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Check here for a complete list of the Minnesota Vikings' roster moves.

Surprise move: Either the Vikings have confidence in a number of unproven offensive linemen or they have their sights on some veteran acquisitions later this weekend. They released guard/tackles Chris DeGeare and Ryan Cook, both of whom saw substantial action at right guard during the injury rehabilitation of starter Anthony Herrera. This version of their 53-man roster features three centers and a total of 10 offensive linemen. The group includes two rookies (DeMarcus Love and Brandon Fusco) and one first-year player in Patrick Brown. The Vikings' arrangement here remains under construction, as far as I’m concerned.

No-brainers: Undrafted tight end Allen Reisner was one of the big surprises of camp. He not only pushed veteran Jeff Dugan off the roster but also forced the Vikings to keep four tight ends on their roster. I wondered whether the Vikings would release safety Tyrell Johnson, who has struggled to maintain his starting job in the face of a modest challenge from Jamarca Sanford. In the end, the Vikings didn’t have enough in-house experience to make that move. But watch out down the road for rookie Mistral Raymond, who forced his way onto the initial 53-man roster and is clearly respected by coaches.

What’s next: You would think the Vikings would be on the lookout for two areas in particular: Linebackers and running backs. The decision to release veteran Heath Farwell left them with five linebackers, only two of whom have starting experience. The current backups are special-teams ace Kenny Onatolu and undrafted rookie Larry Dean. With new starter Erin Henderson still establishing himself, you wonder if that is enough depth. Meanwhile, the Vikings kept only three tailbacks (and no fullbacks). Both of Adrian Peterson's backups, Toby Gerhart and Lorenzo Booker, were dealing with injuries as recently as last week. Depth is definitely an issue and could be addressed in the next 24-48 hours.

Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier spent four seasons with the team as a defensive coordinator and has holdover assistants sprinkled throughout his coaching staff. It is now clear, however, that Frazier's promotion in no way ensured continuity within the Vikings roster.

Frazier released left tackle Bryant McKinnie at the start of training camp, and news is beginning to trickle out about the departures of some other stalwarts of the Brad Childress era. Linebacker/special teams ace Heath Farwell confirmed to multiple media outlets, including 1500ESPN.com, that he has been released. Meanwhile, agent Ralph Cindrich tweeted that tight end/fullback Jeff Dugan will be a free agent as of this evening, implying he will be released.

Dugan confirmed the move to Mark Craig of the Star Tribune.

Reserves throughout their careers, Dugan and Farwell were nevertheless among the Vikings' most tenured players. Dugan was a 7th-round draft choice in 2004 and Farwell joined the team as an undrafted rookie in 2005. Only two players, tight end Jim Kleinsasser and linebacker E.J. Henderson, have been with the Vikings longer than Dugan, and both he and Farwell were the kind of easy-going glue players that Childress and former coach Mike Tice wanted in the locker room.

That's not a knock on Frazier and his staff for moving on. It's difficult to develop young talent if you keep veterans as backups. Schemes change, players age and circumstances transform. Dugan and Farwell are dependable, of high character and unfortunately for them, they are replaceable.

If there was any question, it's now clear that Frazier will be blazing his own trail despite his relatively deep roots within the organization.

Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson breaks down the tight ends of each NFC North team. Today: Minnesota Vikings.

Tight ends can be a young quarterback’s best friend. That idea -- and the fact that Kyle Rudolph probably should not have lasted as long as he did on draft day -- was enough for the Vikings to pull the trigger on the talented two-way tight end even though they didn't seem to have a need at the position. Minnesota is now set to employ more double-tight end sets on early downs, getting their best players on the field while also helping their offensive tackles in the run and pass game.

Rudolph was not himself last year at Notre Dame, dealing with nagging injuries before tearing his hamstring in September and undergoing season-ending surgery. What he will bring to the Vikings this year is a bit of a mystery, though with his size and two-way skills Rudolph should get a chance to contribute immediately. He also could quickly become the best friend of rookie QB Christian Ponder, with the two poised to grow up together in the NFL.

Like many Vikings, Visanthe Shiancoe took a step backward in 2010. Shianco struggled to get separation in his routes and didn’t look to have the same burst and acceleration he had in 2009. He is still a very good athlete for a tight end, though, and should improve his production as a receiver. Because of Minnesota's offensive line woes Shiancoe was asked to block more than usual in 2010, where he was a major liability and took too many penalties. Personally, I think he is a better player than he showed last season, but probably not at the level of his 11-touchdown performance in 2009. Adding Rudolph might help get more from Shiancoe as well.

You know exactly what you are going to get from Jimmy Kleinsasser. He will catch a pass or two and rumble around the field after securing the football, but he is by no means a weapon in the passing game. Kleinsasser is a superb blocker. though. He is a great help to the Vikings’ tackles in protection and the kind of tight end you run behind in short-yardage situations. He is a true professional.

Jeff Dugan was in the mix last season but brought very little to the table. The addition of Rudolph might move Dugan off the roster.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com. Follow Matt Williamson on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Be it the truth or a wives tale, there is an adage about assessing the injury history of NFL prospects: Players with a high frequency of injuries in college often mirror that rate at the professional level.

Put more bluntly: Injury-prone is injury-prone, no matter where you're playing.

Clearly, the Minnesota Vikings are hoping the top of their draft proves the exception. Thursday night, we discussed the impact of shoulder and arm injuries on Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder. (ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer, for one, is skeptical that Ponder will have any better luck in the NFL.)

In the second round Friday night, the Vikings drafted Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph -- a top prospect who missed portions of the past two seasons because of shoulder and hamstring injuries, respectively. Both injuries required surgery.

The Vikings, however, gave Rudolph a clean bill of health, have no concerns about his future and considered him a first-round talent worthy of selection despite a more-than-competent trio of incumbents at the position.

"We had no issues with him medically after he was cleared by our doctors," vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman said. "When he fell to us, he was too good of a player for us to pass up. He has some unique skills as a tight end, and we're going to stay true to our board. Normally, if he hadn't had that hamstring injury, I don't think we have a shot to get him. We feel we got great value where we got Kyle."

Rudolph is a 6-foot-5, 266-pounder who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds. He caught 90 passes in 29 games over three seasons for Notre Dame. Typically a tight end with those measurables would be a surefire first-round pick. But Rudolph didn't just have a hamstring injury last season. It tore completely from the bone in October, three months after he originally pulled it. He missed the final seven games of last season and soon had surgery.

That episode was enough to drop Rudolph from the first round. Friday night, Rudolph insisted he's 100 percent healthy but admitted the injury was an issue for some teams.

"The hamstring checked out completely 100 percent," he said. "It was something that I got it fixed over six months ago. By the time my pro day came around, I was 100 percent. The MRI showed it is 100 percent healed. All the doctors dug and prodded on it and they couldn't find anything."

I don't doubt that to be the case, but when a player misses nine games over two seasons, it's fair to at least inspect his history further. The Vikings have done that and have no long-term questions.

Incumbents Visanthe Shiancoe, Jim Kleinsasser and Jeff Dugan are all under contract for 2011, but it's worth noting each is entering the final year of his deal. Rudolph could prove a fortunate turn of events for the Vikings, providing he can stay on the field.

"I know we'll sort it all out as we get there," Spielman said. "We just wanted to stay true to our board, and he was by far the highest player on our board at that time."

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- How did Percy Harvin race 17 yards untouched through the middle of the Green Bay Packers defense for a Minnesota Vikings touchdown? Replays showed that fullback/tight end Jeff Dugan took out two interior defenders to clear the way and tie the score here at 7.

The Vikings ran what looked like a trap play, and the delayed handoff allowed Dugan to get through the middle of the line. He engaged Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk, pushed him into safety Charlie Peprah and paved the way for Harvin.

Sometimes the player you've never heard of is the one who makes the biggest contribution to a play working.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Would you believe that Adrian Peterson rushed for 160 yards Sunday in part because ... the Detroit Lions challenged him to? That's the way Peterson's quarterback saw things after the Minnesota Vikings' 24-10 victory at the Metrodome.

"Believe it or not," quarterback Brett Favre said, "without watching the tape, it seemed like today and the last two games ... there were teams that were kind of daring us to run the ball a bit more. Not that they feel threatened by our passing game, but it's really how teams [have played]."

Vikings coach Brad Childress took it a step further, suggesting the Vikings checked out of several downfield passing plays because the Lions' defensive alignment lent itself more to a running play.

"You don't want to put round pegs in square holes," Childress said. "You don't want to throw up the field just to throw up the field."

A true cynic might suggest Favre and Childress were offering elaborate excuses for why their passing game has stumbled throughout the first month of the season. Sunday, Favre threw two more interceptions, bringing his season total to six, and had two other turnovers each nullified by a Lions penalty. "We're not near as good as we were last year," he said, speaking both of himself and the Vikings' passing game.

And yet, the Lions, New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins have defended them largely with two-deep coverages designed to keep receivers from getting downfield at the possible expense of giving Peterson more favorable looks than he is used to. The result? On the strength of a career-long 80-yard touchdown run Sunday, Peterson is off to the best three-game start of his career and -- importantly -- has yet to fumble. (See the chart to your right for details.)

It seems blasphemous to take that approach, especially considering the offense's disjointed start. Frankly, it was Peterson's struggles last season -- he lost six fumbles and went the final seven games without a 100-yard game -- that forced a philosophical shift toward Favre and the passing game in the first place.

But staring down their first 0-3 start in eight years, the Vikings made no secret of their plan to pull back and ride Peterson. The Lions entered the game tied for the NFL lead in sacks, and Favre's lone downfield pass was a 25-yard touchdown to Percy Harvin against a busted coverage. He completed 23 of 34 passes for a modest 201 yards.

Peterson, on the other hand, busted a 19-yard run in the first quarter and then put the game away with the 80-yard run with 3 minutes, 14 second remaining in the third.

"Running has always been our identity," right guard Anthony Herrera said. "Coach Childress will never get away from that. We have Brett and we'll use him, but we're always a run-first team."

Last season's numbers wouldn't bear that out, but here's how I would put it: The Vikings will be a running team for as long as it takes Favre to get untracked. If it doesn't happen at all, it will be Peterson's offense.

"That's the mentality I have," Peterson said. "When things aren't going well, I want to be able to get the guys going up front and settle the run game. So we've been pretty productive."

Indeed, Peterson has never had as many as 392 yards after Week 3, even after putting 180 yards in the books. And remarkably, his big run Sunday came on a play he said the Vikings have never used before.

Peterson said it was called "65 U-back" and that two different players -- left guard Steve Hutchinson and tight end Jeff Dugan -- approached him on the sideline to suggest he could break it for a long gain by cutting back.

"They were telling me the backside would be there," Peterson said. "They said, 'Just make sure you press it. Let it develop the way you know [it should].' "

Peterson hasn't always been known for his patience, but Sunday he pushed into the left side of the line even though he knew if the play was going to break, it would be down the right side line. He ran five yards behind Hutchinson, drawing safety C.C. Brown his way, and then cut back against Brown. Last season, former Lions cornerback Phillip Buchanon caught Peterson from behind on a long run. Buchanon plays for the Washington Redskins now, and the Lions had no one Sunday with a chance to catch Peterson from behind.

"That sure takes a lot of pressure off of me and the passing game when you can do that," Favre said.

The big question is not whether Peterson bailed out the Vikings on Sunday. He most certainly did. It's whether he can do it, and whether he will need to, indefinitely. Favre suggested that the next step should be taking advantage with play-action. But Peterson has other plans. Asked Sunday if he thought a 2,000-yard season was reasonable -- he's on pace for 2,090 -- Peterson offered an alternative answer.

"Twenty-five hundred," he said. "I focus on being the best player I can be to help my team. That's where I set my bar and then I go out and play."

Based on the way Peterson has run in September, I wouldn't rule it out. In this era of our Air and Space division, I'm not sure anyone can win over time without getting more production from the passing game than the Vikings are. But Adrian Peterson as your Plan B? That's an awfully nice alternative -- especially if opponents are giving it to you.

Verse No. 2 from a tune reflecting our pending shift from offseason to training camp mode -- and other looming transitions:

Six o'clock TV hour, don't get caught in foreign towers
Slash and burn, return, listen to yourself churn
Locking in, uniforming, book-burning, blood-letting
Every motive escalate, automotive incinerate
Light a candle, light a votive, step down step down
Watch your heel, crush, crushed uh-oh this means
No fear cavalier, renegade, steer clear
A tournament, a tournament, a tournament of lies
Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives
And I decline

It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the world as we know it
And I feel fine

Some of us University of Virginia types would argue the transcription of line seven, but Michael Stipe couldn't immediately be reached for comment. Like the rest of you, he can hit the mailbag portal, Facebook or Twitter to contact me.

Onward...

Corey of Evans, Ga., wants us to revisit our 2009 discussion on the NFC North's skilled group of tight ends.

Kevin Seifert: Last year, we followed the progress of the four promising (and starting) tight ends in this division: Greg Olsen, Brandon Pettigrew, Jermichael Finley and Visanthe Shiancoe. Corey's question intrigues me because it helps illustrate how much depth NFC North teams have assembled behind those starters this offseason.

Check out the chart below.


The Bears signed Brandon Manumaleuna to a substantial free-agent contract. The Lions traded for Tony Scheffler to help them navigate Pettigrew's knee rehabilitation, while the Packers drafted talented pass-catcher Andrew Quarless from Penn State. The Vikings drafted Quarless' backup, Mickey Shuler, but at this point I don't think he ranks higher than No. 5 on the Vikings' depth chart.

It's going to be fun to watch this group's progress in 2010 and find out how the new additions will impact the incumbents. Olsen, for instance, has been dropped into an offense that traditionally hasn't made much use of pass-catching tight ends. Manumaleuna has played for Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz and is known for his blocking prowess, but he has disappointed some people with his slow recovery from offseason knee surgery.

In Detroit, it's not totally clear when Pettigrew will be cleared to return after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament last November. Even when he does play, Scheffler is too good of a receiver to leave on the bench. Finally, I'm wondering what Quarless' arrival will mean for veteran Donald Lee in Green Bay. Assuming Quarless is good enough to make the team, and that Spencer Havner's versatility remains valued, would Lee lose his roster spot? Do the Packers need four tight ends?

Those questions are among the issues we will be following this summer and fall.

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Yukonjack of Carrington, N.D., writes: With all the rumors flying around up here about Adrian [Peterson] not attending minicamp, do you think it could be as simple as the Vikings embarrassed him on the NFL Network with running backs coach Eric Bieniemy constantly getting after him in that film study? Adrian's answers kept getting shorter and by the end, he was not answering at all!! What's your take??

Kevin Seifert: Interesting point, Yuk. I don't think the video itself is what caused Peterson's absence, especially considering it didn't hit the airwaves until after minicamp. (If you haven't watched it yet, by all means do so.)

But I'm also not ready to brush aside the video as a non-issue, either. Bieniemy is always blunt and a straight shooter, but I'm wondering if Peterson knew he was going to be so harsh with the cameras rolling. I agree with your assessment. It got pretty uncomfortable watching Peterson's reaction, especially because you could tell he knew the cameras were seeking his reaction.

That's not to say Bieniemy's analysis was wrong or undeserved. But there is a big difference between delivering it in the private sanctity of an NFL film room and in front of NFL Network cameras. By the end, Peterson looked like he wanted it to be over. Not many players, superstar or otherwise, prefer to be dressed down by their coaches in front of a camera.

And I was especially interested to note that none of the (aired) conversation was about Peterson's fumbling issue. It was about Bieniemy's belief that Peterson left 200-300 yards on the field last season through fundamental lapses and impatience.

Keep in mind that this was one of the few (if only) film sessions Peterson had with a Vikings coach all offseason. I'm not sure how productive it was.

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Thatkuhlkid of Madison, Wis., writes: What will happen with the Packers if there is an owners lockout? They are a publicly-traded company and I can't imagine the stock holders/team president wanting to lock them out. Is there a scenario that the Packers would have the opportunity to take the field at all?

Kevin Seifert: I've gotten this question from more than a few people. It's true from a technical standpoint that some 112,000 shareholders own the franchise through voting stock. But the reality is the Packers don't operate their daily business in that regard. Their Executive Committee and CEO/president Mark Murphy are empowered to make the organization's decisions.

Given Murphy's role on the NFL's Management Council Executive Committee, which will negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement on behalf of owners, it's safe to assume he will involve the Packers in a lockout if one comes to pass. And if he didn't, who would the Packers play?

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Mike of Raleigh, N.C. writes: I've heard a lot about how Rob Sims should help anchor the Lions' line, now that we have a quality LG. I've repeated it myself to friends without really thinking too much about it. In unrelated articles however, I've read about how it's relatively easy for coaches to mask deficiencies in the interior of the line. If that is the case, how much improvement should we really see with Sims in there? Is it the case that he is so vastly superior, or is more wishful thinking from Lions fans?

Kevin Seifert: No, I think this is a big deal -- if for no other reason than having continuity at the position. A team might be able to compensate for a weaker offensive lineman, but there is no way to cover for constantly changing personnel. If Sims can lock down the position, developing some chemistry with left tackle Jeff Backus and center Dominic Raiola, then the Lions will have made a significant upgrade regardless of his skill level.

Before I hop over to the ESPN mother ship, let's take a quick spin around the NFC North:

• Green Bay plans to work out former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell, according to Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune discusses expectations for rookie safety Major Wright.
• Minnesota tight end Jeff Dugan shuttles between Minnesota and Chicago during the offseason so he can work on his MBA at Northwestern, writes Mark Craig of the Star Tribune.
• Former Detroit safety Dick LeBeau will be introduced by his brother, Bob, at his induction this summer to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, reports the Associated Press.
• Lions defensive lineman Landon Cohen is looking forward to competing for playing time at his overhauled position, writes Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press.

If you’re into special teams matchups, there will be a fascinating dynamic in play Sunday at the Metrodome.

Minnesota rookie Percy Harvin made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner this season, but he was almost a non-factor during the second half of the season as opponents intentionally kicked away from him via squibs or short, high kicks. Here is how Harvin’s season broke down:

Games 1-8: 30.7-yard average on 28 returns, two touchdowns
Games 9-16: 21.1-yard average on 14 returns, no touchdowns

The Vikings have had eight kickoffs returned by blockers over that stretch, including five by tight end Jeff Dugan. Lately, they’ve been using punt returner Darius Reynaud as an upback to give them a more explosive alternative.

On the other hand, the Cowboys employ kickoff specialist David Buehler, who has one of the strongest legs in the NFL. Buehler led the league with 29 touchbacks during the regular season and had three last week in the Cowboys’ wild-card playoff victory over Philadelphia.

I, for one, will be interested to see if the Cowboys will let Buehler kick deep or if they’ll join previous Vikings opponents and keep the ball away from Harvin. I bet the Vikings would be more than willing to let Harvin return the ball from relatively deep in the end zone.

Speaking to Minnesota reporters this week, special teams coordinator Brian Murphy said Harvin will use the lettering of Vikings logo in the end zone as a “warning track” for returning the ball. But Harvin has also been told to judge whether a deep kick is still returnable based on hang time and trajectory.

“Not all of them are going to be touchbacks,” Murphy said. “We need to take advantage of it when it is a returnable ball.”

Just another nugget to consider with the opening kickoff 27 hours away.

After Minnesota’s 27-10 victory over Detroit, here are three (mostly) indisputable facts I feel relatively sure about:

1. Vikings coach Brad Childress was so upset about a third-quarter roughing call on defensive end Ray Edwards that he called Mike Pereira, the NFL’s vice president of officiating, immediately after the game. And I mean immediately. The two had already spoken by the time Childress arrived for his news conference, no more than 15 minutes after the game. It was a tough call to accept if you’re a Vikings coach, player or fan. Edwards was fully airborne, with little ability to control his impact with Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. And it’s questionable, at best, that Edwards hit Stafford’s helmet. Regardless, I think Childress’ reaction provides some interesting insight into both his game-day intensity and, frankly, obsession, with officiating. Let’s just say he and Pereira are well-acquainted by phone.
2. Edwards overpowered Lions right tackles Gosder Cherilus and Jon Jansen throughout the game and probably had his best performance as a pro. His unofficial stat line included five tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. That doesn’t include the sack and forced fumble he lost on the penalty described in the point above. I haven’t gone back and watched every play again, but I think it was pretty evident the Lions decided they weren’t going to allow defensive end Jared Allen to beat them and schemed their blocking accordingly. Allen was quiet, making it all the more important for Edwards to put that type of performance on tape. Future opponents will know there is a consequence for sliding all of your attention toward Allen.
3. Let’s give a tip of the cap to Rick Spielman, the Vikings vice president of player personnel, for making receiver Sidney Rice a semi-controversial second-round draft pick in 2007. The Vikings needed immediate receiver help at the time, and Spielman chose South Carolina’s Rice -- a 20-year-old project -- over the more experienced and well-known Dwayne Jarrett of USC. I’d say the decision worked out pretty well. Rice is on pace for a 78-catch, 1,400-yard season. In three years with Carolina, Jarrett has 26 receptions for 277 yards.

And here is one question I’m still asking:

Why did the Vikings hand the ball to backup fullback Jeff Dugan on a fourth-and-1 attempt in the second quarter? Actually, I’m cheating a little bit. I’m not asking that question anymore because I think I know the answer. Sunday, I suggested that Dugan has been pretty efficient in short-yardage plays throughout his career. Monday, I found the numbers to back it up. Prior to Sunday’s play, Dugan had converted seven of his eight career carries into first downs. On the play, Lions defensive tackle Grady Jackson crashed into the backfield and stopped Dugan. Jackson probably would have wrapped up tailback Adrian Peterson as well.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Well. We delayed this post for a day in hopes that the NFL’s officiating supervisor would address the tripping penalty on Minnesota tight end Jeff Dugan in last Sunday’s 27-17 loss at Pittsburgh. Alas, league vice president Mike Pereira did not review the play during an evening appearance on NFL Network, as previously indicated.

Dugan

I was particularly interested in Pereira’s explanation for two reasons. First, people both inside and outside of the game seem to be in mass agreement that it was a bad call. Are we missing something here? Second, Vikings coach Brad Childress spoke with Pereira earlier this week. When asked if he was satisfied with the explanation he received, Childress said: "I’m satisfied that I was able to tell my side of it and he could see my side of it." That response suggested that Pereira stopped short of admitting the call was wrong, but we’ll never know for sure.

Update: I contacted a league spokesman to see if any explanation would be forthcoming. The league's response: "It's a judgment call. We're not going to comment on it."


So we’re left to our own devices to understand the rule and its application in this case. When you watch the replay, you see Dugan lined up as an H-back -- in the backfield and in a two-point stance -- to the left of quarterback Brett Favre. At the snap, Dugan executes a cut block on Steelers linebacker James Harrison, diving to the ground just in front of him.

As Dugan rolls over, Harrison falls over him. Childress later noted that Dugan had a knot on his thigh as a result of the collision.

Referee Ron Winter called Dugan for an illegal trip, taking away a 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Sidney Rice and penalizing the Vikings 10 yards.

As we noted Wednesday, the NFL rule book doesn’t help us much here. The league defines tripping as "the use of the leg or foot in obstructing any opponent (including a runner).” Everyone can have an opinion, but I don’t see where Dugan tripped Harrison under that definition.

On the replay, you see Harrison make contact with Dugan’s right hip, not his legs or feet. Second, the word “use” in the rule implies a conscious act. There’s no indication that Dugan was trying to use his legs to take down Harrison.

My guess is that the officials saw the ingredients of a trip and reacted accordingly. There is a frame in the replay where Dugan’s feet are in the air, right about the same time Harrison falls down. But Harrison didn’t fall over Dugan’s feet, and that position is an unavoidable physical result of rolling after a running start. Unless we’re all missing something, Dugan didn’t trip Harrison by the definition of the rule.

Below, I'll re-publish our updated Challenge Tracker for those who might have missed it Wednesday:

NFC North Challenge Tracker Team Coach Challenge Overturned Success rate Chicago Lovie Smith 5 1 20.0 Detroit Jim Schwartz 2 0 -- Green Bay Mike McCarthy 4 1 25.0 Minnesota Brad Childress 5 2 40.0 Source: NFL

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

As noted earlier this week, I want to break down the tripping penalty that wiped away a Minnesota touchdown in Sunday’s 27-17 loss at Pittsburgh. Vikings coach Brad Childress vehemently protested the call against tight end Jeff Dugan, saying Dugan executed a textbook cut-block against Steelers linebacker James Harrison.

To give you the most complete picture possible, I’m going to delay our usual Wednesday afternoon posting. As Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune noted, we are going to hear this evening from Mike Pereira, the NFL’s vice president of officiating, on the NFL Network.

I’ve got the DVR set, and I think it’s important to incorporate Pereira’s comments -- assuming he addresses the call. In either event, look for the bulk of Dirty Laundry to publish Thursday morning. The NFL rulebook doesn't give us much guidance here. Here how it defines the penalty: "Tripping is the use of the leg or foot in obstructing any opponent (including a runner)."

For now, please review this week’s updated Challenge Tracker:

NFC North Challenge Tracker Team Coach Challenge Overturned Success rate Chicago Lovie Smith 5 1 20.0 Detroit Jim Schwartz 2 0 -- Green Bay Mike McCarthy 4 1 25.0 Minnesota Brad Childress 5 2 40.0 Source: NFL

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

After Minnesota’s 27-17 loss at Pittsburgh, here are three (mostly) indisputable facts I feel relatively sure about:

1. Vikings coaches and players are just a wee bit upset about the fourth-quarter tripping penalty on tight end Jeff Dugan; it wiped out a touchdown reception by Sidney Rice. Coach Brad Childress said Sunday that Dugan executed a legal and textbook cut block, and on Monday, Childress spoke with NFL vice president of officiating Mike Pereira. Childress’ opinion was unchanged afterward but he said: “I’m satisfied that I was able to tell my side of it and he could see my side of it.” I’ll have more on this play Wednesday in our Dirty Laundry feature, but for now I’ll say I don’t think Dugan intended to trip linebacker James Harrison in the true sense of the rule. But you also have to consider the way the play happened at full speed: Dugan’s feet were in the air when Harrison fell down. Discuss among yourselves and we’ll meet back here Wednesday.
2. I’m not sure if receiver Bernard Berrian (leg injury) will be ready for Sunday’s game against Green Bay. But it’s pretty clear that quarterback Brett Favre’s favorite receivers at this point are Rice and Percy Harvin. Favre targeted them on 24 of the 31 passes he threw to wide receivers Sunday. Rice caught a career-high 11, while Harvin had three. I’ll be interested to see how Green Bay defends Rice, who has taken huge steps as a physical downfield receiver since the teams’ last meeting. In his past two games, in fact, Rice has caught 17 passes for 312 yards. The Packers have two big, physical corners in Al Harris and Charles Woodson. Perhaps they should let Harris match up with Rice in a test of strength and leverage.
3. Sunday’s loss was the 1,000th game in both the history of the Vikings and the career of team icon Fred Zamberletti. That’s right. Zamberletti was the team’s first athletic trainer and has worked every game in team history. Zamberletti, 77, retired from the team’s medical staff earlier this decade and is now a consultant/team historian. Speaking with a small group of reporters Sunday morning, Zamberletti emotionally recalled his years with the team and said: “I’m the luckiest man alive.”

And here’s one question I’m still asking:

Who is your rookie of the year? Harvin has to be considered a top candidate at this point. He ranks second among NFL rookies with 23 receptions for 285 yards and two scores, and is leading the entire league in kickoff returns with a 29.8 average and another pair of touchdowns. Indianapolis receiver Austin Collie (24 receptions) and Chicago’s Johnny Knox (four touchdowns) are also in the mix. But Harvin has added a level of playmaking to the Vikings’ offense and special teams that simply wasn’t present before his arrival.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

Check here for a full list of Minnesota’s roster moves.

Biggest surprise: There weren’t many, but it was a bit startling to see the Vikings part ways with tight end Garrett Mills. He’s always demonstrated soft hands and seemed to be an offensive playmaker in the waiting. The Vikings carried him on their roster for two years hoping that would be the case, but this year they decided to go heavier at the receiver position. They kept three tight ends -- Visanthe Shiancoe, Jim Kleinsasser and Jeff Dugan -- along with six receivers. Essentially, No. 6 receiver Darius Reynaud beat out Mills.

No brainers: There will be some hand-wringing over the decision to release quarterback John David Booty, especially if he is claimed by another team. I don’t deny that he’s in the middle of his development, but to this point I’ve never seen anything to suggest he’ll be any better than a No. 3 quarterback. The Vikings have three passers on their roster who are better than him. I don’t think there are many people in the NFL who consider Booty the Vikings’ quarterback of the future. It’ll be OK.

What’s next: Minnesota will have to determine whether Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels will be the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Brett Favre. I’m guessing it’s Jackson. Coach Brad Childress loathes interceptions, and Rosenfels threw a bad one Friday night against Dallas. I’ll also be interested to see if some of the Vikings’ roster decisions help improve their coverage units. Linebackers Jasper Brinkley and Kenny Onatolu, along with defensive backs Jamarca Sanford and Karl Paymah, made the team based almost exclusively on special teams.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

We had a little action last week in the NFC North, but as expected, the news certainly slowed as all four teams enjoyed some time away from their practice facilities. We got an update on the Williams Wall story, debated the pressure on Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford and argued over the identity of the NFC North's breakout player in 2009. (I say Minnesota receiver Percy Harvin, you say Chicago tight end Greg Olsen.)

But there's always material for the mailbag, thanks to your intrepid participation. Remember, you can contact me through said mailbag, our lightning-fast Facebook page or Twitter. Phones? They're, like, sooooo 2008. I don't even know why I have one.

OK, let's get on with it:

Brad of Chicago notes our breakdown of Detroit's drafts this decade, hooked to the release of linebacker Alex Lewis, and asks for a comparison with the rest of the division.

Kevin Seifert: Thanks for the assignment, Brad. Seriously, it's a good idea. As it turns out, the Lions rank last among the four NFC North teams in this category. The Packers lead with 33 players. Of course, these numbers can be skewed based on the total number of draft choices. But over time, it's at least a decent gauge of overall draft success.

Here's the team-by-team breakdown:

DETROIT LIONS
2000: 0
2001: 2 (Tackle Jeff Backus, center Dominic Raiola)
2002: 0
2003: 0
2004: 1 (Smith)
2005: 0
2006: 2 (Linebacker Ernie Sims, safety Daniel Bullocks)
2007: 5 (Receiver Calvin Johnson, quarterback Drew Stanton, defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis, guard Manny Ramirez, cornerback Ramzee Robinson)
2008: 7 (Tackle Gosder Cherilus, linebacker Jordon Dizon, tailback Kevin Smith, defensive tackle Andre Fluellen, defensive end Cliff Avril, fullback Jerome Felton, defensive tackle Landon Cohen)
TOTAL: 17

CHICAGO BEARS
2000: 1 (Linebacker Brian Urlacher)
2001: 0
2002: 2 (Defensive end Alex Brown, tailback Adrian Peterson)
2003: 2 (Cornerback Charles Tillman, linebacker Lance Briggs)
2004: 2 (Defensive tackle Tommie Harris, cornerback Nate Vasher)
2005: 0
2006: 5 (Safety Danieal Manning, receiver Devin Hester, defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek, linebacker Jamar Williams, defensive end Mark Anderson)
2007: 6 (Tight end Greg Olsen, running back Garrett Wolfe, guard Josh Beekman, safety Kevin Payne, defensive back Corey Graham, cornerback Trumaine McBride)
2008: 9 (Tackle Chris Williams, tailback Matt Forte, receiver Earl Bennett, defensive tackle Marcus Harrison, safety Craig Steltz, cornerback Zackary Bowman, tight end Kellen Davis, defensive end Ervin Baldwin, linebacker Joey LaRocque)
TOTAL: 27

GREEN BAY PACKERS
2000: 1 (Offensive tackle Chad Clifton)
2001: 0
2002: 1 (Linebacker Aaron Kampman)
2003: 1 (Linebacker Nick Barnett)
2004: 1 (Center Scott Wells)
2005: 4 (Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, safety Nick Collins, linebacker Brady Poppinga, defensive end Michael Montgomery)
2006: 7 (Linebacker A.J. Hawk, guard Daryn Colledge, receiver Greg Jennings, center Jason Spitz, cornerback Will Blackmon, offensive tackle Tony Moll, defensive tackle Johnny Jolly)
2007: 9 (Defensive end Justin Harrell, running back Brandon Jackson, receiver James Jones, safety Aaron Rouse, offensive tackle Allen Barbre, fullback Korey Hall, linebacker Desmond Bishop, placekicker Mason Crosby, running back DeShawn Wynn)
2008: 9 (Receiver Jordy Nelson, quarterback Brian Brohm, cornerback Pat Lee, tight end Jermichael Finley, linebacker Jeremy Thompson, guard Josh Sitton, offensive tackle Breno Giacomini, quarterback Matt Flynn, receiver Brett Swain)
TOTAL: 33

MINNESOTA VIKINGS
2000: 0
2001: 0
2002: 1 (Left tackle Bryant McKinnie)
2003: 2 (Defensive tackle Kevin Williams, linebacker E.J. Henderson)
2004: 2 (Defensive end Kenechi Udeze, tight end Jeff Dugan)
2005: 0
2006: 5 (Linebacker Chad Greenway, cornerback Cedric Griffin, offensive lineman Ryan Cook, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, defensive end Ray Edwards)
2007: 5 (Running back Adrian Peterson, receiver Sidney Rice, cornerback Marcus McCauley, defensive end Brian Robison, receiver Aundrae Allison)
2008: 5 (Safety Tyrell Johnson, quarterback John David Booty, defensive tackle Letroy Guion, center John Sullivan, receiver Jaymar Johnson)
TOTAL: 20

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Dictionary Guy objects to our use of "apocryphal" in a post about Brett Favre's appearance in the iconic "There's Something About Mary." Writes DG: Think about your demographic for about 5 seconds, then think about whether they know what apocryphal means. If you're not sure about the intelligence of your readers, try reading the comments sections. I have a college degree and I had to look it up. might want to dumb it down at least a LITTLE.

Kevin Seifert: What "college" did you go to, DG? Seriously, I get this type of note more often than you might care to believe -- and I hardly consider myself a wordsmith. My reading of the comments section reveals pretty much what we already know: The world is made up of geniuses, yokels and a lot of people in between. On this blog, we'll cater to everyone. And if you occasionally have to consult a dictionary, by gosh, consider making it a habit. It won't bite you.

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VikingJ of Wausau, Wis., writes: Saw an ESPN story yesterday about certain teams allowing seasoned vets to go home during camp and not force them to stay in a college dorm room. You then hear coaches say that training camp is a period to build team unity (whatever that means). What are your thoughts on this subject, and what direction are the NFC north teams taking?

Kevin Seifert: You probably were reading about Washington coach Jim Zorn following in the footsteps of what ex-Baltimore coach Brian Billick once did with the Ravens.

I have often heard veterans complaining about off-site training camps. Some players don't like being away from their families. Many are uncomfortable in tiny dorm rooms and old mattresses, a legitimate concern when you consider how much energy they must expend during practice. For those reasons, I can see how it might help to sleep in your own home and bed. And to me, relationships can be formed during training camp whether you're sleeping at home or in the dorms.

Because let's be clear: Regardless of where you sleep, camp is a daily 18-hour affair. Typically, players are scheduled from about 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. If you're not practicing, you're either eating or in meetings or napping. For that reason, some players would prefer staying and sleeping in dorms because they're the closest thing to them. The long hours wouldn't really give them much chance to see their families anyway.

I'm not aware of a sleep-on-your-own policy in the NFC North. Everyone sleeps in dorms (Chicago, Minnesota and Green Bay) or in a hotel (Detroit).

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Jimbo of Chicago writes: Kevin, what's the inside scoop on the other Adrian Peterson? With Matt Forte and Kevin Jones getting the bulk of the carries, and the Bears talking about how they need to get Garrett Wolfe on the field more this year, where does that leave a veteran like AP? Does he even have a spot on this team? Do they really hold a spot for him just to play special teams?

Kevin Seifert writes: Jimbo, there are a couple of interesting factors in play here. First, you wonder if the Bears really would keep four tailbacks on the 53-man roster. If they only keep three, the competition conceivably would be down to Wolfe and Peterson. To me, we'll find out once and for all if the Bears are serious about using Wolfe on offense. That would be the primary reason to keep him over Peterson.

Second, Wolfe showed proficiency as a special teams player last season, leading the team with 21 tackles. The Bears put a strong emphasis on coverage and wouldn't part easily with Peterson. But at least they would know that Wolfe can handle coverage assignments.

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Randall of Monoma, Wis., writes: If the Williams Wall wins, why couldn't the Wisconsin legislature pass legislation forbidding the calling of penalties against the Packers in home games at Lambeau Field, as a violation of their employee rights?

Kevin Seifert: Haha. (I think. I'm presuming you're joking.) Randall, of course, is referring to the lawsuit filed by Minnesota defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. Essentially, the players are arguing that the NFL's steroid testing policy violates Minnesota state law. (The NFL contends the policy, which is part of the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, should be subject only to federal laws.)

But I cordially invite the Wisconsin legislature to take a break from its busy schedule to pursue such a law. Just to see what happens. And I'm guessing there would be more than a few legislators willing to take up the issue. Revolution!

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Joseph of Fort Meade, Md., writes: As a Bears fan I'm glad to see the "Williams Wall" case delayed. At the end of the day, the NFL doesn't care about the state of Minnesota's stance on drug testing. The wall will lose. So hopefully they can be suspended at a more critical time in the season.

Kevin Seifert: Joseph, you actually bring up a good point. We have no way of predicting how long the legal process will take here. One month? Three months? Six months? Who knows with these things. But if you strictly go by the regular season schedule, the Vikings' first four games might represent the best stretch for them to miss if it comes to that.

None of their first four opponents -- Cleveland, Detroit, San Francisco and Green Bay -- had winning records last season. And from a preseason perspective, at least, the only running game I would fear in that group is the Packers'. If the players' legal case ultimately results in them missing games later in the season, it could play a more important role in the Vikings' playoff aspirations. No doubt.