Vikings News

3 Packers fined $5,000 each for actions against Minnesota Vikings
"The NFL fined Green Bay Packers Johnny Jolly, Al Harris and rookie B.J. Raji $5,000 each for actions in Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Defensive tackle Jolly was fined today for unnecessary roughness for head-butting running back Chester Taylor. Cornerback Harris was fined for unnecessary roughness for grabbing a helmet opening to make a tackle. Defensive tackle Raji was fined for a major facemask violation. As for Jolly, Packers coach Mike McCarthy expressed his displeasure with the play earlier in the week. Taylor was tackled for a 5-yard loss on a third-down pass play. Instead of kicking a field goal, the Vikings had an automatic first down at the Packers 7 and scored a ..."
Once again, Packers their own worst enemy against Vikings
"Just before the game began, most of those who were a part of the largest regular-season crowd in Lambeau Field history booed Brett Favre like the narcissistic rat they perceived him to be for willfully exacting revenge in the most traitorous way possible. By the time it was over, nothing much about the macabre homecoming was about No. 4, no matter how gleefully he jumped about in an end zone he once frequented in less divisive times. It was about coaching decisions so strange that they made Brad Childress look Lombardi-esque by comparison. It was about penalties so inane that you wonder why some guys are still cashing a Green Bay-issued paycheck. It was about not playing to the best ..."
Allen enjoying a stellar season with Vikings
"Now Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen has to show he can get sacks against somebody other than the Green Bay Packers. Allen, the former Chiefs star, leads the NFL with 10 1/2 sacks, although 7 1/2 of them have come in two games against the Packers. At the halfway point of the season, it's not unrealistic to start projecting Allen with not only his first 20-sack season, but he's got a chance to break Michael Strahan's NFL-record 22 1/2 sacks set in 2001. "As an individual stat, that's amazing," Allen said after the Vikings' 38-26 win at Green Bay last Sunday. "Would I take a Super Bowl over that? Any day of the week. Twenty sacks would be great, but it's way too early to be thinking about ..."
Who's better: the Vikings or the Saints?
"The argument about which team is the best in the NFC boils down to two teams: 7-0 New Orleans and 7-1 Minnesota. Each team has MVP candidates, a playmaking defense and a high-scoring offense. The Saints and the Vikings could be on a collision course to meet in the playoffs and determine who represents the NFC in the Super Bowl. Here's a closer look at how the teams compare: POTENT GROUND GAMES Vikings' Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor vs. Saints' Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush: The Vikings are an easy pick because of Peterson, but the Saints should be considered. New Orleans' trio gives the Saints depth and different options. They've combined to score 10 rushing touchdowns. The ..."
In a down economy, NFL viewership is up
"When this NFL season began with some franchises struggling to sell tickets, there were concerns about the impact that the uncertain U.S. economy would have on the nation's most prosperous sport. While those concerns have turned out to be justified in a few NFL cities and unfounded in others, there has been an unforeseen development: The NFL's television ratings are soaring this season, and some analysts say it appears to be the result of consumers cutting back on other, more costly leisure activities in favor of watching pro football on TV. "I think there's only one answer and that is the NFL and television are actually getting the so-called 'benefit' of the recession," said Neal Pilson, ..."
Favre's comeback finally complete
"Brett Favre had answered 12 minutes' worth of questions. Media members had probed for something, anything from Favre to perfectly sum up his memorable Sunday afternoon. Finally, as a member of Minnesota's public relations team was screaming for Favre to exit stage left, the money question arrived. "Was it fun, Brett?" the questioner yelled. "Ultimately, is this why you came back?" "Yeah," said the Minnesota Vikings quarterback. "It was pretty fun." Boy, was it ever. Whether Favre truly wanted to "stick it" to Packer general manager Ted Thompson or not, he did exactly that. Favre came back to Lambeau Field - the place he'd given Green Bay fans 16 years worth of mostly terrific memories - ..."
Favre earns NFC honor
"As if the Packers hadn't already heard enough about Brett Favre. For the second time this season, the quarterback earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against his former team. Favre was honored Tuesday after throwing four touchdown passes in a 38-26 victory at Lambeau Field on Sunday. He also won the award after throwing three touchdowns against Green Bay in a 30-23 victory on Oct. 5 at the Metrodome. Sunday marked the 21st four-touchdown game of Favre's career, matching Dan Marino for the NFL record. Favre's 128.6 passer rating against the Packers is the fifth game in 2009 that he has posted a passer rating of more than 100. In two games against the Packers, ..."
Flag on Hutchinson a rare career event
"Steve Hutchinson made 97 starts and played thousands of snaps between Dec. 7, 2003, and Oct. 25 in Pittsburgh, but one thing the Pro Bowl left guard never did during that time was get called for a holding penalty. That remarkable streak came to an end in the third quarter last Sunday at Lambeau Field when Hutchinson was penalized by referee Tony Corrente's crew for holding Green Bay defensive end Cullen Jenkins during a second-and-7 play on which running back Adrian Peterson initially gained 2 yards. Hutchinson hadn't had 10 yards marked off against him for a hold before that since Nov. 20, 2003, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The veteran was playing for Seattle at the time and the ..."
Williamses loom large in debate on Capitol Hill
"Even if they weren't in the room, Vikings Pro Bowl tackles Kevin and Pat Williams were the center of attention Tuesday in a U.S. House subcommittee hearing, on a case that may turn into a showdown between Minnesota law and the NFL. At issue is the league's ability to suspend the two players for using a banned diuretic found in StarCaps, an over-the-counter weight loss supplement. Minnesota's relatively strong worker protection laws allowed the players to block that suspension and on Tuesday, the Williams' case -- representing a classic clash of money, power and egos -- was accompanied by a shot by one committee member about the future of professional football in Minnesota. "Maybe ..."
Harvin parlays 'A' instincts into rookie of the year candidacy
"Percy Harvin is neither pleased nor disappointed midway through his rookie season with the Vikings. "I came into this with no expectations," Harvin said Monday, "other than I wanted to help this team win." The Vikings' 7-1 record is impressive, and so is Harvin's production and contribution. Harvin is the early favorite for NFL offensive rookie of the year, distinguishing himself as a kickoff returner, receiver and running back. He ranks second in the NFL with an average of 30.7 yards per kickoff return, and he is No. 1 among rookies in touchdowns (five) and receiving yards (369) and No. 2 in first downs (24). "He's got 'A' instincts," Vikings coach Brad Childress said of Harvin. "He's ..."
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell finds Congressional ally in attempt to suspend two Vikings players
"Fearing that recent rulings in Minnesota state court could undermine drug-testing policies in the NFL and other professional sports, commissioner Roger Goodell returned to Capitol Hill to seek a legislative remedy Tuesday, and got major backing from an influential lawmaker. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, agreed with Goodell that the whole effort to police performance-enhancing drugs could be imperiled by the rulings, which effectively prevented the NFL from suspending two Vikings players who tested positive for banned substances. "If these rulings prevail, they could wreak havoc with policies designed to curb performance-enhancing drug ..."
Bears aware where Vikings are
"The Bears still are a month away from playing the Minnesota Vikings for the first time this season, but they've got a sense of what the leader of the NFC North is all about. They saw Brett Favre's return to Lambeau Field go off without a hitch Sunday in a 38-26 victory that propelled the Vikings to 7-1 and a 2---game lead on the Bears and Packers. The Bears have given their full attention to the defending NFC champion Arizona Cardinals, who Sunday come to Soldier Field, where the Bears have won six straight dating to last season. At the end of a November schedule, the Bears acknowledge the key to their season is a visit Nov. 29 to the Metrodome. ''When you've got all the weapons (Favre) ..."
Minnesota Vikings' Brad Childress says Percy Harvin could return punts at some point
"Minnesota Vikings rookie Percy Harvin has shown his toughness, playing through a nagging shoulder injury over the past three weeks. "I'm feeling great right now," Harvin said. "This couldn't have came at a better point. I got nicks and knacks, but I figure everybody (does)." This couldn't be a better start for Harvin, who dropped to the Vikings with the 22nd overall pick in the NFL Draft. Harvin leads all rookies with 369 receiving yards and is second in the NFL in kickoff average. He also has scored five touchdowns. "I don't think about it," Harvin said of all the teams that passed him over. "But a lot of times my family and other friends will text me stuff like that. "I keep those out of ..."
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell seeks Congressional amendment to avoide future Williams suits
"NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wants Congress to amend the Labor Management Relations Act to protect the league's collective bargaining agreement from state-law challenges such as those Vikings defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams are using to fight their suspensions. Goodell plans to testify to a House subcommittee today that changes are necessary so players cannot use state law to circumvent the sport's drug-testing policies and gain unfair advantage over their fellow competitors. "A narrow and targeted amendment would preserve the rights of sports leagues and their player associations to negotiate and administer effective anti-drug and steroid programs," Goodell said in an opening ..."
Vikings getting some deserved time off with bye week
"The Vikings' players stormed out of Winter Park on Monday afternoon, many with the gusto of middle-schoolers dismissed for the summer, bound for sunnier destinations such as Miami and Los Angeles. "Got to get some warm weather real quick," receiver Sidney Rice said of his trip to Miami, "before it gets too cold." Numerous players caught late-afternoon and evening flights out of the Twin Cities, and they are expected back next Monday to begin preparations for the Detroit Lions. Since taking over the Vikings in 2006, coach Brad Childress has granted his players this meaty break. And the 2009 Vikings certainly have earned it, getting off to the best start of the Childress Era and the club's ..."
In control of division, Minnesota Vikings can justify new deal for Brad Childress
"The Minnesota Vikings the last three weeks played probably their toughest stretch of this season and finished with a victory against Baltimore, a loss in Pittsburgh and a victory in Green Bay. Minnesota enters the bye week, halfway through the season, 7-1. The second half opens with home games against Detroit and Seattle, games the Vikings should win. Minnesota is in a commanding position with a 2 1/2-game division lead over Green Bay and Chicago. The Packers still have to play Pittsburgh and Baltimore, formidable challenges the Vikings already have had. Green Bay (4-3) and Chicago (4-3) still have to play each other once more. The Vikings probably need only to split their two games with ..."
Happier returns this season
"The Vikings won the NFC North last season almost in spite of their special teams play. They are well on their way to repeating as division champions this season in part because of a significant turnaround in their special teams. The combination of Percy Harvin's dynamic return skills and major improvement from the coverage units led coach Brad Childress to call his special teams play a "thing of beauty" Monday. That's a far cry from last season, when the Vikings gave up an NFL-record seven special teams touchdowns and had no real juice in the return game. "I think the mindset when we started the season was that we're going to forget about last year," said safety Eric Frampton, one of the ..."
On injured list, Favre's back at work
"Brett Favre threw four touchdown passes and posted a stellar 128.6 passer rating against his former team Sunday despite a groin injury that he apparently suffered in practice last week. In the wake of the Vikings' 38-26 victory against the Packers, Favre told Peter King of Sports Illustrated that the injury flared up during pregame warmups. At one point, Favre informed backup Tarvaris Jackson and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell that he had doubts about his ability toback. Vikings coach Brad Childress confirmed the injury and said that he was standing right behind Favre when the veteran aggravated it. "It twinged a little bit on him," Childress said. "I think he's on the injury report ..."
Vikings have outperformed Packers in off-season, too
"Eight weeks into the National Football League season there is one thing you can say with certainty: The Minnesota Vikings are a better football team than the Green Bay Packers. The 38-26 loss the Packers suffered at the hands of the Vikings Sunday at Lambeau Field closed the argument. It also may force the Packers to accept that the Vikings have more talent and have done a better job building their team for a Super Bowl run. Most people who witnessed the game would find that hard to dispute. "I'm not going to compare us to the Vikings other than to say that they beat us yesterday and a few weeks ago," Packers general manager Ted Thompson said Monday. "We have to do some things to improve a ..."
Vikings' Percy Harvin burns Green Bay Packers on returns
"The Packers didn't have an answer for the dynamic Percy Harvin on Sunday. The Minnesota Vikings' outstanding rookie playmaker is a leading candidate for rookie of the year at the halfway point of the season and was a major factor in this game as kickoff returner alone in the Vikings' 38-26 win over the Packers at Lambeau Field. Harvin had two long returns that set up the Vikings for short touchdown drives – a 77-yard return in the first quarter that set up their first score, and a 48-yarder in the third quarter that answered a Packers touchdown and put the Vikings in position to increase their lead to 31-20 after the Packers had pulled to within four points. The Packers tried a couple of ..."
Vikings' Brett Favre enjoys 'satisfying' return to Lambeau Field
"On the bus ride — the long, strange bus ride for Brett Favre — to Lambeau Field on Sunday, Ryan Longwell noticed a sign in store window a few blocks from the stadium. It read: "Welcome back Ryan Longwell." The Minnesota Vikings kicker, who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1997-2005, leaned over to Favre, who was about to walk into the same stadium where he was cheered as the Packers' quarterback for 16 seasons, and said: "Just think, time heals all wounds. You'll get a sign in four years." Based on the reaction Favre received Sunday afternoon, it might take a little longer. When Favre walked through the tunnel in the south end zone wearing his Vikings' purple and white about 45 ..."
Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings beat Green Bay Packers 38-26 at Lambeau Field
"Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings really stuck it to the Green Bay Packers this time. They came into an electric Lambeau Field, where the legendary former Packers quarterback was loudly booed every time he took the field, not only with reputations at stake but also a major swing in the NFC North Division race in the balance. Favre and Vikings conquered with a sharp, explosive offensive performance in a 38-26 win that had to be a hard shot to the solar plexus for General Manager Ted Thompson, coach Mike McCarthy and their team. Not even halfway through the season, the 4-3 Packers have been swept by their bitter border rival, which because of tiebreakers in effect puts them three games ..."
On an emotional day, Favre once again plays it cool
"Vikings quarterback Brett Favre approached most of his offensive teammates during pregame warm-ups Sunday. "He said, 'Do I need to say anything to you guys?' " tight end Visanthe Shiancoe recalled. Shiancoe said he told Favre "there's nothing to say," noting that they recognized the significance of the game and the hostility of the environment. "We know what to expect and we know what to do," Shiancoe said. Favre said his emotions were "worse than I thought it would be" but better than before the Oct. 5 game against his former team at the Metrodome, which he said, at the time, was about as nervous as he'd ever been heading into a game. Yet Favre was brilliant, completing 17 of 28 passes ..."
Once again, Packers their own worst enemy against Vikings
"Just before the game began, most of those who were a part of the largest regular-season crowd in Lambeau Field history booed Brett Favre like the narcissistic rat they perceived him to be for willfully exacting revenge in the most traitorous way possible. By the time it was over, nothing much about the macabre homecoming was about No. 4, no matter how gleefully he jumped about in an end zone he once frequented in less divisive times. It was about coaching decisions so strange that they made Brad Childress look Lombardi-esque by comparison. It was about penalties so inane that you wonder why some guys are still cashing a Green Bay-issued paycheck. It was about not playing to the best ..."
Word of the day describes Vikings speedster Percy Harvin: He's electrifying
"One word. That's all I was looking for from Percy Harvin. Just one word to describe the way he plays the game. No answer came right away. So I tossed out a word for his consideration. Harvin smiled. Apparently, he liked the word. "Electrifying," the Vikings rookie said, nodding. "You can stick with that one." If he keeps playing as he did Sunday, that description will stick. In a game that included four touchdown passes by Brett Favre and a 97-yard rushing performance by Adrian Peterson, Harvin was the most electrifying player in the Vikings' 38-26 victory over the Green Bay Packers. He accounted for 261 yards — 175 on five kickoff returns, 84 on five receptions and a couple of yards on a ..."
Vikings' gambles in draft paying off
"The Vikings have landed two great players in the draft over the past three years by taking gambles that teams ahead of them apparently didn't want to take. Superstar running back Adrian Peterson was the seventh choice in the first round in 2007, and wide receiver Percy Harvin was the 22nd pick in the first round this year. The 38-26 victory over the Packers on Sunday was a perfect example of what those two young players mean to the Vikings. Harvin was responsible for 261 yards -- five kickoff returns for 175 yards, 84 receiving yards and 2 rushing yards. By the end of the first half, Peterson had already exceeded the 55 yards he got in the first Packers' game -- a 30-23 Vikings' victory on ..."
Having nothing to prove, Favre plays it his way against Packers
"As a Packer, Brett Favre always felt sympathy for opposing teams required to take the half-hour bus ride from Appleton to Lambeau Field. And those players didn't have to face the gantlet Favre did on Sunday, as Packer fans lined the bus route and offered specific and sometimes vulgar signals to their former quarterback. "It was long," Favre said Sunday night of the bus ride. "I had always thought, man, the visiting team, that's a long way to have to come. I had to drive a mile when I played here. "It didn't seem weird until I got into around the pier, then everything was real familiar to me. ... All the Packer fans were there, and there was some purple, and I saw a mixture of everything. ..."
Harvin unleashes more lightning bolts
"Percy Harvin has heard a lot of different adjectives and superlatives used to describe his talent, but he thinks "electrifying" might be the most appropriate. "Just stick with that one," he said, laughing. The Green Bay Packers won't argue. While the spotlight shined brightest on Brett Favre in his return to Lambeau Field on Sunday, Harvin's performance in a 38-26 victory also deserved top billing. The rookie finished with 261 total yards, on the strength of a long touchdown catch and two momentum-changing kickoff returns. Not bad for a guy who was listed as questionable on the injury report after missing one day of practice because of an undisclosed illness. Harvin declined to give ..."
Vikings again make sack battle lopsided
"The Vikings sacked Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers six times Sunday while Brett Favre was not sacked in a 38-26 victory at Lambeau Field. Favre was also not sacked in the teams' first meeting Oct. 5. Vikings defensive end Jared Allen had three more sacks and three quarterbacks hurries after collecting a career-high 4 1/2 sacks in the first meeting. Allen, who faced rookie left tackle T.J. Lang, has an NFL-leading 10 1/2 sacks in eight games. Defensive end Ray Edwards dominated right tackle Allen Barbre at times and had his best performance of the season. Edwards finished with two sacks, four quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. He also drew a holding penalty against Barbre. Edwards ..."
Homecoming king: Favre reigns at Lambeau
"Brett Favre wasn't sure he agreed with the sentiment, but he heard the same message on multiple occasions over the weekend as he prepared to play his first game in Lambeau Field as a visitor. "I can't tell you how many text messages or guys just in passing today and yesterday [said], 'Hey, you're going to play great. I know you're nervous,' " Favre said. "I'm like, 'It's easy for you to say.' But they were right again." Indeed, they were. Favre, whose Hall of Fame résumé has been built on winning some pressure-filled games, did it again Sunday, throwing four touchdown passes with no interceptions in a 38-26 victory over the Packers. In doing so Favre helped the Vikings complete a series ..."
Favre Still Knows How to Win Big at Lambeau
"For Brett Favre, revenge is a dish best served with a side of denial. Favre raised his arms to celebrate another victory at Lambeau Field - just as he had done many times over 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Only this Sunday, he threw four touchdown passes to lead the Minnesota Vikings to a 38-26 victory that resonated painfully with Packer die-hards."
He came, he threw, he conquered
"In the days leading up to his mega-hyped return to 1265 Lombardi Ave., Brett Favre said he received countless pats on the back, text messages and words of encouragement from his Minnesota Vikings teammates. "They said, 'Hey, you're going to play great. We know you're nervous,' " Favre said. "I'm like, 'That's easy for you to say.' " He steeled himself for the boos and catcalls he knew he'd hear from fans who once worshipped him as the iconic leader of the Green Bay Packers. He was the enemy now. He understood that. He was booed when he trotted onto the field for the pregame warm-up Sunday, booed when the Vikings came back out before the opening kickoff, booed every time he stepped into the ..."
Favre the least of Packers' problems
"Just before the game began, most of those who had made possible the largest regular-season crowd in Lambeau Field history booed Brett Favre like the narcissistic rat they perceived him to be for willfully exacting revenge in the most traitorous way possible. By the time it was over, nothing much about the macabre homecoming was about No. 4, no matter how gleefully he jumped about in an end zone he once frequented in less divisive times. It was about coaching decisions so strange that they made Brad Childress look Lombardi-esque by comparison. It was about penalties so inane that you wonder why some guys are still cashing a Green Bay-issued paycheck. It was about not playing to the best ..."
Consistency is lacking
"For all that happened in Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, the offensive performance of the Green Bay Packers came down to and was summarized by two crucial plays in the fourth quarter. After a furious comeback, the Packers trailed, 31-26, and faced second and 3 at the Minnesota 28 with 6:26 left. The game was there for taking. On the first play, rookie left tackle T.J. Lang had an assignment error that let defensive end Jared Allen rush free, and he sacked quarterback Aaron Rodgers in less than 1.5 seconds. On third and 8, Rodgers was very well-protected. Instead of hitting open receivers James Jones short or Greg Jennings to the left, Rodgers went deep down the left sideline ..."
Finley's loss felt in loss
"As well as tight end Spencer Havner played Sunday, catching two of quarterback Aaron Rodgers' three touchdown passes, the offense clearly missed Jermichael Finley, who was out with a knee injury. The Green Bay Packers' 38-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings featured fewer of the two-tight end formations the Packers use so often with Donald Lee and Finley and might have been the reason the offense struggled out of the gate. In the first meeting between the two teams, Finley created a match-up problem for the Vikings and torched them for 128 yards and a touchdown on six catches. His ability to run up the middle of the field would have helped attack Minnesota's two-deep coverage and given the ..."
Vikings feeling good
"With a 7-1 start and a bye week coming up, Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress said he didn't necessarily feel vindicated after being criticized for bringing Brett Favre to Minnesota to play quarterback. But it sure sounded that way. "I didn't bring him in to compete," Childress told a jammed interview room at Lambeau Field after Sunday's 38-26 victory over the Green Bay Packers. "That's what he was going to do in Green Bay. He was going to come in and start, and rightly so. He did a great job." That would be an understatement. Favre, who said he didn't feel as nervous this time around as the last time the bitter rivals played in Minneapolis, was 17 for 28, good for 244 yards and four ..."
Defense vents frustration again
"Quarterback Brett Favre has frustrated his share of players, coaches and fans over the years and so it was no surprise that he was at it again Sunday. For the second time in four weeks, Favre frustrated the Green Bay Packers defense so much that one of its members spoke in less than glowing terms about the way players are being used in first-year defensive coordinator Dom Capers' 3-4 system. Defensive end Cullen Jenkins spoke out after the Packers' 38-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, saying he felt "handcuffed" in the new defense and that the coaches weren't putting the players in the positions where they can be most successful. Jenkins' complaint comes on the heels of cornerback Charles ..."
Unhappy returns
"Brett Favre did what he set out to do. He has hurt the Green Bay Packers, grievously, twice within a month. With the 40-year-old Favre sticking it to general manager Ted Thompson and everyone else in Packers gear, the Minnesota Vikings swatted aside their hated border rival, 38-26, in a litmus test for both teams Sunday at Lambeau Field. The Vikings, coming off brutal tests against Baltimore and Pittsburgh, rallied around Favre in his personal quest to prove that the Packers never should have traded him during the tempestuous summer of 2008. The Packers, refreshed from a bye and a pair of breathers against Detroit and Cleveland, had every physical and motivational advantage going for them ..."
Favre met with boos in return to Lambeau Field
"Vikings quarterback Brett Favre ran into a half-full Lambeau Field at 2:37 local time for warmups and was met predominantly with boos by the Packers faithful, who once cheered him for the better part of his 16 seasons here. There were a smattering of cheers, but he was hit mainly with a negative vibe right out of the tunnel. The chiding didn't last for long, though. Once he settled in around the 35-yard line near the Vikings' sideline and began throwing passes with Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson, most of the reaction turned toward the home team."
Berrian will be active; Tahi out
"Earlier today we cited a report from Fox Sports' website that Bernard Berrian would be inactive today. Then, about a half-hour ago or so, we saw the wide receiver testing out the injury on the field. Now, comes word that Berrian won't be inactive and will be among the 45 players in uniform for the Vikings game today against the Packers. In fact, he is listed as a starter. Fullback Naufahu Tahi, who was limited in practice last Wednesday and Thursday because of a knee injury, has been scratched and will be replaced in the starting lineup by Jeff Dugan. Also inactive for the Vikings will be cornerback Antoine Winfield (foot); running back Albert Young; center Jon Cooper; wide receiver Darius ..."
WR Harvin will start for Vikings
"Vikings rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin is expected to start today's game against the Packers, despite missing two practices this week with an "illness." That illness was a recurrence of the migraine headaches that caused Harvin to miss practice time earlier this season, according to a source with knowledge of the situation."
Brett Favre ducks fans as Minnesota Vikings arrive at Appleton hotel
"For a gaggle of interested fans, it appeared as though Brett Favre was a no-show as Minnesota Vikings players and coaching staff arrived at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel on Saturday afternoon. Appleton police, however, said Saturday night that Favre made a fast exit off the first bus with some large linemen shielding him. It happened shortly after 4 p.m. when the Vikings team buses arrived via police escort. About 120 diehard fans — some shouting, "Where is Brett?" — braved the 40-degree weather to greet the team and try to catch a glimpse of the Vikings' star quarterback. "Yeah, he was in," Appleton police Lt. Jay Steinke said. "There was no deviating from the team rules. He came in on ..."
Stakes are high for Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings
"The specter of Brett Favre returning to Lambeau Field dressed in purple has so dominated the local landscape that one important fact has been overlooked. Sunday marks the Green Bay Packers' most significant regular-season game in more than a decade. If the buildup to the Packers' showdown with the Minnesota Vikings has the feel of a playoff game, maybe that's because it's as close as you can possibly get to the postseason in early November. "There's more at stake here than one person coming back to a stadium," Packers linebacker Aaron Kampman said. "This is huge for both organizations in terms of the NFC North, not for any other story line. Who's going to take control of the NFC North? ..."
Favre's teammates want to win this one for Brett, and themselves, too
"Listen to all the hype surrounding Brett Favre's return to Green Bay, and you half-expect him to enter Lambeau Field trying to dodge pitchforks, rotten tomatoes and flaming No. 4 jerseys. "It's going to be like 'Gladiator,' man," Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said. Favre's teammates have his back. It's important to get a win for Favre in his first game at Green Bay as an opponent after he built a record-breaking career there over 16 years. He's been a Viking for just 2 1/2 months, but Favre and his teammates are tight already, bonded further by knowing they're going into a hostile environment — especially for their quarterback. "He knows I've got the brass knuckles and I carry a lot ..."
Bluster aside, it's really about NFC North
"There's a game today in Green Bay. Maybe you heard. There's a bit of excitement in the vicinity of Lambeau Field, where the hometown Packers will face the Vikings. Has something to do with Brett Favre returning to a place where he spent 16 record-setting seasons. It also has something to do with this being Green Bay, where there's not much else to do but obsess about the Packers. This was a typical comment heard at Green Bay bars this week: "Favre (yada yada yada). Hey, give me another beer. Favre (yada yada yada)." The smart money is on Favre being booed lustily when he takes the field. And when he takes a snap. And when he completes a pass or takes a breath. Cheers? There will be some of ..."
'Traitor Jack' Morris knows the hell Favre will have to endure
"Brett Favre is going to catch hell today at Lambeau Field. It's going to be ugly and, according to Jack Morris, it's going to be painful. Not many people understand what it's like to be verbally abused in a place where you gave your heart and soul. But Morris does. "Well, it's fans," Morris said the other day. "Favre should be expecting to get booed. Yet time will heal everything and he'll be a hero in Green Bay. But right now, their man is Aaron Rodgers and Favre is the bad guy for leaving." Over 14 seasons with the Detroit Tigers Morris won 201 games, including two complete-game victories in the 1984 World Series. That was the Tigers' first Series victory since 1968 and their last to ..."
Vikings-Packers insider foresees a close game
"For 16 years, Mike Eayrs was the brainy numbers guy for the Vikings. Eayrs fed statistics, variants and formulas into sophisticated computers that would digest the information, then spit out tendencies that could be used by his team to win football games. For the past 10 years, Eayrs has been doing the same as director of research for the Green Bay Packers, who this afternoon play Minnesota in an epic game that features storied former Packers quarterback Brett Favre returning to Lambeau Field as the 40-year-old star QB of the division-leading Vikings. "Basically, the way we're approaching it over here, it's probably going to be who scores last," Eayrs said from Green Bay. What does the ..."
Their prodigal neighbor
"Bob Harlan cannot bear to witness this family drama. Thirty-seven years with the Packers, another year as the team's emeritus chairman, and Harlan cannot recall missing a single home game at Lambeau Field. Until this one, Sunday's game between the Packers and the Minnesota Vikings, the game that marks the return of quarterback Brett Favre to Green Bay. While Packers fans mass at Lambeau Field, Harlan says he will be somewhere else far from the roar of the crowd. He will avoid the television broadcast just like he did last month when the Packers went north to play Favre and the Vikings in Minnesota. For a few hours, he will cut himself off from the team he loves and the player he respects. ..."
NFL fines Minnesota Vikings' Pat Williams, Benny Sapp
"Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams and cornerback Benny Sapp were fined $5,000 apiece for unnecessary roughness penalties in Sunday's loss in Pittsburgh. Early in the third quarter, Williams had a 15-yard facemask penalty on Steelers rookie Mike Wallace, after the receiver's 6-yard catch. The league said Williams "unnecessarily grabbed opponent by (the) facemask." Three plays later, Sapp jumped off the ground and toward Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger near the Pittsburgh sideline. The league said Sapp "unnecessarily struck (the) opponent late.""
Q&A with Packers linebacker Aaron Kampman
"Outside linebacker Aaron Kampman is one key reason the Green Bay Packers have the NFL's third-ranked defense. I spoke with Kampman about Brett Favre's return to Lambeau Field for Sunday's Vikings-Packers game: BS: Defensive ends always like getting a sack. Will it have any special meaning if you sack Favre, a former teammate, here at Lambeau Field? AK: I've never been one to say I've got this feather in this cap or this feather over here. If it helps us, if it's third and 9 and I get a chance to sack him, that means we get off the field. It's a huge play for our team. That's the way I look at it. Now after the game, I might go, "Yeah!" (He pumps his fist.) BS: Fans are all whipped up about ..."
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