Here's a look at some of the biggest winners and losers from the Vikings' roster that currently sits at the NFL-maximum of 90 players.

The criteria used to determine if a player is a winner or loser is based on where they are on the team's depth chart compared to what was expected. This could be due to other rosters moves that have helped or hindered their chances, or to untimely injuries or other circumstances. 

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Since free agency began 14 weeks ago, Baltimore has signed 24 players. Seven of those players did not play for the Ravens in 2012.

There has even been a key coaching addition, as the Ravens have signed Steve Spagnuolo to be their senior defensive assistant. Spagnuolo was the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants during their 2007 Super Bowl-winning season.

For all the talk about who the Ravens lost, there hasn't been enough talk about who they've gained.

Baltimore has gotten younger and more diverse defensively. Usually that wouldn't be such a big deal, but the Ravens finished last year ranked 17th in total defense—their worst ranking in a decade. They needed a big change.

There's still more than a month left before training camps begin. Until then, let's take a look at the winners and losers of the Ravens' offseason.

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NESN caught some of the more intriguing images from a night of what we have to assume featured expensive drinks and even more expensive formal wear. 

Here are the two laughing up a storm, via a tweet from Yahoo! Sports' Rand Getlin. 

The two then took time away from cracking rich-guy jokes to chill out with their beautiful ladies. Here is the lovely looking crew, via the Tumblr Mr. and Mrs. Carter. 

While Beyonce needs no introduction, some of you might be curious as to who Kraft has squired to what NESN reports was the 10th anniversary of Jay-Z's 40/40 club. 

That is actress Ricki Noel Lander—who, The Boston Herald reported, was "pals" with the Patriots owner back in June of 2012—and she has enjoyed small roles in projects such as 2008's Iron Man and the HBO show True Blood. 

As for Kraft, he seems to be rather taken with Jay-Z. He even offered up the iconic diamond hand gesture the rapper is famous for and once got Beyonce into a silly controversy. 

Please enjoy the image via an NFL on FOX tweet. 

Of course, this may just be the initial throes of a lasting friendship, because Jay-Z and his budding sports agency are on a roll. 

The Washington Post's Norman Chad deliver exactly how wonderful life has been for the rap star turned entrepreneur:

Co-founder of Roc-a-Fella Records, founder of Roc Nation entertainment company, co-owner of the 40/40 Club sports bars and lounge, minority owner of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, Jay-Z’s net worth is estimated at nearly $500 million.

The newly founded Roc Nation Sports counts "Major League Baseball’s Robinson Cano, the NBA’s Kevin Durant, the NFL’s Geno Smith and the WNBA’s Skylar Diggins" among its initial clients. 

Now those smiling faces make a great deal more sense.

Life is pretty darn amazing for these two men, who were celebrating the success of a popular club while hanging out with wonderful women. 

It doesn't get much better than that. 

Hit me up on Twitter @gabezal

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The Miami Dolphins have accelerated the process.

Miami has done a good job adding some youthful talent through the draft in recent years, but what the team did in free agency this offseason goes far beyond any of those efforts. As a result, the Dolphins will be in much better position to make a run at the AFC East title in 2013.

General manager Jeff Ireland wasn’t afraid to go after the players he wanted in free agency, starting with former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace.     

Wallace, coming off four tremendous seasons with the Steelers, was arguably the biggest name on the free-agent market, and he cashed in on that status with a five-year, $60 million contract. While the 26-year-old didn’t live up to lofty expectations in 2012 (836 yards and eight touchdowns), he’s still one of the league’s best deep threats, always capable of blowing the top off opposing defenses.

Along with the addition of Wallace, Ireland also struck a new five-year, $31 million deal with the team’s leading receiver in 2012, Brian Hartline. The 26-year-old had a career year with the Dolphins last season in tallying 74 receptions for 1,083 yards, but recorded just one touchdown on the season. With Wallace in the fold, Hartline should garner a lot less attention from opposing defenses and could see a significant increase in red-zone production this season.

But the pair will have to share those targets with newly-acquired wide receiver Brandon Gibson and tight end Dustin Keller as well. Ireland brought in both players via free agency, adding to a receiving corps that is already a massive improvement over its 2012 incarnation. If second-year signal-caller Ryan Tannehill is to have a breakout season, those four players will be the biggest reason for it.

Ireland also went to work on the defensive side of the ball. With the acquisitions of linebackers Philip Wheeler and Dannell Ellerbe and cornerback Brent Grimes, the Dolphins also significantly improved their defense heading into the 2013 season.

We’ll delve a little deeper into additional free-agent dealings in the following slideshow, but suffice it to say the Dolphins added a lot more than they lost this offseason.

In the draft, Miami made a surprising decision in moving up to the No. 3 spot for Oregon linebacker Dion Jordan—a player many considered the best front-seven defender in the 2013 class. Jordan has the versatility to play several positions in Miami’s front seven, and at the very least he gives defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle plenty of options.

Let’s take a closer look at Miami’s draft class and various free-agent signings and departures, as well as a few positions to keep an eye on as the 2013 season draws near.

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That isn't to say that a young player cannot show strides of improvement, but rather that they must demonstrate their progression once the regular season draws closer. 

With concerns at wide receiver, along the offensive line and in the secondary, the Panthers need unproven players to step up this season. If the majority of Carolina's fringe players fail to make a difference, the Panthers will have an up-hill battle in regards to competing for a playoff berth this season. 

This is the time to be optimistic, but the Panthers will need a few breaks in order to satiate the expectations of the fanbase. 

Whether it was a strong performance at OTAs or an injury that is keeping a player on the sidelines, there have been plenty of intriguing storylines for Panthers fans. 

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UPDATE: Tuesday, June 18, at 9:45 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

Sports Illustrated's Greg Bedard adds new information as the police conclude their search of Hernandez's home:

---End of update---

UPDATE: Tuesday, June 18, at 7:18 p.m. ET by Tyler Conway

Sports Illustrated's Greg Bedard is stationed outside of Hernandez's house, where police have executed a search warrant and two men left with police:

Bedard noted that the two men left with police:

However, The Sun Chronicle iterated the fact that the two men are not considered in custody:

Bedard also set the stage with a few other tweets:

---End of update---

A source close to the police investigation told Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel and Greg Bedard that Hernandez is not currently a suspect in the murder, but investigators are interested in searching the Patriots tight end's home. 

Police reportedly developed an interest in questioning Hernandez after a rental car became an integral piece of evidence in the murder of a 27-year-old Boston man, whose body was found on Monday within a mile of Hernandez's home. It's unclear whether he was murdered in that location or dropped there.

David Linton of The Sun Chronicle in Attleboro first reported that police are looking into the rental of a 2013 Chevrolet Suburban with Rhode Island license plates, which investigators believe is connected to the murder.

Police are currently working with Enterprise, the vehicle's leaser, to dust the vehicle for fingerprints and check for other evidence. Thamel and Bedard's report notes that a source close to the investigation has said Hernandez's name is tied to the rental car. It's unclear whether Hernandez himself rented the car or not.

ABC News' Michele McPhee reported that the man murdered, who was unidentified as of publication, is an "associate" of Hernandez's. ABC News also found out that Hernandez has been uncooperative with police since the investigation began, while Thamel and Bedard have reported the New England tight end has consulted an attorney in the case. 

Drafted in the fourth round by the Patriots in 2010, the 23-year-old Hernandez is considered one of the most promising young tight ends in the NFL. In 2011, his second pro season, he hauled in 79 receptions for 910 yards and seven touchdowns.

Struggling with injuries throughout last season, Hernandez was unable to maintain a similar level of production. He had 51 receptions for 483 yards and five touchdowns, while only playing in 10 games. Hernandez is currently recovering from shoulder surgery but is expected to be ready for Patriots training camp in July. 

The Patriots organization has refrained from commenting on the investigation. A source close to Hernandez has confirmed that Hernandez did speak with investigators this week, but his representation refused to comment on the matter when contacted by Sports Illustrated.

A spokesperson for the Bristol County District Attorney's Office also declined to speak on the nature of the case.

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As Paul Lukas of Uni-Watch reported, "A well-placed source tells me that the amount Darrelle Revis paid to Mark Barron in order to get Barron to give up No. 24 was — get this — $50,000."

It seems like keeping this jersey number is quite important to the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback.  

At least this will count as a business expense on his taxes, according to ESPN's Darren Rovell:

Revis was traded from the New York Jets in April for two draft picks, one of them in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He then signed a six-year deal with his new club.    

While he has yet to step on the field, he is already making his mark with the rest of the roster by buying the jersey from second-year safety Mark Barron. The young player will now take No. 23 next season.

Interestingly, Revis has only worn No. 24 throughout his NFL career. At Pittsburgh, he wore No. 25 while becoming one of the top defensive players in the country.

This practice of buying a number from a teammate is nothing new, although the numbers have certainly increased over the years.

One of the biggest transactions of this sort was when Clinton Portis paid Ifeanyi Ohalete $40,000 to have No. 26 with the Washington Redskins. Of course, this was eventually settled in court, according to Lee Jenkins of the New York Times.

Still, players have their right to choose what they want to do with their money after deciding what is truly important to them. If they want to spend the price of a new car on a number, they have that option.

They just better hope they do not change teams again any time soon.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest updates in sports.

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In a post on his Team Gleason Facebook page, Gleason thanked fans for their outcries of support and noted that the radio personalities had apologized for their part in the incident.

Here is Gleason's full statement:

Regarding the DJ skit in Atlanta yesterday. I would like to thank the public for their support. 'Defend Team Gleason' now has been officially redefined. Additionally, the DJs have provided genuine apology. Received and accepted. We have all made mistakes in this life. How we learn from our mistakes is the measure of who we are. 

I think everyone can learn from this event. Its clear to me that, on a national & global scale, ALS is not understood, which is part of why its under funded and largely ignored. In the past 36 hours lots of people have been talking. Lets talk about this... There are zero treatments for ALS. If you take any action as a result of this event, I prefer it to be action to end ALS. See what we are doing to change that @ teamgleason.org. SG

During Monday's Mayhem In The AM radio show on Atlanta's 790 The Zone station, hosts Steven "Steak" Shapiro, Chris Dimino and Nick Cellini took part in a skit in which they made fun of Gleason's ALS diagnosis.   

Here is the full audio. (Warning: This content contains offensive remarks.)

As his condition has deteriorated, Gleason is now unable to use his hands, speak or communicate on his own volition. He communicates through a computer program, which he controls through his eyes.

Gleason was the guest writer for Peter King of Sports Illustrated's "Monday Morning Quarterback" column this week, where he spoke at length about his diagnosis in 2011 and how life has adjusted in the years since. 

Using that as a platform for attempted humor, the radio hosts engaged in a mock interview with Gleason on Monday. They used a computer program to automate his voice in the same manner as the program he uses to communicate, telling knock-knock jokes and engaging in other sophomoric humor. At one point in the interview, the faux Gleason says he doesn't know how much longer he will live.

The story was first picked up on by a post on TigerDroppings.com. It then took on a life of its own, with many across all platforms of media—both inside the NFL and outside—decrying the segment as being in poor taste.

Upon heading the segment and the feedback from the local community, the station's senior vice president and general manager, Rick Mack, released a statement apologizing to Gleason and noting that the three hosts were terminated:

We deeply regret the offensive programming that aired this morning on “Mayhem In The AM” on 790 The Zone, related to former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and his battle with ALS. We suspended the three individuals involved immediately following their comments and have since terminated their employment. 790 The Zone, our owners, sponsors and partners in no way endorse or support this kind of content. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Gleason, his family and all those touched by ALS.

According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Nick Cellini took to Twitter after the segment aired and apologized for his part in the incident.

“My apologies to everyone. It was a stupid attempt at humor that backfired. Emphasis on stupid,” Cellini tweeted.

Cellini has since deleted his Twitter account. He also pledged to donate earnings to Gleason's Team Gleason charity in an interview with NOLA.com's Katherine Terrell.

Gleason, who went undrafted out of Washington State in 2000, went on to have a lengthy NFL career with the Saints from 2000 to 2007. Mostly a special teams standout, he is most beloved in New Orleans for a blocked punt in the Saints' home opener against the Atlanta Falcons in 2006. The game was New Orleans' first back at the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.

Since retiring in 2008, Gleason has worked hard at raising awareness for ALS. His Team Gleason charity raises funds to find a cure for the disease, commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease, which does not currently have successful treatments. 

Follow Tyler Conway on Twitter:

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While everyone can guess that players like Adrian Peterson, Arian Foster and Ray Rice will be elite players, it is more advantageous to grab guys a few rounds later or for less money in auctions that will still perform at a high level.

Last season, players like Doug Martin and Stevan Ridley provided a lot more value to those who were able to secure elite talent at other positions before grabbing the two youngsters.

With this in mind, look to grab these players in your upcoming fantasy drafts this summer.

Chris Ivory, New York Jets

Last season, Chris Ivory was hardly utilized but did a good job when he was on the field for the New Orleans Saints. He finished the year with 217 yards on 40 carries for an average of 5.4 yards per rush. This brought his career average to an impressive 5.1 yards per carry.

This is a number the Jets would have dreamed about last season, with Shonn Greene and Bilal Powell averaging under four yards per carry as the primary running backs.

Greene is now with the Tennessee Titans, leaving plenty of opportunity for Ivory to take over the starting job.

A year ago, New York had the sixth most rushing attempts in the NFL as they looked to take the pressure off the quarterback. With Mark Sanchez either remaining the starter or rookie Geno Smith taking over, that number should only increase this year.

Ivory has the talent and he will get plenty of carries. As long as he stays healthy, he will be a solid factor in fantasy football. 

Andre Brown, New York Giants

With Ahmad Bradshaw gone, the New York Giants will likely use a two-headed attack with Andre Brown and David Wilson sharing carries. Based on the way the year ended, most fantasy owners are siding toward Wilson as the featured back.

However, a look at their season side-by-side shows that Brown was the more useful player while healthy. Wilson did not start putting together big performances until Brown was placed on injured reserve after Week 12.

Head coach Tom Coughlin has a lot of trust in the big running back because he runs hard and did not fumble once last season.

Additionally, he was the go-to man near the end zone, and totaled eight touchdowns on the year compared to only four by the skinnier Wilson.

While the Giants will likely give more carries early on to the former first-round pick, Brown still has a lot of usefulness on the roster when healthy. He will likely be a late selection in fantasy drafts, but his role on New York will give him a lot of value this season.

Bryce Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

It is not often a great move to draft a player that is clearly No. 2 on the depth chart. LeSean McCoy is one of the best running backs in football, but Bryce Brown will still get plenty of time to shine.

New coach Chip Kelly loves utilizing his running backs as much as possible, and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur already said that the Eagles will utilize both players often during the year. 

Last season at Oregon, Kelly had one of the best running backs in the nation in Kenjon Barner, but he still spread the ball around to the rest of the roster. Here is a look at the distribution of carries for the Ducks:

As a comparison, Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell represented 77.6 percent of rushing attempts for the Spartans.

In the NFL, Kelly should be able to run the ball almost as often, although many carries that went to the quarterback (Marcus Mariota) will likely go to the second-string running back.

When Brown does get the ball, he has proven the ability to come through with a big game. In Week 12 and 13 when McCoy was injured, the young player totaled 347 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

Philadelphia is certain to have a dominant rushing attack this season, and Brown will provide fantasy owners with great value.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest updates in sports.

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With the dog days of summer fast approaching and teams having already completed OTAs and minicamps, there are still some veritable stars who have yet to sign on with new teams.

Rest assured, these players will find jobs before the start of the 2013 NFL season. Veterans with something left in the tank will likely end up making a significant impact for their new teams as leaders in the clubhouse and on the field.

Here's the latest buzz surrounding the top players left on the market as the NFL shifts its focus from offseason training to the beginning of training camp and the start of a new season.

Richard Seymour Content to Wait for Market to Come to Him

Seymour and the Atlanta Falcons had been in talks recently to see if they could work out a deal. At this time, however, as CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reported, the talks have stalled, though Seymour thanked them "for their efforts":

ESPN's Adam Schefter more recently reported on SportsCenter (via Rotoworld.com) that Seymour is in no rush to sign on with a team. Schefter mentioned Seymour's likely aversion to attending two-a-days during training camp and noted that "He's only gonna play if the money is absolutely right."

There's a school of thought, as expressed by D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, that the Falcons and Seymour could revisit contract talks after the team negotiates a long-term extension with superstar quarterback Matt Ryan. 

Though Seymour is certainly nearing the end of his career at the age of 33, there is no doubt that he still has a lot to offer. A powerful defensive tackle who can also slide out to play as a five-technique defensive end in 3-4 schemes, Seymour is a force in the middle.

Throughout his career, Seymour has consistently dominated the line of scrimmage and is capable of pushing the pocket from inside. The Falcons would certainly benefit from a player of his caliber, and Seymour knows it. 

Atlanta should pounce on Seymour as soon as possible, because there will undoubtedly be other teams interested in landing him this summer.

Israel Idonije Likely Won't Re-Sign with Chicago

The Chicago Bears have long had a "standing offer" for Idonije's services this year, as Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reported back in April.

After the team signed Sedrick Ellis recently (h/t ESPNChicago.com), however, it doesn't appear likely that Chicago will be able to re-sign Idonije, given salary-cap constraints. Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune essentially ruled out the idea (Digital Plus; subscription required) after Ellis' signing.

Though Idonije isn't as prodigious a pass-rusher as the top defensive ends in the league, he's a capable situational player who has consistently provided pressure off the edge for the Bears the past few years.

With 28.5 sacks in his career, Idonije has averaged 6.5 sacks the past three years. 

While the market appears to be cool for Idonije's services, he'll certainly find a home before training camps conclude this summer. 

Desmond Bishop Already In High Demand After Release

Ted Thompson of the Green Bay Packers officially released Bishop on Monday, June 17, as reported by Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. 

Within hours of his release, Bishop was being linked to the Minnesota Vikings, per the Packer Report:

ESPNWisconsin.com's Jason Wilde confirmed that report and noted Bishop would be visiting the Vikings on Tuesday:

Finally, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported Bishop would be visiting the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday after his visit with the Vikings:

Judging by the way things are unfolding, it won't be long before Bishop lands on his feet with a new club, despite the fact that he missed the 2012 season with a torn hamstring. 

Bishop was a solid player for the Packers in 2011 before his injury, so it's not a big surprise to see him garnering so much interest. At the age of 28, Bishop still has a lot to offer a team in need of a middle linebacker. 

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

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