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Hartman: Vikings GM Spielman stands by belief in draft

Article by: SID HARTMAN , Star Tribune
Updated: January 19, 2013 - 9:06 PM

Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman said the team is in the initial process of evaluating personnel like it did last year, a process that led to the team's drastic improvement from a 3-13 record in 2011 to 10-6 and an NFC wild-card berth this season.

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apfan4lifeJan. 19, 13 9:51 PM

Harvin'a

apfan4lifeJan. 19, 1310:31 PM

Harvin's contract will not be "similar" to Adrian's contract. Unless similar means like 3-4 years less and 30-40 million less. Plus with Harvin's injury and attitude history I doubt the Vikings would give him anything near Peterson's 36 million guaranteed.

bear_32Jan. 20, 13 7:26 AM

Joe Webb is either a wide receiver or unemployed. It's that simple.

RonaldrjJan. 20, 13 7:28 AM

He said be honest, it ain't Joe Webb

bruisedupJan. 20, 13 8:13 AM

"Build through the draft and sprinkle in free agents". That's exactly what the team did last year but they've got to keep it up or they'll lose ground. I'm in favor of sprinkling in a free agent wide receiver at this point. If the Vikings draft a wide receiver with a high pick and miss this year it will set them back because most wide receivers are not in on every play on offense anyway and it ends up being a completely wasted pick on a high risk pick in the draft. I believe quarterback and wide receiver are the two highest risks to pick high in the draft. The position skills of QB and WR do not translate well to the next level. It's too hard to evaluate them. QB and WR should be later picks for us if we make them at all. The Vikes have come too far to lose ground in a crap shoot now.

wcottJan. 20, 13 8:40 AM

Until Harvin shows that he can play more than 5 games in a row, his new contract shouldn't be ANYWHERE close to Adrian's. Yes, he's got oodles of potential...and when he's good, he's very good - but jeez, he's out all the time.

solo44Jan. 20, 13 9:12 AM

Spielmann has done well with his first round picks, but the rest of his drafts have been disasters. His FA picks weren't any better last year. Get someone else as GM.

rapvoxJan. 20, 13 9:33 AM

It's unbelievable that any GM would say Joe Webb is a good backup QB. He should not be on the Vikings roster for next season. As for Harvin, let some other team pay him millions for sitting on the bench.

vikeforlifeJan. 20, 13 9:45 AM

The draft is really a crap shoot but you have to be able to hit in the upper rounds to better your team for the future. Spielman did an excellent job in his first year in control and has the right strategy. First pick this year is very interesting because the Vikes could go many different ways on this one.Vikes also need to very seriously look at depth at all positions because they are very thin in some areas. FA moves could be made to add depth in key areas. Needs are less obvious this year so draft strategy will be more difficult especially if there is a player in the Vikes slot that is the best player but plays a position the Vikes have covered. May not be possible to take the best player available this draft.

rovibe71Jan. 20, 1311:30 AM

solo44 -- Rick Spielman has only been the Vikings' GM for ONE YEAR. Before the 2012 draft, he was Vice President of Player Personnel, part of the much maligned 'Triangle of Authority', where three different decision makers would argue over personnel decisions. Spielman has always wanted to be the one guy in charge in that department, so he lobbied hard for a GM title, and Wilf finally gave it to him in January 2012. He has only had ONE draft where he's gotten to make the call, and it was the 2012 draft that brought Matt Kalil, Harrison Smith, Josh Robinson, Rhett Ellison, and Blair Walsh -- a GREAT draft.

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