The Vikings' regular-season opener against the Saints next Thursday in New Orleans has many intriguing story lines but at least one of them is now dead.
The offseason Twitter feud that was staged between Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and New Orleans safety Darren Sharper proved to be decent theater but the two former teammates aren't going to be able to resolve their differences (if there were any) on the field.
That's because Sharper will be placed on the NFL's reserve/physically unable to perform list, according to the website NewOrleans.com. The veteran will have to sit out the first six weeks of the regular season as he continues his recovery from microfracture surgery he had this offseason.
Shiancoe and Sharper, who used to have lockers next to each other at Winter Park, attempted to provide some offseason entertainment. Here's a bit of the play-by-play from the Twitter exchange between the two that came to an end when Saints coach Sean Payton got involved.
Meanwhile, we posted an item Thursday about the fact the Seahawks were looking to trade wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and speculated on whether the Vikings might have been an option. The issue is that Houshmandzadeh is due $7 million plus in guarantees this season.
Well, he might not cost that much after all. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Seahawks will cut ties with Houshmandzadeh, 32.
According to Schefter's report, Houshmandzadeh's contract includes offset language that makes Seattle liable to pay him whatever his new team doesn't. Thus if Houshmanzadeh were to sign a veteran minimum deal of $850,000, the Seahawks would be liable for the remaining $6.15 million balance.
That could make it much more tempting for a team like the Vikings to sign Houshmanzadeh.
