Vikings Sign Michael Boulware

[BlueBandit24]

And Kenderick Allen. Some solid depth for both the defensive line and safeties. Boulware had some solid seasons in Seattle and hopefully he can bring that here, possibly becoming the heir apparent to Sharper at strong safety.

http://vikings.com/NewsArticle_signtwo032008.aspx

Vikings Sign Allen, Boulware

3/20/2008

The Minnesota Vikings have signed safety Michael Boulware and defensive tackle Kenderick Allen. Both are veterans with starting experience and each will enter their fifth NFL season in 2008.


Boulware is a former second- round pick by Seattle in 2004 where he started 28 regular season games and earned consensus All-Rookie honors in 2004. He started in Super Bowl XL where he had an interception off Ben Roethlisberger and has 13 career picks, including playoffs. He was traded from Seattle to Houston prior to the start of the 2007 season and he saw time in all 16 games for the Texans.


Boulware has not missed a game in his career, playing in 70 contests with 34 starts, including playoffs. In Boulware’s first career start at Minnesota in 2004, he notched a sack and intercepted Randy Moss on a reverse pass. His brother, Peter, was a former first-round draft pick and started over 100 games at linebacker, winning Super Bowl XXXV with the Baltimore Ravens.


Allen began his NFL career as a rookie free agent in 2003 with New Orleans and started one game as a rookie. He went on to play two seasons as a New York Giant (2004-05) and played in two games in 2006 with Green Bay before being sidelined with a foot injury. Allen has seen time in 31 career games with three starts and at 6-5, 330 pounds will provide depth along the interior of the line.

[LoveBoatCaptain]

I don't know if we can expect Boulware to replace Sharper, but this signing gives us a S3 behind Madieu and Sharper with the ability to watch Boulware for two years and then relook into our safety situation. I still think the Vikings will take a safety some time on Day 2.