"Wide receiver Bernard Berrian, who has just one catch for 17 yards in the Vikings' first two games, expects to begin getting passes downfield today against the Detroit Lions at the Metrodome. He said there's no particular reason why he hasn't had more passes thrown to him downfield.

"We just haven't been able to get the shots, that's all," he said.

Twins President Dave St. Peter said he expects the team's payroll, which ended up at a record $115 million this year, to be comparable next season.

"It isn't so much about what we pay our players; it's that (next year) our players are playing good baseball," he said. "We're optimistic that we'll have enough flexibility to do what we need to do to make this team better." "