Busy Day at Winter Park

Numerous reports have filtered in from Winter Park this Wednesday:

1) Left Tackle Switch
As reported in a previous post, Vikings left tackle Ryan Cook has been replaced by Artis Hicks. Hicks should have a good warmup for the Sunday night collision with Chicago in two weeks as the Vikings will take on Jacksonville on the road. The Jaguars currently rank 18th in the league in sacks.

2) Ready to Rumble?
Former Vikings wide receiver Troy Williamson told Minnesota reporters during a phone conference that "[Childress and I] could meet on the 50-yard line and we can go at it.."

In response, Childress said, "obviously he doesn't know that there is a buffer zone, which far be it from me to violate.

Williamsion will be inactive for this Sunday's matchup due to a groin injury that has plagued him since training camp.

3) Detention for Allen?
Jared Allen paid a visit to the principal's office this week. Allen met with league officials to discuss a possible suspension for two low hits to Houston QB Matt Schaub and a helmet-to-helmet hit on Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers.

The entire state of Minnesota has let out a sigh of relief today, as Allen will NOT receive a suspension, but merely a $25,000 fine for his hit to Rodgers.

4) Williams Wall to NYC
Defensive linemen will visit NFL offices in New York on Thursday to plead their cases after testing positive in October for bumetanide, a weight loss drug and a banned substance in the NFL commonly used as a steroid-masking agent. Each Vikings player's case will be heard seperately, unlike the joint hearing for the three New Orleans players who tested positive for the same diuretic.

If suspended, the Williamses will face a four-game suspension this season. We will have more information on this matter as it becomes available.

-Dan Beer