Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, 33, has enjoyed a long and successful career. After 10 seasons of productive ball, no one would blame him for hanging it up now, as his current contract comes to a close. But head coach Mike Zimmer wants the veteran defender back for one more year as the Vikings try to get to the Super Bowl in Zimmer's third season.
It's not as if Greenway aged overnight and lost the ability to contribute. Though his role was reduced to a two-down linebacker, Greenway still racked up 69 tackles, made his first career start at middle linebacker while filling in for a sidelined Eric Kendricks, and even took an interception 91 yards the other way for a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers. He was a key part of Minnesota's sixth-ranked scoring defense. In Zimmer's season-ending news conference, he noted that Greenway is "always going to be one of my kind of guys."
So why couldn't the "old man" return for one last go around?
Greenway only played 57.7 of Minnesota's defensive snaps and even agreed to cut his salary last year, earning $4 million in base salary and counting $5.75 million against the cap. As a part-time player in 2016, the Vikings can re-sign him in free agency to an even more modest deal that does not impact their cap sheet beyond next season. His work ethic, leadership and solid productivity have earned that at least.
But would it make sense?
"Yes," ESPN Vikings reporter Ben Goessling wrote. "Zimmer is on record as saying he hopes Greenway is back next season, and if the Vikings are using him mostly in a two-down role, it's not as though he'd be taking a premium spot on the defense away from a younger player. The Vikings probably need to address their linebacker depth after trading Gerald Hodges, especially considering Audie Cole will also be a free agent, but bringing Greenway back on a modest deal could make sense, especially given his value to a young defense."
Once the dust settles from this weekend's Super Bowl, expect the Vikings to offer Greenway a one-year deal in the $2 to $2.5 million range.
