Published: Thursday, April 5, 2001

area update

Vikings eye '92 defensive player of year

Pioneer Press

---------------------------------------------------------------------- -- STAFF AND NEWS SERVICE REPORTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Former Seattle Seahawks standout defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy is scheduled to visit the Vikings on Monday. Kennedy was cut by Seattle last month in a salary-cap motivated decision. Kennedy, who will be 33 in August, already has garnered interest from the St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints. Kennedy, has slowed in recent years, but at 320 pounds, probably would start for the Vikings. As of now, second-year player Fred Robbins is the Vikings' probable starter at nose tackle. Kennedy, who played for Seattle all 11 of his years as a pro, was the NFL defensive player of the year in 1992. For Kennedy to sign with the Vikings, he would have to agree to an incentive-based contract. The Vikings are about $2 million under the salary cap, with most of that money reserved for draft picks. The Vikings have room for one more veteran. They also are looking at veteran cornerbacks including James Hasty and DeRon

-- Mark (Karch 222@aol.com), April 05, 2001

Answers

I say get him if you can. He still has a couple years left in him. As for Hasty i believe he signed with someone today, can't remember who. I saw it on ESPN2. GO VIKES!!!!!

-- Tom (BMatheus@aol.com), April 05, 2001.

The slant is that Kennedy would like to become a Vike but the money isn't right. While I agree that he should not paid 2 mil. per year for two years; he value is worth more than the pittance minimum vets' pay with a megar bonus that was offered. According to today's Trib, Fernando Smith will start at nose tackle if Kennedy doesn't sign. That being the case, I don't see the team's predicament as being any better than last season. What other decent free agent nose tackles are out on the market at this date? As of now, I don't feel good about our upcoming season.

-- John (Maccody@aol.com), April 12, 2001.