Vikings sign Robison to three-year deal

The Vikings signed defensive lineman Brian Robison to a three-year contract that could mean the end of the Ray Edwards era in Minnesota.

Ray Edwards may not be coming back to the Vikings, but that doesn’t mean that the defensive end position won’t be manned. After three years of starting opposite Jared Allen, Edwards has made it clear he wants to test free agency and, if the right contract offer comes his way, he will leave.

The Vikings placed a first-round tender on Edwards, but that that might not hold up when a new collective bargaining agreement is reached and he could be headed for unrestricted free agency, where he would get his wish to look elsewhere. The Vikings may be willing to let Edwards get away when free agency begins, but they aren’t going to let the DE position become a weakness. Brian Robison, whose role in the defense has been increasing every year, now looks to be the opening-day starter after signing a three-year contract worth $14.1 million, including a $6.5 million signing bonus.

The Vikings had placed a second-round tender on Robison Wednesday, but it was clear that he was in the future plans. Whether it is a portent of things to come with Edwards or not, the Vikings have invested in Robison and it would seem that he is the man in and Edwards is the man out.

“I think I’ve done everything I possibly can to show that I can be a starter. I feel like I’ve taken advantage of the opportunities I’ve been given,” Robison said after the 2010 season. “I feel like I’ve done very well showing them that I can play the run as well as the pass. I think I’ve done everything I could possibly do to show them that I deserve to be a starter and every-down player in this league.”

FRIDAY NOTES

Whether this should be viewed as a positive sign or not, the NFL and the players association pushed back the deadline for ending the current collective bargaining agreement 24 hours. It was supposed to expire at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time last night, but has been pushed back a day – reminiscent of what happened when several delays resulted in an agreement that prevented an uncapped season in 2006 – the deal that eventually led to the owners opting out of the CBA last year.

There is talk that mediator George Cohen is asking the two sides to agree to an extension of seven to 10 days to iron out the points of contention that remain between the two sides. If that happens, there will be a lot more optimism that an agreement can be reached and life in the NFL will go on as planned.

For those Brett Favre haters out there, the amount of good work he and his wife Deanna do is largely overlooked, but shouldn’t go unnoticed. The Brett Favre 4 Hope Foundation donated $100,000 to Special Olympics Mississippi. The foundation has consistently pledged money to Special Olympics since it was formed in 1995. Favre’s mother, Bonita, was a special education teacher, which likely laid the foundation of Favre’s support for disadvantaged youngsters. Facing budget cuts, the donation will allow Special Olympics Mississippi to avoid cutting programs that likely would have been reduced because the amount of charitable giving to non-profits has been greatly reduced during the latest recession, especially in areas like Mississippi, which have been hit hard by the economic downturn.

It would seem that Leslie Frazier and the Vikings had no interest in the oft-injured Bob Sanders, who played for the Colts while Frazier was an assistant coach in Indianapolis. After visiting the Jets, Bills and Jaguars, Sanders agreed to a contract with San Diego Thursday.

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John Holler has been writing about the Vikings for more than a decade for Viking Update. Follow Viking Update on Twitter and discuss this topic on our message boards. To become a subscriber to the Viking Update web site or magazine, click here.

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