Sheldon Richardson Considering Coming Back?
DT Sheldon Richardson has decided it's time for a fresh start and won't be re-signing w/ #Browns even though they made him a nice offer, league source tells clevelanddotcom; @JackDay reports he could be headed back to the #Vikings https://t.co/LEmkJ7YIOa
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) June 14, 2021
According to Browns reporter, Mary Kay Cabot, Sheldon Richardson is considering coming back to the Vikings. Not sure if the Vikings have interest with Dalvin Tomlinson and Michael Pierce on the roster, but rotating him in heavily at both DT spots would be interesting.
Do the Vikings finally have the right personnel to play around with the occasional 34 front? Hmmm.....
.@Andrew_Krammer just threw out the idea of the #Vikings rolling with a 3-4 front next season that features…
— Adam Patrick (@adampatrickNFL) June 14, 2021
NT - Michael Pierce
DEs - Dalvin Tomlinson + Sheldon Richardson
OLBs - Danielle Hunter + Anthony Barr pic.twitter.com/ha4pJsH7qs
@"MaroonBells" said: Do the Vikings finally have the right personnel to play around with the occasional 34 front? Hmmm......@Andrew_Krammer just threw out the idea of the #Vikings rolling with a 3-4 front next season that features…
— Adam Patrick (@adampatrickNFL) June 14, 2021
NT - Michael Pierce
DEs - Dalvin Tomlinson + Sheldon Richardson
OLBs - Danielle Hunter + Anthony Barr pic.twitter.com/ha4pJsH7qs
That thought crossed my mind when Richardson was mentioned having played DE. You know Zimmer is going full mad scientist right now. Probably why he ended practice early.
@"MaroonBells" said:$12M left? Dede Westbrook is retweeting himself in a Vikings uniform.@"BarrNone55" said:https://twitter.com/SeanBormanNFL/status/1404818263218008065?s=20· 5mTom PelisseroFor the #Vikings and Sheldon Richardson, it's a one-year, $3.6 million deal that can be worth up to $4.35M with incentives, per source. Quickly utilizing the cap space they saved with Danielle Hunter's contract tweak to further fortify the defensive line.
Love the optimism. Here is where we should still have concerns: (1) special teams -- all of it. Miserable last year. (2) offensive line -- I think we love the new pieces, but here's a reality check -- Darrisaw has not played a down in the NFL, is coming off an injury and anchors Kirk's blind side; Bradbury was a first rounder, but he is not a top 10 and probably not a top 15 Center -- he needs to improve; Wyatt Davis may not win the G spot and the other options look ugly. (3) We still need a #3 receiver. Unlikely Thielen and Jefferson both play all 17 games. Beebe, Bisi are not good #3 WRs, and if pressed into a bigger role due to injury, no one is going to honor the pass game. I expect KJ Osborn to get cut and expecting Smith-Marsette or an UDFA to contribute is asking a lot. I saw this morning that Jamison Crowder was re-doing his deal to stay with the Jets. Too bad, as he would have been a perfect #3.
Sheldon Richardson calls return to the Vikings a 'perfect fit'The defensive tackle got $3 million in guaranteed money from Minnesota on a one-year deal that reunites him with coach Andre Patterson.
"The reason why I had my deal in Cleveland was because of Dre and him putting me in positions to be productive," Richardson said. "I know his philosophy and what he brings to the table. He can get the best out of me, too, so it's a match made in heaven."
Richardson's new contract is worth $3.6 million, with another $735,000 available to him in incentives, according to a league source. The fact he got $3 million in guaranteed money suggests the Vikings have a sizable role in mind for the 30-year-old, who posted 4 1/2 sacks for the Browns in 2020 under first-year coach Kevin Stefanski.
The Vikings have long sought the type of interior pass rush Richardson brought in 2018. He could step in on passing downs, or eventually work with Tomlinson and Pierce in sub packages if the Vikings decide to get creative with their veteran tackles.
Richardson said he didn't mind moving to different spots.
"I've played outside linebacker before in this league, so I really don't mind it at all," he added. "And I was 330 when I did that. I'm 286 right now and feeling good. Like I said, just trying to get back in football shape and let the chips fall where they lie.""
I'm proven," he said. "I've proven my talent last year, years ago and pretty much every year I've played in the league. The way the business works, hold you five days before the draft and there's no more money in free agency. You've got to take what they hand out."
His bet, now, is that his second stay in Minnesota can be as beneficial as his first one was.
"Honestly, just couldn't come to an agreement with what I wanted from Cleveland," Richardson said. "And me being cool with the organization here and knowing everything with what Zim and Coach Dre bring to the table for me … they put me in position to make plays earlier in my career. It was a perfect fit."
https://www.startribune.com/vikings-defensive-tackle-sheldon-richardson-perfect-fit/600068497/
Wow. Another guy who thinks Dre is a pretty good coach. Weird.

Browns insider reporting Sheldon Richardson turned down a higher offer from Cleveland in order to sign with the Vikings https://t.co/ZIw9SwlR3g
— Krauser (@Krauserrific) June 20, 2021
Cronin reports the Vikings were “mixing in more 3-4 fronts in practices” this spring https://t.co/8aIfR313GR
— Krauser (@Krauserrific) June 21, 2021
@"MaroonBells" said: https://twitter.com/Krauserrific/status/1406977560802697226?s=200f course a few years ago they were using a bunch of looks with Barr at RDE in camp and did we ever see that in a game? I like the idea of scheme flexibility, but how much will that really help against quality opponents? most good teams have strong QBs and strong coaching staffs that will see the switch and have a plan ready to attack the adjustment.
@"JimmyinSD" said:I doubt they'll be switching to a 3-4 full time. I suspect this will be used more here and there with disguises that are designed to confuse offenses on individual plays. It will be most effective if they can switch from 43 to 34 with the exact same personnel.@"MaroonBells" said: https://twitter.com/Krauserrific/status/1406977560802697226?s=20 0f course a few years ago they were using a bunch of looks with Barr at RDE in camp and did we ever see that in a game? I like the idea of scheme flexibility, but how much will that really help against quality opponents? most good teams have strong QBs and strong coaching staffs that will see the switch and have a plan ready to attack the adjustment.But yeah, you're right, this isn't the first time they've experimented with things that never really show up in games. We'll have to wait to see if and how they use it.
@"JimmyinSD" said:I disagree. Having scheme flexibility on D makes the offense work so much harder. Think of the patriots not even trying to run when they played the williams wall (no relation). They had our scheme figured out and made it simple for them to avoid our strength.@"MaroonBells" said: https://twitter.com/Krauserrific/status/1406977560802697226?s=20 0f course a few years ago they were using a bunch of looks with Barr at RDE in camp and did we ever see that in a game? I like the idea of scheme flexibility, but how much will that really help against quality opponents? most good teams have strong QBs and strong coaching staffs that will see the switch and have a plan ready to attack the adjustment.Think of how much film teams watch to figure out the opponent. If they can't find the tendencies because our D has real different looks, then advantage Vikings. When Zim designed the Double A Gap, it wrecked the league that year. Think of how the Eagles won the superbowl a few years back. They redid their offense in the bye week of the playoffs. Their opponents (us and the patriots) were caught off guard because of things they hadn't seen on film.
So it will eventually get to film and offense will adjust, but if it gives the D an advantage for the first 10 games of the year instead of just 8, or it makes the offense spend time being ready for multiple fronts, that is less time they have to spend being really good at one.
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