Christy Set to Retire?

Former Viking Jeff Christy has his Super Bowl ring and looks ready to call it a career after 11 years.

For years, Jeff Christy was a Pro Bowl-caliber center for the Vikings. However, when the salary cap got in the way, the Vikings allowed him to leave via free agency.

As it turned out, the move worked out well for the Vikings and Buccaneers. The Vikes were able to bring along Matt Birk, who has developed into a Pro Bowler himself. Meanwhile, the Bucs got a Pro Bowl center who helped lead them to a Super Bowl title.

Now after 11 years, VU has been told Christy is considering retirement from a source close to both the team and Christy.

Christy is set to meet next week with Bucs coach Jon Gruden and the topic of his status will be center stage. While Gruden is leaning toward trying to convince Christy to come back for one more season, as it stands now, he's ready to retire.

SATURDAY NOTES
* Maybe one of the reasons the Vikings didn't go after a defensive tackle in free agency was because they knew that there would be vets available during the summer cap casualty season. DTs such as Ted Washington of the Bears, Dan Wilkinson of the Redskins, Travis Hall of the Falcons and Grady Jackson of the Saints could all become victims of their own contractual largesse.
* July 10 will be the NFL's supplemental draft, but don't expect the Vikings -- or many other teams to get involved. In the last 26 supplemental drafts, only 32 players have been taken, but the draft has played something a role in Vikings history. In the fourth round of one such draft, the Eagles took Cris Carter.