"Vikings coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell appeared to have separate sideline spats with quarterback Sage Rosenfels during the first half of Saturday night's 28-7 opening exhibition victory over the St. Louis Rams.

So, what was up with the two coaches and the quarterback who passed for 310 yards and three touchdowns?

"I probably talk to you (media members) more harshly than I talk to the quarterback," Childress said. "It may have seemed that way. Just talking to the quarterback, over-communicating clarity. Sometimes you have to over-communicate clarity. Sometimes, you have to elevate."

Rosenfels downplayed the interaction with his coaches, saying: "I think, early on, we were getting all those penalties. (The Vikings had seven first-half penalties.) We were trying to get that tempo going. It was nothing serious. The quarterback is responsible. You're not responsible for all the penalties, but you are responsible for the demeanor of the team and the way guys get up to the ball and get things going. That's what we were talking about." "