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Looking forward to the NFL’s injury report every Friday is kind of a morbid fascination, but I have access to the information so I’m going to use it. Among the most notable of players listed as questionable this weekend (Week 3) is Minnesota Vikings running back (and the current NFL rushing leader) Adrian Peterson. As if the Vikes didn’t already have enough trouble starting 0-2 and working in newly promoted quarterback Gus Frerotte this week, the possibility that one of the league’s best players (Adrian) will not be able to suit-up and help the Vikings against the 2-0 Carolina Panthers is a frustrating one.

AD was held out of practice most of the week (he had “limited participation” today) and will be a game-time decision with a hamstring injury. He’s not alone. Other Vikings offensive weapons who were shelved for at least some time this week were receivers Bernard Berrian (foot-probable), Sidney Rice (knee-questionable) and Aundrae Allison (foot-probable). That doesn’t mean they’re not going to play. It just means they probably won’t be 100% if they do play. If Adrian can’t go, at least the Vikings have a healthy Chester Taylor to adequately handle the workload with Maurice Hicks (also on the injury report, but probable) as his sidekick. Neither is likely to generate the excitement of an Adrian Peterson, but that’s why you hire capable backups.

Source: NFL Media, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Week 3 Injury Report: Adrian Peterson

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The Minnesota Vikings have been very active early in this free agency signing period, adding three projected starters in the first two days.

• The Vikings found a replacement for free agent All-Pro FB Tony Richardson by signing Thomas Tapeh from Philadelphia. Thomas is a native of Minnesota and was a running back for the Golden Gophers in college at the University of Minnesota. I think T2 is a great pickup, but I feel it’s a mistake to let Tony Richardson go. He was a big reason the Vikes had the best running game in the NFL last season. Thomas will not only have to plow a path for Adrian Peterson (like he did for Brian Westbrook), he’ll have to occasionally catch the ball, something TR did quite well when asked to.
• Minnesota added 26-year-old former Cincinnati Bengals free safety Madieu Williams. Madieu is very solid at his position with good cover skills (he came into the NFL four years ago as a cornerback). He had 74 tackles, two picks and two sacks in 13 games last season.
• The Vikings wooed and won over former Chicago Bears WR Bernard Berrian who was considered by many the second best wideout in this free agency class behind Randy Moss. B2 had a breakout season in ‘07 with, by far, the best numbers of his four-year career — 71 catches for 951 yards. Minnesota desperately needs help at the receiver position. They finished dead last in receptions last season. Now with Bernard on one side and the exciting Sidney Rice on the other — plus speedy WR/KR Aundrae Allison — the Vikings have a young and talented group to help take the pressure off the ground game.

Minnesota has not yet addressed their need for a defensive end who can apply pressure on the quarterback. They wanted to bring former Bengals DE Justin Smith in for an interview but he negotiated with the 49ers and never left San Francisco. Titans DE Antwan Odom is a great candidate. Despite his injury history, I still like Jevon Kearse, who is also available. Jags DE Bobby McCray is also out there. Sure the Vikes have a herd of players that could fill this pass-rushing role. They’ve addressed the need in previous Drafts, but none have proven, for one reason or another, that they are capable of the role yet — namely Erasmus James, Ray Edwards and Kenechi Udeze (who is now battling leukemia). The verdict is still out on Jayme Mitchell and Brian Robison.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Minnesota Vikings Active in Free Agency, Bernard Berrian Fills Need at Wide Receiver

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With free agency just hours away, I still can’t believe the New England Patriots don’t have a deal in place for wide receiver Randy Moss. His record-setting 2007 more than earned him the right to have been signed to a long-term deal by the Pats. He kept his nose clean and was a leader and good teammate. He’s Tom Brady’s favorite target. What more needs to be said? I feel like as soon as I publish this, news will break of his signing … with the Patriots. Still, New England has a lot to consider. They have a slew of free agents and have the difficult task of deciding who they can keep. Remember, this was an 18-1 team last season. A roster overhaul isn’t really an ideal game plan. Who am I to question the mighty Patriots, though. They seem to find a way to make it work.

It’s always easy to assume the teams with the most money to spend will do the most spending in free agency. But what each team must do is look at their needs and decide what holes can be filled best in free agency or the upcoming Draft. And for those teams without a lot of cash to spend, it doesn’t mean they won’t be active. Obviously they have fewer options, but if there’s a player out there they want, they’ll do what they have to to get after him.

Here are my Top 10 free agents heading into tomorrow’s free-for-all:

1. Randy Moss, WR, Patriots
2. Michael Turner, RB, Chargers
3. Alan Faneca, G, Steelers
4. Lance Briggs, LB, Bears
5. Asante Samuel, CB, Patriots
6. Marion Barber, RB, Cowboys
7. Justin Smith, DE, Bengals
8. Bernard Berrian, WR, Bears
9. Tony Richardson, FB, Vikings
10. Derek Anderson, QB, Browns

Other players I really like (in no particular order) are Daunte Culpepper (QB, Raiders); Chris Brown (RB, Titans); Jerry Porter (WR, Raiders); Ernest Wilford (WR, Jags); Donte Stallworth (WR, Patriots); Jesse Chatman (RB, Dolphins); Julius Jones (RB, Cowboys); Atari Bigby (DB, Packers); and Lorenzo Neal (FB, who was released by the Chargers) and DeShaun Foster (RB, who was released by the Panthers). There are a lot of good players that will be available soon.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Randy Moss Leads Top 10 NFL Free Agents