Vikes Poised To Ink Leber?

[enjoydispinoy]

does anybody know if ben leber is talking to other teams? i think with having him and phillips as our backup LBs that we can have one of the biggest depths in the lb corps one for outside and one for inside =) please keep leber!!

[Meek858]

i think leber is going to be gone....we just resigned carlos polk and i think that even tho hes only be resigned to a one year contract its to watch him and see if he develops into a playmaker. but to be honest lebers days are numbered here i think hes gonna leave for another team.

[loweezy]

leber thinks he's a starter and will go to a team where he starts. a lot of people have mentioned that leber's charger days are over. though... the same was said about osgood.i think leber is done though.

[JoeMcRugby]

Ben Leber (and every other unrestricted free agent in the NFL) can only talk to their current team until March 1st.

I anticipate that the Chargers will make him an offer and give him an opportunity to start at ILB in 2006. We'll have to wait through February before we're likely to find out if he'll be back.

[JoeMcRugby]

i think leber is going to be gone....we just resigned carlos polk and i think that even tho hes only be resigned to a one year contract its to watch him and see if he develops into a playmaker. but to be honest lebers days are numbered here i think hes gonna leave for another team.
Carlos Polk was a no-risk signing. If they cut Polk, it's no skin off of the Chargers back.

I don't believe that Carlos Polk's status has any relation to Leber's status. If Polk makes the 2006 roster (a long shot IMO), it will be very unlikely that he'll see the field beyond special teams appearances.

[enjoydispinoy]

oh how i wish we can keep him. all that years of developing him and i think he is a pretty good starter on any team and if a back up one of the best LB backup's. as much as i see him gone i hope he gets the same situation osgood got heh. thanks on inf0oo

[Ikeman83]

I like Leber, and if anything he might have some potential as an ILB, but alot of that depends on Godfrey. If Godfrey stays, I don't know if Leber will want to play second string another year. He could be a good run-stuffing ILB, but you have to wonder if it would be worth paying him what he's going to want to stay here.

If what he wants is reasonable... keep him, no reason not to.

[RAYRAY37]

I hope Leber does come back he still can make plays.

[LT LT LT]

I remember when we drafted Leber and then started him his first year I hated it but learned quickly they were right. I love Ben he gets the job done and hope he stays. Leber phillips foley and Merriman are an amazing set of outside linebackers.

[bigbolthead21]

I think we need leber to stay now that godfrey is retiring.

[Ikeman83]

I think we need leber to stay now that godfrey is retiring.

definitely agree

[SuperBowlBolts]

definitely agree
i didnt want leber to go before we even heard of Godfrey retirement. Now i definately dont want Leber to go. Move him inside and give him a chance to compete.

[psychofan]

I would love to see Leber stay here but I have a feeling that his days in San Diego are numbered. They already signed a OLB {Akbar Gbaja-Biamila} maybe if AJ realizes that the best thing to do is sign Leber again and once its time to make roster cuts say goodbye to Polk or Gbaja-Biamila because even though G-B could be a DE Leber has done more in his career than those 2 combined.

[Boltfan92153]

Leber is coming of IR I believe and he did have 4 sacks in limited action. But he never has had an Interception. Three and a half years of starting should get at least one, heck, Jamal Williams has more career Interceptions than Leber. Leber is not very fast, but he is strong and can tackle. I believe that if we sign Wilhelm back then he is our ILB future.

[Chargerville]

I think we need leber to stay now that godfrey is retiring.I heard Godfrey was coming back. Has that changed?

[SuperBowlBolts]

I heard Godfrey was coming back. Has that changed?
No, but i would still want leber here.

[SuperBowlBolts]

Leber is coming of IR I believe and he did have 4 sacks in limited action. But he never has had an Interception. Three and a half years of starting should get at least one, heck, Jamal Williams has more career Interceptions than Leber. Leber is not very fast, but he is strong and can tackle. I believe that if we sign Wilhelm back then he is our ILB future.
Yah, i think wilhelm is our future at ILB.

[Dan40]

Pro Football Talk interview with Ben Leber (http://www.profootballtalk.com/BenLeberInterview.htm).

[bigbolthead21]

Vikings | Team already has an agreement with Leber in place?
Sun, 5 Mar 2006 08:16:01 -0800
<A href="http://www.kffl.com/link/33">Sean Jensen, of the Pioneer Press (http://www.kffl.com/link/26), reports the buzz around the NFL (http://www.kffl.com/team/77/nfl) is that the Minnesota Vikings (http://www.kffl.com/team/23/nfl) have already agreed in principle on a multiyear deal with free agent LB Ben Leber (http://www.kffl.com/player/5827/nfl) (Chargers). Leber could land a $7 million signing bonus and a contract that averages $4 million a year. Leber is big (6 feet 3, 244 pounds) and athletic, and Fran Foley, the Vikings' vice president of player personnel, knows him well from their days with the Chargers.

WOW!! I am surprised, and dissapointed, I really thought Leber was going to resign wit us.

[TJ21]

Vikings | Team already has an agreement with Leber in place?
Sun, 5 Mar 2006 08:16:01 -0800
<A href="http://www.kffl.com/link/33">Sean Jensen, of the Pioneer Press (http://www.kffl.com/link/26), reports the buzz around the NFL (http://www.kffl.com/team/77/nfl) is that the Minnesota Vikings (http://www.kffl.com/team/23/nfl) have already agreed in principle on a multiyear deal with free agent LB Ben Leber (http://www.kffl.com/player/5827/nfl) (Chargers). Leber could land a $7 million signing bonus and a contract that averages $4 million a year. Leber is big (6 feet 3, 244 pounds) and athletic, and Fran Foley, the Vikings' vice president of player personnel, knows him well from their days with the Chargers.

WOW!! I am surprised, and dissapointed, I really thought Leber was going to resign wit us.
He wants to start and can't on a team with 3 quality OLBs already in place. Fran Foley might attract Brees to... Justin Peele possibly as well. How many of our guys are the vikes going to get?!

[Podium]

Vikings | Team already has an agreement with Leber in place?
Sun, 5 Mar 2006 08:16:01 -0800
<A href="http://www.kffl.com/link/33">Sean Jensen, of the Pioneer Press (http://www.kffl.com/link/26), reports the buzz around the NFL (http://www.kffl.com/team/77/nfl) is that the Minnesota Vikings (http://www.kffl.com/team/23/nfl) have already agreed in principle on a multiyear deal with free agent LB Ben Leber (http://www.kffl.com/player/5827/nfl) (Chargers). Leber could land a $7 million signing bonus and a contract that averages $4 million a year. Leber is big (6 feet 3, 244 pounds) and athletic, and Fran Foley, the Vikings' vice president of player personnel, knows him well from their days with the Chargers.

WOW!! I am surprised, and dissapointed, I really thought Leber was going to resign wit us.

tampering!!!

[TJ21]

tampering!!!
Can they press charges after FA starts, even if this was before FA?

[Podium]

Can they press charges after FA starts, even if this was before FA?

If this is true, I believe they can. If they can prove it.

[TJ21]

If this is true, I believe they can. If they can prove it.
I doubt they will. What's the point? Leber's gone one way or another and it's Fran Foley an ex-Charger official.

[Podium]

I doubt they will. What's the point? Leber's gone one way or another and it's Fran Foley an ex-Charger official.

the penalty would be on Minny for tampering, and I believe they would lose draft picks.

no big deal, but every little bit helps.

[Dan40]

You know it's a shame. I thought Leber had good upside, and I wanted him to get a shot at ILB.

But if you read the interview, he's solid on himself being an OLB. With Merriman and Foley, he definitely is out man out.

As for tampering, maybe AJ gave permission to all the UFAs to start contacting other teams this weekend.

Holy crap! $4 million a year. Good job, Leber! :Beer:

[TJ21]

You know it's a shame. I thought Leber had good upside, and I wanted him to get a shot at ILB.

But if you read the interview, he's solid on himself being an OLB. With Merriman and Foley, he definitely is out man out.

As for tampering, maybe AJ gave permission to all the UFAs to start contacting other teams this weekend.

Holy crap! $4 million a year. Good job, Leber! :Beer:
Not to mention he's first in cheerleader votes for favorite player with 6! (WTH?!) Brees has 5, LT has 2 and everyone else's is varied.

[bigbolthead21]

the penalty would be on Minny for tampering, and I believe they would lose draft picks.

no big deal, but every little bit helps.

Well Basically, I don't nothing will happen cuz last year Da Bears had Muhsin Mohamed b4 FA started, same wit the cowboys and bledsoe

[TJ21]

I don't nothing will happen cuz last year Da Bears had Muhsin Mohamed b4 FA started, same wit the cowboys and bledsoe
Mushin Muhammed. Man, what a force. I wish we could've got that guy...

but off-topic.

[56lightsout56]

nah, tampering is done all the time. nobody does anything about it unless its ridicuously flargrent.

[netsroc123]

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/sports/14023540.htm

The buzz around the NFL is that Minnesota has already agreed in principle on a multiyear deal with outside linebacker Ben Leber, who played the past four seasons for the San Diego Chargers. Leber could land a $7 million signing bonus and a contract that averages $4 million a year, a high figure for a player with 212 career tackles.

But Leber is big (6 feet 3, 244 pounds) and athletic, and Fran Foley, the Vikings' vice president of player personnel, knows him well from their days with the Chargers.


Leber is good but thats more money than he is worth.

[paul.almryde]

:Helmet: I like Ben Leber and agree that is to much money for him. Good luck to him in the future if he leaves.:Bolt: Go Chargers!

[HeadTrip]

He is probably worth close to that, just not to us. We have a surplus of OLBs at this point. I have trouble believing this rumor is true though. It would violate the tampering rule if the Vikes and Leber were walking before the FA period started.

[BreesLightning]

from profootballtalk.com ....

Sean Jensen of The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that "[t]he buzz around the NFL is that Minnesota already has agreed in principle on a multiyear deal with outside linebacker Ben Leber." Jensen writes that the signing bonus could be as much as $7 million on a deal averaging $4 million a year.

Leber, who spent his first four years with the Chargers, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at 12:01 a.m. Monday. Until then, however, he is property of San Diego, and communication between Leber and any other team constitutes tampering.

Then again, everyone does it. Based on recent published reports out of Philly, the Eagles obviously have been talking to center LeCharles Bentley. We're aware of multiple instances of meetings at the combine between teams and agents and regular phone calls regarding guys who'll be hitting the open market.

[Podium]

http://forums.chargers.com/showthread.php?t=28435

[Thunderstruck]

from profootballtalk.com ....

Sean Jensen of The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that "[t]he buzz around the NFL is that Minnesota already has agreed in principle on a multiyear deal with outside linebacker Ben Leber." Jensen writes that the signing bonus could be as much as $7 million on a deal averaging $4 million a year.



Wow. That's a ton of money for Leber. Maybe this is another story like the Bentley story.

[BreesLightning]

Wow. That's a ton of money for Leber. Maybe this is another story like the Bentley story.

Sounds like tampering to me, how can they come up with #s before they are allowed to talk with him?

[Confuzed Azn]

Sounds like tampering to me, how can they come up with #s before they are allowed to talk with him?
Because PFT is pure garbage as a source.

[TJ21]

Because PFT is pure garbage as a source.
I owe you a :Beer:. Absolutely right. PFT never is reliable.

Would the Bucs be interested in Leber AZN?

[psychofan]

I know that leber is gone. I can only wish the best for him. He did great this year until he was injured. I hope that this year's play will carry over to next year unless he's signed by the Raiders, Bronc's, of Chiefs

[TBOLTZCALI]

I have an inside source that Leber is buying a house in Coronado and that the teams may be interested in him are the 49ers, the browns and the raiders, which he said he wont play for unless he absolutely has too. But regardless, he is buying a house in coronado as a second home.

[IgorUnchained]

Drew Brees, a free agent from the San Diego Chargers, could be the next Vikings quarterback. One reason it might happen is that Fran Foley, the new vice president of player personnel for the Vikings, had a great relationship with Brees when both were with the Chargers.

The Vikings are going to be looking for a new and young quarterback.

Brad Johnson, 37, will be the starting quarterback this year, unless the Vikings sign somebody like Brees. And even if somebody like Brees is signed, Johnson will get a chance to beat him out on the basis of the great season he had last year.
(from Sid Hartman at Star Tribune)


03/05...Rumor Rumblings...None of these rumors may come true if a new CBA isn't reached...The New York Jets want to pursue Bengals QB Jon Kitna in Free Agency...the Washington Redskins are considering Bills WR Eric Moulds...the Browns will make an offer to Pats WR David Givens...the Chicago Bears and New York Giants will pursue former Dolphins CB Sam Madison...the Minnesota Vikings are the front runners to sign Chargers LB'er Ben Leber.... and they could be players in the Drew Brees sweepstakes...the Seahawks and Shaun Alexander may reach an agreement to keep the NFL MVP in Seattle.
( RUMOR from Al Fronczac)


Redskins | Team interested in Archuleta
Sun, 5 Mar 2006 14:47:21 -0800

Nick Wagoner, of StLouisRams.com, reports the Washington Redskins are interested in free agent S Adam Archuleta (Rams).



Browns | Team might have interest in McGinest
Sun, 5 Mar 2006 09:58:52 -0800

Ron Borges, of the Boston Globe, reports the Cleveland Browns might have interest in New England Patriots DL Willie McGinest if he becomes a free agent. Browns head coach Romeo Crennel would like to add an outside linebacker, pass-rusher type that can play in a 3-4 formation.


Chiefs | Team reportedly interested in Woodson
Sun, 5 Mar 2006 10:14:40 -0800

Jerry McDonald, of the Oakland Tribune, reports the Kansas City Chiefs are believed be interested in making a run at free agent CB Charles Woodson (Raiders).


I know that this isnt a rumor thread, but if "tampering" was as easy to prove or was defined how most of you think it is, than all of these posts from newspapers, websites, and pundits would all be against NFL policy......and it would seem that they arent.

[Totally Bolted]

Wel then Igor
I hope AJ is "tampering" with a few FA's himself.

[Chargerville]

Shaun Phillips, your time has come.:Beer: