Vikings sign Hank Baskett
The Minnesota Vikings have signed WR Hank Baskett after the player was cut from the Philadelphia Eagles squad on Tuesday.
The signing of Baskett could be an indicator that the rumoured trade of Vincent Jackson may not go through, at least with Minnesota. The San Diego Chargers are rumoured to be asking for a 2nd and a 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft, too steep a price for a
player that might only stick around for one year.
The Vikings are hoping that Baskett, 6'4", 220 lb, can provide Brett Favre with the big target he has been missing in the absence of Sidney Rice.
Baskett was originally signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted rookie free-agent in 2006 by first-year coach Brad Childress. Baskett was then traded soon after to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Baskett played last season with the Colts, signed after WR Anthony Gonzalez went down with an injury, and played in the Super Bowl against the Saints. Baskett was the player who had a Saints second half onside kick bounce off his chest and back to the Saints.
He is perhaps best known for being married to Hugh Hefner's former girlfriend and reality star Kendra Wilkinson.
The signing of Baskett indicates that the Vikings are not hopeful of trading for disgruntled San Diego Chargers wide receiver, Vincent Jackson.
Multiple sources had connected the Vikings with an attempt to trade for Jackson. It is believed that the Chargers' asking price, a second and third round pick in the 2011 Draft, was too high for what the Vikings considered a rental player. If Jackson was traded,
he would have no obligation to sign a long-term contract, and could leave his new team at the end of the season.
Instead, the Vikings appear content, for now, to proceed with what they have at the receiver position. Baskett will join Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, Greg Lewis and Greg Camarillo at receiver.
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