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02 Aug 2011

Vikings To Release Bryant McKinnie

I guess this better explains the Charlie Johnson signing for Minnesota. Former Pro Bowler Bryant McKinnie was granted his release after nine seasons in purple as his weight problems and off-the-field issues finally became too much to deal with for the Vikings.

Posted by: Rivers McCown on 02 Aug 2011

12 comments, Last at 24 Aug 2011, 9:15am by andrew

Comments

1
by Will Allen :: Tue, 08/02/2011 - 4:29pm

He had some good years, and at his peak he was a guy who could be trusted to pass block effectively without a lot of help, but he never came close to playing up to his potential, I suspect because he likes the money a lot more than he likes the game. Throw in the habit of getting drunk and fouling up very publicly, and it was a somewhat disappointing career for Vikings fans. For Mckinnie it was fine, the last contract took care of that.

Oh, and it is a no-brainer move for Leslie Frazier. Very publicly, wery early, cutting an unmotivated veteran with a large salary, when his best years are obviously behind him, is usually a good move for a new coach, no matter who is available to fill the spot. Hell, Mckinnie got Favre killed last year, so I'd hate to see what an even more out of shape Mckinnie would have done to McNab. Ol' Donovan was going to have a tough time making it to mid-season as it was.

2
by Mike B. In Va :: Tue, 08/02/2011 - 4:44pm

McNabb isn't exactly going to have vintage Orlando Pace covering his blindside as it is. Johnson's an upgrade, but how much of one remains to be seen, since he nearly got Peyton Manthing killed last year.

3
by commissionerleaf :: Tue, 08/02/2011 - 6:11pm

And Donovan McNabb is no Peyton Manning.

Not that that's a knock on Donovan McNabb; but he doesn't have Manning's release or pocket awareness.

6
by Danish Denver-Fan :: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 4:30am

"but he's no Peyton Manning" is a knock on perhaps 5-6 people in the history of mankind.

7
by Mr Shush :: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 7:32am

Depends how you look at it. For example, Peyton does some good work for charity, no doubt, but "Mother Teresa of Calcutta was no Peyton Manning" doesn't seem quite right, somehow . . .

8
by MilkmanDanimal :: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 9:32am

She was a wonderful human being, but she just couldn't throw the out route.

9
by Harris :: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 10:18am

True, but she was a far better scrambler.

Hail Hydra!

10
by Danish Denver-Fan :: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 10:54am

The pilgrim route, however...

4
by Rick Killing (not verified) :: Tue, 08/02/2011 - 7:29pm

I would argue that Johnson is an upgrade. The Vikings just got worse as a team. McK had some slug-like tendencies, but he rarely missed a game and at least forced the fast DEs to have to run all the way around him. Every draft some Mayock-type throws out the phrase "put him out there for the next ten years and not have to worry" to describe an LT prospect.

That's what McK was for the Vikings. He may not have been Pace or Ogden, but neither was he...anyone from the Bears' line.

11
by Kurt :: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 5:01pm

Lot of past tense in this comment. The issue is whether Johnson is an upgrade on 2011 McKinnie, not 2007 McKinnie.

5
by andrew :: Tue, 08/02/2011 - 7:34pm

McKinnie had been a liability on the Vikings line for some time.

12
by andrew :: Wed, 08/24/2011 - 9:15am

and now he can be a liability for the Ravens.