So what now for the longtime tight end?ikings 2018 SeasonVikings 2019 OffseasonU.S. Bank StadiumMinnesota Vikings PodcastsVikings and Kyle Rudolph break off contract extension talksNew Minnesota Vikings Jerseys Stitched ,225commentsSo what now for the longtime tight end?CDTShareTweetShareShareVikings and Kyle Rudolph break off contract extension talksTim Fuller-USA TODAY SportsWhen the Minnesota Vikings headed into the offseason last December everyone knew that they would be fairly tight up against the salary cap, and they would need to either re-structure some deals with current players or release them.One of the players that many people thought the Vikings would work a new deal with was veteran tight end and Walter Payton Man of the Year finalist Kyle Rudolph. Rudolph, who is entering the last year of his contract, is scheduled to make over $7.6 million this year, with no dead money against the cap.Earlier in the off-season, it seemed like a re-structure or extension was almost a foregone conclusion. Rudolph said he was open to it, and it seemed like a logical move for both the player and the team. But as free agency drew closer...nothing happened. Then on the eve of the new league year, it was announced by Rudolph’s agent that there would be no re-structure, and he would remain with the team in 2019.Now, it appears things have taken another turn:Rudolph’s name has also been mentioned as possible trade bait, and with an inability to get a new deal done, this seems like more and more of a possibility Olisaemeka Udoh Jersey nfl draft , as alluded to by Ian Rapoport. The Vikings are less than a million dollars under the salary cap per Spotrac, and still need some wiggle room to sign their top draft pick, Garrett Bradbury. So one way or another, a move regarding Rudolph seems to be coming soon. One of the teams that Rudolph has been linked to as a possible trade partner has been the New England Patriots, who are sitting almost $15 million dollars under the salary cap. They also have an obscene 14 picks coming up in the 2020 draft, to include three third round picks, two fourth, three sixth, and four picks in the seventh round. Rudolph for a third? Yeah, I’d do that deal. Rudolph for a four and a six? Yeah, I’d probably do that deal, too. Or the Vikings could just flat out release him Super Bowl Olisaemeka Udoh Jersey , which would free up $7.6 million in cap space. If I’m the Patriots, why give up a draft pick right now if you think that could happen? Wait until they know for sure whether or not he’ll be released, and make your move when his status has been resolved. A trade will still be there once his contract status is settled, unless of course there’s another team in the mix.Still, a trade isn’t a foregone conclusion. If the Vikings decide to keep Rudolph, who I think would work well with TE Irv Smith in this new offense, they could look to re-do a couple deals of other vets to give them cap relief. Just by converting part of the base salary of either Linval Joseph or Xavier Rhodes into a signing bonus, for example, the Vikings could clear enough space to ink Bradbury. Rhodes is scheduled to make $13.3 million in base salary, while Joseph is scheduled to make $10.6 million. So another move is coming by the Vikings, be it trade or a vet re-structure. Whether it involves Kyle Rudolph remains to be seen, but it appears as if this is coming to a resolution that doesn’t involve him playing with the Vikings Garrett Bradbury Minnesota Vikings Jerseys , or at his 2019 salary...or both.Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles: Second Quarter open thread To get things started in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Eagles won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half, meaning that the Minnesota Vikings got the football first. The kickoff went into the end zone for a touchback, giving Kirk Cousins and company the football at their own 25-yard line to start things off.Cousins got things started with a couple of short completions, one to David Morgan and one to Stefon Diggs, to pick up a quick first down. Cousins then launched a long pass towards Adam Thielen, and Thielen made a great diving catch for a gain of 24 into Philadelphia territory at the 39. The Vikings then got a rushing first down thanks to a Latavius Murray burst on 3rd-and-1, and Minnesota was on the move.The Vikings pushed the ball down to the Philadelphia 10-yard line, but Kirk Cousins’ pass intended for Roc Thomas was knocked down and fell incomplete. Dan Bailey came into the game for a 28-yard field goal attempt, and he. . .bounced it off of the left upright and it fell no good. The game remained scoreless and the Eagles took over at their own 20-yard line following the miss.Carson Wentz led the Eagles onto the field, but the Eagles’ offense couldn’t do much, as Linval Joseph recorded a sack of Wentz to force a three-and-out. Mike Hughes fielded the punt and got the ball to midfield Minnesota Vikings Jerseys 2019 , setting the Vikings up with outstanding field position.Cousins found Diggs for a 24-yard catch-and-run to start the drive for Minnesota, and after a short run by Mike Boone, the offense stalled out after another Cousins pass on 3rd-and-2 fell incomplete. In came Dan Bailey again to attempt another field goal, and he connected from 37 yards out to make it a 3-0 Vikings lead.The Vikings’ defense showed up big again on the second drive, as they forced another three-and-out after a nice play by Danielle Hunter and Anthony Barr. The Eagles got a nice bounce and roll on the ensuing punt, and the offense set up shop at their own 10-yard line.Minnesota did not go three-and-out, thanks to an outstanding effort from Laquon Treadwell on a third down conversion. Cousins then got taken down on a sack by Brandon Graham, and as we move to the second quarter of play, the Vikings are looking at a 3rd-and-13 from their own 17-yard line.Fifteen minutes in the books from Philadelphia, and the Minnesota Vikings hold a 3-0 lead. Come on in and join us for the second quarter of play!