Read More: John Carlson (TE – MIN), Lex Hilliard (RB – MIA), Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings beefed up their stable of tailbacks on Sunday by agreeing to a one-year contract with former Miami Dolphins running back Lex Hilliard.

Hilliard, who lists at 5-foot-11 and 240 pounds, will add much needed depth to a position that has been debilitated by injuries in recent years. Despite only carrying the ball 16 times last season with Miami, Hilliard is expected to fight for time as a lead blocker and goal-line back.

A sixth-round draft pick in 2008, Hilliard played college ball in his home state of Montana for the Montana Grizzlies, where he accumulated 4,106 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns.

Seeing as how the Vikings shelled out $25 million to tight end John Carlson last week, it’s clear this organization is actively trying improve on the offensive side of the ball. Hilliard represents a small piece of the puzzle, but an important one nonetheless.

For more on the Minnesota Vikings, go to Daily Norseman. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation’s NFL hub.

Read More: Minnesota Vikings

The NFL is in the thick of the free agent season, with deals and meeting flying fast and furious ever since free agency opened on Tuesday. The Minnesota Vikings have been relatively quiet in their dealings thus far as they work on shoring up the team they will field in the fall of 2012. On Friday, the team made an interesting acquisition.

According to Tom Pelissero of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities, the Vikings have signed defensive back Nick Taylor to a three-year contract. If you’ve never heard of Nick Taylor, that’s understandable. Taylor is a former point guard at Florida International University, but impressed at FIU’s pro day on Wednesday. He played on an arena league football team in 2011.

The move is certain to raise some eyebrows, but it will be exciting nevertheless to see how this unproven commodity works out for the Vikes.

For more on the Minnesota Vikings, go to Daily Norseman. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation’s NFL hub.

ST. PAUL, Minn., March 13 (UPI) — The girlfriend of Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook told Cook, during a phone call played for jurors at his assault trial, she wouldn’t change her story.

The football player is accused of attempting to strangle Chantel Baker during a fight they had at his Minnesota town home in October, the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press reported Tuesday.

The call jurors heard was one of three prosecutors submitted as evidence on the fourth day of testimony at Cook’s trial on charges of domestic assault by strangulation and third-degree assault.

At one point, Baker said she felt bad Cook was behind bars and he replied “No, you’re not.”

“It’s out of my hands,” Baker told him. “They asked me if you choked me and I said you choked me.”

Cook, 25, played his first season with the Vikings in 2010. His arrest caused him to miss a game against the Green Bay Packers.

Jury deliberations in the case could begin as early as Wednesday afternoon if defense attorneys wind up their case Tuesday, officials said.

Read More: nfl draft, nfl trade rumors, vikings trade rumors, Robert Griffin III (QB – Baylor), Justin Blackmon (WR – Oklahoma St.), Andrew Luck (QB – Stanford), Matt Kalil (OT – Southern Cal), Trent Richardson (RB – Alabama), Morris Claiborne (CB – LSU), Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskins, St. Louis Rams

The 2012 NFL Draft is still over one month away, but this weekend’s trade between the Washington Redskins and St. Louis Rams has brought about NFL trade rumors that include the Minnesota Vikings. It seems that Matt Kalil is the safe pick but there are still some that believe the Vikings could make a move.

The Vikings didn’t have much leverage before the big trade this weekend, but if the Rams feel they moved too far back, Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press thinks the Vikings might be willing to make a deal.

The Rams now have Washington’s No. 6 overall pick. St. Louis would love to have cornerback Morris Claiborne of Louisiana State or wide receiver Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Rams at least try to make a deal with the Vikings for the No. 3 pick. If St. Louis were to offer the No. 6 pick plus one of its second-round picks, Minnesota general manager Rick Spielman, who then would have the No. 6 pick and two second-round picks, certainly would find such an offer enticing.

There’s also the possibility that still another team would want to trade with the Vikings to move up to take running back Trent Richardson of Alabama.

Both Claiborne and Blackmon have been rumored to be other targets for the Vikings, but if they traded down to the sixth pick, there’s still a chance all three could be off the board along with quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. If that would happen, the Vikings would be in an unfavorable position even with the extra picks.

For more Vikings coverage, check out Daily Norseman. For all things related to the NFL Draft, visit Mocking the Draft.

Read More: Cedric Griffin (CB – MIN), Anthony Herrera (G – MIN), Steve Hutchinson (G – MIN), San Diego Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings

Yesterday it was reported that the Minnesota Vikings, in an effort to get younger and shed salary, released offensive lineman Anthony Herrera and Steve Hutchinson. According to the Minnesota VIkings in an official press release, they also cut the once highly touted cornerback Cedric Griffin:

With these three moves, the Vikings are now better positioned to make a splash in the upcoming free agency period, which against begins on Tuesday, March 13 at 3 p.m. CT. Could the likes of Chargers WR Vincent Jackson be in the Vikings future? How about Titans CB Courtland Finnegan? With lots of cap space and the No. 3 pick in April’s NFL Draft, things are certainly looking up for a team that hasn’t had a lot of things go its way since that fateful night in New Orleans 26 months ago.

Griffin tore his ACL in that NFC Championship game and then tore it again the next season; Hutchinson is now 34-years-old and has been battling shoulder injuries; and Herrera also suffered an ACL injury and has not been the same since. It’s been downhill since the aforementioned game, but things do seem to be looking up for the Vikings, especially with a new stadium in the works.

For more Vikings coverage, check out SB Nation’s Minnesota Vikings blog Daily Norseman. Follow NFL free agency on SB Nation’s NFL hub.

The Vikings just made their free agency possibilities a whole lot more interesting.

The team on Saturday released seven-time Pro Bowl left guard Steve Hutchinson, right guard Anthony Herrera and cornerback Cedric Griffin, shedding nearly $14 million in 2012 salary and bolstering cap flexibility for the start of free agency Tuesday.

The Pioneer Press first reported the release of Hutchinson and Herrera, who started a combined 11 full seasons in Minnesota.

The Vikings entered the week with more than $10 million in cap space. These roster moves more than double that cushion, clearing the lane to pursue a notable free agent at positional needs such as cornerback or wide receiver.

“It was a tough decision as we move forward

Vikings offensive guard Anthony Herrera jokes with teammate Chris Clark, left, during drills at the team’s Winter Park training facility in Eden Prairie in June 2, 2010. (Pioneer Press: Richard Marshall) (Richard Marshall)

and prepare for the upcoming season and the future of our organization,” Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said in a statement released through the team. “All three individuals have meant a great deal to the Vikings organization both on and off field over the years. We wish all of them the best and thank them for their service to the Minnesota Vikings.” Hutchinson is one of the best guards of his generation and a potential Hall of Famer, but at age 34 and with $6.95 million in salary due in 2012, the Vikings were justified in parting ways. The Vikings signed Hutchinson to a seven-year, $49-million deal in 2006. He’s finished the last two seasons on Injured Reserve.

Herrera, who was due $2.65 million in 2012, could be an option to return to

Minnesota under a lesser deal. The Vikings have talked internally about restructuring Griffin’s contract, which was scheduled to pay $4.1 million in 2012, but there seems to be little security for a player who lost his confidence after two torn anterior cruciate ligaments and got benched in a Dec. 11 loss at Detroit.

It’s clear the Vikings are looking to inject the roster with youth in efforts to rebuild from a 9-23 record the last two seasons. Eight-year veteran Joe Berger and 2011 sixth-round

Cedric Griffin looks on against the Detroit Lions at the Metrodome in September 2010. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

pick Brandon Fusco can compete for starting guard spots, and left tackle Charlie Johnson can slide inside should the team draft USC left tackle Matt Kalil with the third overall pick.

DeMarcus Love, also a sixth-round pick last year, has flexibility to play guard or tackle.

Buried in the state’s preliminary agreement to use public subsidies to build the Minnesota Vikings a new stadium is this:

Once the team gets a new stadium, the Vikings want permission to play at least one home game a year “off site.”

Over a 10-year period, the team wants the ability to play up to four regular season home games and two exhibition home games off site.

National Football League spokesman Brian McCarthy said the language is all about the league’s ongoing attempt to expand the NFL to Europe and other countries. McCarthy said the provision is meant to boost the league’s “international series”, which in recent years has been scheduling one game annually in London.

The language, said McCarthy, is necessary “in the event the team plays in a game as part of our International Series.” The Vikings, he said, last played in an international game in 1994.

The actual language states:  “The Team shall have the ability to play a limited number of League mandated home games off-site or specialty games off-site, but not more than one (1) game per year or more than four (4) regular season games and two (2) preseason games over any ten (10) year period.”

Ted Mondale, Gov. Mark Dayton’s chief stadium negotiator, downplayed how often the Vikings would play home games away from the team’s new stadium, whose funding package is expected to be considered by the Legislature in the coming weeks. He said “it could, but [would] not likely” involve a regular season home game.

“It’s language to allow them to play in Europe or China or somewhere for exhibition purposes,” Mondale said. The preliminary stadium agreement calls for the Vikings to sign a 30-year lease at a new facility that would be built at the site of the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis..

In 2011, the Chicago Bears played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a regular season game in London.

The last NFL pre-season game played overseas, said McCarthy, was in Tokyo in 2005.

Despite its lack of proven talent, the quarterback position for the Minnesota Vikings is among the most stable. If all goes as planned in the next few days, the position could gain even more stability.

According to Jeremy Fowler of the Pioneer Press, the Vikings and backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels have mutual interest in making a deal that will keep the veteran in Minnesota during the 2012 season.

Brought in late last season after the Vikings released Donovan McNabb, Rosenfels acted as the emergency third-string quarterback behind 2011 first-round pick Christian Ponder and Joe Webb. Despite injuries to Ponder, Rosenfels never saw the field as Webb took the late-season reins.

During his 11-year NFL career, Rosenfels has become a bit of a journeyman. After spending his first few seasons with the Miami Dolphins, he transitioned to a spot-starter role with the Houston Texans for three years. Since 2008, he has played for four different teams, including two stints with the Vikings.

In those 11 seasons, Rosenfels has completed 351 of his 562 passes (62.5 percent) for 4,156 yards, 30 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. Of the 44 games he has played in, he was named the starter in 12.

If the Vikings did re-sign Rosenfels for another season, he would more than likely serve again as their third-string quarterback behind Ponder and Webb.

Rosenfels’ presence on the roster would also decrease the chances for young gunslinger McLeod Bethel-Thompson to make the team. Bethel-Thompson signed a futures deal with the Vikings on Jan. 13 after spending his rookie 2011 campaign bouncing around from one professional football league to another.

Once considered a legitimate starter, Rosenfels has since fallen upon the role of veteran backup who roams the sidelines waiting for his chance to play. Seeing as he hasn’t thrown during a regular season game since 2008, it’s unlikely that he’ll get that chance with the Vikings in 2012 barring multiple injuries. Regardless, the fact that the Vikings are interested in his return shows that he still has something to offer at the NFL level.

Plus, who wouldn’t be interested in being paid millions of dollars to hold a clipboard and get front-row seats to 16 NFL games?

Gil Alcaraz IV is a life-long follower of the Minnesota Vikings and the founder of TheVikingDen.com. For more Vikings/NFL coverage, follow him on Twitter or “like” The Viking Den on Facebook.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Minnesota Vikings are in the midst of a youth movement that will involve completely rebuilding their roster this offseason. Not only will disappointing players be let go to make way for younger talent, but veteran starters could also get the axe to make salary cap space for the incoming fresh meat.

That, however, doesn’t mean that the Vikings are ready to part ways with every veteran player. Of their numerous unrestricted free agents this offseason, only a choice few are expected to return for the 2012 season. Although their plans have been kept under wraps for most of the offseason, it’s becoming apparent that the Vikings aren’t interested in seeing outside linebacker Erin Henderson leave via free agency.

According to Tom Pelissero of ESPN1500, the Vikings have made it clear that they intend to have a contract in place for Henderson before free agency begins on March 13. The two sides have reportedly made progress on a “bridge” deal that could keep Henderson in Minnesota for another two or three seasons.

As of Tuesday night, no handshakes were in order as Henderson continues to contemplate testing the free agency waters before tying himself down to Minnesota for a couple more years. Pelissero, however, believes that the length of the contract could be a sticking point for Henderson.

Since joining the Vikings as an undrafted free agent out of Maryland back in 2008, Henderson has slowly asserted himself as a quality contributor at the weakside linebacker spot. After spending his first few seasons with the Vikings mostly on special teams, Henderson finally broke the starting lineup in 2011 and made the most of his opportunities. He finished the season with 70 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Although he struggled at times and received limited playing time, he played with unmistakable passion and was one of the few consistent components of the Vikings’ disappointing defense.

Despite the Vikings’ interest in keeping Henderson around, his big brother E.J. might not be so lucky. Considered an injury liability at age 31, the older Henderson brother is set to be a free agent and might not get a new contract from the Vikings given his price tag. That could also be a factor in whether or not the younger Henderson opts to stay in Minnesota.

It’s obvious that the Vikings realize what they have in Henderson. There’s no need to leave another gaping hole in their defense when there’s a worthy candidate who simply needs a new contract.

With just under a week to come to terms with Henderson on a new deal, the Vikings should be able to get it done.

Gil Alcaraz IV is a life-long follower of the Minnesota Vikings and the founder of TheVikingDen.com. For more Vikings/NFL coverage, follow him on Twitter or “like” The Viking Den on Facebook.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Minnesota Vikings have the daunting task of completely overhauling their roster ahead of them this offseason. Although free agency and the 2012 NFL Draft will certainly help them achieve that, there is still one other talent pool that they can tap into before the beginning of the 2012 season: undrafted free agents.

On Monday, the Vikings began the process of scouting some potential undrafted free agents when GM Rick Spielman and several other team officials attended the University of Minnesota Pro Day.

Among a sea of 27 local NFL hopefuls were eight former Golden Gophers, including running back Duane Bennett, offensive lineman Chris Bunders, defensive tackles Anthony Jacobs and Brandon Kirksey, tight end Eric Lair, wide receiver Da’Jon McKnight, cornerback Kim Royston and linebacker Gary Tinsley.

Joining the Vikings’ staff among the spectators were scouts/coaches for the Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks.

Even though most of the participants had exceptional workouts, a few Gophers really made their presence felt.

One of the biggest standouts was Jacobs, who impressed scouts with a 4.7 40 time, 10.1 inch broad jump and a 35.5 inch vertical jump. For a player of his size (6’2”, 291 pounds), those numbers really say a lot about the type of athlete that Jacobs is.

Bennett also made scouts take notice when he put up 28 reps during the bench press, equaling the highest mark by a running back at the recent 2012 NFL Scouting Combine.

“I was banking anywhere 25 or greater,” Bennett said. “But when I knocked out the first 15, I was kind of like ‘Oh, wow. I’m really going up there.’ I kind of caught myself off guard.”

The other standout of the day was Lair, who posted consecutive 40 times in the 4.5 range and turned in a 36.5 inch vertical jump. Despite admittedly begin nervous, Lair turned in a terrific workout and was pleased with the results.

“Today went fantastic,” Lair said. “Better than I thought it would be. I did well in my position drills, even though I didn’t catch many balls over the break. But yeah, I did better than I thought I would.”

When all was said and done, a number of prospects had increased their draft stock and given themselves reason to believe that they might hear their names called on draft day. Until then, all they can do is stay in shape and prepare mentally for what their futures hold.

“All these kids are going to be late-round, free-agent type guys,” Spielman said. “Hopefully, there will be some guys that we’ll definitely invite or maybe sign in college free agency.”

Although it’s unlikely that many former Gophers will get drafted in late April, the Vikings will give a number of them an opportunity to tryout during their rookie camp the weekend after the draft.

“I think that’s huge as far as the relationship with all the state of Minnesota and all the states that are our neighbors,” Spielman said. “If they have some players that we can help out or take a look at, we should definitely do that and we do do that.”

As evidenced by the Vikings’ signing of former Gophers cornerback Marcus Sherels back in 2010, those rookie tryouts can be just the stepping stone a budding NFL talent needs.

For those 27 potential NFL prospects, the waiting game begins.

Gil Alcaraz IV is a life-long follower of the Minnesota Vikings and the founder of TheVikingDen.com. For more Vikings/NFL coverage, follow him on Twitter or “like” The Viking Den on Facebook.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Read More: 2012 nfl mock draft, nfl mock draft 2012, new nfl mock draft, Justin Blackmon (WR – Oklahoma St.), Matt Kalil (OT – Southern Cal), Riley Reiff (OL – Iowa), Morris Claiborne (CB – LSU), Minnesota Vikings, USC Trojans

The latest 2012 NFL mock draft was posted Monday morning at SB Nation. In a move that will not surprise anyone, the Minnesota Vikings are once again project to take USC Trojans offensive tackle Matt Kalil.

Kalil had an impressive showing at the recent NFL Combine and is basically a lock to be there when the Vikings select with the third overall pick. Our own Christopher Gates wrote that getting “stuck” with Kalil should be the plan and SB Nation’s Ryan Van Bibber agrees:

Franchise quarterback (hopefully), meet franchise left tackle. Kalil will help right away. If Adrian Peterson can rebound, the Vikings should be more than a punchline in 2012.

Whether Christian Ponder is indeed a franchise quarterback is still up for debate by some Vikings fans, but AD should heal just fine — he’s already going through rehab — and Kalil would obviously be a welcome addition to the offense.

In other news surrounding possible picks Minnesotans have had in mind, the LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne is projected to be picked fourth, Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon at six and Riley Reiff at No. 11 to the Kansas City Chiefs.

For more on the Minnesota Vikings, go to Daily Norseman. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation’s NFL hub.

An artist rendering showing an interior view of the proposed Vikings stadium in Minneapolis. (Courtesy to Pioneer Press)

SHOOTER NOW

A decent bet, according to a person in the know, is that a Vikings stadium bill finally will get passed in the Legislature this session, but probably not until near the last day of the session in May, and not without some major political deal making.

If Vikings owner Zygi Wilf gets a Major League Soccer team for his new stadium, don’t be surprised if he goes after Timberwolves President Chris Wright to run the franchise. Before joining the Wolves, Wright was assistant general manager of the Minnesota Strikers and Pittsburgh Spirit soccer teams.

Word in basketball circles is that Apple Valley sophomore prodigy Tyus Jones’ sixth-grade brother, Tre Jones, is so talented that

in two years the pair could be the Eagles’ starting backcourt.

Outfielder Jason Kubel, who left the Twins via free agency in December for a $15.5 million, two-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, on Target Field, in the Arizona Republic: “It seemed at times it was tougher to see. They have some pretty good shadows out there. It can be pretty big.”

In Target Field’s first season, 2010, Kubel hit just .254 with eight home runs and 45 runs batted in in 43 home games, according to baseball-reference.com. Last season seemed more of the same, according to Kubel’s final numbers (.253-4-25 in 68 home games), but those are deceiving. A foot injury affected his second-half performance. He

was hitting .303 at Target Field before managing just three hits in his last 35 home at-bats.

“I made some adjustments, but I made them a year later,” he said. “Not trying to pull the ball and put it in the air so much. Start hitting line drives all over the place.”

With the Diamondbacks, Kubel will play at Chase Field.

“It’s a great hitting background,” he told the Republic. “The ball flies here pretty good. Big outfield. The ball will be rolling around there, (leading to) a lot of extra

base hits. I’ll be warm. I don’t have to worry about 40 degrees anymore.”

In five at-bats this spring, Kubel has one single and two strikeouts and is batting .200.

Don Mincher, who played first base for the Twins’ 1965 World Series team, died Sunday in Huntsville, Ala., after long illnesses. Mincher was former president of the Class AA Southern League.

“Minch was always a good guy and one of the leaders of that (1965) team,” Twins minor leagues director Jim Rantz said. “I knew he had some health issues.”

Ex-Gopher Royce White of Iowa State, after averaging 12.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists, was named the Big 12 Conference’s men’s basketball Newcomer of the Year and made first-team all-conference.

Ex-Timberwolves executive Fred Hoiberg of Iowa State was named the conference’s co-coach of the year with Kansas’ Bill Self.

Video coordinator for Baylor, which lost Saturday to Iowa State, is Jared Nuness, 31, the former Hopkins standout who played at Valparaiso.

Follow Charley Walters at twitter.com/Charley_Walters.

Last week, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton stood alongside some state lawmakers and Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf to proudly declare a deal had been reached for a new Vikings stadium. However, it’s far from a done deal. More like the latest plan. The question is- who will have the last say?

The new plan calls for the Vikings to kick in $427 million of a $975 million stadium. The state would pay $398 million and the city of Minneapolis would pay $150 million. The city and the Vikings would then share operating costs.

Problem is, the Minneapolis city council still has to approve the plan, and a majority of the members are saying they won’t do so without a public referendum. Minneapolis passed a referendum years ago stating that no more than $10 million could be devoted to a sports facility without a public vote. Even if it somehow gets the approval of the Minneapolis city council, it would still have to pass the state legislature.

Stay tuned… and be sure to follow FieldofSchemes.com for more on this story…

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