability.


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[Duckjake]

How bad were the Cardinals in 2010? They had 84 kickoff returns to opponents 51.

 

[Stout]

Geez, Stout. Calm down a bit. You've been on the warpath with posters lately.

Yes I posted that with a straight face and yes I will continue to roll with that because it is factual evidence. Perhaps the field position on kickoffs was a byproduct of mediocre coverage, not kickoff distance. More returners were taking the ball out of the end zone last season, resulting in less touchbacks. I don't think the physics of his kickoffs had much of an impact.

And for those wondering, Longwell is not an upgrade over Feely in kickoffs. They spent a few minutes on Sirius radio criticizing his kickoff ability.


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Yeah, should have put a smiley in there. I wasn't trying to be a hard ass. My bad.

You can stick to that opinion if you want, but I'm telling you, it is definitely misleading. His kicks had so much less air under them than a lot of kickers, and that is why we gave up such good field position. Returners were out of the end zone by the time returners with other kickers were just fielding the kick. It was hugely annoying last season.