The Minnesota Vikings have four quarterbacks on their roster,Tarvaris Jackson, Brooks Bollinger, Tyler Thigpen and Drew Henson. All are 27 or younger, with a combined 12 starts in the NFL. Is there a likelihood the Vikings will try to add a more experienced quarterback before the season begins?
Former Viking Mike Morris, who follows the team closely now as a talk show host on KFAN Radio, said lack of experience at quarterback is an issue. He thinks the Vikings “would welcome the opportunity” to add a veteran quarterback “if things weren’t working out for the four games of the pre-season.”
Such a player, according to Morris, would be a reserve, not a starter, an experienced NFL veteran ready to mentor, teaching on and off the field. Morris said the Vikings are committed to Jackson and Bollinger. “They’ve got a couple of kids that they like and if they play within themselves and within the system you might have something, but you have to find out what that is right now,” he said. “(If) you have an older guy in the room that can help them along that would be fantastic. They won’t be looking for anything else as far as full time work.”
Speculation is Kelly Holcomb, 34, could be cut by the Philadelphia Eagles and picked up by the Vikings. The Eagles have two other veteran quarterbacks in Donovan McNabb and A. J. Feeley, plus they used a No. 2 draft choice on Kevin Kolb, a rookie from the University of Houston.
What does Morris think of Holcomb? “I don’t,” he answered. “I try not to think of Holcomb as being any sort of upgrade or help to anyone in that room (the Vikings). … I think you’re looking for someone with a little more experience, a little more knowledge of the game. I wouldn’t mention that name in that list. … I can’t think of a name I would rather not have here.”
Holcomb only has 21 career starts in 11 seasons. He did complete 67.4 percent of his passes starting 10 games for Buffalo in 2005.
Morris said the Vikings could benefit from a veteran quarterback like Kurt Warner, the former Super Bowl quarterback now in Arizona. He also mentioned Drew Bledsoe who announced his retirement in April. A visitor even offered up the name of 40-year-old Jeff George. The former Viking had the “strongest arm I‘ve ever seen,” according to Morris, and as recently as last year attempted a comeback with Oakland.
“I would take him right now above Holcomb,” Morris said. “He can still throw the ball. I know that would still work. …”