Minnesota Vikings: 5 Veterans Whose Careers Are on the Line

With an agreement between the NFL owners and the NFLPA set to end the lockout as early as this weekend, the Minnesota Vikings, like every other NFL team, will be in a frenzy to get everything in place for the start of the 2011 season. 

With hopes of improving upon their last-place finish in the NFC North, there will much wheeling and dealing going on at Winter Park in Eden Prairie before the Vikings open training camp. Exactly when and where training camp will be held has yet to be determined. 

One thing is certain: With a new coaching staff in place almost every player on the roster will have to prove himself once camp opens. 

For some Minnesota veterans, this season's training camp will be extremely important as head coach Leslie Frazier and the Vikings look to rebuild.

Frazier has already made it quite clear he is looking to go in a different direction, and there will be no last-minute return of Brett Favre to the Vikings this season. 

I perused the Vikings' current roster of players under contract for the 2011 season and picked out five that will need to prove their worth to Frazier and his coaches during training camp if they plan to don the purple this fall.

Jim Kleinsasser: Fullback/Tight End

Jim Kleinsasser is the longest-tenured player on the Vikings roster.

A second-round draft choice for the Vikings in the 1999 draft, he is listed as a fullback/tight end. The label may be a little deceiving as he has not had a rushing attempt since 2003.

After missing all but one game in 2004, Kleinsasser has been extremely durable, playing in every game since 2005.

The problem is Kleinsasser is 34 years old, and his 2011 salary is $3 million. With a new salary cap in place, he will need to prove he is worth the roster spot if he wants to prevent the Vikings from dumping his salary and finding a cheaper alternative for their blocking tight end position.

John Sullivan: Center

Since taking over for Matt Birk after he signed with the Baltimore Ravens before the 2009 season, John Sullivan, a sixth-round draft choice of the Vikings in 2008, has not played to the Vikings' expectations.

Having started 30 games over the last two seasons, Sullivan is expected to see some competition for the starting job in 2011. 

The four-year veteran will need to play better than he has the last two seasons and convince new offensive line coach Jeff Davidson that he can help the Vikings.  

A couple of free-agent options the Vikings could possible look at are Olin Kreutz from Chicago and Lyle Sendlein from Arizona.

Cedric Griffin: Cornerback

This one may surprise a lot of people.

Cedric Griffin was limited to only two games in 2010. Upon his return from a torn ACL to his left knee in the 2009 NFC championship game, he tore the ACL in his right knee on October 11 against the New York Jets.

That's two torn ACLs within 10 months for Griffin.

As badly as the Vikings defensive backfield needs to be upgraded, Griffin, a second-round draft choice of the Vikings in 2006, will need to prove he will be capable of contributing this season.

Set to make $3.35 million in 2011, the Vikings will want to make sure this is money well spent.

Steve Hutchinson: Left Guard

While the 10-year veteran has been extremely durable over his career, Steve Hutchinson missed five games in 2010 due to a broken thumb.

The offensive line is another area the Vikings need to improve and add some depth. Hutchinson, who will turn 34 this November, is set to make $6.7 million in 2011.

Like center John Sullivan, Hutchinson will need to convince new offensive line coach Jeff Davidson that he can still play at the high level that earned him seven straight Pro Bowl appearances from 2003 to 2009.

Bernard Berrian: Wide Receiver

In 2010, Bernard Berrian was more like a "wide deceiver" than a wide receiver for the Vikings. 

When the Vikings signed him from the Bears before the 2008 season, they thought they had a downfield threat.

In his last two seasons in Chicago, Berrian caught 122 passes for 1,726 yards and 11 touchdowns.

In his three seasons with Minnesota, he has 131 catches for 1,834 yards and 11 touchdowns—but had no touchdowns in 2010.

When Sidney Rice underwent surgery to repair his hip before the start of the season, it was an opportunity for Berrian to step up and show his worth to the team. Instead, he became the incredible invisible man and only started nine games last season. 

Berrian is set to make $3.9 million this year; that's a lot of money to pay someone who's only catching a touchdown pass once every 3.3 games he's played for the Vikings. 

If he makes the roster in 2011, he has to have something on coach Leslie Frazier that he is using as leverage.