Cornerback Lito Sheppard still trying to find his place with Vikings

Lito Sheppard was the most important free-agent signing of the Vikings' offseason.

[muskratbob]

Litos place on the Vikings, will be on the waiver wire after this season just like many other aging vets who either need to retire or be cut. This is what happens when you have no plan and aimlessly trade draft picks and sign aging veterans. What you have is a train wreck.

[Harry]

For the rest of the season, I hope he eventually finds the ball....

[CamelTow]

Lito Sheppard?...his nickname is Toast, what does that tell you? yet another Philly reject whom The Klueless One brought in .....the guy suks period and that is probably the reason he was available in the first place...duh.....

[IndyVikeFan]

Hey Lito, just to help you figure things out. The reason you lost playing time? You kept getting beat!

[Vikes Rule]

I blame the breakdowns in the secondary on the absence of a pass rush.

[BW in TX]

Poor, poor Lito. We fans really feel bad for you and want you to get more playing time. Perhaps if you stepped up and made a play your role on the team would be more defined. Unfortunately, you're totally mediocre play hasn't differentiated you from any other D-back. Scared to make a mistake? Gimme a f-in break! My best advice to you is shut your mouth, maximize the opportunity you have, and be thankful you are still receiving a paycheck. I would've dropped you like a bag of dirt already had we not been so injury depleted.

[Heads up]

He should probably start preparing for the UFL.

[Straight cash homey]

Worst secondary in the league and you can't get on the field? Time for Lito to shuffle on out of here. Plus, Cook=Bust

[Pat]

The bench sounds good.

[Gardy]

Does anybody else see what I see? That Frank Walker is far-and-away the 2nd best CB on the roster? Why they keep trying other guys, I have no idea.

[JUST THE FACTS]

Your role is to stop the other team from catching the ball. Would you like a diagram? Maybe one of the coaches can hold your hand and give you an explanation of what your job is.

[Joe Harmon]

Team needs 2 new starting corners next season. He isn't one. Nor is Cook (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/56... ). Nor is Winfield. If championship hopes and building for that is the idea, I mean;-) Add 2 safeties as well. And a left DE.

[Lousy players]

Sheppard, Allen & Cook are useless, end of story.

[Dieter]

Common Lito,$2MM for underperforming? Sheesh, you should send a big freaking Xmas present to the Baldheaded Clown that is laughing while cashing his check just about now.

[Brad Childress]

You're a Lito-too late getting to the ball. Find the ball before you can find yourself.

[JACK SHEPARD TOLD YOU SO]

If Lito would learn to spell his name right "SHEPARD" then he would have a better chance, joking good luck Lito go for it- you got almost

[Butch Nash]

Only slightly more capable than Allen, who is horrible

[PurpleHaze1]

how about gatorade passer...too late: someone beat you to it...GO VIKES!!!

[Harry]

Lousy players wrote:

Sheppard, Allen & Cook are useless, end of story.

In the Tampa2, the secondary gets sliced and diced w/o a decent pass rush.

[Frank W]

I hate to sound nasty, but Lito's place with this team is hopefully on the bench. With Griffin gone for the year, he's getting playing time, but he's just not that good a player.

Allen and Cook are both young, and they're going to make their mistakes, but I do think that at least Cook has an opportunity to get better; Allen I'm not so sure about. But Sheppard is a known quantity, and his best years as a CB are behind him. Maybe he could step in at safety?

Bottom line here is this team needs a better pass rush, and better ball-hawking at the safety position. Our safties never seem to be around the ball, and Winfield is the only guy in the secondary that doesn't get beat on a regular basis. It makes me wonder if the defensive backfield coaching doesn't need an upgrade.