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A couple notes of interest to close out the week:

By all accounts, the X-Files Twitter exchange between New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper and Minnesota Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe is over. My NFC South colleague Pat Yasinskas has details from New Orleans, where he is covering the Saints' minicamp. Saints coach Sean Payton told reporters: "I don't anticipate it being any more of an issue,'' prompting Yasinskas to write:

Translation: Payton, perhaps using slightly differently language, has told Sharper to stop it. The coach doesn't have any control over Shiancoe, but closing one side of a ping-pong table usually ends the game.

Shiancoe told reporters Friday that he plans to tone things down for a while, too. Here are reports from the Star Tribune and 1500ESPN.com.

Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson told reporters that he is on schedule in his recovery from the fractured femur that ended his 2009 season. He said he hopes to participate in training camp but stressed the team's medical staff will make the final decision.

My own instincts, and nothing more, suggest caution with this one. Henderson suffered a violent injury that happens more often in car accidents than in football. He has a permanent titanium rod in his leg. Original estimates were that it would take him a year to get back on the field, putting him at December 2010. If he starts the Vikings' Sept. 9 season opener at New Orleans, it will be quite an accomplishment.

The very latest X-Files development: Minnesota Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe offered a fuller defense Thursday of his decision to tweet a photograph of Osama bin Laden with the No. 42 on his chest and the words "I'm Darren Sharper" next to it. Shiancoe also mocked Sharper's assertion that "Imma bust you right under your chinstrap from the first play on" in the Sept. 9 matchup between the Vikings and New Orleans Saints.

Here you go:

1. 
   VShiancoe That target was already set up for me... No insult was intended to anyone 03 Jun 2010 from web
2. 
   VShiancoe You are the FURTHEST thing from a physical safety.. even you know that your sofT with a capital "T!" You remind me of a growling chihuahua.. 03 Jun 2010 from web
3. 
   VShiancoe ..don't get your jaw broken trying to be a tough guy. Stay "sofT" and be yourself.. a ball hawk 03 Jun 2010 from web

It's probably not time for a postscript to the X-Files exchange between the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper. So consider this post a "midscript" to provide some interesting context for NFC North blog readers who might not follow the daily trends in New Orleans. (Including me.)

Namely, there is a genuine chance that Sharper won't be much of a factor for the Sept. 9 season opener that has provided the backdrop for this Twitter-trash. Let me pull a few paragraphs of a recent post from NFC South colleague Pat Yasinskas:

The start of the season is a long way off. Besides, I'm thinking there's a very good chance Sharper won't even be in the starting lineup for that game. Malcolm Jenkins was getting the first-team work at free safety [last week].

I know this might not sit well with Sharper's fan club in New Orleans, and that's understandable because the guy was a huge contributor as the Saints won the Super Bowl. But he also is 34. Jenkins was a first-round draft pick last year and the Saints want to get him on the field.

Indeed, the Saints re-signed Sharper to a one-year contract this spring. Later, it was revealed Sharper had microfracture surgery on his knee, a serious procedure that has varying timetables for recovery. Then the Saints used their first-round draft pick to select cornerback Patrick Robinson and moved Jenkins to free safety. The team is clearly planning for a Sharper-less future, whether it's immediate or just soon.

Yasinskas, among others, has referred to Sharper as "insurance" to the Robinson-Jenkins plan. If either isn't ready to start, then Sharper would ostensibly be available to fill the gap. But if they're ready? Who knows? Even if the Saints keep Sharper on their roster, would a 34-year-old backup safety be part of the 45-man game-day roster Sept. 9?

Just something for you to consider as you imagine Sharper busting Visanthe Shiancoe under his chinstrap.

Well, I was ready to be done with X-Files and so was Minnesota coach Brad Childress. New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper, however, was not.

Sharper just let loose with an angry (I think) three-tweet volley in response to the doctored Osama bin Laden photograph posted Tuesday night by Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. Here you go, and game (back) on:

1. 
   sharper42 @vshiancoe ok homeboy you done went too far, making me out to be something that has brought this country alot of heartache. 02 Jun 2010 from mobile web
2. 
   sharper42 Imma bust you right under your chinstrap from the first play on. I don't care about the fine. F the money Imma do it for the red,white&blue 02 Jun 2010 from mobile web
3. 
   sharper42 And you'll see me cuz I'll be dressed in black & gold. Protect your neck that's all the warning you get. 02 Jun 2010 from mobile web

By the way, an NFL spokesman told ESPN's John Clayton that the ongoing Twitter exchange is a "team issue at this point."

UPDATE: Here is Shiancoe's reaction Wednesday night:

1. 
   VShiancoe Those statements were the epitome of a crooked politician.. have some class "homeboy" @sharper42 02 Jun 2010 from web

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- I'm ready to close the book on the latest X-Files chapter if you are. More important, I think Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress is approaching that point as well.

Childress said Wednesday that he witnessed tight end Visanthe Shiancoe arranging a photograph of Osama bin Laden during target practice Tuesday with members of the Minnesota National Guard. Bin Laden had the No. 42 written on his chest and was depicted saying, "I'm Darren Sharper" in the photo Shiancoe posted on Twitter. Childress, Shiancoe and a numbers of other players spent Tuesday afternoon visiting with the troops and participating in some of their training exercises.

(Childress said he rappelled down a cliff, but we'll save that for another post on another day.)

Speaking after the Vikings' organized team activity, Childress said it "didn't take too long to dot the 'I's' and cross the 'Ts'" and realize Shiancoe would probably post the picture publicly. He said he made a "self-deprecating" comment to Shiancoe afterwards and said "somewhere we will reel in" the two-week Twitter exchange that led up to the photograph. Shiancoe didn't participate in Wednesday's practice, along with about a dozen other veteran players.

Some of you have asked if the NFL might step in and either condemn or punish Sharper and Shiancoe for their exchange, which has also included joking suggestions of deliberate injury and six-figure bets. I would be really surprised if either happened. To the extent that this needs to be handled, it will fall to the teams.

At some point, probably soon, Childress will ask Shiancoe to back off. The same could happen with Sharper in New Orleans. Then, there will be nothing but the memories ... and blog archives.

The now-infamous X-Files exchange, which I vowed not to document again until it got interesting, certainly veered in that direction late Tuesday night.

(If you don't know what the X-Files exchange is, go here for background.)

Minnesota Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe was among a group of players and coaches who rode a National Guard helicopter and participated in military-type training while visiting with Minnesota guard troops. According to a series of posts on his Twitter account, Shiancoe said one soldier offered a custom-made target for shooting practice.

Guess he wanted to start my engine early for the SAINTS game!

Shiancoe later posted a series of photos of the target: A visage of Osama bin Laden, with the No. 42 on his chest and "I'm Darren Sharper" written next to it. You can view the picture here.

X- marks the spot".. Loved the idea, ehhh so I went for it

Later, Shiancoe posted a picture of the bullet-ridden target. He closed with this tweet:

The aftermath.. Can't even hold a game check with hands like that.. See you thurs night @sharper42

I'm not one to get preachy about taste, politics and the difference between a real enemy and one on the football field. But by all means, feel free to do so yourself.

» NFC Big Question: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Are we OK with NFL players threatening deliberate injury and offering six-figure bets via Twitter under the guise of otherwise harmless trash-talking?

It's a question first raised by Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and one we should at least consider after having our fun last week in the X-Files exchange between New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper and several Minnesota Vikings players. Sharper started it off by suggesting the Saints will target the surgically-repaired left ankle of Vikings quarterback Brett Favre in the teams' Sept. 9 season opener. Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe then noted Sharper's own offseason surgery, a significant knee procedure, and Sharper later suggested Shiancoe bet a game check on his production in the game.

All fun and games, right? We are left to presume so, especially knowing that both players have a long history of harmless trash talk. Having covered both players for multiple seasons, I personally feel satisfied they're just having a good time and enjoying the attention.

But will everyone take it that way? We've entered a new era of communication where tone and message must be contracted to 140 characters. It's even harder to understand intent via Twitter than in an e-mail.

And let's not forget there is a serious backdrop to the entire exchange. The Saints were called for two roughing penalties against Favre in the NFC Championship Game, and the NFL later ruled the Saints should have been called for a third on a play where defensive end Bobby McCray grabbed Favre's ankle from behind and yanked him to the ground. The league fined McCray $20,000 for the incident.

That's why I'm thinking the league isn't totally thrilled to see players publicly discussing the potential for a similar play in the future, no matter what the tone or intent. And I'm very certain the league doesn't want a player so much as suggesting he would bet on his performance.

Shiancoe hasn't responded to that portion of Sharper's missive, and he would be wise to move on completely. Sometimes, you have to make sure everyone understands the line between a joke and a threat.

I promised to bring you any response that Minnesota tight end Visanthe Shiancoe might have for New Orleans safety Darren Sharper in their "X Files" feud, and I will faithfully do that. But in hopes that this springtime Twit-trash episode fizzles to its deserving conclusion, I'm going to put a moratorium on further blow-by-blows. (Unless the blows are REALLY newsworthy, of course.)

Friday night, Shiancoe didn't acknowledge Sharper's offer to bet on his performance in the Vikings-Saints season opener. But he did say:

1. 
   VShiancoe Ask your bold D-coordinator to have u check me all game.. we'll see where that "sharper shake" takes you @sharper42 28 May 2010 from mobile web in reply to sharper42
2. 
   VShiancoe You went for my legs twice in the championship game.. it was mano y mano, I would think that the mighty "Sharper Shaker" wouldnt shy from... 28 May 2010 from mobile web

Here's hoping everyone has an outstanding and safe holiday weekend.

I guess it's on now, Twitter-style.

New Orleans safety Darren Sharper responded Thursday evening in the latest installment of what we'll call the "X Files." As you recall, Sharper tweeted last Friday that the Saints will target the surgically-repaired ankle of Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre in the teams' Sept. 9 season opener. "X marks the spot," Sharper wrote.

Thursday, Visanthe Shiancoe noted that Sharper also had offseason surgery on his knee and added: "If 'X' marks the spot on Brett, I wonder what marks the spot on Sharper?"

As a full service blog, I'm happy to bring you Sharper's response:

1. 
   sharper42 So visanthe stankoe X marks the spot on me, how bout X marks the spot for how many catches and TDs you'll have come Thursday night. X = zero 28 May 2010 from mobile web

Ah, the old "Stankoe" joke never gets old. Sharper added:

1. 
   sharper42 If you feeling yourself put your game check on it. No TDs and less than 3 catches you give me your game check. Now whose talking. 28 May 2010 from mobile web

According to my records, Shiancoe's weekly game check this season will be $123,529.41.

Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie then followed through with his promise to jump in the next time Sharper tweeted:

1. 
   bigmacvikings @sharper42 oh so I heard u was on twitter going in, but I missed it! Man u don't want these problems. 28 May 2010 from UberTwitter in reply to sharper42

I'll let you know if and when Shiancoe responds. The "X Files" are, like, so back.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Thursday was the first day of media availability for Minnesota coaches and players since quarterback Brett Favre had surgery on his left ankle. Most interpreted the news the same way we did: Favre will re-join the team at some point this summer.

"Why did you get ankle surgery?" said tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. "That's the first thing that came to my mind. It seems like he got it for the season, because that's what he needed in order to come back to the Vikings."

ESPN's David Amber has more in the video below.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Most of the Minnesota's established players are well-versed in the verbose ways and means of New Orleans safety Darren Sharper, dating to his four-year tenure with the Vikings. That understanding, however, doesn't mean they were willing to let slide Sharper's most recent public proclamation -- that the Saints would be targeting quarterback Brett Favre's surgically-repaired left ankle in the Sept. 9 season opener.

(Sharper's full tweet from last Friday: "Well y'all seen Brett had surgery on that ankle we got after in the championship game. Come Thursday night 1st game. X marks the spot.")

Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe's response: Turnabout will be fair play.

"That's all good," Shiancoe said. "But Sharper had surgery, too. And it was a knee. If 'X' marks the spot on Brett, I wonder what marks the spot on Sharper?"

Indeed, Sharper had microfracture knee surgery earlier this offseason before re-signing with the Saints.

Shiancoe said he thought Sharper's tweet was a joke and noted it wasn't the first time Sharper had targeted someone.

"I know Sharp," Shiancoe said. "That's my boy. We hang out. It's like he said before the NFC Championship Game. He told me their whole goal was to aim for my knees. And they didn't do it. I know he talks trash."

Not everyone is totally convinced, considering the Saints left that same ankle battered and bruised through a series of nasty hits in that game. Right guard Anthony Herrera said "every team" targets injuries and said: "we'll handle that when the time comes." And in a preview of what promises to be a contentious run-up to the game, Herrera added:

"I'm happy that he feels that way. They did their thing in that game. They won. They're NFL champions. But when a team plays you and has [five] turnovers and still is in it in the last series of the game, I wouldn't open my mouth too much."

Left tackle Bryant McKinnie, a noted Twitter devotee, said he is ready to pounce.

"I'm waiting for him to get on [Twitter] again so I can say something and start a little controversy," McKinnie said. "I think he's taking a shot, so I'm going to take one back. We're going to have a beef on Twitter and it will carry over to game day."

A four-month Twitter battle? Bring it on! What you call nonsense, I call blog fodder.