Vikings' 53-man roster: Brian Robison released, Terence Newman retires

The Vikings on Saturday released defensive end Brian Robison, just a week before he was to begin his 12th and final NFL season, all with Minnesota.

Robison confirmed the news, first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, in a tweet. The Vikings released an official statement later Saturday.

Sad Day! I love you Vikings Fans, teammates, coaches and all I have come in contact with over the years. This one hurts, but it’s not goodbye. More like see you later. Thank you @Vikings for 11 amazing years and one opportunity. Formal letter to come soon. pic.twitter.com/zney9S5tGD

— Brian Robison (@Brian_Robison) September 1, 2018

“Brian Robison exemplifies exactly what we strive for as Minnesota Vikings,” general manager Rick Spielman said in a statement. “From the moment he arrived he proved to be a tireless worker, a great teammate, and most importantly, a leader on and off the field.”

It was the first surprise news to trickle out as the Vikings finalized their 53-man roster for the season. Later Saturday afternoon, the team also announced that 15-year cornerback Terence Newman was retiring and joining the coaching staff.

Also released Saturday were running back Mack Brown; wide receivers Jeff Badet, Chad Beebe, Tavarres King and Kendall Wright; tight ends Blake Bell and Tyler Hoppes; center Cornelius Edison; guards Josh Andrews and Colby Gossett; offensive tackle Storm Norton; cornerbacks Craig James and Horace Richardson; safeties Tray Matthews and Jack Tocho; linebackers Reshard Cliett and Garret Dooley; defensive tackle Curtis Cothran; and defensive ends Ifeadi Odenigbo and Jonathan Wynn.

Despite stepping out of a starting role in 2017 and nearly retiring after the season, Robison was still projected by many to make the roster for one more shot at the Super Bowl he’s twice come one game short of reaching.

But with a loaded defensive line unit, the Vikings ultimately decided to move on from the departing Robison, opening up opportunities for some of the team’s younger players at the position.

In 2017, Robison was forced to take a $1.4 million pay cut to remain with the Vikings, though they added the 2018 season to his contract. Then again this spring, before what Robison hoped would be one of his best chances at winning the Super Bowl, the Vikings wanted him to take another pay cut.

He thought he might just retire. But as his training continued, Robison couldn’t shed the idea of chasing a Super Bowl, even if it meant a second pay cut in as many years. He restructured his deal, taking a $2.3 million hit to remain with the Vikings this season.

“I just wasn’t ready to hang it up yet,” Robison, 35, said in May. “I figured I needed to give it one more shot and I was ready to go. But it was a tough decision and something I had to sit back and think about what was right not only for me, but my family. And I ended up making the right decision.”

Robison was the longest-tenured member of the Vikings, part of five playoff teams and two NFC championship game appearances. A fourth-round draft pick out of Texas in 2007, he was on the team that lost to the Saints in the 2009 prelude to the Super Bowl in addition to last year’s team that fell to the Eagles.

He missed just three games in his 11 seasons in Minnesota and was a regular starter from 2011-2016 before returning to a backup role a year ago. He’ll now become a free agent.

Robison was the elder statesman in an otherwise young group competing for backup minutes behind starters Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter, including Weatherly (24), Bower (23), and 2018 fourth-round draft pick Holmes (22). Those three all made the final roster.

Newman, who will turn 40 next week, was competing for time in one of the deepest position groups on the team. He had played under Mike Zimmer in his previous career stops in Dallas and Cincinnati.

The team said further details about his role would be announced in the future.

A Pro Bowler with the Cowboys in 2007 and again in 2009, Newman came to the Vikings in 2015 and started all 16 games. He started 17 of the 31 games he appeared in the last two seasons.

Beebe — the son of former NFL wide receiver Don Beebe — had a strong camp and preseason and also seemed a strong candidate to make the roster. The Vikings were hoping to keep him for the practice squad, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Center Pat Elflein was activated from the physically unable to perform list, a sign that he’s close to returning to an offensive line that could use the boost.