Hicks signs/UPDATE
March 4th, 2008 – 4:32 PM by Judd ZulgadThe Vikings website is reporting that free-agent running back and return man Maurice Hicks has been signed by the team. Hicks becomes the fourth free agent to sign with the team in the past week, joining safety Madieu Williams, fullback Thomas Tapeh and wide receiver Bernard Berrian. Hicks will take the place of Mewelde Moore, who signed with Pittsburgh on Monday. Here are Hicks’ career stats. He’s expected to take over as the Vikings’ primary kick returner.
UPDATE: Seifert here. Just got off the phone with Hicks. He said he was “shocked” when the Vikings expressed interest; he and his agent made clear he was looking for a team that would give him a chance to play on offense as well as on special teams. With RBs Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor already on the roster, Hicks admitted it was hard to imagine where he might fit in.
But Hicks said coaches discussed the possibility of serving as a third-down back and in other specific offensive situations. Although he hasn’t been an NFL workhorse in the backfield, rushing a grand total of 205 times in four seasons, he is no slouch, either. Hicks holds the NCAA Division II record with a 437-yard game while playing for North Carolina A&T.
“I wanted to find a place where I could be a returner but also play a role on the offense,” he said. “That was the key.”
That said, Hicks figures to be the leading candidate to return kickoffs. He hasn’t returned a punt in an NFL game, but that possibility can’t be ruled out. He has a 22.9-yard average on 185 kickoff returns in his career.
164 Responses to "Hicks signs/UPDATE"
First?
second?
Thank Jeff & Judd!
Hopefully a cheaper version of M.Moore and another good special teamer.
Didn’t the front office know that there was to be no activity today in observance of the Greatest Player in the History of Forever’s Retirement?
Shameful, really…
thank who?
Thank You VERY MUCH for the Vikings NEWS!!! Whooo Hoo Hicks signs….now we just need Hank Basket back!!
Do you know who I really get sick of?….that Judd Zulgad guy, where did this guy come from?
…anydee bsdfggggggggggggggggggrrwe
…anydee bsdfggggggggggggggggggrrwe
…anydee bsdfggggggggggggggggggrrwe
just what this team needs, more Hicks
Wait, JUDD - You got that from the Vikings’ website? Since when do they update that site?
Potent or kick ass, wouldn’t be enough to describe the vikings offense if Hank Baskett signed.
(slapping monc)
you’re skipping again
Judd - Are you sure they weren’t talking about Artis? I think that might be the last time they updated…
Looks like Hicks has a problem hangin on to the football!!! Update on Jabar Gaffney or are we leaning towards resigning Ferguson?
My Boycott is now done thanks to there finally being some Vikings Blog News and not Brett Favre Blog in Access Vikings.
Swamp - Why even mention that name?!? Now there is going to be a new freakin’ blog about some other dude on him…
Me too
test
VQ…Sorry bout that…I guess my mind has been brainwashed today w/ NFL Network, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN News. Throw in the addition of our lovely Viking Blog getting all up on his nutz that it’s just been beatin into me.
Freakin Hicks is a fumble artist… 8 fumbles in 200 carries… that suckzz…
BUSTER in SD
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!
Hell Hicks doesn’t even make Scouts list of FA RB’s… what a find… he probably got Snowcone type $$ too…
BUSTER in SD
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!
Buster, Im pretty sure as long as we have Taylor and Peterson we dont have to worry about him doing anything but special teams. and 8 fumbles in 200 carries is nothin compared to Culpepper
I think Chilli is bringing him in to play DE.. Behind Favre & Crazy Horse of course of course…
BUSTER in SD
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!
I know that culpooper he still handles K-offs and there is more flying around and stripping of the ball on KO returns than anywhere….
BUSTER in SD
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!
Buster = Loves the Hicks signing!
Just to note, Devin Hester has a fumble problem but he is a pretty good returner
Hicks was actually pretty decent with the Cardinals as a backup/returner. He has some decent speed. He’s no Hank Baskett though.
Pryority List:
1. Jayson Taylor
2. Jevon Kearse
3. Jabbar Gaffeny/Robert Furgeson
Hey Buster is there anyone you like???
KEVIN OR JUDD, anything on the defensive end situation yet ???
i think the “other specific offensive situations” involve providing water bottles & towels during timeouts
d11- why Bob? Or the guy from Star Wars?
daunte = idiot comparing Hickey to Hester.. moron
BUSTER in SD
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!
I dont know I thought the Vikings were interessted in them. Id rather have Javon Walker
22.9 yards isn’t half bad…
Buster Rhymes = wannabe Busta Rhymes
Buster Rhymes = Hate the world
Buster - Hester isn’t anything special. I’d compare the two, but give the edge to Hicks, since he is now, a beloved Viking.
boba fett averaged 24.3 yards before he blew out his acl…kid had some mad talent
Allisons avg was 28… Hick avg = same as TWilly… That’s impressive…
BUSTER in SD
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!
eller - 
11.45 yards = totally bad
Rhymes = giving insanity a bad name
[…] While other teams mourn the loss of their old, washed-up players, the Vikings press on with the business of building their roster. Today they added former 49ers RB Maurice Hicks who will primarily serve as a kick returner, but has also reportedly been given assurances by Vikings brass that he’ll see some time in the offense. […]
Hester 11 ST TD’s in past 2 years Hicks = 0…. Good comparison dumda$$
BUSTER in SD
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!
Dude - Freakin’ get a life.
Buster = Mute donkey!
Buster = Wants to get into bed with Favre & Hester. Why leave the Lions out? How about Matt Millen?
I would guess the reason they signed hick even though allison had very good return numbers is they are counting on allison playing alot more at wr this year, he looked solid as a slot guy when he did in 07
berrian and rice outside, and wade and allison in slot where they belong
… not that bad at all
hicks will be a very solid special teamer(ain’t afraid to hit anyone either - check out tackle stats) & can make a difference in sub-packages
Buster and Millen gettin it on!!!! Not a pleasant visual, but funny just the same….of course afterwards Millen will admit his inadequicies
Hicks is a good sign but we still need to get a DE BADLY! Even if we get a DE like Kearse or Taylor I still think the first round pick favors another DE or a QB
Glad to see there’s been a return to Access Vikings…and by the way, I love breakfast for dinner…urp…excuse me.
how would favre look in a suit on nfl gameday? or Fox NFL Sunday? or fishing in a duck boat on a pond in Mississippi?
or pheasant hunting in a field in south dakota? where does he fit in best?
no VQ, not in your bed
hey judd have any idea what the contract for hick looks like?
john madden died a little today
JASON TAYLOR?…
In the last four seasons with the 49ers, Hicks has returned 185 kickoffs for a 22.9-yard average. The last two seasons, he has averaged 23.8 yards on 63 returns (in 2007) and 25.1 yards on 57 returns (in 2006). His 1,428 return yards in 2006 set the franchise record for total yards on kickoff returns and then he bested that mark with 1,502 yards in 2007. The Vikings’ franchise record is 1,345 yards by Buster Rhymes in 1985.
I wonder if Buster even knew that himself 
Oh good Jeff, Matty! I thought you and I were buddies! That was just wrong…
Favre will go into the HOF as an Atlanta Falcon
good one MudHen and Ed
Hicks signed for 3 years, but not sure on the $$$
wrong Ed, he will enter the HOF wearing a Walgreens hat
he is their best customer
VQ…my bad, couldn’t help myself…I think I’ve let the fact that jerkpepper is back…gets my riled up…my bp is up…so, I apologize. please accept.
Ole…lol
Brett Favre will go into the hall wearing wrangler jeans and a flanal(sp) and that beat up packers hat he wears to all his news conferences…then he’ll get classed up with that nice blazer they hand to all the HOF’ers.
I’m sure John Randle will be there. it would be nice if Favre lets randle introduce him.
Sifert and Zulgad you are right maybe I am going about this all wrong.
Why don’t you folks call/text/email/carrier pigeon Quinn Gray and ask what he thinks about being a Vike
VQ & her twin sister..
Two blonde girls were working for the City Public Works Department. One would dig a hole and the other would follow behind her and fill the hole in. They worked up one side of the street, then down the other, then moved on to the next street, working furiously all day without rest, one girl digging a hole, the other girl filling it in again.
An on looker was amazed at their hard work, but couldn’t understand what they were doing. So he said to the hole digger, ‘I’m impressed by the effort you two are putting into your work, but I don’t get it — why do you dig a hole, only to have your partner follow behind and fill it up again?’
The hole digger wiped her brow and sighed, ‘Well, I suppose it probably looks odd because we’re normally a three-person team. But today the girl who plants the trees called in sick.’
BUSTER in SD
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!
Mud - did I miss the summary of today’s MOP. Always like to monitor breaking news. Maybe MOP results will be worthy of a J&K post some day. (new blog -”MOP Results”)
That’s old joke about communism. VQ = communist?
Not quite, but I’m starting to question Buster’s loyalty…
Thanks Buster! That one goes straight to my daughter.
You flatter me coach…there’s a summary back a few posts…essentially a split vote between Kearse, draft best available DE at 17, and draft BPA at 17 and DE in later round. There was one outright vote for going after Allen and two others that said the idea was intriguing.
Oh, and of course Buster’s vote for “Jenangica”.
Does Buster like anyone on the team? Is he even a fan? How bout Brett from the backside Buster?
Speaking of communism, anyone know the results from today’s polls?
Nevermind, I see Vermont is in, but they are waiting on Ohio & Texas.
Does RI even count?
Hey, where are we at with DE signings?
d’oh…again?
FREAK RETURNING TO TITANS? by Michael David Smith
Free agent defensive end Jevon Kearse may be looking to return to the place where his NFL career began.
Kearse, who spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans and the last four with the Philadelphia Eagles, will visit the Titans Wednesday. Tennessee could use a defensive end, after watching free agents Antwan Odom and Travis Laboy sign elsewhere.
If Kearse doesn’t sign with the Titans Wednesday, he will pay a visit to Minnesota on Thursday. The Vikings also need a defensive end; they wanted Odom before he signed with the Bengals and wanted former Bengal Justin Smith before he signed with the 49ers.
Kearse took the league by storm after the Titans chose him in the first round of the 1999 draft, when he had 14.5 sacks and was the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year. He then had 11.5 sacks in 2000 and 10 sacks in 2001. But he has struggled with injuries and has yet to record a double-digit sack season since 2001.
In 2007 Kearse continued to struggle with the knee injury that forced him to miss 14 games of 2006, and he was taken out of the starting lineup halfway through the season. Still, the Titans and Vikings apparently think he has enough tread left on the tire to, at least, be an effective situational pass rusher in 2008.
How many people want to bet that Sid will be around for the next time it happens:
http://www.startribune.com/local/16223302.html
Hot Damn!! Another signing.
I just spent about 3 hours driving around. Usually I would spend alot of that time listening to Sirius NFL Radio. I couldn’t bring myself to listen today, as I knew it would be Sirius Favre Radio…
Any Kearse sightings?
Why Kearse why?
Because hes the best DE free agent left
Because hes the best DE free agent left
Kearse is probably gone too.
I was asking why he would go to Tennesee first, not why we were getting him. I would love him and Jason Taylor
oh yeah d
Reading Kevin’s update, I have to wonder, if Hicks seriously thinks he will play any type of role in this offense. I mean sure, it’s possible that Chili will keep the best running back in the NFC on the bench becuase he is late for the bus again, but other than that, do we really need a guy to be a third down back if we have the great 1-2 punch going? This seriously baffles me. I understand that we need him as a backup, but does he have any realistic chance of seing playing time on offense if nobody gets hurt?
If we did trade for Jason Taylor, I really wonder what the opponent’S o-line would do. It’s not like can double team both the Williams wall and Taylor, right?
i think we have to make a trade to get a good DE
I think Childress just planned on someone getting hurt
VQ = has Sid in her Dead Pool
in madden ‘08 i was able to sign jarad allen as an UFA…he’s pretty good…pretty fast, of course…thats not real…
I know, just think if we had Taylor, the Williams, and Kearse. But this report is Legit
POSTED 7:15 p.m. EST, March 4, 2008
FREAK RETURNING TO TITANS? by Michael David Smith
Free agent defensive end Jevon Kearse may be looking to return to the place where his NFL career began.
Kearse, who spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans and the last four with the Philadelphia Eagles, will visit the Titans Wednesday. Tennessee could use a defensive end, after watching free agents Antwan Odom and Travis Laboy sign elsewhere.
If Kearse doesn’t sign with the Titans Wednesday, he will pay a visit to Minnesota on Thursday. The Vikings also need a defensive end; they wanted Odom before he signed with the Bengals and wanted former Bengal Justin Smith before he signed with the 49ers.
I understand why we wanted him. We needed a third RB and if he’s great at returning kicks, that’s even better, but why on earth would he come here if like he says, being part of the offense was the key.
On the plus side, with the Williams wall drawing double teams on pretty much any play, chances of a rookie having an impact are better. Robison had very good stats for a situational rusher last year. Maybe the brass thinks he can be a starter?
I’m hoping that childress isn’t planning on having him replace Taylor.
maybe hicks is going to play quarterback…it’s a thought.
We wait to long in FA and we get bottom of the barrell for some positions. They were only focused on Justin Smith and then he got signed and all the other guys were already scheduled to visit teams. Just a bad choice.
you say that and they get 4 Very GOOD players already?!
i said for SOME positions.
my point is, it takes a LOT of time to do what they DID do! And all you can do is fault them for one pos. they didn’t get!
Yeah and thats the position we needed to address the most, and WR
While I am very satisfied with the free agency tactics of the front office in most respestc, I have to agree with kocina on the DE situations. It was completely shoking to me, that they only contacted Odom after Smith had signed with SanFran. at that time, he already had 3 or 4 visits lined up. If DE is one of your top 2 needs, how are you onl yin contact with one guy at a time? Kudos on Berrian, Williams, Tapeh, and Hicks I guess, but I think they might have screwed it up at DE. Unless of course, they really think Robison is ready to take over as a full-time starter.
are you seriousely that blind?! we don’t really need that pos. as bad as you think. yeah, we need one guy to fill udezes’ spot. but we have plenty of good guys and we can get 1 or 2 more in the draft, which is what we’ll porb. do anyway.
I would say that DE is more of a need than 3rd string RB. Anyway here is the list of better DE’s signing elsewhere:
1. Justin Smith SF
2. Antwan Odom CIN
3. Travis LaBoy ARZ
4. Bobby McCray JAC (I think JAC)
5. Jevon Kearse?????
Jason Taylor would rank 1 or 2 on the list if we get him though
Yeah i agree but its only Robisons 2nd year and they put all that pressure on him. That wouldn’t be very smart.
Judd and Kevin, do we know if the Vikings have any visits lined up in addition to Kearse (if he gets out of Tenessee?)? Gaffney? Maybe some depth on o-line or d-line? Anybody at all?
german was not talking to you, was refering to kocina.
slide kwill over to de & go 3-4…leber will be rush backer…fartwell will be ilb
That would be exciting to get Taylor then we would kick
and Taylor may only require a 2nd and a 4th round pick
andrewmc51, saying that all we need to do is replace Udeze is implying that things were going well before he got sick, when, in fact, they were going horribly. DE has been one of the glaring holes in the team for years know. I think the largest part of the reason that our Pass D was so god-awful in the last years was that we either didn’t get any pressure on the qb, or had to blitz our LB to do it (which Frazier did more than Tomlin, and which helped somewhat). Getting a guy to replace Udeze might get us back to where we were in terms of pass rush from the front four, but seriously, that’s not where you want to be.
andrewmc51, sorry, wrote the rant before I saw your last post.
if they dont take a stab at him then they’re stupid
you don’t think it had ANYTHING to do with the fact that NO ONE ran against us? If you just throw the ball… you’re going to get tons of yards.
its cause of The Willy Wall they didnt run on us
kocina, we’re not going to go after taylor, so please get over it. Childress would rather DRAFT MULTIPLE DE than give up multiple draft picks for ONE DE. Yes, I agree, he would be good, but why would childress do that? He’d be DUMB TO actually do that.
Of course that was part of the problem, but we need to get better to stop teams from being able to do that. Of course teams are always going to go through the air against our defense, since the rush-d is so great, but we need to find a way to at least slow them down a bit. The best rush-D in the league is no good, if everybody can just successfully thrwo against it. So an imrpovement of the pass-d is absolutely vital. And I think the way to do that is to get better at DE.
kocina, that’s my point. you want to fix the front 4, but it’s not the front 4, it’s the coverage on the recievers that is the problem. watch the games the last 2 yrs. Winfield is getting older and is a step slower than he used to be, Griffen is good but never be a #1 CB, Mccaulley MAY EVENTUALLY be good enough to fill a #1 CB pos. but we need a knickle CB. Gordon prob. won’t cut it.
All the DE we drafted that were supposed to be “good” weren’t, except Robison cause hes just in his second year and had a pretty good rookie year so we’ll have to see what happens.
I actually like our DBs. I think that our lack of a pass rush makes them look a whole lot worse than they are. Look at the Giants. Towrads the end of the playoffs, they had so many injuries that they had a seriously depletef secondary, with one guy making his first appearance (not start, actual appearance of any kind) in the divisional round. Any secondary is going to look bad if the QB has enough time in the pocket. Fis the front 4 and our DBs will look a whole lot more capable.
German, same can be said about our CB you know.
i guess your right Mcy
You mean, fix the CBs and the front four will look better, because if the receivers don’t get open right away, the DEs have more time to get to the qbs? That may be true, but it would completely ruin my argument here.
yeah, I know.:);)
Gaffney back to the Pats….
I guess that both our CBs and our DEs are subpar, and that improving either would certainly make the other look better. I personally think that both our young CBs have the potential to develop into solid starters, and I don’t see any such positive perspective for DE except, possibly for Robison. I do consede though, that the exact opposite can be argued as well. And as we already agreed upon, the fron office has done an excellent job on their acquisition so far. So there is reason to be optimistic.
Anyway guys, it’s been fun, but it’s past 2 am over here, and as you can tell by the growing number of typos in my posts, I am getting rather tired. See you around.
Just signed a 1-yr deal…2 mil…
have a good night man
Yeah, you too. Shame about Gaffney, but I could live with getting Ferguson back. Gute Nacht, everybody.
Gaffney Is in New England now.
Kearse comes with alot of risk - age, major knee surgery not a good combo.
Why don’t the Vikings go after the sure thing and pick up WR Bryan Johnson then they don’t have to draft another WR. Johnson will likely be better than Berrian and much cheaper.
They can focus on DE in the draft and take best available players.
I sure hope they’re not planning to go too far out of the way to try to get Kearse.
I think the odds of getting a difference maker are better in the draft than they are with Kearse at this point. Of course, the Vikes are cursed with their DE picks . . . . but still, you basically know that Kearse is gonna be hurt. Why bother?
Gootentight German! Yah venerschlide!
We used to say that as kids. Once in grade school I made a T-Jack jump-pass non pass also. Grade school basketball. Got called for traveling.
I think Berrian is gonna be better than Bryant Jhonson
I’ve got more faith in Berrian than Kearse. I’m afraid he’s washed up. Vikes had a great one named Keith Millard who never was the same after knee surgery.
Vikes wont go after JWalker OR Bryant Johnson because we dont have the $$$ those two will demand….our next FA WR should be Jabar Gaffney, if not, we will re-sign Ferguson
Gaffney already signed
Signing of Hicks provides a great opportunity to trade Chester Taylor for Lawrence Fitzgerald- both teams give up a good player where they have depth and get a great player where they have need. Also opens up draft options for each team.
I clicked on Kevin and Judd’s link to Hicks highlights. 117 yards on 21 carries! Oops! That was not one game. That was for the WHOLE year!
Gaffney was available as of today. who did he sign with???
read above
New England
on second note ESPN says that Warren Sapp is retiring too…
Kearse may visit Vikings on Thursday, if the Titans don’t sign him during his visit there tomorrow.
Kev & Judd
thanks for all the updates and all the work during this busy off-season……
now, could someone replace Zygi’s pic on the Vikes’ home page….those articles have been there for months and Zygi keeps staring at me!
jared Allen……make the offer.
POSTED 8:53 p.m. EST, March 4, 2008
WALKER, OAKLAND RAIDER?
According to Adam Schefter of NFL Network, Walker is visiting with the team and could sign a multi-year deal as soon as Wednesday.
Free Agent Signings So Far:
Bernard Berrian: This is a clear upgrade over any of the WRs we let go this year. Think about it this way, we gave up Williamson for 6th round pick and roster spot to allow Berrian to come in and sign a long term deal. Grade: A-
Thomas Tapeh: I have trouble understanding this move. Sure he’s younger and cheaper than Richardson, but it’s not like he couldn’t play or was going to break the bank. Tapeh is inury riddled, but at least he knows this offense and AD is bound to make him look better. However, keeping Richardson around in his last few years of production and tutoring a young guy (like Owen Schmitt?) was the smart move here.
Grade: C-
Mideau Williams: Dwight Smith was constantly in trouble. Williams has yet to play in an NFL defense (Bengals don’t count) and has a lot to prove. However, I like his character reputation, youth, and potential upside. A solid signing in an area of great need.
Grade: B
Maurice Hicks: This is a better kick returner than Moore was. People want to know what his role in the offense could possibly be? Well, it’s quite possible that he is the best blocking half back on our team, and could have significant impact on 3rd downs, an area where the Vikes NEED to improve down the stretch. He also has untapped offensive potential. I mainly like this move because it provides depth at a key position and provides us with freedom in dealing with Chester Taylor downt he road. Or maybe not down the road? Maybe the Hick’s signing is what the Vikes were waiting for to happen before dealing Taylor in return for a solid DE? That last part is pure speculation.
Grade: A
so how many draft picks do we have this year? and which rounds do we have more than 1?
ak - your whole post was idiotic speculation…
BUSTER in SD
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!
9, 2 in 3 and 6
2 in Rds 3 & 6
BUSTER in SD
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!
Thanks Buster, you’re the man.
Blew Nog
BUSTER in SD
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!
to me this pick up says trade chester, as much as i love him, we could easyily get a good DE or one or more good draft picks…
Krish
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