Phil

Loadholt

NBC’s Cris Collinsworth made a similar statement a couple of weeks ago. Peters is the rare player to leave television analysts and stat-heads in lockstep. Pro Football Focus also grades Peters as the league’s premier tackle, second (Phil Loadholt) in run-blocking and fourth (Joe Thomas, David Stewart, Andrew Whitworth) in pass-blocking.

The Vikes have $8.546 million in salary cap space, and Loadholt is the most established of 10 players due to hit unrestricted free agency in 2013. Loadholt has started 53-of-54 games since being selected in the second round of the 2009 draft, and the Vikings value his work ethic and new-found consistency. He’s still a stronger run blocker than pass protector. According to numbers compiled by ESPN 1500 Twin Cities, only four NFL right tackles have deals averaging more than $5 million per season.

Loadholt is simply dealing with some tendinitis. He should be active for what could be Christian Ponder’s first career start this Sunday. If not, Patrick Brown will get the start at right tackle.

“It should not be something that will hinder him for next week,” Frazier said. Chances are the huge deficit had as much to do with him not returning as the injury itself. That’s good news for the Vikings, as his replacement Pat Brown was an instant liability from the moment he took the field on Sunday.

He will undergo NFL-mandated testing to determine his status for Week 7, and backup Joe Berger has replaced him tonight. RT Phil Loadholt (knee) has also left the game and is questionable to return. Pat Brown has replaced Loadholt, as the Vikings’ line is crumbling amidst a 33-10 route midway through the third quarter.

Since getting drafted in the second round of the 2009 draft, Loadholt has started 63-of-64 possible games. The Vikings may not want to wait until the Patriots and Bengals set the market with their own free agent right tackles, Sebastian Vollmer and Andre Smith, respectively.

It’s quite the endorsement for 27-year-old Loadholt, a massive 6-foot-8, 343-pound mauler. “I’ll probably talk to ‘em, just to get that guy in,” Peterson said. “He’s just been improving each year. I’m going to keep my arms around him this offseason as well, just to make sure he’s staying on top of this game.” Loadholt was Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 run-blocking right tackle in 2012.

Beat writer Tom Pelissero says the franchise tag could be an option, as well. Loadholt and the Vikings reportedly opened extension talks back in October, but nothing has materialized to this point. Since being a second-round pick in 2009, Loadholt, at 6-foot-8 and 343 pounds, has missed just one start. He’s been a mauler in the run game for Adrian Peterson, and Peterson said at the Pro Bowl that he plans to push GM Rick Spielman to re-sign the behemoth right tackle.

One of the unsung heroes in Adrian Peterson’s miraculous 2012 season, Loadholt is a candidate for a major payday. He’s missed just one start in his four-year career and is one of the game’s premier run-blockers at 6'8/343. “Continuity is a huge part of it on the offensive line because those guys have to work as one unit and they have to know each other inside and out,” Spielman said. “We’d love to keep Phil Loadholt, so we’ll try to do everything we can to keep Phil Loadholt but we also have a lot of guys we’d like to keep.”

Spielman still believes Simpson “has the potential to really thrive” despite a disappointing 2012 season. He couldn’t separate from defenders and had trouble cutting after a nerve injury in his back caused weakness in his lower leg and foot. Spielman also wants to re-sign RT Phil Loadholt and FB Jerome Felton.