over the middle, and not out of the woods

[vike daddy]

The Vikings took a bit of a leap of faith this offseason when they decided to pencil in Jasper Brinkley as their starting middle linebacker. Brinkley missed the entire 2011 season with a significant hip injury. Minnesota never got involved in a deep free agent market at inside linebacker, and didn’t re-sign incumbent starter E.J. Henderson, either. Brinkley missed the Vikings’ mid-June minicamp with a groin injury that the organization hopes isn’t related to his previous hip ailment.

Spielman: “There’s some concern there, definitely. The durability is a question right now.”

All the good young middle linebackers are taken by this time of year, but the Vikings might want to start thinking about a veteran insurance policy. Henderson is still available. So is former Colt Gary Brackett, who knows Vikings coach Leslie Frazier from their two years together in Indianapolis in the mid-2000s.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/06/24/vikings-worried-about-jasper-brinkleys-health/
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[Eric dunn]

I see wait until TC and if he is not ready then we sign a vet like Brackins or EJ for one year.

I think Jasper knows this year is his to prove he can man the middle for us. If not, he's gone.
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#TEDDYTHEVIKING

[SteelKing728]

why we never pursued David Hawthorne, the former Seahawk is beyond me.

I think Brinkley can be a good run stuffing MLB, but I don't think he'll be that good full time.

Right now, I'd love to see Everson Griffen take over as an OLB (SOLB, correct?), and have Erin Henderson be the MLB.
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Not your typical Vikings anymore.

[mOBSCENE]

It's not a matter of if we have injury problems in the LB's, it's a matter of when.
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[vike daddy]

MLB Gary Brackett

Age: 32
Place of birth: Glassboro, New Jersey
Height: 5 ft 11 in
Weight: 235 lb
College: Rutgers, undrafted in 2003


Professional career:

Brackett was signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He was a backup his first two years until he became a starter in 2005. That year he had 127 tackles, three interceptions and a sack. In 2006 he was named defensive captain of the Colts and had 120 tackles. He started for the Colts in their Super Bowl XLI win over the Chicago Bears. In 2007 Brackett recorded 116 tackles and four interceptions. He recorded 99 tackles in both 2008 and 2009. He started for the Colts in their Super Bowl XLIV loss to the New Orleans Saints. He was released following the 2011 season on March 9, 2012.


Personal:

During a 16-month span, starting in 2003, Brackett lost his mother, father, and brother.

In 2009 Brackett was the 11th annual recipient of the Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award, presented to an NFL player “whose contributions to the community and charitable organizations are especially outstanding.” He won the award for his work with the IMPACT Foundation, a charity he founded in the spring of 2007.

In 2011, Brackett published Winning: From Walk-On to Captain, In Football and Life, a memoir about his life, including his accomplishments and struggles with family, college, and the NFL.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Brackett
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[vikingsrule]

Move Erin Henderson to MLB and Everson Griffen to OLB. Problem solved.

[stallyns]

vike daddy asked me if I could supply any information on former Colts LB Gary Brackett.

Last week, or the week prior. Brackett was on an Indy morning show where he stated that he was recently cleared to return to football. He suffered a shoulder injury week 1 and was put on IR. After being cut by the Colts, he made no attempts to try out for other teams knowing he wouldn't pass a physical.

I think he can still be effective, nowhere near where he was 3-4 years ago. He's not a great run stopper, but as a sideline to sideline player he has great instincts and is pretty good in coverage. Especially if you still play the Cover-2 or something similar.

He wasn't cut because of 2012 salary as the team only saved $200k in cap space ($7.4 mill > $7.2 mill) but more because of the switch to a hybrid 3-4D and the emergence of Pat Angerer. (Brackett, Angerer and Kavell Connor are all pretty similar players as 3-4 ILBers)
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Colts draft picks:
#59 - OL Jack Mewhort Ohio ST
#90 - WR Donte Moncrief Ole Miss
#166 - OLB Johnathan Newsome Ball ST
#203 - ILB Andrew Jackson Western Kentucky
#232 - OT Ulrick John Georgia ST

[vike daddy]

[vikingsrule]

Id be willing to give Bracket a shot, he knows the defense, is familiar with Leslie Frazier and is an upgrade over EJ Henderson for where we need him to be (coverage and range).

May as well bring a veteran in there, rather than relying on young and unproven players like Brinkley, Elimimian, and Cole.

[ProudHorn]

Seeing as how this team is going to be in their nickel package the vast majority of the time, Brinkley/ any 3rd linebacker is only going to be a spot player. So, there is no reason to spend money on a FA linebacker, especially one who's 32 years old.


However, after seeing the front office take a 'wait and see' approach to resigning Erin Henderson, only giving him a one year deal, and knowing of Spielman's love for Notre Dame players, I would expect to see Manti Te'o high on our draft board next season.
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[Freakout]

[Klomp]

[vike daddy]

who's on our LB squad right now?

let's see a list.
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[The Gnat]

[vike daddy]

let's all keep in mind that Brackett was mentioned as a possibility by a journalist on a slow day. we have no word from the Vikings that they are interested, and as The Gnat has said, Spielman prefers right now to see what we have in the younger guys.



oooh! think if Brackett had a brother who also played LB and they were both 4-3 outside guys. someone else would have to be in the middle, Bracketted by them.

like i said... slow day.


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