Rick Spielman sat on his golf cart off the practice field at the Vikings’ 2017 training camp. In a one-on-one interview the general manager discussed the organization’s financial strategy in spending big money on a core of Pro Bowl players in the prime of their careers.
In the previous 15 months, Spielman had authorized $135 million in guaranteed money to re-sign key defensive contributors: Harrison Smith, Everson Griffen, Xavier Rhodes and Linval Joseph.
Spielman and salary cap wizard Rob Brzezinski already had crafted plans to reward Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks and Danielle Hunter with lucrative paydays, too.