Contract no concern: Peterson ready to roll, Vikes' Frazier says

Contract concerns won't keep All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson away from Vikings training camp, Minnesota coach Leslie Frazier said Monday, via The Star Tribune.

"Oh yeah, we had a good conversation. And that's not an issue, and he's looking forward to camp like all of our guys are," Frazier said.

Peterson is in the final season of his rookie contract and has a salary cap hit of $12.775 million. The Vikings and Peterson both would like to re-sign him to a long-term extension that includes a lower cap figure.

Frazier said he spoke with Peterson and cornerback Antoine Winfield almost as soon as the lockout was lifted.

"Both of those guys, there was tremendous excitement in their voice," Frazier said. "Both feel like they're in the best shape of their lives."

Frazier also said he would not rule out rookie quarterback Christian Ponder starting in the season opener, though he added Joe Webb and Rhett Bomar also will compete for the starting job.

"Our coaches feel very comfortable in doing whatever's necessary to put us in the best position to be successful when we open the season against San Diego, and that may mean a young quarterback being in that role," Frazier said.

The Vikings also have been linked to several veteran quarterbacks, including Donovan McNabb and Kyle Orton.

Ponder planned to report as soon as the doors to the Vikings facility open Tuesday.

"It's the first place I'm heading in the morning," Ponder said, "so I'll be up there to meet with [offensive coordinator Bill] Musgrave and talk some ball and finally to get to catch up to what we've been missing all summer."

View the original article here

Vikes' Favre still doubtful; Peterson ready to go vs. Eagles

Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier announced Monday that quarterback Brett Favre has yet to pass the first part of his concussion test and remains doubtful for the team's Tuesday night showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to the Star Tribune.

Favre led the Vikings on a touchdown drive to open the game Monday night against the Chicago Bears, but he didn't make it through the second quarter after being sacked by Corey Wootton. Favre's head slammed off the frigid turf at TCF Bank Stadium, and he was knocked woozy.

The Vikings didn't list Favre, 41, as "out" Monday, as they did last week when he had a sprained right shoulder. He was upgraded to questionable the day of the game and ended up starting against the Bears.

Frazier said earlier this week that no Vikings player had participated in a game the week after suffering a concussion.

Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson told the Star Tribune that he will play Tuesday.

Peterson was listed as questionable with the thigh bruise that kept him out of the game against the Bears and said that the extra two days off "helps a lot."

The Associated Press contributed to this report

View the original article here

Vikings RB Peterson hopes to shake thigh injury, play vs. Eagles

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- There are just two games left in the Minnesota Vikings' miserable season, and Adrian Peterson is hobbling around with a painful thigh bruise.

With the playoffs out of reach, why risk further injury to the team's most dynamic player? Why not sit him for the final two weeks and make sure he is ready to go next season?

Peterson doesn't see it that way. The Vikings are 5-9 and going nowhere fast, but he wants to be out there with his teammates until the bitter end.

"It's been a roller-coaster season. It hasn't gone the way we planned," Peterson said Thursday. "But I love to play this game. That's why I do what I do. I definitely don't think that way about it. If I can play, I'll definitely be out there on Sunday."

Peterson injured his left thigh two weeks ago when he collided with Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson on a handoff. Peterson missed Monday night's game against the Chicago Bears, the first time he has sat out since missing two games with a knee injury his rookie season in 2007.

"It's nothing like a torn ligament or anything like that," Peterson said. "I don't feel like I can do any further damage to it. It's basically just a quad. Muscles are just tight. Pushing it will probably help it stretch a little more."

Peterson did some running in practice Thursday for the first time this week, and Vikings interim coach Leslie Frazier said the running back has dramatically improved over the last several days. If Peterson can't play, rookie Toby Gerhart will receive the bulk of the work.

The Vikings lost 40-14 to the Bears and have been outscored 61-17 in the last two weeks, showing signs that some are packing it in and thinking about the offseason. Peterson isn't among them. He practiced on a limited basis Thursday and said he hopes to play Sunday night.

Peterson has been one of the few bright spots for a Minnesota team in such a trying season. He has rushed for 1,149 yards and 11 touchdowns and appears to have solved his fumbling problem. After leading the NFL with 16 fumbles over the previous two seasons, Peterson hasn't lost one this year in 280 touches.

"That's a story that's not been written about enough, the kind of year he's having, even though our team is not having a great year," Frazier said. "But Adrian, he is having a Pro Bowl season, there's no question about it."

Brett Favre again missed practice Thursday with a concussion, and Frazier said the 41-year-old quarterback was still experiencing some symptoms from the injury. Favre will go through another concussion test Friday, as will safety Madieu Williams.

Defensive tackle Kevin Williams also missed practice for personal reasons, but Frazier expected him to return Friday.

Frazier said none of the Vikings who had concussions this season played the week after being hurt.

"It can vary from person to person. Some guys respond a little bit better," Frazier said. "But in this era, where we're very cautious when it comes to head injuries, you're just very cautious. But it varies from guy to guy. Some guys have fewer symptoms than another two days later or a day later."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

View the original article here

Vikings' Peterson tweaks right ankle in win over Redskins

LANDOVER, Md. -- All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson injured his right ankle during the first half of the Minnesota Vikings' 17-13 victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday and didn't return.

Peterson said his ankle "got rolled up" when he was tackled on a 1-yard carry late in the second quarter. Neither Peterson nor Vikings interim coach Leslie Frazier would speculate on the running back's prospects for next week's game against the Buffalo Bills.

"We'll know a little more about Adrian tomorrow," Frazier said, "after they do whatever examinations they have to."

The Vikings initially said Peterson was probable to return to the game, then downgraded him to questionable. He had his ankle taped, then stood on the sideline testing it, stepping gingerly at times and attempting short sprints.

"It started to throb a little bit," Peterson said. "I was trying to keep it loose, jogging, but it really didn't help out."

Peterson went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season for the fourth time in his four-year NFL career before he was hurt. He finished the game with six carries for 36 yards, including a 5-run touchdown run on Minnesota's opening drive.

With Peterson out, rookie Toby Gerhart carried the load for the Vikings, rushing for 76 yards on 22 carries. The second-round draft pick had just 86 yards for the season entering the game.

Milestone Tracker

Vikings QB Brett Favre reached another personal milestone Sunday. Find out what it was, and keep up with the rest of the players around the NFL who are on the verge of breaking records and reaching milestones. More.

"Toby Gerhart, man, take my hat off to him and our offensive line, just understanding our situation," Frazier said. "We came in at halftime, we had an idea that Adrian might not be able to go in the second half, and we wanted to emphasize that it wouldn't change our game plan. We were going to trust our offensive line to do what we talked about all week long, and they didn't flinch."

Vikings defensive lineman Ray Edwards left the game in the first half with a left leg injury. He also will be evaluated Monday.

Redskins cornerback Carlos Rogers injured his left hamstring during the second half. An injury to Rogers' right hamstring kept him out of the previous week's overtime victory over the Tennessee Titans.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

View the original article here

With Peterson injured, runs by Favre and Gerhart seal win over Redskins

LANDOVER, Md. -- Brett Favre's voice was a raspy whisper and he rattled a lozenge around in his mouth as he spoke about the 10-yard scramble his creaky legs managed to carve out Sunday, helping seal his Minnesota Vikings' 17-13 victory over the Washington Redskins.

"Did I expect to run for a first down? I haven't expected to run for a first down in quite a while," Favre said, smiling. "It was 10 yards? Really? It felt like 50. But we needed that win."

With Adrian Peterson sidelined since the second quarter with a right ankle injury, and Favre's receivers well-covered as he moved to his right on a bootleg on third-and-8, the 41-year-old QB ambled his way to the key first down right before the two-minute warning. Favre hadn't gained more than 4 yards on a run since 2008.

"He looked younger," Peterson observed. "He looked like he was 38 on that run."

And Favre looked about 28 afterward, popping up from the turf with one of his shoulder pads flapping around, then leaping on teammates for celebratory hugs -- no signs there of any problems with the foot, ankle and shoulder injuries he's had, nor the head and chest illness bothering him.

Moments later, after taking a knee to run out the clock, Favre went over to new coach Leslie Frazier and handed him the football.

The Vikings (4-7) ended a nine-game road losing streak less than a week after firing coach Brad Childress and promoting defensive coordinator Frazier, perhaps hoping for the sort of immediate bump the Dallas Cowboys got when they went from Wade Phillips to replacement Jason Garrett.

Frazier called Sunday's victory "hopefully the start of great things to come" and said he presented a game ball to team ownership -- and wanted to give one to every player.

"He's well-respected. It felt like when he talks, guys' ears are pinned up; they listen to everything that's coming out of his mouth," Peterson said about Frazier. "It's just a feeling that I really can't explain, a feeling of just being sure about the words that are coming out of his mouth and trusting them."

It was a rare enjoyable afternoon for Favre amidst a season filled with angst, injuries and interceptions. Aside from his NFL-worst 17 picks and all the losses, Favre is awaiting a ruling from the NFL about inappropriate messages he allegedly sent a woman working for the New York Jets when he played for that team.

Against the Redskins (5-6), Favre went 3 for 3 on Minnesota's opening possession, which ended with Peterson's 5-yard touchdown run. Favre then was 5 for 5 on the first drive of the second half, capped by a 5-yard TD from rookie Toby Gerhart, who took over after Peterson left.

Favre finished 15 for 23 for 172 yards -- and for only the second game this season, he did not throw an interception. Gerhart, a second-round pick in April's draft, carried 22 times for a career-high 76 yards and a score; his NFL total was 86 yards rushing coming into this game.

"Is Toby an explosive player like Adrian? I don't think anyone is," Favre said. "But he's pretty darn good."

The Redskins, meanwhile, ran for only 29 yards. Clinton Portis went on season-ending injured reserve during the week, and his top replacement, Ryan Torain, was inactive with a hurt hamstring, leaving running duties to Keiland Williams and James Davis.

After a successful start -- Donovan McNabb was 8 for 8 on an 83-yard drive that ended with his 10-yard TD toss to Fred Davis -- Washington's next seven possessions went like this: punt, punt, punt, end of half, punt, punt, interception.

McNabb finished 21 for 35 for 211 yards, with his career-worst-tying 13th interception of the season. It came on a throw that bounced off receiver Santana Moss and was corralled by linebacker E.J. Henderson, giving Minnesota the ball at Washington's 9. That set up Ryan Longwell's 31-yard field goal, putting the Vikings ahead 17-7.

"It hit me in the face," Moss said.

Earlier, Frazier pulled Henderson aside for a talking-to. Otherwise, Frazier generally was stoic, standing with his arms folded across the chest of his bright purple Vikings jacket with yellow piping.

His defense totaled four sacks of McNabb, who said: "A lot of times we were expecting blitzes, they didn't come."

A 65-yard kickoff return by Brandon Banks put Washington at Minnesota's 28, and Graham Gano's 40-yard field goal made it 17-10. Gano's 42-yard kick on Washington's next drive got it within 17-13. But Banks later had an apparent 77-yard punt return for a touchdown wiped out because of a blocking penalty on Perry Riley.

"It's disappointing when that happens, especially when you don't think it had anything to do with the play," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. "But a block in the back is a block in the back."

Milestone Tracker

Vikings QB Brett Favre reached another personal milestone Sunday. Find out what it was, and keep up with the rest of the players around the NFL who are on the verge of breaking records and reaching milestones. More.

Late in the first quarter, Peterson topped 1,000 yards for the season, something he's done in each of his four years in the NFL. But about five minutes into the second quarter, he was helped off, hobbling, with his helmet in hand, after getting crunched by tacklers on a 1-yard gain.

Peterson never returned. Instead it was Favre who gained the important yards at the end.

Notes: Vikings DL Ray Edwards left in the first half with a left leg injury. ... Redskins CB Carlos Rogers injured his left hamstring in the second half.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

View the original article here