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Time out!

August 5th, 2008 – 9:44 AM by Judd Zulgad

Just like the Vikings, we’re getting geared up for the regular season, too. That means moving this blog to a new, faster, more responsive server. That update is taking place now. It shouldn’t take more than an hour, but the blog will be a bit limited for that hour. Any comments you all post during that hour will be lost when the blog moves to its new home. We’ll post an alert here as soon as the work is finished.

Two practices today

August 5th, 2008 – 8:30 AM by Judd Zulgad

MANKATO — As we all anxiously await to see what happens in Green Bay this afternoon, the Vikings will practice twice today. The morning session will go from 9-11 a.m. The afternoon practice, like yesterday, will be only an hour (2:45 to 3:45 p.m.) The difference this time is the second practice is scheduled to be the entire roster and not just special teams.

We also should get an update on defensive end Brian Robison’s status today. Robison might need surgery on his leg to repair a varicose vein but at this point that’s not certain. Quarterback Gus Frerotte (back), meanwhile, is expected to return today after sitting out Monday.

 

 

McCarthy press conference postponed

August 4th, 2008 – 8:54 PM by Mark Craig

The Packers postponed coach Mike McCarthy’s scheduled 8:15 p.m. press conference, team public relations director Jeff Blumb announced.

“Brett Favre and Mike McCarthy started talking at 6 o’clock; They’re still talking, and I don’t know how much longer it will go,” Blumb said at about 8:40. “What does it mean? It just means they’re still talking. Rather than keeping everyone here until we don’t know how long, as a courtesy to you guys, we decided we’re just going to try again tomorrow.”

Blumb said he didn’t know if Favre will be available to the media Tuesday, or on the practice field when the team practices at 2 p.m.

NFL: Vikings did not tamper

August 4th, 2008 – 3:17 PM by Judd Zulgad

Updates: There is an interesting injury update regarding defensive end Brian Robison at the end of this blog. … Also the Packers just sent out a press release saying that Brett Favre has been placed on the active roster.

MANKATO — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell ruled this afternoon that the Vikings did not tamper with Brett Favre as the Packers claimed. The NFL has been investigating the claim for more than a week.

In his letter to the Packers and Vikings, Goodell said that, while those involved acknowledged conversations between Brett Favre and Vikings coaches, “None of those conversations suggest that Favre was soliciting a job or that other teams were soliciting his services.”

Update: The Vikings issued a statement that read: ”We respect the Commissioner’s decision and the thoroughness of the process. We provided the league with all information requested so they could be comprehensive in their decision making. Our focus has been, and continues to be, on our football team and having a succesful season.”   

Read the rest of this entry »

Childress: There hasn’t been contact with Packers

August 4th, 2008 – 12:17 PM by Judd Zulgad

MANKATO — Coach Brad Childress said the Vikings have not had any contact with the Green Bay Packers about a potential trade involving Brett Favre. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported today that Green Bay officials called the Vikings late last week.

“Bob [Hagan, the Vikings director of public relations] showed me that article last night,” Childress said. “I was in a personnel meeting with Rick [Spielman] and George Paton until 11 o’clock with the coaches. I have a pretty good idea how that [article] went down but you can shape the environment however you want one way or the other. We haven’t had any contact with them.”

Favre has reported to the Packers and, according to reports, will be allowed to challenge Aaron Rodgers for the No. 1 job. The Packers at one point had said Favre would not be welcomed back as their starting quarterback and the veteran then asked for his release with the intention of joining the Vikings.

Read the rest of this entry »

Monday morning comin’ down

August 4th, 2008 – 10:06 AM by Judd Zulgad

Quarterback Gus Frerotte is on the field but not practicing today. Defensive end Brian Robison is also not practicing.

They have not been traded to the Packers for Brett Favre, however. We know that. We’ll have injury updates on them ASAP.

Tight end Garrett Mills (ankle) and cornerback Marcus McCauley (knee) remain sidelined by injuries.

 

 

Access Vikings: The Wise Guy

Join Vikings writers Judd Zulgad and Chip Scoggins on a usually informative and often irreverent journey inside the Vikings.

Just like the NFL, Zulgad and Scoggins go at it all year long -- on and off the field.