Vikings release K Ryan Longwell

On Monday, the Vikings released long-time kicker Ryan Longwell, according to the team website. It's not particularly newsworthy until you're reminded that Minnesota gave Longwell a four-year, $12 million contract following last summer's lockout, including a $3.75 million signing bonus.

The Vikings have parted ways with K Ryan Longwell and it appears that it's now Blair Walsh's job to lose. (Getty Images)

We don't typically write about the transactions minutiae that goes on in the NFL from one day to the next, but we're making an exception here. On Monday, the Vikings released long-time kicker Ryan Longwell, according to the team website.

Still not particularly newsworthy until you're reminded that Minnesota gave Longwell a four-year, $12 million contract following last summer's lockout, including a $3.75 million signing bonus. Yes, Longwell is 37, and yes, the Vikings used a sixth-round pick on Georgia kicker Blair Walsh in last week's NFL Draft.  Also not helping: Longwell, considered one of the truly swell guys in the NFL, had a down season in 2011, converting 22 of 28 last season, including a 53-yarder (He also had 19 touchbacks on 77 kickoffs).

Oh, and there's this from Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com:

I'm told this was not in any way mutual. #Vikings told Longwell they're moving on. Surprising to say the least.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 7, 2012

Longwell's six misses in 2011 were the most since he arrived in Minnesota in 2006. But from '06-'11, he ranked among the top-10 in the league in field-goal conversion percentage (86 percent).

In a statement released by the team, head coach Leslie Frazier said “Ryan has meant a great deal to the Vikings organization both on and off the field over the past 6 seasons. We wish him all the best in the future and thank him for his service to the Minnesota Vikings.”

After his release, Longwell tweeted: "To all in Viking Nation. Can't thank you enough for your cheers over the past 6 years! You've been awesome to me and my family. God Bless!"

Walsh, meanwhile, struggled with consistency as a senior at Georgia in 2011 when he converted just 15 of 23 field goal attempts, including 6 of 8 from inside 30 yards. The year before, he was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, nailing 91 percent of his attempts (including going 11 of 12 on kicks between 40 and 53 yards).

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