After the Patriots game, I felt the receivers did not gel without Johnson
(anyway I do not recall see him playing with the first team). Possibly being held out for a trade? I cannot over stress, I'd rather keep him after the the Pats game. Walters played well, but I didn't think much of McCoy in the game.
Bottom line (i guess) is whether Mke Rosenthal is better than what we have at RT. Rosenthal started All 16 GAMES with the GIANTS in 2002 and started all 16 games with the Vikings in 2003. I think he was out in 2004 with a broken ankle. But, now he may be third team RT with the Vikings - anyway, thats whats the roster indicates.
But, this is what Real Football 365 says:
"Vikings should release Rosenthal
By Eric Krupka on May 25, 2006 01:19 AM
It's tough being a professional athlete. When things are going good, all the praise is there. However, it's very easy to fall from the good graces of fans. Sometimes it gets nasty. Unfortunately for Minnesota Vikings right tackle Mike Rosenthal, he has already lost plenty of fan support and soon may be on the unemployment line.
When the June 1 roster cuts are made, don't be surprised to see Rosenthal's name among those released. While players are usually released in June in order for teams to avoid taking a salary cap hit, or to get themselves under the salary cap, in Rosenthal's case it would be because he has drastically underperformed.
Since signing a six-year contract extension in September of 2004, the Minnesota Vikings ' right tackle has been a sub-par performer on what was a mediocre offensive line. The line has since been addressed with the addition of All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson, the returned health of center Matt Birk and addition of tackle Artis Hicks via trade.
Rosenthal injured his foot after just two games in '04 and was placed on injured reserve. In a Monday Night Football matchup with the rival Green Bay Packers last season, he hit rock bottom. Play after play he was getting his proverbial tail whipped by Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman. After being called for a holding penalty negating a Michael Bennett seven-yard run, and then getting destroyed five plays later by Kampman, again giving up a sack, he was promptly removed from the lineup in favor of rookie Marcus Johnson.
The trade for Hicks has pretty much all but sealed his fate with the team. There is now an abundance of able bodies competing for the positions. With Hicks assuming Rosenthal's starting spot, there is no reason for the team to keep him around.
In March, he restructured his contract, but did not take a pay cut. He still has five years and $10 million remaining on his contract. There is no need to pay a backup that much, so his contract should be his shipping card out of town.
...
Get more Minnesota Vikings info at RealFootball365.com
-Eric Krupka can be reached at
[email protected]"
So, why would we want to trade Bryant Johnson for Rosental and the above contract?
