Minnesota Vikings: WR Sidney Rice Becomes a Free Agent

Well fellow Viking fans, trouble strikes again.

It was announced earlier this week that Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice will enter the free agency market. Any team would be lucky to get Rice, as he is a great receiver. Rice's greatest season was in 2009 when he racked up over 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns.

During the offseason following that year, Rice underwent hip surgery, and it was because of that surgery that his numbers lacked in 2010. Still, he recorded just under 300 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

What Does His Free Agency Mean for the Vikings?

Well, it depends what Rice decides to do. Sidney can still re-sign with the Vikings. I hope this is the option he chooses, because the Vikings can not afford to lose a key player like Rice.

Without Rice, the Vikings' current receiving core is Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and Greg Camarillo. Rice is needed on the team, because, without him, the quarterback will suffer—whoever it is. The receiving lineup is not nearly as intimidating without Rice as it is with him.

If Not Minnesota Then Where?

There are many teams that could use a receiver of Rice's caliber.  The following teams could go after Rice:

AFC:

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Kansas City

Miami Dolphins

Oakland Raiders

Tennessee Titans

NFC:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

New Orleans Saints

St.Louis Rams

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Redskins

None of these teams have more than one good receiver, and none of them have any depth at the position. I could really see three teams trying to land Sidney Rice: Carolina, Seattle, and Washington. These three teams all ran into problems with their respective receiving cores.

Sidney Rice has not said that he is not interested in returning to the Vikings. He has just decided to test the free agency market. Whether or not Sidney returns will be on the Vikings' shoulders more than on Sidney's.

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