MANKATO —
Another week?

Really?

Twelve to 14 more practices?

Really?

The Minnesota Vikings announced this week that they will return to Mankato for summer training camp, making it 47 years that the community has endured and catered to the state’s most popular sports team.

But over the last few years, their time here had dwindled to about two weeks.

Painful? Yes. Boring? Yes.

Tolerable? Yes.

There was some hope a few months ago that the state might build the Vikings a new stadium and adjoining practice facility at Arden Hills. Then there was the possibility that the state Legislature would balk at the new stadium, and the team would flee for the riches of southern California.

But now, it appears inevitable that the team will be staying in Minnesota for at least the next four decades, certainly longer than a grumpy sportswriter will be detailing summer practices.

About 25 years ago, these practices seemed interesting, even exciting, but the more times you stand on the sideline, sweating under a hot sum, watching adult males go through these drills, it become a little tiresome.

Really.

There are so many things you can be doing instead of watching a Vikings practice. Golf, fishing, happy hour, mowing the yard, watching paint dry … it might be more interesting to watch a Minnesota Twins doubleheader.

It will be fun to see some colleagues, a few of whom have been doing this for nearly as long. But most of them will be here a couple of days, then move on to something more interesting and maybe return in a few days.

The fans have fun because you take in one practice or maybe two, then fight for a half-hour to get autographs from the players, another venture that seemed so much more exciting back in the late ’60s.

And the local businesses will get another week to prosper, which is nice. Anytime that busloads of outsides drop a few coins into the local economy, it’s a good thing, but that economic impact number tossed around by local officials seems greatly inflated.

But if you have to attend nearly all of the practices, the allure wanes, feet quickly become sore and the brain goes numb. Something about these workouts that brings out the whiny side.

There are only so many interesting things to write about, and even fewer Vikings who care to talk about them.

Three weeks is about two weeks too many. The Timberwolves come to Mankato for a week and somehow figure out a way to prepare for their season, though in fairness, recent teams could’ve practiced for months and still not been relevant.

The Vikings are coming back. Into every sunny day, a little rain must fall.

Chad Courrier is a Free Press staff writer. To contact him, call 507-344-6353, e-mail at ccourrier@mankatofreepress.com, check out his local sports blog or follow his Twitter feed @ChadCourrier.

MANKATO —
Another week?

Really?

Twelve to 14 more practices?

Really?

The Minnesota Vikings announced this week that they will return to Mankato for summer training camp, making it 47 years that the community has endured and catered to the state’s most popular sports team.

But over the last few years, their time here had dwindled to about two weeks.

Painful? Yes. Boring? Yes.

Tolerable? Yes.

There was some hope a few months ago that the state might build the Vikings a new stadium and adjoining practice facility at Arden Hills. Then there was the possibility that the state Legislature would balk at the new stadium, and the team would flee for the riches of southern California.

But now, it appears inevitable that the team will be staying in Minnesota for at least the next four decades, certainly longer than a grumpy sportswriter will be detailing summer practices.

About 25 years ago, these practices seemed interesting, even exciting, but the more times you stand on the sideline, sweating under a hot sum, watching adult males go through these drills, it become a little tiresome.

Really.

There are so many things you can be doing instead of watching a Vikings practice. Golf, fishing, happy hour, mowing the yard, watching paint dry … it might be more interesting to watch a Minnesota Twins doubleheader.

It will be fun to see some colleagues, a few of whom have been doing this for nearly as long. But most of them will be here a couple of days, then move on to something more interesting and maybe return in a few days.

The fans have fun because you take in one practice or maybe two, then fight for a half-hour to get autographs from the players, another venture that seemed so much more exciting back in the late ’60s.

And the local businesses will get another week to prosper, which is nice. Anytime that busloads of outsides drop a few coins into the local economy, it’s a good thing, but that economic impact number tossed around by local officials seems greatly inflated.

But if you have to attend nearly all of the practices, the allure wanes, feet quickly become sore and the brain goes numb. Something about these workouts that brings out the whiny side.

There are only so many interesting things to write about, and even fewer Vikings who care to talk about them.

Three weeks is about two weeks too many. The Timberwolves come to Mankato for a week and somehow figure out a way to prepare for their season, though in fairness, recent teams could’ve practiced for months and still not been relevant.

The Vikings are coming back. Into every sunny day, a little rain must fall.

Chad Courrier is a Free Press staff writer. To contact him, call 507-344-6353, e-mail at ccourrier@mankatofreepress.com, check out his local sports blog or follow his Twitter feed @ChadCourrier.

Minnesota’s Kyle Rudolph, left, celebrates his one-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter with teammate Visanthe Shiancoe, right, against the Raiders. (Pioneer Press: Sherri LaRose-Chiglo) (Sherri LaRose-Chiglo)

THREE THINGS

Here is Vikings second-year tight end Kyle Rudolph â ¦

On entering his second season: “I compare it a lot to going into your sophomore year in college. You’ve already been through the whole (gamut) of things. You’re familiar with practice. You’re familiar with the routine. There’s a comfort level of being around all the people, especially us coming in last year without an offseason program (because of the lockout). Our first crack at it was training camp. Everything is new to you, and the rookie season itself – we’ve never had a season that long. I feel a whole lot more comfortable going into my second year.”

On the tight end position: “I think the tight end position is one right now that has taken off. People are realizing how much you can utilize a tight end and the mismatch problems they can pose on defenses. We want to do the same thing. We feel we can make a huge impact on our offense.”

On the Vikings signing fellow tight end and Notre Dame alum John Carlson: “(The Vikings) came to me and asked about John and my relationship with him. I probably was one of the people most for the decision. I can learn a ton from him, and I’m really excited to play alongside him. John can only make our offense better. John recruited me every time I was up there (at Notre Dame). He hosted me during all my visits.”

Zygi Wilf, left, and head coach Leslie Frazier. (Pioneer Press, File)

The Minnesota Vikings aren’t behaving like a team concerned about wanting to contend next season.

After finishing 3-13, the Vikings are $23 million under the $120.6 million salary cap. They have ample cap room to sign at least one prominent free agent. But that doesn’t appear likely after what they did on the first day of free agency.

Maybe they will sign some second-tier players – at best.

They even deferred until 2013 the extra $1.6 million in salary cap compensation the NFL had awarded because Dallas and Washington were improperly structuring contracts.

The Vikings are going to have a tough time competing against the rest of the NFC North again this season, after going 1-11 in intradivision games over the last two

seasons.

For now, the Vikings are committed to only $82 million – that’s actual dollars, not cap dollars – for their 2012 payroll. They could end up as the NFL’s lowest-spending team next season.

Follow Charley Walters at twitter.com/Charley_Walters

The Vikings just made their free agency possibilities a whole lot more interesting.

The team on Saturday released seven-time Pro Bowl left guard Steve Hutchinson, right guard Anthony Herrera and cornerback Cedric Griffin, shedding nearly $14 million in 2012 salary and bolstering cap flexibility for the start of free agency Tuesday.

The Pioneer Press first reported the release of Hutchinson and Herrera, who started a combined 11 full seasons in Minnesota.

The Vikings entered the week with more than $10 million in cap space. These roster moves more than double that cushion, clearing the lane to pursue a notable free agent at positional needs such as cornerback or wide receiver.

“It was a tough decision as we move forward

Vikings offensive guard Anthony Herrera jokes with teammate Chris Clark, left, during drills at the team’s Winter Park training facility in Eden Prairie in June 2, 2010. (Pioneer Press: Richard Marshall) (Richard Marshall)

and prepare for the upcoming season and the future of our organization,” Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said in a statement released through the team. “All three individuals have meant a great deal to the Vikings organization both on and off field over the years. We wish all of them the best and thank them for their service to the Minnesota Vikings.” Hutchinson is one of the best guards of his generation and a potential Hall of Famer, but at age 34 and with $6.95 million in salary due in 2012, the Vikings were justified in parting ways. The Vikings signed Hutchinson to a seven-year, $49-million deal in 2006. He’s finished the last two seasons on Injured Reserve.

Herrera, who was due $2.65 million in 2012, could be an option to return to

Minnesota under a lesser deal. The Vikings have talked internally about restructuring Griffin’s contract, which was scheduled to pay $4.1 million in 2012, but there seems to be little security for a player who lost his confidence after two torn anterior cruciate ligaments and got benched in a Dec. 11 loss at Detroit.

It’s clear the Vikings are looking to inject the roster with youth in efforts to rebuild from a 9-23 record the last two seasons. Eight-year veteran Joe Berger and 2011 sixth-round

Cedric Griffin looks on against the Detroit Lions at the Metrodome in September 2010. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

pick Brandon Fusco can compete for starting guard spots, and left tackle Charlie Johnson can slide inside should the team draft USC left tackle Matt Kalil with the third overall pick.

DeMarcus Love, also a sixth-round pick last year, has flexibility to play guard or tackle.

Despite its lack of proven talent, the quarterback position for the Minnesota Vikings is among the most stable. If all goes as planned in the next few days, the position could gain even more stability.

According to Jeremy Fowler of the Pioneer Press, the Vikings and backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels have mutual interest in making a deal that will keep the veteran in Minnesota during the 2012 season.

Brought in late last season after the Vikings released Donovan McNabb, Rosenfels acted as the emergency third-string quarterback behind 2011 first-round pick Christian Ponder and Joe Webb. Despite injuries to Ponder, Rosenfels never saw the field as Webb took the late-season reins.

During his 11-year NFL career, Rosenfels has become a bit of a journeyman. After spending his first few seasons with the Miami Dolphins, he transitioned to a spot-starter role with the Houston Texans for three years. Since 2008, he has played for four different teams, including two stints with the Vikings.

In those 11 seasons, Rosenfels has completed 351 of his 562 passes (62.5 percent) for 4,156 yards, 30 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. Of the 44 games he has played in, he was named the starter in 12.

If the Vikings did re-sign Rosenfels for another season, he would more than likely serve again as their third-string quarterback behind Ponder and Webb.

Rosenfels’ presence on the roster would also decrease the chances for young gunslinger McLeod Bethel-Thompson to make the team. Bethel-Thompson signed a futures deal with the Vikings on Jan. 13 after spending his rookie 2011 campaign bouncing around from one professional football league to another.

Once considered a legitimate starter, Rosenfels has since fallen upon the role of veteran backup who roams the sidelines waiting for his chance to play. Seeing as he hasn’t thrown during a regular season game since 2008, it’s unlikely that he’ll get that chance with the Vikings in 2012 barring multiple injuries. Regardless, the fact that the Vikings are interested in his return shows that he still has something to offer at the NFL level.

Plus, who wouldn’t be interested in being paid millions of dollars to hold a clipboard and get front-row seats to 16 NFL games?

Gil Alcaraz IV is a life-long follower of the Minnesota Vikings and the founder of TheVikingDen.com. For more Vikings/NFL coverage, follow him on Twitter or “like” The Viking Den on Facebook.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

By Joseph White, Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Don’t touch that dial. There are oh-so-many suspense-filled reasons to tune in when the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins go at it on Christmas Eve.

Can Rex Grossman get through an entire game without committing a turnover? Can Christian Ponder get through a game without getting sacked several times? Does an undrafted rookie have any chance whatsoever against Jared Allen?

Can the Vikings avoid their worst in-season losing streak since 1961, when they were an expansion franchise coached by Norm Van Brocklin? Can the Redskins avoid their worst home losing streak since 1994? How much more misery awaits the two clubs that swung and missed with an aging Donovan McNabb?

How many people will actually bother to show up for a Saturday holiday weekend game between two teams that have a combined five wins since the start of October?

“I don’t want to be part of that, the worst team in Vikings’ history,” Minnesota linebacker E.J Henderson said. “I’m sure it’s on some people’s minds, some guys’ minds. Whatever it takes to motivate you.”

See! There’s actual history on the line!

In all seriousness, motivation is a big deal when the Vikings (2-12) have lost six straight and are in danger of matching or sinking below the all-time worst Minnesota team that went 3-13 in 1984. And it’s a big deal when the Redskins (5-9), even though they’ve played better lately, are perilously close to extending a dubious franchise record by finishing last in their division for the fourth straight year.

“The season didn’t go the way we thought it would, and everyone knows that,” said Washington fullback, tight end and all-around veteran voice Mike Sellers. “But no one’s going to give up. And no one’s going to sit there and let no team embarrass them. Just got to fight through it.”

Full credit goes to the Redskins for salvaging some pride after their own six-game losing streak. They’ve won two of their last four and put up a good fight in a seven-point loss to the New England Patriots. That said, Washington’s locker room had a definite last-day-of-school feel about it Thursday, with players collecting autographs from each other and talking about offseason plans.

“There’s a lot of distractions that go on this week with Christmas and the holidays,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “And you’ve really got to work with those distractions during a week like this. So hopefully our team’s focused and ready to go.”

The Vikings’ ship is less steady. The star players on both sides of the ball were publicly questioning their roles after last week’s 42-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Minnesota Vikings’ Jared Allen signals the crowd to cheer during the first quarter of the Minnesota Vikings game against the New Orleans Saints on December 18, 2011 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. (Pioneer Press: Sherri LaRose-Chiglo) (Sherri LaRose-Chiglo)

WASHINGTON – Don’t touch that dial. There are oh-so-many suspense-filled reasons to tune in when the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins go at it on Christmas Eve.

Can Rex Grossman get through an entire game without committing a turnover? Can Christian Ponder get through a game without getting sacked several times? Does an undrafted rookie have any chance whatsoever against Jared Allen?

Can the Vikings avoid their worst in-season losing streak since 1961, when they were an expansion franchise coached by Norm Van Brocklin? Can the Redskins avoid their worst home losing streak since 1994? How much more misery awaits the two clubs that swung and missed with an aging Donovan McNabb?

How many people will actually bother to show up for a Saturday holiday weekend game between two teams that have a combined five wins since the start of October?

“I don’t want to be part of that, the worst team in Vikings’ history,” Minnesota linebacker E.J Henderson said. “I’m sure it’s on some people’s minds, some guys’ minds. Whatever it takes to motivate you.”

See! There’s actual history on the line!

In all seriousness, motivation is a big deal when the Vikings (2-12) have lost six straight and are in danger of matching or sinking below the all-time worst Minnesota team that went 3-13 in 1984. And it’s a big deal when the Redskins (5-9), even though they’ve played better lately, are perilously close to extending a dubious franchise record by finishing last in their

division for the fourth straight year.

“The season didn’t go the way we thought it would, and everyone knows that,” said Washington fullback, tight end and all-around veteran voice Mike Sellers. “But no one’s going to give up. And no one’s going to sit there and let no team embarrass them. Just got to fight through it.”

Full credit goes to the Redskins for salvaging some pride after their own six-game losing streak. They’ve won two of their last four and put up a good fight in a seven-point loss to the New England Patriots. That said, Washington’s locker room had a definite last-day-of-school feel about it Thursday, with players collecting autographs from each other and talking about offseason plans.

“There’s a lot of distractions that go on this week with Christmas and the holidays,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “And you’ve really got to work with those distractions during a week like this. So hopefully our team’s focused and ready to go.”

The Vikings’ ship is less steady. The star players on both sides of the ball were publicly questioning their roles after last week’s 42-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Allen, who needs 5-1/2 sacks to break Michael Strahan’s single-season record, was on the bench during the Saints’ final possession and complained: “What are we resting me for? The playoffs?” Adrian Peterson, in his first game back from a sprained ankle, had just 10 rushes and wondered aloud: “I don’t know how to explain 10 carries. I was ready to roll. I just do my job.”

Later, after reviewing the game, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said: “You could see some guys hung it up.”

None of which bodes well for Leslie Frazier, who claimed victory in his NFL head coaching debut in a November game at Washington last year and hasn’t won much since – and perhaps regrets not saying from the outset that this would be a rebuilding season.

“I really coming into the year thought we had some things in place to really push in our division, especially with the way the offseason had gone, knowing that there would be a lot of things unknown about this year,” Frazier said. “But as it has turned out, looking at where this team is and where other teams are in our division and around our league, we have a ways to go.”

There’s also been some debate as to whether Shanahan should have declared the Redskins to be in rebuilding mode during training camp. He has essentially conceded that to be the case, saying recently this was the year to stock the defense and next year the focus will be on adding talent to the offense.

Meanwhile, the real fun should be watching Allen. He has 17-1/2 sacks and is expected to spend much of the game against left tackle Willie Smith, who made his NFL debut just two weeks ago after Trent Williams was suspended for the rest of the season for violating the NFL’s drug policy.

Allen used to give Shanahan fits when the defensive end was with the Kansas City Chiefs and the coach was leading the Denver Broncos. During one game, Shanahan called for a play for the tight end to deck Allen with a crack-back block. There was only one problem – Allen came out of the game for that play.

“And so we just kill the guy that’s substituting for Allen,” Shanahan said, “and I look across the field and he’s pointing his finger at me and he is laughing as hard as he can. And I couldn’t help it, I started laughing myself. I saw him in Vegas that offseason and he looked at me and said, ‘Oh, that was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. You just killed my substitute. That could have been me.’”

Could there be a similar call in the Shanahan playbook on Saturday?

“Could be, could be,” the coach said.

Yet another reason to watch!

By Dave Campbell, Associated Press

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have been down all year. Now they’re even more depleted.

The transaction list released by the Vikings resembled a virtual white flag, with four key players placed on injured reserve with five games to go in a second straight dismal season. Two safeties, a wide receiver and the long snapper are out, joining two of their best three cornerbacks.

These are positions that lacked depth at the beginning of the year. But as tantalizing as securing that second overall draft pick for 2012 can be — assuming the winless Indianapolis Colts are on their way to locking up No. 1 — the Vikings (2-9) haven’t abandoned their goal of finishing the season with success.

The ultracompetitive nature of professional sports makes it nearly impossible for coaches and players to think that way, for one. The Vikings will face legitimate playoff contenders in four of their last five games, another motivating factor. Plus, there’s the fear of rushing a rookie into action too soon.

“If you don’t feel like he’s quite ready and you put him out there just for the sake of saying, ‘We want to look at him in a game,’ and now the kid fails or he jeopardizes someone else’s health because he wasn’t ready,” coach Leslie Frazier said, “then that’s not the wisest thing to do.”

Frazier said this week’s moves were not made because of the team’s record. Only long snapper Cullen Loeffler and wide receiver Michael Jenkins would have a chance to return if the Vikings were still in the race for a playoff spot. So they’ve been left with no choice but to elevate the status of a handful of young players.

Strong safety Tyrell Johnson, who started three games this season to fill in while Jamarca Sanford and Husain Abdullah were injured, tore the hamstring tendon away from the bone in his right leg. Frazier said Johnson will need six months to recover. He was scheduled to have surgery Wednesday.

Abdullah also is done for the year, due to lingering concussion symptoms. That means sixth-round draft pick Mistral Raymond will start at safety next to Sanford, with Jarrad Page now backing them up. Page was signed Tuesday after being let go recently by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jenkins, who leads the team with three touchdown receptions and is second in catches and yards, has torn meniscus cartilage — Frazier didn’t say which knee — and will have surgery Thursday. His season-ending injury prompted the team to re-sign rookie Stephen Burton, a seventh-round draft pick who has been on and off the roster.

Vikings rookie quarterback Christian Ponder is looking forward his first “Monday Night
Football” game and his first trip to Lambeau Field. (PIONEER PRESS: BEN GARVIN)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder faces the toughest test in his rookie ascension at the same time his team needs a savior from its prime-time ineptitude.

The Vikings enter Monday night’s game at Green Bay with a 2-8 record in their last 10 prime-time games and have been outscored 279-185 in those games, including a 39-10 pounding by Chicago in Week 6 on Oct. 16.

After recording a 4-2 record on Monday Night Football from 2005-08, the Vikings have lost four of their past five MNF games.

ESPN doesn’t plan to focus on the Vikings’ prime-time struggles. Bill Hofheimer, spokesman for Monday Night Football, said in an email the broadcast team of Ron Jaworski, Jon Gruden and Mike Tirico likely will discuss the state of the current Vikings and “where the franchise goes from here with Ponder now at the helm.” Ponder’s early graduation from Florida State will be among the topics of discussion, Hofheimer said.

As if there won’t be enough eyes on Ponder as he plays in front of 70,000-plus fans at Lambeau Field who expect to watch the Packers go 9-0.

For all the talk about the No. 1 draft pick being unafraid of big moments – coach Leslie Frazier called him “unflappable” this week – Monday night is the perfect stage for him to validate his coach’s words.

Ponder understands the enormity of the moment, but doesn’t plan on it affecting his play.

“Undefeated team, at their house, in Lambeau, historic Lambeau, on Monday night, there’s a lot of things

to get excited about,” said Ponder, whose Vikings are 2-6. “But you have to treat it like any other game…It will be an electrifying atmosphere, but the crowd’s not playing.”

Frazier is confident Ponder, who completed 9-of-10 passes for 101 yards on third downs in a 24-21 win at Carolina on Oct. 30, can handle the pressure. In the Vikings’ 33-27 loss to the Packers at the Metrodome, Ponder threw for 219 yards despite completing 40.6 percent of his passes.

“I’ve got a feeling whatever we tell him, he’s still going to be able to handle the situation,” Frazier said. “He’s shown an ability to not let the moment overwhelm him…He has a way about him for being able to handle situations. Now, of course, we’ll do some things to prep him, but I’ve got a feeling he’ll be able to absorb it.”

The level of opposition helps explain the Vikings’ prime-time woes: Seven of the nine teams the Vikings faced from 2009-10 made the playoffs the same year. And this year’s Bears, at 5-3, are poised for a second consecutive playoff run.

In Ponder’s prime-time debut as the starter, these Vikings have a different dynamic – and perhaps more optimism – than the 2010 team that went 0-4 in prime time under quarterback Brett Favre. Backup quarterback Joe Webb replaced an injured Favre to lead the Vikings to a snow-delayed, 24-14 win at Philadelphia on a Tuesday night.

The 2009 Vikings’ 1-3 prime-time record still seems unexplainable considering the team’s 12-4 finish on its way to the NFC championship game.

But the 2010 Vikings were marred by the poor play of Favre on the field and his off-the-field sexting scandal, the Randy Moss trade, the firing of Brad Childress and a Metrodome roof collapse that forced the team to play games at TCF Bank Stadium and a game at Ford Field in Detroit.

The Vikings through this season’s first six games struggled to sustain drives with Donovan McNabb under center, a harsh reality on display in the ugly loss to Chicago. Ponder played in the fourth quarter and completed 9-of-17 passes for 99 yards.

Since then, Ponder has given the Vikings a downfield passing game averaging nearly 15 yards per completion. Running back Adrian Peterson also has some room to breathe, rushing for a season-high 175 yards against the Packers.

Frazier said the Vikings will add “some (offensive) wrinkles” to combat Green Bay’s 3-4 defensive scheme but added, “It won’t be a lot of new offense.”

Ponder will be adding some pre-game wrinkles, too, taking Lambeau Field early to find the play clock, get a feel for the end zone, “get your depth perception right.”

This was Ponder’s routine as a Florida State quarterback when the Seminoles played rivalry games against Florida and Miami.

“I don’t really know what to expect,” Ponder said about playing at Lambeau.

Packers linebacker Clay Matthews expects Ponder to play well Monday night.

“He was very poised, made plays when he needed to,” said Matthews about the Oct. 23 game. “We don’t expect anything different.”

Frazier likely won’t shower Ponder with motivational speeches this week because “there’s not a whole lot that intimidates or frightens him,” he said.

He just wants to get him on the field to see how the rookie responds.

“Once you get out there and start playing, all of that goes by the wayside,” said Frazier about Ponder playing at Lambeau Field.

Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback Christian Ponder in fourth quarter action against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field Sunday night, October 16, 2011. (Pioneer Press: Chris Polydoroff) (Chris Polydoroff)

The Christian Ponder era could begin in earnest this week.

With the Minnesota Vikings marred by a 1-5 start and Donovan McNabb guiding a shrinking passing game, coach Leslie Frazier said today he’s considering a change at quarterback and should know by Wednesday whether Ponder or McNabb will start Sunday against Green Bay.

“On Wednesday, we should come to a conclusion as to which direction we want to go, and I’ll be able to provide some insight one way or another as to why we chose to go in the direction that we’re going, whichever direction that will be,” Frazier said.

McNabb played his best statistical game of the year Sunday at Chicago, completing 19 of 24 passes for 177 yards. But the offense failed to generate

momentum in key situations during the 39-10 loss to the Bears.

Ponder entered the game with 14:50 left and completed 9 of 17 for 99 yards. A quarterback change could inject life into a frustrated locker room, as long as Ponder’s ready for full-time action.

It’s worth noting that Frazier endorsed McNabb as his starter on Mondays of the previous few weeks. Now he’s waiting until Wednesday, possibly a sign that his mind is made up already.

“The only criteria, the only qualifier is what’s best for our team,” said Frazier about what factors into the decision. “And that will be the criteria we use when we sit down and continue these discussions over the next couple days. That’s what this will be based on.”

Ponder’s development is

an important factor in the decision because Frazier said he wants Ponder, when the time’s right, ready to take over full time – not just for three weeks.

“You don’t want to have to be, week eight or nine, flip-flopping quarterbacks,” Frazier said. “So once the decision is made, if we were to decide to go to Christian, you’d like to be able to decide this is the way to go. But you don’t want to be, in my mind, going back and forth.”

Frazier had a first-hand account of a quarterback carousel in 2008, when Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson split time.

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Cardinals at Vikings photos | Box score | TELL US: How would you fix team?

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MINNEAPOLIS – It seemed laughable on Sunday when Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb gathered teammates outside the locker room before the game against the Cardinals and told them, “Ain’t no reason we shouldn’t blow these guys out.”

The Vikings, after all, were 0-4 and had McNabb at quarterback.

Turns out, McNabb was far more accurate with his mouth than his arm.

The Vikings led 28-0 after the first quarter and 34-10 after four. It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Cardinals (1-4), who haven’t won a game outside Glendale since the 2010 season opener – a string of 10 games.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt usually is cool after the game, but his temper was unseasonably warm Sunday, like the weather here.

“We don’t catch the first play of the game,” Whisenhunt said. “And that’s the story of our team, not only (Sunday), but this season. Opportunities are there for plays and we don’t make them. We got a wide-open touchdown at the end of the first half; we can’t connect on it. We can’t make tackles on defense. You can sit here and say all day, ‘There’s things that are open and opportunities to make plays,’ but at some point you’re not getting it done. And that’s very frustrating.”

Whisenhunt opened his postgame remarks by saying, “We’re going to look at what we’re doing and who we’re doing it with.”

By the end of his news conference, he had cooled off and said he thinks he has good enough players to pull out of this steep dive.

They weren’t able to do it on Sunday.

Receiver Larry Fitzgerald dropped a pass on the first play of the game. The Cardinals dropped two interceptions early and didn’t stop Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. They committed two turnovers in the first quarter and were hampered again by drops, batted passes, overthrown balls and bad blocking.

Special teams weren’t exempt. A poor punt led to a long return that set up another score.

“The plays are there to be had; it’s human error,” Fitzgerald said. “These are the same plays that took us to the Super Bowl. These are the same plays that we’ve had success (with) here. We just executed better. Now, the execution is not where it needs to be.”

Fitzgerald included himself in that, pointing to his drop to open the game.

It was the type of game in which the Cardinals needed great play from quarterback Kevin Kolb, but they didn’t get it. He completed 21 of 42 passes for 232 yards and was pressured most of the day. He had four passes deflected, including one for an interception. And he missed a handful of open receivers, including tight end Rob Housler for a touchdown late in the first half.

That would have made the score 28-10 and possibly changed the game’s complexion. The Vikings blew huge halftimes leads in the first three weeks, and the crowd of 62,479 at the Metrodome had already turned on McNabb, who completed 4 of 12 in the first half and 10 of 21 for the afternoon.

The Cardinals weren’t good enough to make that happen.

“It’s not one person making a lot of mistakes, it’s all of us making one or two mistakes,” Kolb said. “That’s where details come in. The head coach hit the nail on the head: We’ve got to get back to detail-oriented football.”

McNabb was erratic, but the Vikings could have played without a quarterback. Peterson ran for three touchdowns in the first quarter as the Vikings built a four-touchdown lead.

Peterson rushed for 122 yards on 29 carries, including touchdowns of 4, 24 and 14 yards.

“He’s probably the best back in the league,” said Cardinals end Calais Campbell. “Everyone knows that.”

The 28 points were the most allowed by the Cardinals in the first quarter in team history. According to pro-football-reference.com, since 1940 only 10 other teams have scored as many as 28 points in the first quarter while the opponent didn’t score.

Oddly, the game might have turned out differently had the Cardinals made plays available to them early. Rookie linebacker Sam Acho dropped a potential interception on the Vikings first possession, and cornerback A.J. Jefferson dropped another one on the second.

Kolb missed Housler for a touchdown and again down the seam. A touchdown pass to Early Doucet in the fourth quarter was nullified by a penalty on right tackle Jeremy Bridges.

And the list could go on and on.

“If it’s not one thing, it’s another,” Bridges said. “That’s just the way it seems right now. The ball’s not bouncing our way, but at the same time you’ve got to make that ball bounce your way.”

View From The Press Box

A week ago, it looked like playing in the NFC West might be the one thing the Cardinals had going for them. But the complexion of the division has changed. The 49ers beat the Buccaneers to go 4-1. The Seahawks beat the Giants on the road to go 2-3. The 49ers now have a three-game lead over the Cardinals. It’s early, but the Cardinals have shown no indication of being a contender. They’ve shown little toughness, and accountability seems lacking. And maybe they just have less talent than many thought. They sure haven’t done anything to contradict that line of thinking.

Report

Key player: Vikings running back Adrian Peterson rushed 29 times for 122 yards and scored three touchdowns. All three of the touchdowns came in the first quarter

Key moment: Down 7-0, the Cardinals committed a turnover that gave the Vikings the ball at the 24. The Cardinals needed to hold the Vikings to a field goal. Instead, Peterson broke off a run for a touchdown, giving his team a 14-0 lead with 9:02 remaining.

Injury report: Safety Kerry Rhodes (left foot). X-rays detected an injury that Rhodes described as “not good.” He will be evaluated today. Guard Daryn Colledge suffered a concussion and was replaced by D’Anthony Batiste.

Quote: “We stunk today. We can’t hang our heads. The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t going to feel sorry for us. The Ravens aren’t going to feel sorry for us. Anybody we’re playing, they could (not) care less. This is the NFL.” – Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald

Up next: Steelers (3-2) at Cardinals (1-4), 1:05 p.m., Oct. 23, University of Phoenix Stadium.