The Vikings have their quarterback, they have their kicker, but they've lost their No. 1 receiver.
While the deal to acquire Washington's Donovan McNabb in a trade for two future sixth-round picks is "done," according to a person with knowledge of the situation, wide receiver Sidney Rice changed the Vikings' offensive dynamic by signing a reported five-year $44 million deal with Seattle worth $18.5 million guaranteed.
Efforts to reach Rice were unsuccessful, and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he's not talking to the media.
Kicker Ryan Longwell has signed a multiyear deal to return to the Vikings, a rep with Frank Bauer, Longwell's agent, confirmed to the Pioneer Press. The deal is expected to be worth $12 million over four years, including $3.5 million guaranteed.
But the Vikings were hoping a Rice return would balance out an offensive attack already solidified in the running game behind Adrian Peterson and in the short-to-intermediate passing game with slot receiver Percy Harvin and tight ends Visanthe Shiancoe and Kyle Rudolph.
Now they need vertical threats, which might be enough to keep Bernard Berrian and his $3.9 million salary.
Except for Harvin's 71-catch performance last season, the Vikings are struggling to find an identity on the edge. Berrian failed to score a touchdown for the first time since 2005. Greg Camarillo (20 catches, 240 yards) never found his rhythm in the offense after coming to Minnesota in a late-August trade. Free-agent
acquisition Devin Aromashodu is a role player at best after 10 catches with Chicago last season. The remaining crop is unproven - Jaymar Johnson, Juaquin Iglesias and former Canadian Football League star Emmanuel Arceneaux have one career NFL catch between them.Some of the top wide receivers left in free agency include the New York Jets' Braylon Edwards, San Diego's Malcolm Floyd, Jacksonville's Mike Sims-Walker and Green Bay's James Jones. Don't be surprised if the Vikings at least inquire
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