YJF Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 This is just too funny. Saturday was some small payback for The Antoine Winfield heist by Minny. Jets kind of stuck it to Minnesota by taking Nugent at 47 when they were all set to nab him at 49. Well here's a story and link on Minnesota having interest in Doug Brien. Alos has notes on who Minny has signed as UDFA's. Posted on Sun, Apr. 24, 2005 Vikings still searching for kicking solutions DAVE CAMPBELL Associated Press EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - The second day of the NFL draft came and went rather uneventfully for the Minnesota Vikings, but perhaps the most noteworthy development was coach Mike Tice's admission that he would be interested in bringing back Doug Brien to be his kicker. The follies during Brien's ill-fated stint with the Vikings in 2002 haven't been forgotten by many fans, who would surely fret if that scenario played out. After strongly considering Ohio State kicker Mike Nugent in the second round, only to watch him get picked by the New York Jets two slots ahead of them, the Vikings wrapped up a productive draft on Sunday with a few obvious needs left unaddressed. The biggest one of those is at kicker, a position that's caused Minnesota many headaches since Tice took over as coach more than three years ago. Brien, who missed a pair of potential game-winning field goals in the Jets' loss to Pittsburgh in the second round of the playoffs, is most certainly out of a job with Nugent's arrival in New York. The Vikings haven't had a place kicker who also handled kickoffs for an entire season since Fuad Reveiz in 1995. Punter Mitch Berger did the honors through 2001, but he wasn't re-signed after that - creating the uncertainty around that role that continues this spring. Brien was supposed to be the solution, but he didn't respond well to Tice's tough-guy treatment and missed two extra points and a field goal in the 2002 home opener against Buffalo - won 45-39 by the Bills in overtime. Veterans Gary Anderson and Morten Andersen, the NFL's top two all-time scorers, have provided temporary, accurate relief on extra points and shorter field goals since then, but neither of them had the leg strength to kick off or try field goals much longer than 45 yards. That has forced the Vikings to carry three kicking specialists on the roster most of the time, something most coaches loathe. Rookie free agent Jonathan Nichols, who won the Lou Groza Award with Mississippi in 2003, was signed post-draft Sunday, but Aaron Elling is currently the leading option. Elling was OK as a rookie in 2003, lost the job last August before being re-signed to kick off, and then he got hurt. "We're still looking," director of college scouting Scott Studwell said. "Maybe we've got a kicker here." Indianapolis (Mike Vanderjagt) and Denver (Jason Elam) each have proven kickers - and each drafted one on Sunday. So the Vikings will monitor the Colts and Broncos over the summer in case they decide to pull a surprise and dump the veteran for a young guy. There's always Brien, assuming he's released by the Jets. And there's always Elling. "The goal being a guy that's consistent and can do both jobs," Tice said. --- NO COMMITTEE: The Vikings are committed to identifying a lead running back and sticking with him, barring injury or suspension - setbacks they had last year with Michael Bennett, Onterrio Smith and Mewelde Moore. As a result, nobody was able to find a rhythm, and the Vikings had to rotate. Not this season. Since Moe Williams is entrenched in his role as the third-down specialist, the second-stringer will be used strictly to relieve the starter and keep him fresh. "The third guy is going to be pissed," Tice said. --- HELP WANTED?: Here's a sign the Vikings are getting better - they had trouble filling out their roster with college free agents after the draft. Minnesota is plenty deep at several positions, like quarterback, running back, tight end, wide receiver, cornerback and defensive end, making it difficult to lure prospects even by offering more money to sign than other clubs. "Three years ago our phones were ringing as soon as the draft was over," Tice said. "Now, nobody will return our calls." Here's who the Vikings did sign, with a few more likely this week: Nichols, North Dakota quarterback John Bowenkamp, North Carolina State cornerback Dovonte Edwards, Southern Connecticut State linebacker Sarth Benoit, San Diego State linebacker Heath Farwell, Jackson State wide receiver Christopher Jones, Texas Lutheran tight end Matt Ross, Maryland center Kyle Schmitt, Nebraska linebacker Ira Cooper, Bemidji State return specialist Mike Nordyke, and three from Minnesota - offensive tackle Rian Melander, cornerback Ukee Dozier and safety Justin Fraley. --- RETURN MEN: Another role the Vikings are still searching to permanently fill is in the return game, where Keenan Howry enters this weekend's minicamp as the top punt returner and Kelly Campbell as the top kick returner. Howry is followed by Moore and Nate Burleson on the depth chart, and Campbell is backed up by Moore, Smith and Burleson. First-round pick Troy Williamson will be added to the mix as a kickoff returner. __________________ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
124 Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 Good...let him go back to Minnesota so he can choke in the NFC Divisional Round for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gun Of Bavaria Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 Maybe we can trade him for a first round pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YJF Posted April 25, 2005 Author Share Posted April 25, 2005 Maybe we can trade him for a first round pick. Or Doug Jolley Look at it this way for all The Jolley haters. If it wasn't for Doug Jolley. Doug Brien would still be our kicker. It's actually not a bad move for Minny. They don't have many other options at this point and Brien is a good kicker. Just a shame things ended the way they did against The Steelers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitonti Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 the JETS _SCREWED_ the Vikings with the pick of Nugent watch the Vikings, who have seriously rebuilt their team into a playoff contender this offseason, lose a very key game down the stretch due to lack of a kicker. this non pick of Mike Nugent at #49 (who everyone on earth knew was their plan) is pretty much guarunteed to bite them in the ass. that's football for ya - millions of fans, 2 dozen coaches, 53 Juice monkeys all relying on the play of a single 5'9" 170 pound weakling to save their bacon. When that time comes for the NYJ don't be surprised when Nugent is cash money in the bank - this draft filled specific needs and if these picks pay off could be the moment this team turned into a SERIOUS super bowl contender Quick can anyone name me the last Super Bowl Champ to do so with a sub par kicker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PETROCK Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 Maybe we can trade him for a first round pick. My thoughts exactly Especially if the Vikings ARE in desperate need of a kicker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Troll Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 the JETS _SCREWED_ the Vikings with the pick of Nugent watch the Vikings, who have seriously rebuilt their team into a playoff contender this offseason, lose a very key game down the stretch due to lack of a kicker. this non pick of Mike Nugent at #49 (who everyone on earth knew was their plan) is pretty much guarunteed to bite them in the a$$. that's football for ya - millions of fans, 2 dozen coaches, 53 Juice monkeys all relying on the play of a single 5'9" 170 pound weakling to save their bacon. When that time comes for the NYJ don't be surprised when Nugent is cash money in the bank - this draft filled specific needs and if these picks pay off could be the moment this team turned into a SERIOUS super bowl contender Quick can anyone name me the last Super Bowl Champ to do so with a sub par kicker? 1994-95 San Francisco 49ers - kicker, Doug Brien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h20 Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 1994-95 San Francisco 49ers - kicker, Doug Brien Owned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 Brien is not a bad kicker. Yes, he crapped the bed at a very bad time, but he mostly served us well. I don't know what happened during his last tour in Minnesota, but I'd think he'd do ok, playing at least half of his games indoors. That said, I'm INFINITELY happier to have Nugent coming aboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitonti Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 1994-95 San Francisco 49ers - kicker, Doug Brien back in those days Doug Brien used to kick 50 yarders - he was actually a great kicker coming out of school - 12 years later he's shot, a journeyman - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gun Of Bavaria Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 Just read about how the Vikings were going to take Nugent with their pick 2 spots after the Jets did. Great intelligence work by the Jets staff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green DNA Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 The first time around, the Vikings cut Brien after he missed two extra points in one game...in the dome!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 I'll take a 7th rounder for Brien. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verde Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 I'll take a 7th rounder for Brien. I'll take a stick of gum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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