Griffin Signing Suggests End to Vikings' Free Agency

2009 likely will not go down in the annals of Minnesota Vikings' off-season history as one of the more glamorous for franchise free-agent signings. With all but Darren Sharper returning as starters on defense, such glamour arguably was unnecessary. But with several holes on the offensive line and significant questions remaining at quarterback and wide receiver, a little bit of glamour would have gone a long way, at least on the offensive side of the ball.That the Vikings failed to make a splash in free agency is not entirely the fault of the Vikings' organization. After a strong pitch to former Cincinnati Bengals' wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the Vikings lost Houshmandzadeh to the Seattle Seahawks. Houshmandzadeh suggested that his decision had a great deal to do with the opportunity to play with Matt Hasselbeck in a more vertical version of the West Coast Offense. But, clearly, at least as much of his determination had to do with the extra dollars that the S...