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I was wonder about John Sullivan's qualities when he was a Viking and before his back injury. I remember he was considered to be very good but, didn't remember specifics. I came across this article.
John Sullivan Cements Status as One of NFL's Top Underrated Stars with Extension
ZACH KRUSEAPRIL 7, 2015
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...e-of-nfls-top-underrated-stars-with-extension
Reinhold Matay/Associated Press
The Minnesota Vikings have ensured that one of the game's most underrated stars will anchor the middle of the club's offensive line for at least the next three seasons.
According to Field Yates of ESPN, the Vikings and All-Pro center John Sullivan agreed on a contract extension and pay raise, which will add an extra season to his current two-year deal and bump up his salary in each year through 2017:
✔@FieldYates
Source: the Vikings have signed C John Sullivan to 1-year extension through 2017. New base salaries over next 3 years: $7M, $5.5M, $5.5M 8:39 AM - 7 Apr 2015
The 29-year-old Sullivan also received a $1 million signing bonus. The extension adds a total of $8.5 million to the five-year deal he originally signed back in 2011, while increasing his cap number to $7.33 million next season.
The structure of Sullivan's new deal can be viewed below, via Spotrac:
John Sullivan: New Contract Structure
Base Signing Workout Cap Hit Dead Hit
2015 $5.9M $1.3M $100K $7.3M $2.3M
2016 $5.5M $333K $100K $5.8M $666K
2017 $5.5M $333K $100K $5.8M $333K
Source: Spotrac.com
Sullivan will now make $18 million over the next three seasons, which is still a bargain price for the Vikings.
Few have been better at the position since 2009, when Sullivan first took over the starting center job in Minnesota. He's started 93 of the last 96 games for the Vikings, all while steadily developing into one of the league's most dependable interior linemen.
In fact, "dominant" might be the better word.
According to Pro Football Focus, Sullivan has graded out as a site's top center in the league since 2011. His plus-81.7 mark is rivaled by only the New York Jets' Nick Mangold, who has a plus-79.0 grade over the last four seasons.
Sullivan finished as PFF's best center in 2012 and third-best in 2011 and 2013. He slipped to 12th last season but still managed positive marks as Minnesota's best offensive lineman.
The Vikings drafted Sullivan with the 187th overall pick in the 2008 draft. He eventually took over for longtime center Matt Birk in 2009, and after an up-and-down start to his career, Sullivan made a big leap in 2011.
He somehow does not have a Pro Bowl season, despite being one of the four best at the position during at least three different seasons. However, Sullivan was named a first-team All-Pro in 2012, when running back Adrian Peterson rushed for over 2,000 yards. He had a strong case to return to the All-Pro team in 2013 but was beaten out by Ryan Kalil and Alex Mack.
Last March, Matt Miller ranked Sullivan as the NFL's fourth-best center in Bleacher Report's "NFL 1000" series.
"Sullivan is one of the smarter centers in the NFL and does a great job running the Vikings’ line," Miller wrote. "He’s patient, shows great balance and has the strength to be a factor opening rushing lanes for Adrian Peterson, the game’s most athletic running back."
Miller gave him a grade of 88 out of 100.
Sullivan has never been dominant in the passing game—he allowed five sacks in 2013 and 20 total disruptions last season—but there's no questioning his abilities in the run game. Miller rated Sullivan's run-blocking abilities at 46 out of 50.
His year-by-year run-blocking grades on PFF also speak volumes:
John Sullivan: Road Grading Run Blocker
Run-Block Grade NFL Rank
2011 +22.2 3rd
2012 +25.7 2nd
2013 +16.9 4th
2014 +7.5 8th
Source: Pro Football Focus
The Vikings will now pay him a salary that lines up better with his production. Spotrac indicates that his yearly average ranks ninth among centers and his total contract value ranks 10th.
But unless there is a significant dip in performance in the coming years—centers typically age well—Sullivan will still be considered a bargain for the Vikings through the 2017 season.
The one worry might be paying an older player (he will be 30 in August) who isn't great in the passing game, especially with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater likely to assume more and more control of the offense.
That concern is certainly small, though, and Sullivan has rarely been considered a liability in pass protection.
The more important aspect of this move for the Vikings is locking up the anchor of their offensive line and rewarding a player who paid his dues and earned the comfort of a raise.
Minnesota is still attempting to rebound up front after an injury-filled and disastrous 2014 season. Having Sullivan under contract for at least the next three years can only help as the Vikings search for answers at other problem areas in front of Bridgewater.
And while the overall impact may be negligible, there's something to be said about an organization taking care of its own. Sullivan outperformed his original contract extension from 2011, so the Vikings made the effort to further compensate a valuable employee.
A premier run-blocker and a criminally underrated all-around player, Sullivan remains one of the game's most overlooked interior stars.
Minnesota will now have his services in the middle of its offensive line through the 2017 season.
Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report.
Follow @zachkrus
____________________________________
Sullivan could be the key that unlocks both Todd Gurley's and Jared Goff's potential this year. Former Rams OC Tim Barnes wasn't a big hole opener nor pass anchor. As a matter of fact defenses seemed to come up the middle without much resistance all to often. Sullivan will anchor the middle of the Rams starting offensive line of RT Brown, RG Havenstein, OC Sullivan LG Saffold LT Whitworth. If Sullivan can get back to near pre-injury status opening holes for Gurley like he did for Peterson he can get Rams running game going. A good job in pass protection can help Goff settle in the pocket and show off his arm talent.
John Sullivan Cements Status as One of NFL's Top Underrated Stars with Extension
ZACH KRUSEAPRIL 7, 2015
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...e-of-nfls-top-underrated-stars-with-extension
Reinhold Matay/Associated Press
The Minnesota Vikings have ensured that one of the game's most underrated stars will anchor the middle of the club's offensive line for at least the next three seasons.
According to Field Yates of ESPN, the Vikings and All-Pro center John Sullivan agreed on a contract extension and pay raise, which will add an extra season to his current two-year deal and bump up his salary in each year through 2017:
✔@FieldYates
Source: the Vikings have signed C John Sullivan to 1-year extension through 2017. New base salaries over next 3 years: $7M, $5.5M, $5.5M 8:39 AM - 7 Apr 2015
The 29-year-old Sullivan also received a $1 million signing bonus. The extension adds a total of $8.5 million to the five-year deal he originally signed back in 2011, while increasing his cap number to $7.33 million next season.
The structure of Sullivan's new deal can be viewed below, via Spotrac:
John Sullivan: New Contract Structure
Base Signing Workout Cap Hit Dead Hit
2015 $5.9M $1.3M $100K $7.3M $2.3M
2016 $5.5M $333K $100K $5.8M $666K
2017 $5.5M $333K $100K $5.8M $333K
Source: Spotrac.com
Sullivan will now make $18 million over the next three seasons, which is still a bargain price for the Vikings.
Few have been better at the position since 2009, when Sullivan first took over the starting center job in Minnesota. He's started 93 of the last 96 games for the Vikings, all while steadily developing into one of the league's most dependable interior linemen.
In fact, "dominant" might be the better word.
According to Pro Football Focus, Sullivan has graded out as a site's top center in the league since 2011. His plus-81.7 mark is rivaled by only the New York Jets' Nick Mangold, who has a plus-79.0 grade over the last four seasons.
Sullivan finished as PFF's best center in 2012 and third-best in 2011 and 2013. He slipped to 12th last season but still managed positive marks as Minnesota's best offensive lineman.
The Vikings drafted Sullivan with the 187th overall pick in the 2008 draft. He eventually took over for longtime center Matt Birk in 2009, and after an up-and-down start to his career, Sullivan made a big leap in 2011.
He somehow does not have a Pro Bowl season, despite being one of the four best at the position during at least three different seasons. However, Sullivan was named a first-team All-Pro in 2012, when running back Adrian Peterson rushed for over 2,000 yards. He had a strong case to return to the All-Pro team in 2013 but was beaten out by Ryan Kalil and Alex Mack.
Last March, Matt Miller ranked Sullivan as the NFL's fourth-best center in Bleacher Report's "NFL 1000" series.
"Sullivan is one of the smarter centers in the NFL and does a great job running the Vikings’ line," Miller wrote. "He’s patient, shows great balance and has the strength to be a factor opening rushing lanes for Adrian Peterson, the game’s most athletic running back."
Miller gave him a grade of 88 out of 100.
Sullivan has never been dominant in the passing game—he allowed five sacks in 2013 and 20 total disruptions last season—but there's no questioning his abilities in the run game. Miller rated Sullivan's run-blocking abilities at 46 out of 50.
His year-by-year run-blocking grades on PFF also speak volumes:
John Sullivan: Road Grading Run Blocker
Run-Block Grade NFL Rank
2011 +22.2 3rd
2012 +25.7 2nd
2013 +16.9 4th
2014 +7.5 8th
Source: Pro Football Focus
The Vikings will now pay him a salary that lines up better with his production. Spotrac indicates that his yearly average ranks ninth among centers and his total contract value ranks 10th.
But unless there is a significant dip in performance in the coming years—centers typically age well—Sullivan will still be considered a bargain for the Vikings through the 2017 season.
The one worry might be paying an older player (he will be 30 in August) who isn't great in the passing game, especially with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater likely to assume more and more control of the offense.
That concern is certainly small, though, and Sullivan has rarely been considered a liability in pass protection.
The more important aspect of this move for the Vikings is locking up the anchor of their offensive line and rewarding a player who paid his dues and earned the comfort of a raise.
Minnesota is still attempting to rebound up front after an injury-filled and disastrous 2014 season. Having Sullivan under contract for at least the next three years can only help as the Vikings search for answers at other problem areas in front of Bridgewater.
And while the overall impact may be negligible, there's something to be said about an organization taking care of its own. Sullivan outperformed his original contract extension from 2011, so the Vikings made the effort to further compensate a valuable employee.
A premier run-blocker and a criminally underrated all-around player, Sullivan remains one of the game's most overlooked interior stars.
Minnesota will now have his services in the middle of its offensive line through the 2017 season.
Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report.
Follow @zachkrus
____________________________________
Sullivan could be the key that unlocks both Todd Gurley's and Jared Goff's potential this year. Former Rams OC Tim Barnes wasn't a big hole opener nor pass anchor. As a matter of fact defenses seemed to come up the middle without much resistance all to often. Sullivan will anchor the middle of the Rams starting offensive line of RT Brown, RG Havenstein, OC Sullivan LG Saffold LT Whitworth. If Sullivan can get back to near pre-injury status opening holes for Gurley like he did for Peterson he can get Rams running game going. A good job in pass protection can help Goff settle in the pocket and show off his arm talent.
