From: jag@unislc.uucp (John Ganske)
Subject: Minnesota Vikings News 8/27/92
Organization: Unisys Corporation SLC
Distribution: us
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 17:45:34 GMT
Keywords: notes carl lee brad bulpepper super bowl green


Vikings news from the Minneapolis StarTribune for Thursday August 27, 1992.
The following is from staff writer Jim Souhan's "Vikings notes" .
The article was titled (oh geez!) "Vikings talk of Roman numerals".

    Someone told Vikings coach Dennis Green on Wednesday that one of
    his players predicted the team was "going to Pasadena," site of
    Super Bowl XXVII.  Green's answer spoke volumes about his confidence.

    "Well he might be right, too,"  Green said.  "I don't think you ever
    have to temper the way you do things. ...We have a lot of guys on
    this team who have been in the playoffs, we have guys who have been
    one step away from the Super Bowl.

    "I don't think we have to make excuses because we are proud of the
    fact that we are playing hard."

    Green has made a point of saying the scores of the Vikings' three
    preseason victories - 24-3 over Buffalo, 30-0 over Kansas City and
    56-3 over Cleveland - don't matter, but that the Vikings' crispness
    does.  "The issue is not the score," he said.  "It's if you have a
    bunch of guys who know what they're doing, then that's good.  In 
    that regard, we're doing what we need to be doing."

    Asked whether fans should temper their enthusiasm, Green shook his
    head.  "What I like is that people are talking about the Vikings,"
    he said.  "If you're 3-0, people are going to talk about the Vikings.
    If you're 0-3, people are going to talk about the Vikings.  Which
    would you rather be?"

    Road wary
    Green isn't thrilled about playing the last two preseason games 
    and first two regular-season games on the road.  "You would think
    the computer wouldn't do that to you," he said.  "You think the
    computer would somehow say something's not right.  It's a gut-
    check for us."

    The New England Patriots are the only other team that plays its
    last two preseason games and first two regular-season games on     
    the road.

    Lee signs
    Veteran cornerback Carl Lee has signed a two-year contract extension
    that could be worth $1.8 million if he reaches certain incentives.

    Lee, who is the Vikings' only experienced starter at cornerback with
    Najee Mustafaa (back injury) out indefinitely, was one of the Vikings'
    few defensive bright spots last season, and has played well in the
    preseason.

    Teeter, Wilson cut
    To make room for the players they acquired in a trade with the
    Redskins on Tuesday, the Vikings released defensive lineman Mike
    Teeter and rookie safety David Wilson.  Wilson was the team's 
    seventh-round draft choice, and could return either as a 
    developmental player or, if rookie safety Tripp Welborne continues
    to progress slowly with his reconstructed knee, to the active roster.

    The players acquired in the deal were receiver Joe Johnson and
    defensive lineman George Hinkle.  Johnson practiced yesterday and
    Hinkle was expected to report last night.  "I think both of them
    hopefully will be able to make our 47-man roster," Green said.
    (me: what a resounding endorsement of the trade from coach Green.
    I don't feel good at all about this trade.  The 'skins obviously
    feel that they don't need these players.  Why does a Super Bowl
    caliber (he he) team like the Vikings have to pick up scraps from
    the defending champs?  If the Vikes can use these guys, fine.
    But, for me this is another reason not to be too excited about the
    talent level on the team.)

    Said defensive coordinator Tony Dungy of the 6-5 270-pound Hinkle:
    "He gives us something we've been searching for, which is a big
    guy.  We've been looking for a little more size, and George will
    give us some flexibility up front."

    QB question
    The Vikings don't plan to announce whether Rich Gannon or Sean
    Salisbury will be their starting quarterback against Washington
    until Friday or Saturday, but Gannon is taking the first snaps
    in practice, and is expected to start Saturday and when the 
    regular season begins.

    Etc/ The Vikings expect to start rookie Brad Culpepper at defensive
    tackle on Saturday, and probably in the regular season opener 
    at Green bay.  John Randle, the starter at the beginning of training
    camp, will play a few plays Saturday but has had trouble recovering
    froma sternum injury.  He returned to practice yesterday. ....
    Defensive end Chris Doleman did not practice yesterday because of 
    what the Vikings called a "medical condition."  Doleman is expected
    to return to practice today.

John Ganske      -------------------------
a readheaded dad, vegetarian, cyclist, runner, volleyball player,
programmer, and all-around good guy, glad to be back in Minnesota,
and soon to become small-time (very small-time) farmer 
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Unisys Corp.                            jag@unislc.slc.unisys.com 
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