The Facts: The Vikings are currently locked in a contract dispute with Rudolph, a dispute that reportedly has caught the Patriots’ attention. According to Albert Breer of The MMQB, New England has “talked with Minnesota about Kyle Rudolph,” amid its series of free-agent signings at the tight end position.
Diehards Line:The 29-year-old Rudolph is due $7.6 million this season from the cash-strapped Vikings. Minnesota drafted a tight end, Alabama’s Irv Smith, in the second round of this year’s draft. The two sides were reportedly in extension talks until two weeks ago, at which point the possibility of trading him reopened. Rudolph, who intends to be present for the start of the Vikings’ OTAs on Tuesday, said he doesn’t want to be dealt. However, he also told reporters he’s “too young” to take a pay cut. Without Rudolph, New England kicked off its own OTAs on Monday with tight ends Ben Watson, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Matt LaCosse, Stephen Anderson, Ryan Izzo and Andrew Beck.