Looks like Zygi didn't like Viking's draft either.

[Surtt]

Foley on the way out
Vikings' player personnel chief at odds with top brass, sources say.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twinci...l/14485493.htm

Although he signed a three-year contract in late January, Fran Foley's tenure with the Vikings appears as if it'll end after just three months.

The Vikings' vice president of player personnel is negotiating a buyout with the team after a tense meeting with owner Zygi Wilf on Monday, according to three sources close to the team. Foley packed up some of his belongings and wasn't at Winter Park on Tuesday evening.

Calls to Foley, Wilf and Kevin Warren, the Vikings' vice president of legal affairs, were not returned Tuesday. Rob Brzezinski, the Vikings' vice president of football operations, and coach Brad Childress also were not made available for comment.

Foley's short tenure has been marked by controversy.

Last month, Foley admitted to discrepancies in biographical information on his résumé, including the embellishment of titles in his college coaching jobs and the length of his college playing career. Behind the scenes at Winter Park, the sources said, Foley also had "disagreements" with other employees, including Childress.

Indications were that Foley's abrasive personality did not mesh with his peers.

Wilf saw this firsthand this past weekend, when Foley tried to hush people several times in the Vikings' draft war room.

Although the Vikings have been criticized by national analysts for some of their selections in the draft, Wilf said he was elated with his new players Sunday afternoon. He applauded the order and process in the war room. Foley told the Pioneer Press last week that college scouting director Scott Studwell was the go-to person during the draft because of his in-depth knowledge of the incoming rookie class. Studwell had experience running a war room. Neither Foley nor Childress had run a draft previously.

Since the ouster of coach Dennis Green in January 2002, the Vikings have struggled to fill their top player personnel position. Frank Gilliam briefly held that authority in 2002, but he was stripped of that responsibility after the Vikings had a tumultuous draft. The Vikings had a chance to select defensive tackle Ryan Sims as the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs worked out a trade. But the Vikings didn't get the pick in on time.

Although Bryant McKinnie has proven to be a better player than Sims, Gilliam's run in the post ended shortly thereafter.

Studwell and Jeff Robinson, the coordinator of pro personnel, are the in-house candidates to replace Foley, but Studwell is believed to be satisfied in his current job and wants to continue to travel and scout players.

There's a chance Foley's job could go unfilled. The Vikings could add a few other scouts and just name a pro personnel director, as they have done the past few seasons.

Foley was not the Vikings' first choice for the job. In January, Wilf pursued Philadelphia Eagles executive Tom Heckert. But Heckert instead was promoted by the Eagles to general manager.

The Vikings then interviewed Jacksonville pro personnel director Charlie Bailey; Ron Hill, the former vice president of player personnel for the Atlanta Falcons; Bill Kuharich, the Kansas City Chiefs' vice president of player personnel; and former Miami Dolphins general manager Rick Spielman.

Tom Dimitroff, the New England Patriots' director of college scouting, canceled a visit with the Vikings the night before his interview.

There is a chance Foley will remain with the Vikings if a buyout of his contract cannot be negotiated. Foley could have a tough time getting the full terms of his three-year deal because he signed the Vikings' new code of conduct.

In the meantime, the Vikings' other scouts, whose contracts expire this month, are being evaluated, and there could be other departures.

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by Surtt

The Vikings then interviewed Jacksonville pro personnel director Charlie Bailey;

Uhhh...that's not the sorry excuse for a football coach that once was at the helm at UTEP, is it? If so, how in the hell did he get an NFL job?

Of course, if David Lee can get an NFL job then I guess anything is possible.

[JeeberD]

Dola-

OK, that looks like a different Charlie Bailey. Thank god.


Still doesn't explain David Lee, though.

[Mustang]

Tried to hush people in the draft room? *L*.. why do I see a scene from Austin Powers.

"How about we take.."

"Shhhhhh"

"but, I like.."

"Shhhhhh"

"how about we.."

"With the 18th pick in the draft, the Vikings select shhhhhh"

[Franklinnoble]

I got a whole bag of "shhh!" right here.

[Passacaglia]

What's their problem? At least they got all their picks in on time this year.

[Surtt]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

What's their problem? At least they got all their picks in on time this year.

Yeah, But they had to turn in their seconday picks on the first day to do it!

[bulletsponge]

Yeah, But they had to turn in their seconday picks on the first day to do it!

LOL, yep they did. geez someone send them a copy of FOF, they need practice running drafts so they dont keep screwing up. how many drafts in a row has it been where theyve made major mistakes? 3 out of 4?

[Deattribution]

Problem was the guy had said he was head coach at three schools he was actually only an assisant graduate at, and he also said he played college ball longer than he actually had.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by bulletsponge

LOL, yep they did. geez someone send them a copy of FOF, they need practice running drafts so they dont keep screwing up. how many drafts in a row has it been where theyve made major mistakes? 3 out of 4?

I can only think of two where something could have been considered a 'major mistake' with 2002 and 2003. In 2004 they actually landed a 4th round pick that they used to take Mewelde Moore to move down 1 spot and still get the guy they wanted. Though if everytime they made a major mistake they wound up with a player like Bryant McKinnie and Kevin Williams I wish they'd start making more.