From ESPN NFL Insider

Vikes aren't counting on Dale Carter by Mike Florio Wednesday, July 11 Updated 11:26 AM EST Vikes not counting on Dale Carter. Over the past several months, one of the worst-kept secrets in the NFL has been the Vikings' interest in cornerback Dale Carter.

ESPN Insider has learned, however, that the Vikes no longer plan on Carter becoming available.

Prior to the 1997 season, the Vikings signed Carter, then a restricted free agent with the Chiefs, to an offer sheet. Minnesota was hoping to bolster a then-decent defensive secondary with the dynamic Carter, a one-time two-way player in Kansas City. But the Chiefs matched the offer, keeping him in red and white for two more years.

Following the 1998 campaign, Carter finally got his freedom from Kansas City. Though the Vikes still were interested, their pre-season spending spree on players like John Randle, Robert Smith, Todd Steussie and Cris Carter left them with insufficient cap room to bid for Dale Carter's services.

Dale eventually signed a big-money deal with Denver, where he played in 14 games in 1999, snaring two interceptions and making 72 tackles, his highest total since 1994. When he was nailed last summer with a one-year suspension for violation of the league's substance abuse policy, conventional wisdom was that his days in those funky blue unies was over.

Twelve months later, Carter has served his suspension. Given the Broncos' recent free-agent splurgings, Denver is expected to cut Carter loose when his eligibility officially is restored by the league.

Anticipating the move, the Vikings have been holding back enough salary-cap money for a veteran free agent. Indeed, the team has a greater need for someone with Carter's talents than it did in 1997. The move makes even more sense, since the Vikes have re-acquired Carter's brother, Jake Reed, who'll be the team's third receiver in 2001.

The problem, however, is that Carter hasn't been reinstated yet, and Insider has learned that the Vikings are beginning to wonder if he ever will be. Insider also has learned that Minnesota has no interest in James Hasty or Deion Sanders, if Prime Time gets paroled from Camp Schottenheimer.

According to a league source, Minnesota currently plans to (gulp) move forward with its current cornerbacks, the hope being that the take-no-prisoners/make-no-friends approach that new secondary coach Willie Shaw brings to Minnesota will help Robert Tate, Eric Kelly, Wasswa Serwanga, Kenny Wright, the professor, and Mary Ann turn things around in 2001.

-- Jim (thewitts1@home.com), July 11, 2001

Answers

As much as I still believe that if Carter comes back to the league it will be as a Vike, this does sound like textbook Denny Green. Pacify us fans all summer with the promise of some "name" free agent to come just before camp, then flame out and sign some crap insisting that you have had a "great" offseason and that you intend to win the Super Bowl. If we do not sign a veteran corner, or more realistically two, we are going to be screwed again. Shaw should be able to help, but I doubt it will come in the form of Tate, Serwanga or Wright. I could see him getting guys who were not crappified by Worst (Soly) such as Kelly and Scott to contribute in a season or two. Our D is going to be really, really bad this season unless several players make huge strides forward, and I just have not seen that happen with a Viking defender in the past decade. They all decline, bar none, after their breakthrough year with the team. Some would say Griffith improved over a period of seasons, but I wouldn't. I think he peaked around 97 and has declined since. His Pro Bowl status last season was a make up in my opinion.

As far as the on again off again rumor about Cortez Kennedy, I still say we have to get this guy. Otherwise we are going to get killed via the run and the pass rather then just the pass and the run.

On a side note, I hope Jim Marshall hasn't sold his soul or something, this guy is deathproof. Maybe it is a sign from God to put this cat in the HOF or he will never be allowed to rest in eternal peace.

IZ

-- IZ (izmorrow@yahoo.com), July 12, 2001.

WE MUST get somebody. What is the league waiting for. The NFL let's everybody back in. Did'nt Leon Lett get like 100 chances and he's still playing. C'mon Denny get your head out of Red's ass and do something. GO VIKES!!!!

-- Tom (BMatheus@aol.com), July 12, 2001.

CBS/Sportsline is reporting that the NFL will be reinstating Broncos CB Dale Carter some time over the next week. Carter missed all of last season on drug suspension. Carter is expected to be cut immediately by the Broncos upon his reinstatement. He is then expected to sign on the with the CB-poor Vikings right away. Carter has been working out much of the off-season with Vikings WR Cris Carter in Florida and more recently for 1/2 brother WR Jake Reed in Texas. "Dale's in unbelievable shape," said Mitch Frankel, his agent. "He's anxious to get the word and get going again."

It's hard to speculate what will happen, I just know that we need DB help.

-- Randy (rf54@aol.com), July 15, 2001.

"Dale's in unbelievable shape," said Mitch Frankel, his agent. "He's anxious to get the word and get going again."

Now that's a surprise, an agent promoting his client. Why didn't they ask Cris or Jake or Shanahan what kind of shape Carter was in.

Maybe his agent thinks Carter is unbelievably fat and slow. He can't figure someone being out of football for a year and falling apart like that??

-- Bruce (sixxking@aol.com), July 17, 2001.