The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

August 6, 2008

Monday's training camp update

MANKATO — Vikings coach Brad Childress dismissed a report out from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the Packers have contacted the Vikings about a possible trade for Brett Favre.

“My comment would be that’s the same journalist who wrote there was a cell phone,” Childress said in a press conference following Monday morning’s practice.

Favre was reinstated by the NFL and returned to Green Bay, Wis., for Packers training camp on Sunday. Before camps began, the Packers accused the Vikings of tampering with the briefly retired quarterback. One report mentioned that Favre had a team-issued cell phone and records showed calls between Favre and Childress and other Vikings officials. It was later reported that Favre didn’t have such a phone, however.

Childress said he had no knowledge about trade discussions between the two teams.

“I haven’t had a lot of discretionary time to watch TV or surf the internet,” he said.

Meanwhile all of the former Packers on the Vikings roster were surrounded by media Monday, including kicker Ryan Longwell, safety Darren Sharper and receiver Robert Ferguson.

“I knew (Favre) wanted to play all along,” Longwell said.

None would speculate on the possibility of Favre joining the Vikings.

“The whole hypothetical thing is something I’m not going to talk about,” Longwell said. “We’re happy with T-Jack (Tarvaris Jackson), Gus (Frerotte) and Brooks (Bollinger). And (John David) Booty.”

Frerotte watches
Frerotte, the second-string quarterback did not participate in Monday morning’s full-contact practice. Childress gave him the day off and only mentioned that Frerotte turned 37 last Thursday.

“I feel bad for Gus because he had to miss with a little stiff back, but it was exciting for me,” Booty said. “For me it’s huge. Just to get the extra reps and to get into somewhat kind of a rythym. Instead of just getting a play here or a play there, it’s sets of plays and drives. For me I was happy to get that today and I tried to make the most of it.”

NSIC day
Coaches and players from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference watched practice as part of the conference’s media day. Childress acknowledged the 14-school league, which now includes Minnesota State University, mentioning that Brad Salem of Augustana was quarterback at Northern Arizona when Childress was the offensive coordinator there in the late 1980s.

“I know they appreciate the fact that they got to see a little bit of hitting going on today,” Childress said. “I told somebody, ‘We didn’t have a taffy pull today.’”

Odds and ends
Childress said second-year defensive end Brian Robison was in the Twin Cities seeing a doctor for an unspecified leg injury. ... Longwell was 6 for 6 on field goals during full-team drills. ... During goal-line work between the No. 1 offense and No. 2 defense, cornerback Benny Sapp jumped a Jackson pass for an interception on the 3-yard line and likely would have scored on the play. ... It took four defenders to bring down running back Adrian Peterson after catching a swing pass from Jackson and cutting upfield. ... With the offense on its own 1-yard-line, fullback Naufahu Tahi was tackled by cornerback Dee McCann for a safety. Two plays later Bollinger threw a 30-yard pass to Martin Nance. Later in 11-on-11 non-contact work, McCann later intercepted a pass by Booty.

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