A somewhat miffed Osi Umenyiora is returning to the New York Giants without a new contract.
In an email to The Associated Press on Sunday evening, the two-time Pro Bowl defensive end said he plans to practice today at training camp in East Rutherford, N.J., and that he will play this season under the terms of his current contract.
Umenyiora said the Giants offered to put incentives in his contact, which will pay him $7.1 million over the next two seasons, but he rejected them.
“No deal has been reworked,” Umenyiora said. “What has been offered has been unacceptable and shows they don’t really respect the fact I sacrifice my health for the franchise. I will play under my current deal because I love and respect my coaches, my teammates, the fans, and myself. Not for those incentives.”
The nine-year NFL veteran hasn’t practiced since reporting to training camp on July 30, a day late. He failed to report on time because he alleged that general manager Jerry Reese told him the team would rework his contract.
Reese has refused to discuss what was said between them.
CULPEPPER TRYOUT
Daunte Culpepper is the latest addition to the San Francisco 49ers’ stable of quarterbacks.
After practice Sunday, San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh said the team is bringing in the 34-year-old Culpepper for a tryout today.
“We’re going to have Daunte in for a workout and kick the tires,” Harbaugh said. “I’m looking forward to that.”
Harbaugh said Saturday that the 49ers have no clear-cut starter at quarterback after veteran Alex Smith and rookie Colin Kaepernick both had shaky performances in San Francisco’s 24-3 loss to New Orleans in Friday’s exhibition opener.
Culpepper, the No. 11 pick in the 1999 draft, hasn’t played in the NFL since an eight-game stint with Detroit in 2009. He spent last season with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League.
HASSELBECK’S TEMPO
Matt Hasselbeck’s new teammates are raving about how quickly the veteran quarterback works in practice, and now he and the Tennessee Titans have a glimpse of what their new offense might look like this season.
With the former Seahawks quarterback playing one series, the Titans moved quickly to the line of scrimmage and even flashed one play without a huddle in Saturday night’s 14-3 exhibition victory over Minnesota.
“We think we’re just getting more plays offensively. It’s an advantage for the offense,” coach Mike Munchak said Sunday.
EXTRA POINTS
Saints cornerback Tracy Porter returned to practice for the first time since training camp opened and says his surgically repaired left knee isn’t bothering him. Also at practice were receivers Marques Colston and Robert Meachem. … Kicker Shayne Graham was cut by the Redskins, two days after he shanked a 29-yard field goal attempt and also missed a 49-yarder against the Steelers.
2011年8月15日星期一
2011年8月12日星期五
Ex-Notre Dame assistant hospitalized after standoff
GRANGER– Former Notre Dame football defensive coordinator and NFL player Corwin Brown was taken from his home Friday night with a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a nearly seven-hour standoff, police said.
St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Commander Tim Corbett said Friday night he did not know whether Brown’s injuries were life-threatening.
Police say they heard gunshots inside the home shortly after they arrived about 1 p.m. in response to a reported domestic dispute. Brown’s wife and children exited the house sometime later and police say they began trying to talk him out using cellphones and a bullhorn.
Police said Brown, who was a tri-captain of the Michigan football team in 1992, asked to talk to several friends during the standoff. Shortly before it ended, someone could be heard saying through the bullhorn: “Be a Michigan man today. Step up to your obligation.”
Several seconds later the person said: “Please don’t let me down. Please!”
Moments later a fire truck and ambulance rushed to the front of the house. The ambulance left moments later.
Police would not identify the person who had been talking to Brown.
Police said Brown’s wife, Melissa, had a bruise on her head when she left the house earlier in the day. Their children were not hurt.
Police could be heard urging Brown, 41, throughout the day to give up or to give them a call. “We’d appreciate it if you’d let us know you’re OK,” one officer said through the bullhorn.
Sgt. Matt Blank, a St. Joseph County police spokesman, said Brown came out of the house several times during the standoff only to go back inside.
“Just calm down and put your hands in the air,” a police officer said when he came out about 4:45 p.m. Several moments later, Brown could be spotted inside in a window closing the blinds.
Blank said no shots were fired by police during the standoff.
Officers blocked off entrances to the subdivision about 10 miles northwest of the Notre Dame campus in South Bend, and blocked access to the Brown home from about three houses away. Police at one point provided an escort as a family left their home next door.
Brown was drafted in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL draft following eight years at Michigan, where he was co-captain and all-Big Ten his senior year. Brown played eight seasons in the NFL as a defensive back with the Patriots, Jets and Detroit Lions, from 1993-2000.
Before coming to Notre Dame, Brown was an assistant with the New York Jets and at the University of Virginia.
He was Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator from 2007 to 2009. He was fired along with most of the rest of the staff when Charlie Weis was fired. He coached defensive backs with the New England Patriots last season but was not retained.
St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Commander Tim Corbett said Friday night he did not know whether Brown’s injuries were life-threatening.
Police say they heard gunshots inside the home shortly after they arrived about 1 p.m. in response to a reported domestic dispute. Brown’s wife and children exited the house sometime later and police say they began trying to talk him out using cellphones and a bullhorn.
Police said Brown, who was a tri-captain of the Michigan football team in 1992, asked to talk to several friends during the standoff. Shortly before it ended, someone could be heard saying through the bullhorn: “Be a Michigan man today. Step up to your obligation.”
Several seconds later the person said: “Please don’t let me down. Please!”
Moments later a fire truck and ambulance rushed to the front of the house. The ambulance left moments later.
Police would not identify the person who had been talking to Brown.
Police said Brown’s wife, Melissa, had a bruise on her head when she left the house earlier in the day. Their children were not hurt.
Police could be heard urging Brown, 41, throughout the day to give up or to give them a call. “We’d appreciate it if you’d let us know you’re OK,” one officer said through the bullhorn.
Sgt. Matt Blank, a St. Joseph County police spokesman, said Brown came out of the house several times during the standoff only to go back inside.
“Just calm down and put your hands in the air,” a police officer said when he came out about 4:45 p.m. Several moments later, Brown could be spotted inside in a window closing the blinds.
Blank said no shots were fired by police during the standoff.
Officers blocked off entrances to the subdivision about 10 miles northwest of the Notre Dame campus in South Bend, and blocked access to the Brown home from about three houses away. Police at one point provided an escort as a family left their home next door.
Brown was drafted in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL draft following eight years at Michigan, where he was co-captain and all-Big Ten his senior year. Brown played eight seasons in the NFL as a defensive back with the Patriots, Jets and Detroit Lions, from 1993-2000.
Before coming to Notre Dame, Brown was an assistant with the New York Jets and at the University of Virginia.
He was Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator from 2007 to 2009. He was fired along with most of the rest of the staff when Charlie Weis was fired. He coached defensive backs with the New England Patriots last season but was not retained.
Football on the wire
CUNNINGHAM ANXIOUS
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham can't wait until defensive tackle returns to the team.
Nick Fairley, the Lions' firstround pick this year, suffered a foot injury in the first week of camp and will likely be sidelined for the rest of the preseason.
"I was really upset about it, because of him, not because of our football team," Cunningham told mlve.com.
GREEN RETIRES FROM PACK
Running back Ahman Green is retiring as a Green Bay Packer.
Green, the franchise's all-time leading rusher, was set to make his retirement official at a news conference at Lambeau Field Thursday night.
Green's most recent stint in the National Football League came during the 2009 season, when he returned to the Packers in midseason.
PIERCE MOVES ON
Blue Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce said he has nothing special to prove when he suits up Saturday against the B.C. Lions, the team that released him following the 2009 season.
On the contrary, Pierce said he still feels indebted to the Lions organization, where he spent five seasons.
"That's where I learned how to play quarterback at the professional level," Pierce said.
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham can't wait until defensive tackle returns to the team.
Nick Fairley, the Lions' firstround pick this year, suffered a foot injury in the first week of camp and will likely be sidelined for the rest of the preseason.
"I was really upset about it, because of him, not because of our football team," Cunningham told mlve.com.
GREEN RETIRES FROM PACK
Running back Ahman Green is retiring as a Green Bay Packer.
Green, the franchise's all-time leading rusher, was set to make his retirement official at a news conference at Lambeau Field Thursday night.
Green's most recent stint in the National Football League came during the 2009 season, when he returned to the Packers in midseason.
PIERCE MOVES ON
Blue Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce said he has nothing special to prove when he suits up Saturday against the B.C. Lions, the team that released him following the 2009 season.
On the contrary, Pierce said he still feels indebted to the Lions organization, where he spent five seasons.
"That's where I learned how to play quarterback at the professional level," Pierce said.
2011年8月11日星期四
Lions quarterback Stafford looks strong, but true test will come against Bengals
DETROIT -- Whether he plays a series, a quarter or some random number of plays in between, all eyes will be on Matthew Stafford in the Lions' exhibition opener Friday against the Bengals.
Stafford has not thrown a football in a game situation since November, when he went down with his second separated shoulder of the season against the Jets.
He underwent surgery on his throwing arm in January, and as strong as he has looked in training camp, even part of Stafford is eager to put his shoulder to the real test - contact.
"Can't wait to just get drilled," Stafford said this week. "No, I'm kidding. I think that's definitely part of it. I'd love to go out there and test it out there a little bit."
The Lions aren't quite as eager to subject the man they built their offense around to unnecessary contact a month before playing a game that matters.
"If we go into a game thinking stay healthy, that's not a good attitude to have going in," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said.
But ask anyone in the organization about Stafford's recovery, or how he has looked in camp, and the response is overwhelming.
"He's bigger and stronger, and he's still got that great head on his shoulders," offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. "I just see him physically different (than last year), and he worked really hard at that. It's paying off because I see him - he's never even showed any signs of a weary arm or anything. I can tell he's probably worked harder this off-season on his game and himself physically than he ever has in his whole career, which is a good thing."
Stafford spent the first 10 weeks of his rehab from surgery working primarily on building strength in his shoulder and back .
He said that he did more band exercises than ever before, that he follows a regular weight-training routine now, and that he doesn't think about his injuries unless he's asked. Along with last year's separated shoulders, Stafford missed six games as a rookie with knee and left shoulder ailments.
"You have to move on," Stafford said. "That's the way it is. Me personally, and as a team with guys that we've lost so far this season, we've got to go out there and try to produce."
The Lions have dealt with more injuries than most teams through the early part of training camp.
Both starting offensive tackles, Gosder Cherilus (knee) and Jeff Backus (pectoral), have missed significant time with injuries, and rookie running back Mikel Leshoure suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon this week.
Still, Stafford is surrounded by an enviable cache of weapons, including Pro Bowl receiver Calvin Johnson, the most versatile trio of tight ends in the NFL, and explosive second-year running back Jahvid Best, who looks healthy after battling two turf-toe injuries last year.
With so much firepower, Schwartz said he's looking for the "same things that we always expect" from Stafford when he takes the field Friday.
"Execute the offense. Go to the right places with the ball. Get us in the right plays. Control the game and score," Schwartz said. "Those are all important things to do."
Linehan isn't worried about seeing a different Stafford when live bullets start flying, either.
"He's going to get hit," Linehan said. "He's probably going to get hit Friday. He's going to get hit the next week sometime. It's going to happen. I'm not at all worried about it. He's better than ever and doesn't even cross my mind. Honestly, it doesn't."
Stafford has not thrown a football in a game situation since November, when he went down with his second separated shoulder of the season against the Jets.
He underwent surgery on his throwing arm in January, and as strong as he has looked in training camp, even part of Stafford is eager to put his shoulder to the real test - contact.
"Can't wait to just get drilled," Stafford said this week. "No, I'm kidding. I think that's definitely part of it. I'd love to go out there and test it out there a little bit."
The Lions aren't quite as eager to subject the man they built their offense around to unnecessary contact a month before playing a game that matters.
"If we go into a game thinking stay healthy, that's not a good attitude to have going in," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said.
But ask anyone in the organization about Stafford's recovery, or how he has looked in camp, and the response is overwhelming.
"He's bigger and stronger, and he's still got that great head on his shoulders," offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. "I just see him physically different (than last year), and he worked really hard at that. It's paying off because I see him - he's never even showed any signs of a weary arm or anything. I can tell he's probably worked harder this off-season on his game and himself physically than he ever has in his whole career, which is a good thing."
Stafford spent the first 10 weeks of his rehab from surgery working primarily on building strength in his shoulder and back .
He said that he did more band exercises than ever before, that he follows a regular weight-training routine now, and that he doesn't think about his injuries unless he's asked. Along with last year's separated shoulders, Stafford missed six games as a rookie with knee and left shoulder ailments.
"You have to move on," Stafford said. "That's the way it is. Me personally, and as a team with guys that we've lost so far this season, we've got to go out there and try to produce."
The Lions have dealt with more injuries than most teams through the early part of training camp.
Both starting offensive tackles, Gosder Cherilus (knee) and Jeff Backus (pectoral), have missed significant time with injuries, and rookie running back Mikel Leshoure suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon this week.
Still, Stafford is surrounded by an enviable cache of weapons, including Pro Bowl receiver Calvin Johnson, the most versatile trio of tight ends in the NFL, and explosive second-year running back Jahvid Best, who looks healthy after battling two turf-toe injuries last year.
With so much firepower, Schwartz said he's looking for the "same things that we always expect" from Stafford when he takes the field Friday.
"Execute the offense. Go to the right places with the ball. Get us in the right plays. Control the game and score," Schwartz said. "Those are all important things to do."
Linehan isn't worried about seeing a different Stafford when live bullets start flying, either.
"He's going to get hit," Linehan said. "He's probably going to get hit Friday. He's going to get hit the next week sometime. It's going to happen. I'm not at all worried about it. He's better than ever and doesn't even cross my mind. Honestly, it doesn't."
2011年8月10日星期三
Gabbert draws start for Jags vs. Patriots
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — David Garrard is out, Blaine Gabbert is in and Todd Bouman is once again off the tractor.
Jacksonville's quarterback situation got scrambled a bit Tuesday when coach Jack Del Rio ruled Garrard out of Thursday's preseason opener at New England.
Gabbert, the 10th overall pick in April's NFL draft out of Missouri, will start against the Patriots. Gabbert and third-stringer Luke McCown will share snaps, but Bouman also will be available.
The Jaguars signed the 39- year-old Bouman, making this his seventh stint with the franchise in the last five years. In 2010, Bouman was literally sitting on a tractor helping his father harvest corn in Minnesota when the Jaguars called.
"We actually made a call to the tractor again and Todd will be joining us this evening," Del Rio said. "Pulled him off the tractor once again."
Garrard tweaked his back during practice Thursday and hasn't done anything on the field since.
Running back Maurice Jones-Drew, defensive end Aaron Kampman, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton and tight end Marcedes Lewis also won't play, Del Rio said.
Crowder retires
MIAMI — Channing Crowder, one of the league's most notorious trash-talkers, said he has decided to call it a career less than two weeks after being cut by the Dolphins.
"I know I can still play football," said Crowder, 27. "But I decided to hang it up. Now I'm not worried about icing my knees anymore or getting stingers or concussions. I did it long enough. I played football since I was 9 years old."
Last season, Crowder made 33 tackles in 11 games.
Williams passes physical
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After agreeing to a two-year deal with the Ravens on Monday, running back Ricky Williams passed his physical and practiced with his new teammates.
Williams showed up for his Baltimore practice clean-shaven with a tight haircut and wearing a No. 38 purple jersey. It might be the lone session in which he wears No. 38, because he struck a deal with running back Jalen Parmele to get back the number he's worn throughout his entire career — No. 34.
Lions call in reinforcements
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Lions signed running backs Mike Bell and Jerome Harrison a few hours after promising rookie Mikel Leshoure suffered a season-ending torn left Achilles tendon.
Bell, a former Bronco who rushed for only 99 yards last season between the Eagles and Browns, didn't hesitate when he got the call in Colorado.
"I wasn't going to wait for a second offer," Bell said. "I got on the first thing smoking toward Detroit."
Harrison figured he would get another chance because it has been less than two years since he broke Jim Brown's Cleveland rushing record with a 286-yard game against the Chiefs.
Footnotes.
Steve Smith injured his finger during practice, but Panthers coach Ron Rivera confirmed it's not broken and isn't anything that will keep the receiver out of any regular-season games.
• The Titans agreed to terms with safety Anthony Smith.
• The Anschutz Entertainment Group was granted a City Council endorsement it had long stressed was necessary to prove to league officials that its plan to build an NFL stadium in downtown Los Angeles has public support.
Jacksonville's quarterback situation got scrambled a bit Tuesday when coach Jack Del Rio ruled Garrard out of Thursday's preseason opener at New England.
Gabbert, the 10th overall pick in April's NFL draft out of Missouri, will start against the Patriots. Gabbert and third-stringer Luke McCown will share snaps, but Bouman also will be available.
The Jaguars signed the 39- year-old Bouman, making this his seventh stint with the franchise in the last five years. In 2010, Bouman was literally sitting on a tractor helping his father harvest corn in Minnesota when the Jaguars called.
"We actually made a call to the tractor again and Todd will be joining us this evening," Del Rio said. "Pulled him off the tractor once again."
Garrard tweaked his back during practice Thursday and hasn't done anything on the field since.
Running back Maurice Jones-Drew, defensive end Aaron Kampman, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton and tight end Marcedes Lewis also won't play, Del Rio said.
Crowder retires
MIAMI — Channing Crowder, one of the league's most notorious trash-talkers, said he has decided to call it a career less than two weeks after being cut by the Dolphins.
"I know I can still play football," said Crowder, 27. "But I decided to hang it up. Now I'm not worried about icing my knees anymore or getting stingers or concussions. I did it long enough. I played football since I was 9 years old."
Last season, Crowder made 33 tackles in 11 games.
Williams passes physical
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After agreeing to a two-year deal with the Ravens on Monday, running back Ricky Williams passed his physical and practiced with his new teammates.
Williams showed up for his Baltimore practice clean-shaven with a tight haircut and wearing a No. 38 purple jersey. It might be the lone session in which he wears No. 38, because he struck a deal with running back Jalen Parmele to get back the number he's worn throughout his entire career — No. 34.
Lions call in reinforcements
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Lions signed running backs Mike Bell and Jerome Harrison a few hours after promising rookie Mikel Leshoure suffered a season-ending torn left Achilles tendon.
Bell, a former Bronco who rushed for only 99 yards last season between the Eagles and Browns, didn't hesitate when he got the call in Colorado.
"I wasn't going to wait for a second offer," Bell said. "I got on the first thing smoking toward Detroit."
Harrison figured he would get another chance because it has been less than two years since he broke Jim Brown's Cleveland rushing record with a 286-yard game against the Chiefs.
Footnotes.
Steve Smith injured his finger during practice, but Panthers coach Ron Rivera confirmed it's not broken and isn't anything that will keep the receiver out of any regular-season games.
• The Titans agreed to terms with safety Anthony Smith.
• The Anschutz Entertainment Group was granted a City Council endorsement it had long stressed was necessary to prove to league officials that its plan to build an NFL stadium in downtown Los Angeles has public support.
2011年8月9日星期二
Football on the wire
LESHOURE TAKES HIT
Detroit Lions running back Mikel Leshoure tore his left Achilles tendon Monday, ending his season before it began.
"There's no more tests ... He'll have surgery very soon," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "He'll be back, but he won't be back this year."
The rookie was injured on a clean hit by defensive end Cliff Avril during an 11-on-11 drill in practice. "I thudded him up and walked off," Avril said.
STAFFORD LEARNS
Detroit's Matthew Stafford learned a lot from watching his fellow quarterbacks Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton last season.
Stafford missed 13 games with a shoulder injury.
"All the quarterbacks on our team have different styles," Stafford told mlive.com. "You pick up and use some of the styles from those guys, incorporate them into my game and try to be that much better."
RAY ROUGHED UP
After Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray was sacked four times in Friday's loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, head coach Kavis Reed said that he was concerned by how often his QB was on the run.
"The last three games, Ricky has taken a lot of shots and our mandate coming in was to protect Ricky Ray," Reed said.
The Esks will face the Montreal Alouettes Thursday (7: 30 p.m., TSN).
ATTENDANCE LOW
Last week's Toronto Argonauts home game produced the franchise's smallest crowd since 2003, but the team president is not worried.
"We were down 500 or 600 people from the same game a year ago," Bob Nicholson said. "Overall, we're up just over one per cent from the first two games in 2010. We haven't seen a dramatic shift in support for the club."
PIPKINS JOINS MICHIGAN
The Michigan Wolverines added defensive tackle Ondre Pipkins to their lineup Monday.
The six-foot-three, 325-pound, who plays at a Kansas City high school, is ranked the country's No. 12 defensive tackle by Scout and No. 19 by Rivals.
Detroit Lions running back Mikel Leshoure tore his left Achilles tendon Monday, ending his season before it began.
"There's no more tests ... He'll have surgery very soon," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "He'll be back, but he won't be back this year."
The rookie was injured on a clean hit by defensive end Cliff Avril during an 11-on-11 drill in practice. "I thudded him up and walked off," Avril said.
STAFFORD LEARNS
Detroit's Matthew Stafford learned a lot from watching his fellow quarterbacks Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton last season.
Stafford missed 13 games with a shoulder injury.
"All the quarterbacks on our team have different styles," Stafford told mlive.com. "You pick up and use some of the styles from those guys, incorporate them into my game and try to be that much better."
RAY ROUGHED UP
After Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray was sacked four times in Friday's loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, head coach Kavis Reed said that he was concerned by how often his QB was on the run.
"The last three games, Ricky has taken a lot of shots and our mandate coming in was to protect Ricky Ray," Reed said.
The Esks will face the Montreal Alouettes Thursday (7: 30 p.m., TSN).
ATTENDANCE LOW
Last week's Toronto Argonauts home game produced the franchise's smallest crowd since 2003, but the team president is not worried.
"We were down 500 or 600 people from the same game a year ago," Bob Nicholson said. "Overall, we're up just over one per cent from the first two games in 2010. We haven't seen a dramatic shift in support for the club."
PIPKINS JOINS MICHIGAN
The Michigan Wolverines added defensive tackle Ondre Pipkins to their lineup Monday.
The six-foot-three, 325-pound, who plays at a Kansas City high school, is ranked the country's No. 12 defensive tackle by Scout and No. 19 by Rivals.
2011年8月8日星期一
Vexed Vikings scramble to catch up
On paper, the Minnesota Vikings are lining up for the NFC North race wearing leg irons and a sack pulled up to their chins.
It's not that they can't win. This is the National Football League, after all.
But when compared with the stability that the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions carry over from last season, the Vikings have a long way to go before they catch the teams that aren't quite as far behind the proverbial 8-ball. That's their reality, thanks to the league's 4 ½-month lockout and the revised practice rules in the new labour deal.
"Yeah, but how many times do you see teams stacked No. 1 on paper not come through?" Vikings defensive end Jared Allen said. "How many years have we been stacked No. 1 and not won the Super Bowl? Every year stands on its own."
The lockout and new practice rules came at a terrible time for the Vikings and other teams in transition. In the Vikings' case, the biggest of many hurdles to clear is introducing a new offence with a new co-ordinator and a new quarterback who received his playbook a week ago.
"We're in uncharted territory," offensive co-ordinator Bill Musgrave said. "We've never been through anything like this, whether as a coach or a player. We're trying to be smart in whittling down the volume that we present to the players. We want to be diverse and difficult to defend on offence, but at the same time, we want to know what the hell we're doing."
That's obviously not something Aaron Rodgers and the defending Super Bowl champion Packers are having to worry about.
"Does Green Bay have an advantage right now because their offence has been together?" Allen asked. "Yeah, but our defence has been together, too. So we feel we have an advantage, too. We also have that hunger and desire to get off our butts and get back to the top of the NFC North."
Besides the usual off-season training regimen, the Vikings also missed out on having two mandatory mini-camps. Coach Leslie Frazier, who had his interim tag removed in January, would have been given the extra mini-camp.
Once the lockout ended and training camps opened, teams couldn't hit the ground running. Fullcontact drills were prohibited for the first three days, and veterans who changed teams or restructured their contracts were sidelined until the new collective bargaining agreement was ratified Thursday.
The latter rule meant the Vikings went the first three days without their No. 1 quarterback, three of their top four receivers, and starters at nose tackle, outside linebacker, strong safety and left tackle. Overweight left tackle Bryant McKinnie was released on Tuesday and replaced by Charlie Johnson, who got his playbook less than a week ago.
Throw in right guard Anthony Herrera's spot on the physicallyunable-to-perform list and All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson's excused three-day absence to be with his fiancee for the birth of their son and, well, let's just say there's some overall catching up to be done ASAP.
"But it's not like we don't have time," cornerback Antoine Winfield said. "We have all the way up to Sept. 11. The pre-season is long, so there's time. I think we can catch up in a couple weeks. I don't see a problem."
Under the revised practice rules, two-a-day, full-padded practices are eliminated. Teams are limited to 4 ½ hours on the field a day for training camp. Padded practices are limited to three hours and a second practice is permitted, but must be a walkthrough with no pads or helmets. Teams also can't practise more than six consecutive days.
"One of our big concerns over the past couple years has been player safety, and this is definitely going to help with that," defensive tackle Kevin Williams said. "That's all you heard the past couple years was concussions and player safety in general. With all the rule changes in the games, why not make the practices a little lighter?"
New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott criticized the new practice rules and suggested it could have the reverse effect and result in more injuries during the season.
"I think it's wimping out, making football more soft," Scott told the Newark Star-Ledger. "I get concerned you're making football players weaker because you don't push them past that threshold."
Vikings tight end Jim Kleinsasser said he believes the Vikings can adapt quickly and make up ground on other teams. But he admits the journey has been a strange one, to say the least.
"We have 90 guys in camp," Kleinsasser said. "A lot of us are still learning guys' faces. There's probably half these guys I've never seen before."
It's not that they can't win. This is the National Football League, after all.
But when compared with the stability that the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions carry over from last season, the Vikings have a long way to go before they catch the teams that aren't quite as far behind the proverbial 8-ball. That's their reality, thanks to the league's 4 ½-month lockout and the revised practice rules in the new labour deal.
"Yeah, but how many times do you see teams stacked No. 1 on paper not come through?" Vikings defensive end Jared Allen said. "How many years have we been stacked No. 1 and not won the Super Bowl? Every year stands on its own."
The lockout and new practice rules came at a terrible time for the Vikings and other teams in transition. In the Vikings' case, the biggest of many hurdles to clear is introducing a new offence with a new co-ordinator and a new quarterback who received his playbook a week ago.
"We're in uncharted territory," offensive co-ordinator Bill Musgrave said. "We've never been through anything like this, whether as a coach or a player. We're trying to be smart in whittling down the volume that we present to the players. We want to be diverse and difficult to defend on offence, but at the same time, we want to know what the hell we're doing."
That's obviously not something Aaron Rodgers and the defending Super Bowl champion Packers are having to worry about.
"Does Green Bay have an advantage right now because their offence has been together?" Allen asked. "Yeah, but our defence has been together, too. So we feel we have an advantage, too. We also have that hunger and desire to get off our butts and get back to the top of the NFC North."
Besides the usual off-season training regimen, the Vikings also missed out on having two mandatory mini-camps. Coach Leslie Frazier, who had his interim tag removed in January, would have been given the extra mini-camp.
Once the lockout ended and training camps opened, teams couldn't hit the ground running. Fullcontact drills were prohibited for the first three days, and veterans who changed teams or restructured their contracts were sidelined until the new collective bargaining agreement was ratified Thursday.
The latter rule meant the Vikings went the first three days without their No. 1 quarterback, three of their top four receivers, and starters at nose tackle, outside linebacker, strong safety and left tackle. Overweight left tackle Bryant McKinnie was released on Tuesday and replaced by Charlie Johnson, who got his playbook less than a week ago.
Throw in right guard Anthony Herrera's spot on the physicallyunable-to-perform list and All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson's excused three-day absence to be with his fiancee for the birth of their son and, well, let's just say there's some overall catching up to be done ASAP.
"But it's not like we don't have time," cornerback Antoine Winfield said. "We have all the way up to Sept. 11. The pre-season is long, so there's time. I think we can catch up in a couple weeks. I don't see a problem."
Under the revised practice rules, two-a-day, full-padded practices are eliminated. Teams are limited to 4 ½ hours on the field a day for training camp. Padded practices are limited to three hours and a second practice is permitted, but must be a walkthrough with no pads or helmets. Teams also can't practise more than six consecutive days.
"One of our big concerns over the past couple years has been player safety, and this is definitely going to help with that," defensive tackle Kevin Williams said. "That's all you heard the past couple years was concussions and player safety in general. With all the rule changes in the games, why not make the practices a little lighter?"
New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott criticized the new practice rules and suggested it could have the reverse effect and result in more injuries during the season.
"I think it's wimping out, making football more soft," Scott told the Newark Star-Ledger. "I get concerned you're making football players weaker because you don't push them past that threshold."
Vikings tight end Jim Kleinsasser said he believes the Vikings can adapt quickly and make up ground on other teams. But he admits the journey has been a strange one, to say the least.
"We have 90 guys in camp," Kleinsasser said. "A lot of us are still learning guys' faces. There's probably half these guys I've never seen before."
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