MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Vikings launched veteran Kyle Rudolph after 10 seasons, the team announced on Tuesday.
The move saved $ 5.1 million for Minnesota against the 2021 salary cap. Rudolph, 31, will become a free agent for the first time in his NFL career.
The choice of Vikings for the second round in 2011 gave a sincere farewell to a story published by The Players’ Tribune reflecting on their 10 seasons in Minnesota.
“I was very lucky, because – I was not summoned by a team that ‘had a need in the tight end’, wrote Rudolph.” I was not summoned just like, like, the nameless, faceless’ # 1 tight end on the board . ‘I was summoned by a team that was prepared to meet the needs … but I invited myself nonetheless.
“I will always remember that: how the Minnesota Vikings wanted me – and wanted to bet on my potential.”
Vikings’ general manager, Rick Spielman, opined on Rudolph’s release in a statement, calling him “one of the top tight ends of the NFL and the most influential and positive leaders I have ever met”.
“Kyle and [his wife] Jordan has made an immeasurable impact on our team and community that can never be equaled, “said Spielman.” The energy they have invested in the community, mainly through the End Zone of the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, is really remarkable. I admire Kyle and we are going to miss him and his family. We sincerely wish them the best. “
Rudolph had three years left on the contract he signed in June 2019, after the Vikings approached him to restructure his business through an extension. He was in danger of being a casualty at the end of the season, with a result of $ 9.45 million and a role that has diminished considerably in the Vikings’ attack over the past two seasons.
Rudolph spoke earlier this offseason about his desire for a bigger role in the Minnesota attack or elsewhere and said he would not be open to restructuring if the team approached him about a pay cut.
“I think I’m worth every penny of my contract,” said Rudolph on the podcast “Unrestricted with Ben Leber” in January. “This does not mean that I am used to my potential and doing what I do well, so it will be interesting in the coming months. As I said, I have another three years on the contract. I don’t want to go anywhere else. Somehow, I became a pretty decent blocker because I was forced. It certainly wasn’t something I did well at any point in my career. Maybe in high school because I was bigger than everyone else, but even so, I just wanted to run and catch balls. “
Rudolph picked up 28 passes on 35 targets in 2020, his lowest production since the 2014 season. He shook 334 receiving yards and a touchdown, the last of which was a career loss for the former second-round player.
At 31, Rudolph said he feels he still has “a lot of good football” and will have a chance to play for his second NFL team.
Rudolph’s impact off the field was well documented throughout his time in Minnesota. The tight end’s work with the Children’s Masonic Hospital led him to be named Walter Payton Man of the Year for the Vikings three consecutive times from 2017-19.
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins called Rudolph “the smartest player I’m going to play with” in a tweet that honored his former teammate, who also received praise from coach Mike Zimmer.
“Kyle has been a leader and mentor for us on and off the field since the first day I arrived in Minnesota,” said Zimmer. “He has been such an important part of this team and the community throughout his career and it has been an honor to coach him for the past seven seasons. We will miss him and wish him and his family all the best.”