UpdatedAug 6, 2011 12:26 Johnny Unitas Throwback Jersey PM ETMANKATO, Minn. - As if running back Adrian Peterson's contractstatus with Ray Nitschke Throwback Jersey the Vikings didn't have enough layers Barry Sanders Throwback Jersey ofintrigue, Peterson dropped this gem Friday about whether he wantsto stay in Minnesota long term."I'm going to sit back and let the chips fall where they may,"he said.Peterson seems happy to be in training camp and "committed to mydeal" that pays $10.72 million this season. But beyond the field,the Vikings are faced with negotiating amonster extension with Peterson's agent, Ben Dogra, in the comingweeks.Both sides have leverage and options. Peterson's hefty salarycan force the Vikings to finalize a contract soonin an effort to lessen his salary cap hit. The Vikings have hovered around the caplimit of $120.375 million in the past few weeks.Also, if Peterson continues to dominate and avoids injury, hecan collect his salary this year and land the extension in 2012.This plan would be risky because a running back is one tornanterior cruciate ligament away from a low-scale contract, andPeterson, at age 26, might have one crack at a large deal.J.I. Halsell, manager of football operations for Priority Sportsand Entertainment and a former salary cap analyst for the Redskins,said the Vikings have leverage with theoption to franchise Peterson in 2012 for around $9 million, payinghim what he's worth for two years while having a bailout planwithout a back-loaded contract.One factor both sides can understand: With Carolina running backDeAngelo Williams awarded $21 million guaranteed in this year'sfree agency, Peterson likely will get a lot more."I could certainly see him getting $30 million guaranteed,"Halsell said. "For a player of his caliber, he might be able tocommand similar money to high-end quarterbacks if he gets afive-year deal. Peterson might be sitting back and wondering if theVikings are rebuilding, who's atquarterback, Sidney Rice is gone, and Dennis Smith Throwback Jersey might figure he has optionselsewhere."Though peers such as Tennessee's Chris Johnson have held out oftraining camp, Peterson said that never was an option and that heisn't concerned with his extension. He always planned to show up,and now he's bracing for a new offense that he said will expand hisresponsibilities in the passing game."I'm not really hurting for anything," Peterson said. "I'mcomfortable in the position Steve Atwater Throwback Jersey I'm in."With the shorter shelf life of running backs, the Vikings could be concerned with theamount of guarantees later in an extension as Peterson approaches30, said former Andre Tippett Throwback Jersey Packers executive Andrew Brandt, now the NFLbusiness analyst with ESPN. Peterson's special talents mightovershadow those concerns.Large-scale deals with a star player require some level of trustbetween agent and executive, Brandt said."My sense is both sides can work on a deal that pays top of themarket, and it will be a goal (of Peterson's camp) to not have aback-loaded contract where that can be easily restructured later,"Brandt Paul Krause Throwback Jersey said. "The Vikings will want to be able toassess the long term."Peterson and Johnson will likely reap the rewards of a newrunning back market set by Williams' five-year, $43-millioncontract.With Len Dawson Throwback Jersey 4,211 yards rushing and 31 career touchdowns, Williams hasdone less in five seasons than Peterson (5,782 yards, 52touchdowns) in four and Johnson (4,598, 34) in three. Johnson hasmore incentive to hold out than Peterson because he's due only$800,000 in 2011 base salary.If history suggests the Vikings' next move, they will offera fair-market deal that doesn't jeopardize their plans to buildaround Peterson."They've always been a team that does a good job of rolling overcap room for future years," Brandt Irving Fryar Throwback Jersey said.For now, Vikings fans can take solace inhaving an elite Brett Favre Throwback Jersey and content running back - at least on thesurface."The only thing I can control is coming out and making Bart Starr Throwback Jersey sure I'mprepared, making sure that I'm doing everything I can to help thisteam win," Peterson said. "That's been my focus for four years, andthis fifth year is going to be the same."Terms & Conditions |Privacy |Copyright |? 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.UpdatedAug 6, 2011 11:44 AM ETEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)Veteran defensive end Dave Tollefson has rejoined the New YorkGiants.The four-year veteran who has played Derrick Thomas Throwback Jersey in 47 games with the Giantssince 2007 and became a free agent after last season. He has 48tackles, 5.0 sacks, three passes defensed and 28 special teamstackles in his career.In 2010, Tollefson played in 13 games and had 10 tackles, a halfsack, 3 passes defensed and two forced fumbles on defense. He wastied for second on the team with 13 special teams tackles. Paul Hornung Throwback Jersey Theprevious season he had a career-high 20 tackles on defense.Tollefson joined the Giants in 2007 when he was signed off Joe Montana Throwback Jersey theOakland Raiders' practice squad.
UpdatedAug 6, 2011 12:26 PM ETVikings coach Leslie Frazier saw aday like this coming for Christian Ponder, the rookie quarterbackwho threw two interceptions in situational drills after a fewpositive performances."It's called being a rookie in the National Football League,"Frazier said.The Vikings offense spent all weekinstalling offensive plays, and Friday's session included livehitting and goal-line work.Ponder has been taking some second-team reps the past two days,but he couldn't avoid a bad stretch of incompletions andinterceptions to cornerbacks Davon Torrence and Marcus Sherels.After Ponder performed better than Joe Webb at times during theweek, Webb got the best Dan Marino Throwback Jersey of Ponder on Friday.Ponder took ownership of the errant throws, calling hisinterceptions "two bad balls.""I think today kind of Reggie White Throwback Jersey was a step back, but I think those arethe days that Terrell Davis Throwback Jersey you learn the most from," Ponder said.Ponder's biggest adjustment is the speed of the game, he said.Starter Donovan McNabb is helping him with that process."He gives me tips every day," he said.AP apology: Running back Adrian Peterson caused a stir in theoffseason by comparing the NFL John Randle Throwback Jersey lockout to "modern-day slavery" inan interview with Yahoo Sports.Almost five months later, Peterson said he still regrets usingthose words."Obviously there's nothing, absolutely nothing, you can compareto slavery," Peterson said. "It stands alone. I should have usedbetter wording to put that out Alan Page Throwback Jersey there."Peterson on Friday spoke publicly on the matter for the firsttime when addressing the local media, but he quietly made amends inMay by promoting a nonprofit called DNA Foundation, a group thatfights Chuck Foreman Throwback Jersey human trafficking and is spearheaded by Demi Moore andAshton Kutcher.Peterson's comments were misguided at best."It was on me to put it out there and make it available to betaken out of context," Peterson said.No more fun: Brett Favre will not be returning to the NFL.Anyway, that's what Favre assured Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell whenthe longtime friends and former teammates talked Thursdaynight.Longwell contacted Favre after Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparanosuggested he might pursue the future Hall of Fame quarterback."I texted him after I saw Sparano's comments and Fran Tarkenton Throwback Jersey said, 'Man,they just can't leave John Hannah Throwback Jersey you alone,' " Longwell said. "I've talked Shannon Sharpe Throwback Jersey toBrett. He's done playing. He's happy in retirement. He's reallyenjoying life after football. He's not going to play."Griffin improving: Defensive coordinator Fred Pagac said heexpects cornerback Cedric Griffin, who is recovering from hissecond torn anterior cruciate ligament in as many years, to beready for the start of the regular season."I would anticipate him being ready, but I don't know what'sgoing to happen yet," Pagac said. "We're going to play our best 11people. We're hoping John Elway Throwback Jersey he's going to be one of those guys."Griffin would rather talk about his on-field performance thanhis knees."I'm doing fine, brother," Griffin said. "Y'all keep asking methe same questions."Without a friend: Linebacker Chad Greenway said it's "justweird" not to have Ben Leber lining up as the team's other outsidelinebacker.Leber is an unsigned free agent."It's very noticeable. This is my first year not having himaround as a teammate and friend," Tom Jackson Throwback Jersey Greenway said. "It's just weird,I guess. He's going to move on, most likely. We're hoping for thebest for Ben. Whoever signs him is going to get a quality, qualityveteran starter who's ready to play the position."Briefly: The Vikings hope right guard AnthonyHerrera (torn anterior cruciate ligament) can participate in thethird or fourth preseason game. Chris DeGeare and Ryan Cook arebattling for the right guard spot in his absence.- Tonight's practice will include situational work in the redzone, goal line, third and 7 and third and 10.The writers can be reached at jfowler@pioneerpress.com andbsansevere@pioneerpress.com .Terms & Conditions |Privacy |Copyright |? 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.