Vikings Notes (1 Viewer)

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The Vikings placed the lowest possible qualifying offer on restricted free agent Nate Burleson on Thursday, giving the receiver a tender that is worth $712,000 and would result in the team getting a draft pick equal to the round in which Burleson was selected (third) if he goes elsewhere.

The move came on the same day the NFL extended its deadline for free agency by three days and resumed talks aimed at an extension of the collective bargaining agreement. Burleson's agent, Jack Scharf, did not seem discouraged by the Vikings' offer.

"Negotiations will be ongoing to see if we can get a long-term deal for Nate," Scharf said. "More will come to light pending a ratification of the collective bargaining agreement."

If Burleson receives an offer from another club, the Vikings would have seven days to match or let him go in exchange for a third-round selection. With an NFL-high $24 million in salary cap space, the Vikings are in an ideal position to either retain Burleson by matching or go into the open market and sign a free-agent receiver.

Burleson, 24, is coming off a disappointing season in which he missed four games because of injury. Expected to play a key role in helping to replace Randy Moss, Burleson finished with 30 receptions for 328 yards and one touchdown in his third season.

Nonetheless, he is ranked fourth among the available free-agent receivers by Scout.com. Cleveland, San Diego and San Francisco are three teams with salary cap space that might be interested in Burleson.

Exploring all options

The Vikings approached the agent for Pro Bowl center Matt Birk on Thursday to discuss the status of Birk's hip and possibly look at making some contract adjustments. Joe Linta has made it clear on several occasions that Birk won't accept a pay cut after sitting out last season following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip.

"The Vikings expressed concern about will he be 100 percent?" Linta said. "We disagree. But we are listening to some trade-off proposals where Matt gets something and they get something."

Linta refused to get into specifics, but it sounds as if Birk could make more money in the short term.

"We would listen to anything," Linta said. "Although I said he's not taking a pay cut, I didn't say he wouldn't take a raise. We're just talking about different ideas that could benefit Matt and the Vikings."

Birk, whose contract runs through 2008, is scheduled to make approximately $4.4 million in 2006. Birk said Thursday his hip feels fine.

More adjustments?

Veteran left guard Chris Liwienski is close to reworking his contract to remain with the Vikings, and the team also has approached the agent for right tackle Mike Rosenthal. Both players lost their starting jobs last season.

Liwienski has three years left on a five-year deal and was slated to make $2.065 million in salary and bonuses in 2006.

His agent, Vern Sharbaugh, declined to provide specifics of the restructured agreement. "We talked and pretty much he's going to end up back there," Sharbaugh said. "We're really close."

Linta, who is Rosenthal's agent, did not want to get into specifics. Rosenthal signed a six-year contract extension in September 2004 that was worth up to $15 million. "They want to do some adjustments downward and fill it in with incentives," Linta said.

Etc.

• Three of the four members of a political panel at a Minnesota Chamber of Commerce dinner Thursday night endorsed approving stadiums for the Gophers, Twins and Vikings during this legislative session. Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar; House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon; and Senate Minority Leader **** Day, R-Owatonna, all put their support behind building stadiums in front of 1,500 business leaders at the Minneapolis Convention Center, including Vikings owner Zygi Wilf.

The annual dinner, called Session Priorities, signals the beginning of the legislative session.

"I guess my final analysis is I'm very optimistic about three stadiums," said Dave Olson, the president of the chamber of commerce.

• The dates for two of the Vikings' minicamps have been set. A veterans camp will be held April 7-9, three weeks before the NFL draft. A second, which will include the 2006 draft choices, will be May 12-14.

• Paul Edinger's agent, Ken Harris, said he has been given no indication whether the Vikings will attempt to re-sign the veteran kicker.

http://www.startribune.com/510/story/282088.html