NFC Notes: Cardinals, Packers, Vikings

Cardinals

Cardinals GM Steve Keim said that the team will “certainly” be active in the remaining free agent pool and look to sign “a number” of player at several positions.

“I can’t forecast what we’re going to do, but we’ll certainly stay active and continue to look at a number of different positions and players out there on the market,” Keim said, via Darren Urban of the Cardinals’ official site. “We’ve done that year in and year out and had some success with some of those guys later on. It’s constantly a fluid deal for us. We will continue to look at the market and gauge where the money goes with certain players. And be aggressive, trying to improve this roster.”

Keim added that the Cardinals could target free agents that they previously spoke to this offseason.

“Generally they are a guy who we talked to through free agency and the summer,” Keim said. “Whether it is a Jermaine Gresham, whether it is a Tramon Williams, John Abraham, guys that for whatever reason, whether it is injuries, whether it is financial, things that have changed that these football players are ready to get off the couch and go.”

Packers

Packers S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was in attendance for the start of minicamp on Tuesday after skipping OTAs.

Clinton-Dix told reporters that that not having a workout bonus in his contract allowed him to skip voluntary OTAs and spend time with family after his godmother’s death.

“I had a lot of freedom,” Clinton-Dix said, via ESPN.com. “It’s not meant for me to be here, I don’t have a [workout] bonus to be here, so that definitely played a big role in me not being here, honestly, along with my godmother not making it. It’s kind of like, I can just stay home with my family and enjoy my family time while I have the downtime. When the season kicks off, it’s just me up here. That’s life. S— goes on from time to time, but I’m excited not to have that bonus in there, though, honestly, because I would have definitely been here for my money.

“You can’t buy time. So just to have that freedom to be able to get away. I think that was a plus not having it, honestly.”

As for why he isn’t holding out, Clinton-Dix said he doesn’t want to go the same route as Seahawks S Kam Chancellor.

“What would holding out do?” Clinton-Dix said. “Kam’s not me. He’s nowhere near me. You’re just wasting your time, really. You’re getting fined and fined and fined. I’m a guy that I need my money, man. That’s why I’m here now. I need my money.”

• Packers S Kentrell Brice is returning from “ankle reconstruction” surgery after he played four games last year with a torn deltoid ligament last season. (Ryan Wood)
• The Packers announced Tuesday that they’ve added Lee Gissendaner, who has spent the 17 years in Green Bay before joining the Jets a few years ago, to their personnel department.

Vikings

Vikings RB Latavius Murray said he accepted a pay cut from the team this offseason because he believes Minnesota gives him a good opportunity with a winning team.

“The most important thing apart from my family and those things that I believe in is winning. So, that’s how I made my decision,” Murray said, via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “We had been talking throughout the offseason. It didn’t get to the point (that I considered leaving Minnesota), and thankfully I didn’t have to.”

Vikings HC Mike Zimmer added that Murray has played well during spring practices and believes he could compete with RB Dalvin Cook for the No. 1 role.

“Latavius had a great spring,” Zimmer said. “He was out there (Tuesday), I said, ‘You’re running the ball really good.’ He’s seeing things well, he’s making good cuts, and I think there will be good competition.”