singersp
02-17-2006, 02:06 PM
Posted on Fri, Feb. 17, 2006
Foley assessing needs
New personnel chief doesn't tip hand about Culpepper
BY DON SEEHOLZER
Pioneer Press
Three weeks after hiring Fran Foley as their vice president of player personnel, the Vikings introduced him to the Twin Cities media Thursday.
Owner Zygi Wilf praised Foley as someone who "has a keen eye for free-agent talent." Wilf didn't take questions, and Foley had no comment about a possible trade of quarterback Daunte Culpepper.
Foley, who spent the past three seasons as San Diego's director of pro scouting, wouldn't even bite on the question of whether quarterback is a need position for the Vikings, with Culpepper trying to come back from a devastating knee injury that is expected to keep him off the practice field until this summer at the earliest.
"I couldn't answer that," Foley said. "I will tell you this, though: We will evaluate every position in free agency and in the draft. … Positional needs and things like that, we're not going to do it that way. As we go forward here, we're evaluating every position, every player, and we're going to be thorough at it."
Foley wouldn't comment about wide receiver Koren Robinson or the rest of the Vikings' 16 pending unrestricted free agents, or speculate about which players or positions the team might target in free agency.
Asked how aggressive the Vikings would be, he said: "That remains to be seen. That, too, changes daily. We're trying to get a target list together and some other ideas, but we're still unsure of when free agency may even start."
Free agency is scheduled to begin March 3, but with NFL owners and the players union still working to negotiate an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, there have been reports that the start date might be pushed back a week or two or all the way to April 1.
"It would be a lot easier to have the start of the league year come and go (March 3)," Foley said. "But it is what it is. Whatever happens, happens. We've just got to be prepared for all scenarios."
Foley, who is preparing for next week's NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, said he spent his first week on the job evaluating the Vikings' players and thinks his department has a good feel for everyone on the roster.
The team also has an early free-agency plan in place, although that will need to be revised as players re-sign with their teams or are hit with franchise tags.
"We've ID'd the type of athlete the coaches want at each position," Foley said. "That's been communicated to the scouts and the work force. We feel pretty comfortable we know what they're looking for."
On the clock: Foley said he is evaluating director of college scouting Scott Studwell, coordinator of pro personnel Jeff Robinson and the rest of the scouting department, which will stay on at least through the April 29-30 NFL draft.
"The scenario I shared with them was we're evaluated every day in what we do," Foley said. "The owner's evaluating me, and I'm evaluating them. I will give them a fair evaluation. We've got a ways to go on that."
Contracts for the personnel staff expire May 31.
Quip of the day: Foley, asked if he, coach Brad Childress and vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski are on an equal footing in the team's Triangle of Authority: "Not exactly. It's a little trickier than that. I will offer you this: I'm responsible for all of the players that are good, and Brad and Rob can take all the players that aren't."
Culture shock: Foley said his family flew in Wednesday night from San Diego, "where they had a winter advisory there. I believe it dipped into the 60s with a chance of rain."
Foley said his children were excite because they hadn't seen snow before.
Briefly: Mewelde Moore's agent, Neil Schwartz, said the running back had surgery during Super Bowl week on the right wrist that bothered him this past season
Foley assessing needs
New personnel chief doesn't tip hand about Culpepper
BY DON SEEHOLZER
Pioneer Press
Three weeks after hiring Fran Foley as their vice president of player personnel, the Vikings introduced him to the Twin Cities media Thursday.
Owner Zygi Wilf praised Foley as someone who "has a keen eye for free-agent talent." Wilf didn't take questions, and Foley had no comment about a possible trade of quarterback Daunte Culpepper.
Foley, who spent the past three seasons as San Diego's director of pro scouting, wouldn't even bite on the question of whether quarterback is a need position for the Vikings, with Culpepper trying to come back from a devastating knee injury that is expected to keep him off the practice field until this summer at the earliest.
"I couldn't answer that," Foley said. "I will tell you this, though: We will evaluate every position in free agency and in the draft. … Positional needs and things like that, we're not going to do it that way. As we go forward here, we're evaluating every position, every player, and we're going to be thorough at it."
Foley wouldn't comment about wide receiver Koren Robinson or the rest of the Vikings' 16 pending unrestricted free agents, or speculate about which players or positions the team might target in free agency.
Asked how aggressive the Vikings would be, he said: "That remains to be seen. That, too, changes daily. We're trying to get a target list together and some other ideas, but we're still unsure of when free agency may even start."
Free agency is scheduled to begin March 3, but with NFL owners and the players union still working to negotiate an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, there have been reports that the start date might be pushed back a week or two or all the way to April 1.
"It would be a lot easier to have the start of the league year come and go (March 3)," Foley said. "But it is what it is. Whatever happens, happens. We've just got to be prepared for all scenarios."
Foley, who is preparing for next week's NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, said he spent his first week on the job evaluating the Vikings' players and thinks his department has a good feel for everyone on the roster.
The team also has an early free-agency plan in place, although that will need to be revised as players re-sign with their teams or are hit with franchise tags.
"We've ID'd the type of athlete the coaches want at each position," Foley said. "That's been communicated to the scouts and the work force. We feel pretty comfortable we know what they're looking for."
On the clock: Foley said he is evaluating director of college scouting Scott Studwell, coordinator of pro personnel Jeff Robinson and the rest of the scouting department, which will stay on at least through the April 29-30 NFL draft.
"The scenario I shared with them was we're evaluated every day in what we do," Foley said. "The owner's evaluating me, and I'm evaluating them. I will give them a fair evaluation. We've got a ways to go on that."
Contracts for the personnel staff expire May 31.
Quip of the day: Foley, asked if he, coach Brad Childress and vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski are on an equal footing in the team's Triangle of Authority: "Not exactly. It's a little trickier than that. I will offer you this: I'm responsible for all of the players that are good, and Brad and Rob can take all the players that aren't."
Culture shock: Foley said his family flew in Wednesday night from San Diego, "where they had a winter advisory there. I believe it dipped into the 60s with a chance of rain."
Foley said his children were excite because they hadn't seen snow before.
Briefly: Mewelde Moore's agent, Neil Schwartz, said the running back had surgery during Super Bowl week on the right wrist that bothered him this past season