August 29th, 2008

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NEW ORLEANS SAINTS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

Embattled corner Jason David, in danger of being cut, had three tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception in a 14-10 loss to Miami.

Lance Moore gained a step on Devery Henderson and Terrance Copper in the battle for the last two receiver spots by catching a two-yard touchdown.

Henderson had one catch for eight yards and (surprise) dropped a pass.

Sean Payton on Tyler Palko’s 39.6 passer rating, four sacks, and fumble: “Without looking at the tape, in my mind it appeared to be poor.”

Rookie Taylor Mehlhaff, already losing the kicker battle with Martin Gramatica, missed a field goal.

Sedrick Ellis played very well, getting a big sack.

CINCINNATI BENGALS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

Coach Marvin Lewis had this to say upon the conclusion of the preseason:  “It’s real bullets now.”

WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh dressed but didn’t play; “I guess they wanted to be cautious; fine with me,” he said. “I’m ready to lock and load.”

RB Rudi Johnson, on his uncertain status in Cincinnati:  “Stay tuned.  Make sure you pay your cable bill.”

RB DeDe Dorsey could be cut if Johnson remains with the team.

Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer was pleased with the effort in a 20-point win over the Colts:  “We played hard tonight,” he said. “We flew around the football.  Hopefully, we can do that in the regular season.”

The Bengals gained almost twice as many yards as the Colts.

LB Ahmad Brooks, a third-round supplemental pick in 2006, could lose his roster spot to Jim Maxwell

MOORE’S INJURY NOT SERIOUS

Tests conducted on Friday resulted in a conclusion that Panthers quarterback Matt Moore suffered no broken bones or torn ligaments when he was on the wrong end of a wicked hit on Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

Officially, Moore is day-to-day with a shin bruise.  G.M. Marty Hurney insists that the decision to trade for former Dolphins backup Josh McCown is not related to the Moore injury.

Don’t draw that conclusion,” Hurney said. “We just felt like Josh is a quarterback that we really like what Josh brings.  We liked what we saw from him when we went out to play against him in Arizona and we liked him when he was a free agent.  We feel like he brings good depth to the quarterback position.”

Still, even if Moore is fine for now, the Panthers apparently have realized that it, if they assume both Moore and starter Jake Delhomme will remain healthy, the Panthers eventually will be forced to bring in another Vinny Testaverde or someone a little bit older, like George Blanda.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

Rookie Dexter Jackson returned a punt 83 yards in the Bucs’ 16-6 win over the Texans, which won him the starting job as a returner.

Matt Bryant, who missed three field goals going into the game, missed two more, and the Texans will discuss the issue before the season opener.

Rookie right guard Jeremy Zuttah, who’s been a starter for only a week, didn’t take a single snap.

Fighting for the last quarterback job, Luke McCown went 5-for-5 for 52 yards and Josh Johnson was 4-for-8 for 56 yards. Chris Simms went 9-for-15 for 71 yards and interception, but is expected to be released.

Johnson led three drives that ended in field goals.

The team is interested in signing former Bear left tackle Fred Miller.

ALLEN REJOINING THE COWBOYS?

Kevin Lynch of SFgate.com reports that veteran offensive lineman Larry Allen will sign a contract with the Cowboys.

It’s unclear whether Allen intends to actually play, or whether it will be a ceremonial one-day retirement deal.

His page on NFL.com actually shows him as an active player, and as a member of the Cowboys.

Allen spent 12 years in Dallas and the past two with the 49ers.

UPDATE:  Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com reports that it will be a ceremonial re-signing only.

ATLANTA FALCONS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

Matt Ryan, D.J. Shockley, and Brian Finneran were involved in a minor car accident today.

In the final audition for the No. 3 quarterback job, Shockley eventually caught fire and Joey Harrington came in briefly for mop-up duty in a 10-9 victory over the Ravens.

Finneran, in a fight with Eric Weems, Chandler Williams and Adam Jennings for one or two spots, caught a 20-yard touchdown.

Offensive lineman Kynan Forney could be at danger when the Falcons trim their roster.

After being replaced by Todd Weiner, Tyson Clabo returned to start at right tackle.

INTRODUCING CHAD JAVON OCHO CINCO

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com officially confirms the reports that receiver Chad Johnson’s last name has been changed to the name of his alter ego — Ocho Cinco.

His name is now Chad Javon Ocho Cinco.

Mr. Cinco is calling the move “Ocho Cinco 2.o.”

“It’s something I don’t think anyone has ever done before,” Cinco said.  “Have I ever had a reason for why I do what I do?  I’m having fun.”

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Hobson that the league is looking into the situation.

Cinco still shows up on the team’s roster as “Chad Johnson.”

FINS, PANTHERS DO A DEAL

Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com reports that the Miami Dolphins have traded quarterback Josh McCown to the Panthers.

Terms of the deal are not yet known.

McCown was signed by the Dolphins earlier this year, and he received a $2.5 million signing bonus.  It was believed that he would not be released, even though he was rendered unnecessary by the arrival of Chad Pennington.

On Thursday night, backup quarterback Matt Moore suffered a shin injury.  Though early reports were encouraging, the decision to bring in McCown can’t be viewed as a good sign. 

He has 31 career starts in six NFL seasons.

MCKINNIE SUSPENDED FOUR GAMES

The NFL has annouced that Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie has been suspended for the first four games of the 2008 regular season.

Presumably, the suspension is final and all appeals have been exhausted.

The suspension begins tomorrow, August 30.  He’s eligible to return on September 29.

McKinnie’s penalty arises from felony charges related to his alleged decision to whack a bouncer in the head with a pole earlier this year.  Though the charges haven’t been resolved, McKinnie is a repeat offender — nearly three years ago, he was doing some nasty sh-t on the Love Boat, and he eventually pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly conduct.

HENRY WASN’T A CAPTAIN

Earlier today, we posted an item based on a report from Chick Ludwig of the Dayton Daily News regarding the fact (ahem) that receiver Chris Henry was named a team captain for the Bengals’ final preseason game.

We’ve been contacted by the Bengals with this clarification.

“Coach Lewis did not name Chris a captain,” said Bengals public relations direction Jack Brennan via e-mail. “Captains named by Coach Lewis for the game were Ryan Fitzpatrick, Stacy Andrews, Leon Hall, Darryl Blackstock and David Jones.  I was present when Coach gave those names to the officials pregame.

“Chick says he saw Chris out there.  I can’t tell you where Chris physically was at that moment.  But I’ve spoken to three other beat writers, who all say they recall paying some attention to the toss and do not recall seeing Chris in proximity to the captains group.  One of the three says he was eyeballing the captains’ group through binoculars.  Chris’ position coach also recalls looking at the captains and not seeing Chris in the area. 

“Whatever Chick recalls seeing, we respectfully believe his report was based on, at best, an incorrect impression, unaccompanied by any attempt seek confirmation from the team.”

We think that’s the nicest way we’ve ever witnessed one person tell another person that he was/is full of poop.

We apologize for the error, which is easy for us to do because it wasn’t, you know, our error.  For a change.

COLVIN AMONG TEXANS CUTS

The Houston Texans have announced most of their final roster cuts, via a pre-announced event on their official web site.

In all, the Texans dropped 21 players on Friday.  They’ve got one more move to make before 6:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday.

Gone are defensive end Rosevelt Colvin, running back Marcel Shipp, running back Darius Walker, tackle Torrin Tucker, cornerback Jamar Fletcher, quarterback Shane Boyd, quarterback Alex Brink, fullback John Abbate, linebacker Kevin Coley, safety Glenn Earl, center Greg Eslinger, receiver Darnell Jenkins, tight end Ryan Krause, defensive tackle Gabe Long, defensive tackle Anthony Maddox, receiver LeRon McCoy, linebacker Ben Moffitt, defensive end Jesse Nading, cornerback Derrick Roberson, receiver Mark Simmons, and cornerback Dexter Wynn.

UPDATE:  Coach Gary Kubiak talked on Friday about the decision to release Colvin. “[V]ery difficult decision,” Kubiak said. “I think we all know why we brought him here.  We brought him in to try to use him as a specialist-type of player, a pass rusher.  We worked with him at the end position; we worked with him at the linebacker position.  The bottom line, when it was all said and done, to have a player on your team to just play nickel or just have that type of special role, it had to be special.  We had to sit there and weigh him against other players that could play special teams and do some other things for the football team.  When it was all said and done, we went in the other direction.  You know, he busted his tail and did everything he could do.  We tried to move him around as best we could but when it was all said and done, the decision was made for a player that would do more things, especially from a standpoint of special teams.”

RAMS DROP A DIME

The St. Louis Rams have followed the trend of various other teams, and have begun releasing players in advance of Saturday’s deadline for finalizing the initial 53-man roster.

Gone are receiver Matt Caddell, safety Jerome Carter, tight end Nick Cleaver, cornerback Tanard Davis, cornerback Cortney Grixby, receiver Marques Hagans, center Donovan Raiola, linebacker Marcus Riley, nose tackle Henry Smith, and nose tackle Willie Williams.

The Rams now have 66 players.  They must cut 13 more by tomorrow night.

BAZUIN AMONG BEARS CUTS

The Bears have begun trimming their roster in advance of tomorrow’s deadline to get down to 53 players on the roster, and the biggest news is that their 2007 second-round pick is gone without ever playing a game.

Defensive end Dan Bazuin was told today that he’ll be placed on waivers. The Bears took Bazuin out of Central Michigan in the second round last year, but he spent all of his rookie season on injured reserve with a knee injury. Bazuin has had multiple knee surgeries and was unable to go at 100 percent during this year’s training camp or the preseason.

Other players on the way out in Chicago include fullback Lousaka Polite, receiver Mike Hass, defensive end Nick Osborn, running back P.J. Pope and offensive linemen Cody Balogh, Tyler Reed and Ryan Poles.

SAINTS TRIM EIGHT

The New Orleans Saints have reduced their roster to 67 with a series of Friday afternoon roster moves.

The Saints have placed receiver Adrian Arrington, a seventh-round draft pick, on injured reserve. They also have released safety Lance Schulters, and waived defensive end Jeremy Geathers, tight end Ronnie Ghent, defensive end Marcus Pittman, safety David Roach, guard Isaiah Ross, and tackle Brian Stamper.

The Saints have to remove 14 more from the roster by 6:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

OL Maurice Williams suffered a sprained knee in the second quarter; it isn’t believed to be serious.

WR Troy Williamson might have won a job with four catches for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Cleo Lemon generated a passer rating of 122.9.

Rookie DE Derrick Harvey, only two days after signing his contract, played in the preseason finale.

Newly-signed RB Ciatrick Fason, a Jacksonville native, gained 16 yards on his first carry.

But it might not have been enough to leapfrog rookie RB Chauncey Washington.

KR Brian Witherspoon might have fumbled his roster spot by fumbling a punt.

PATS PUNT FOUR

The New England Patriots have joined the Eagles in getting a head start on efforts to get their rosters down to 53.

The Pats have cut nose tackle Steve Fifita, offensive lineman Jimmy Martin, cornerback Jeff Shoate, and rookie tight end Jonathan Stupar.

Martin was a seventh-round pick of the Chargers in 2006, and Shoate was a fifth-round selection of the Broncos in 2004.

The Pats are required to cut 18 more players by 6:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday.

BUFFALO BILLS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

S Ko Simpson was the only starter to play for the Bills in their loss to the Lions.

Said coach Dick Jauron, “There were so many young people that we wanted to look at and we wanted to look at them as many snaps as we could and we certainly accomplished that. Now we have a lot of tape on guys.”

Gibran Hamdan got the start at quarterback and completed 18 of 26 passes for 158 yards.

J.P. Losman came in at the end to hand off five straight times after Hamdan got hurt.

With Jason Peters holding out and Langston Walker held out of the game, rookie seventh-round draft pick Demetrius Bell started at left tackle.

Rookie Leodis McKelvin looked good on kickoff returns.

CB Ashton Youboty had a strong game in pass coverage and added a sack.

DETROIT LIONS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

The Lions wrapped up a 4-0 preseason against the Bills.

S Daniel Bullocks looks ready for 2008 after missing all of 2007.

RB Brian Calhoun suffered a thigh injury and S Greg Blue suffered a hamstring pull; both are considered on the bubble to make the 53-man roster.

QB Drew Henson completed one pass for 11 yards.

Brandon Middleton is making his case for the fifth wide receiver job.

RB Artose Pinner had 23 carries for 78 yards.

The Lions scored four points on two safeties.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

Coach Andy Reid says QB Kevin Kolb is playing good football.

Kolb played the first half, guiding the Eagles to 13 points on their first three possessions.

Reid showed faith in WR DeSean Jackson by not playing him in the preseason finale.

CB Nick Graham reflects on the experience of being a bubble player.

Says DE Jerome McDougle of whether he’ll make the team, “I’m not really worried about what’s going to go on. The coaches, they have a lot of decisions to make, all around the board, not just me. Just put it in God’s hands.”

RB Lorenzo Booker had 11 carries for 36 yards and the game’s first touchdown.

OLB Bryan Smith had 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

NEW YORK JETS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

Jesse Chatman had 180 total yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown for the Jets in their win over the Eagles.

Fourth-stringer Erik Ainge got most of the action at quarterback.

Said QB Brett Favre, “I wanted to play, but it’s not a big deal. I never really brought it up.”

The most prominent Jet on the field was first-round draft pick Vernon Gholston, who had another disappointing game.

David Barrett is learning to play safety.

WR Chansi Stuckey played cornerback for much of the night, indicating that coach Eric Mangini is considering using Stuckey as a two-way player, like Troy Brown was in New England.

Rookie CB Dwight Lowery didn’t play, an indication that Mangini has decided to make him a starter.

ST. LOUIS RAMS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

Second-round receiver Donnie Avery sprained his knee, which will hamper his rise up the depth chart.

Brock Berlin appears to have wrested the No. 3 quarterback job from Bruce Gradkowski.

Travis Minor’s ability on special teams will probably lead him to beat out undrafted rookie Lance Ball.

Corner David Macklin and safety Jerome Carter, both playing on the bubble, did not have good games in losing to the Chiefs.

Safety Eric Bassey probably won a roster spot after forcing a fumble on the game’s opening kickoff — the first takeaway by the Rams this preseason.

If a roster spot was ever in doubt for rookie guard Roy Schuening, it probably isn’t anymore.

EAGLES TAKE FIRST STEP TOWARD 53

The Philadelphia Eagles have announced that they have released eight players, trimming their roster from 75 player to 67.

Gone are receiver Bam Childress, cornerback Therrian Fontenot, cornerback Nick Graham, receiver Jamal Jones, running back Ryan Moats, safety Marcus Paschal, offensive lineman Stefan Rodgers, and linebacker Pago Tagofau. 

All teams are required to cut their rosters to 53 players by 6:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday.  We’ll be tracking all of the cuts and posting regular updates throughout the day tomorrow.

CULPEPPER MAKES HIS CASE

Over the past several months, quarterback Daunte Culpepper has been trying to find work with one of the NFL’s 32 teams.  Though we don’t necessarily agree with his decision to do so without an agent, we respect his decision.

 The problem is that, while wearing both hats, he really hasn’t had a chance to get his message across to the fans of the NFL, since only portions of his words land in articles written about his situation.

So we offered him a chance to make his case in an unedited, open letter. 

And he accepted.

Here it is.

We’re know we’re supposed to be neutral (and all that crap), but we look forward to the day Daunte is back on the football field.

NEW YORK GIANTS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

With QB Eli Manning out, David Carr got the call and finished 20 of 29 for 192 yards.

Rookie WR Mario Manningham had five catches for 41 yards.

Maybe the Giants have more depth at defensive end than anyone thought.

Said LB Antonio Pierce after he sat out with a back injury, “We don’t need to be playing these games. You see in the league, guys are getting hurt. You don’t need to play.”

WR Plaxico Burress was in uniform but didn’t play.

WR Domenik Hixon left the game in the first half with back spasms and OL Digger Bujnoch was carted off with a fourth-quarter leg injury.

RB Danny Ware had 13 carries for 49 yards.

CHRIS HENRY, TEAM CAPTAIN

Last year the NFL made a point of emphasizing the importance of team captains, officially acknowledging them with “C” patches on their jerseys and recognizing the leadership captains provide.

Team captains are a key element in building team leadership and enhancing communication between players, coaches and management,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson said in a statement released by the league. “A perfect example of the benefit of this kind of communication is that the players themselves suggested the concept of re-emphasizing the team captains.”

All in all, the message was clear: Team captains are fine, upstanding men worthy of respect from their teammates, opponents and fans.

So who did the Bengals choose as their captain for last night’s preseason finale?

Chris Henry.

Yes, that Chris Henry, the wide receiver who is about to leave the team for the next month because he’s suspended for the first four games of the regular season for repeated violations of the league’s personal conduct policy. Chick Ludwig of the Dayton Daily News reports that Henry was a captain for last night’s game.

It should be noted that captains for preseason games aren’t necessarily captains for the regular season, and Henry almost certainly won’t be wearing a “C” on his jersey when he returns in Week 5 against the Cowboys. But it does send an odd message that a guy whose inability to get his act together caused him to be suspended for half of the 2007 season, get cut during the 2008 off-season and get suspended for a quarter of the 2008 season was given the honor.

No word on whether the Cowboys have chosen Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson as their captains for the regular season.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

Do the Patriots have anything to worry about after finishing a winless preseason against the Giants?

Said coach Bill Belichick, “Is it nice to win the games? Yeah, but it doesn’t mean anything. We’ve had good records in preseason, we’ve had bad records in preseason. What counts is how you play in the regular season.”

With Tom Brady out, fourth-string QB Kevin O’Connell was the only quarterback who got the offense going.

The job of QB Matt Gutierrez appears to be in jeopardy.

WR Chad Jackson sounds nervous about final roster cuts.

Rookie RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis made a good impression as he runs for his professional life.

Rookie LB Bo Ruud suffered a right leg injury in the fourth quarter.

CAROLINA PANTHERS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

Backup quarterback Brett Basanez was on the bubble, but Matt Moore’s injury paired with a 6-for-11, 106-yard, one-touchdown game probably cemented a roster spot for him.

Samie Parker, signed Tuesday and looking for a roster spot as a return man in Ryne Robinson’s stead, was not impressive.

But with depth concerns in the short term at receiver he might still make it.

LeBrandon Toefield is at risk of getting cut after capping a poor preseason with 18 yards on 13 carries.

Even though John Kasay is locked in as the field goal kicker, Rhys Lloyd has won a roster spot as the kickoff specialist.

There’s a logjam at defensive line where the Panthers like end Hilee Taylor and tackle Nick Hayden but will probably have to choose between the two for the final lineman.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

QB Jason Campbell went 1-of-4 for three yards and an interception in a loss to the Jaguars.

“It’s nothing to start getting discouraged about because everything we’re doing is very correctable,” Campbell said.

Backup QB Colt Brennan had another big preseason game.

Said coach Jim Zorn of pulling his starters, “I would love to have had them play the whole game, and just grind it out and work and get into some rhythm, things like that. But that would not have been smart.”

The Redskins have big questions about which rookies will make the roster.

LB Justin Tryon struggled, and Alfred Fincher made his case to be the sixth linebacker.

The Redskins’ final offensive line spot comes down to a 23-year-old against a 31-year-old.

CHICAGO BEARS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

Third-string QB Caleb Hanie had a big game as he made his case to make the roster in the Bears’ win over the Browns.

Starter Kyle Orton was 4-of-7 for 51 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception.

Rex Grossman led a 95-yard touchdown drive in his one series, hitting Brandon Rideau for his third touchdown of preseason.

The Bears’ first-string defense allowed the Browns to move the ball with ease.

Watching from the sidelines, S Mike Brown wasn’t impressed.

Devin Hester and Brandon Lloyd were the starting receivers.

K Robbie Gould was 3-for-3 on field goals.

DIEHL PAYS TRIBUTE TO FALLEN HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER

Giants left tackle David Diehl played Thursday night’s preseason game with the number “57″ written on the tape that covers his wrist.  But Diehl doesn’t wear that number.

It was, as it turns out, a tribute to Matt Gfeller, a 15-year-old Eagle Scout who died last weekend after suffering an on-field head injury.

He had so much life ahead of him.  It’s unbelievable.  It’s sad,” Diehl said.  ”What better way to honor a football player than to put his number on your tape?”

He didn’t know Gfeller, but Diehl learned of the tragedy from his agent, Peter Schaffer, a close friend of the Gfeller family.

We did a little research on Gfeller, and we can already tell he was the kind of kid that would make any parent proud — Eagle scout, goal-oriented, motivated, focused.

“He has always been ‘The One That’s Coming,’ the next great football player at Reynolds [High School], and he was,” coach Mike Propst told the Winston-Salem Journal.  “They live in this beautiful house, and he had this piece of paper taped on his door with his football goals, and his No. 1 goal was to start at Reynolds as a sophomore.

“He had a sign over his door that said ‘Football is my life.’  He was very serious about it, and he would text message or call me about every day over the summer.  He would leave me messages like, ‘Coach, I am sorry to bother you, but I really need to talk to you about something.’  And it would be about some step he was working on.  And I would say, ‘Matty, you need to stop reading books and just play football.’”

So here’s to Matt Gfeller, and to his family and teammates, coaches and friends.  At a time when there’s so much talk about a guy who might mess up his knee if he plays, we need to remember that, at every level of the sport, there’s a constant risk — perhaps small but nevertheless real — of a far more serious outcome.

gfeller.JPG

GREEN BAY PACKERS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

Aaron Rodgers threw one pass, a 68-yard touchdown, in a loss to the Titans.

Rookie QB Brian Brohm had the worst of his four preseason performances.

The other rookie QB, Matt Flynn, made the case that he should be No. 2.

Coach Mike McCarthy left open the possibility that the Packers will add a veteran quarterback.

Long snapper J.J. Jansen suffered a knee injury.

Backup LBs Desmond Bishop and Abdul Hodge both looked like players who should make the roster.

RB Noah Herron appears to be slightly ahead of Kregg Lumpkin for the final roster spot.

COWBOYS LAND HOLLAND

With starting left guard Kyle Kosier absent due to a foot injury, the Dallas Cowboys shored up the position on Thursday, acquiring veteran Montrae Holland from the Broncos.

In exchange, the Cowboys gave up a fifth-round draft pick.

Holland spent his first four NFL seasons with the Saints.  He joined the Broncos in 2007 and started every game, and he could be the started when the Cowboys travel to Cleveland in Week One.

The 2003 fourth-round pick is under contract through 2009.  He’s due to earn a base salary of $1.15 million in 2008, and $1.4 million in 2009.

MIAMI DOLPHINS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

RB Ronnie Brown looked healthy as he ran for 47 yards in a win over the Saints.

I feel pretty good,” Brown said. “I think I was pressing a little bit, just trying to create something early in the preseason, just coming off the injury. Today, I felt more relaxed.”

WR Ernest Wilford is making strides.

Rookie QB Chad Henne played most of the game and received praise from coach Tony Sparano.

In the third-string battle, QB John Beck threw just two passes, which was two more than Josh McCown.

TE Sean Ryan made his case for third-string job with a big touchdown catch.

FB Reagan Mauia hurt his case for making the team by dropping a pass.

ZYGI SAYS NO TO ROSKI

In response to the recent item in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune regarding the stated optimism of the group hoping to lure two NFL teams to L.A. for occupancy of a stadium that will be built once their commit, the Minneapolis Star Tribune asked the Vikings whether they’re on the list of interested franchise.

The Vikings say that they aren’t.

They have knocked on our door, but we have declined,” Vikings vice president of public affairs and stadium development Lester Bagley told the Star Tribune.  “We have not had a meeting or discussion with [Ed] Roski.  All of our updates have come through the league.   Our intention is to resolve the issue in Minnesota, but clearly they are out proactively seeking a team and they are the ones that listed the seven teams.”

But we don’t get the impression that it’s out of the question. 

“We feel some momentum,” Bagley said of the efforts to get a new stadium for the Vikings in Minnesota.  “Our leadership in the state needs to step up and get engaged in a solution, but we’re making some progress.  Incremental progress.  So, Zygi basically declined to meet [with Roski] at this time.” 

And this implies that Zygi could change his mind if/when he concludes that sufficient progress isn’t being made.  It’s the latest example of the game that NFL franchises have been playing over the past decade or so as they try to get new stadiums in their current markets.  The Los Angeles vacancy creates leverage by providing a viable alternative, and even though the Vikings aren’t officially flirting with L.A., the suggestion that Wilf could opt to meet with Roski in the future was intended to be, in our view, a gentle but clear rattling of the sword.

Since Roski has designs on owning a team, we wouldn’t be shocked if Wilf eventually opts to cash out on his investment and resort to being a fan of the New York Giants.

The Vikings’ lease to play in the Metrodome expires after the 2011 season.  

MINNESOTA VIKINGS PRESEASON ONE-LINERS

QBs Brooks Bollinger and John David Booty split time in the preseason loss, and coach Brad Childress said, “They were both average. Average is about the worst thing you can say about somebody. Average.”

Booty’s first pass was intercepted, and he said afterward, “That’s just all my fault. It’s something I’ve got to correct. It just kind of gave them the momentum early in the game.”

Bollinger finished 6-of-18 for 62 yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

Starting QB Tarvaris Jackson reaffirmed after the game that he will be ready to play in the season opener.

The Vikings’ only touchdown came on a one-yard run by Maurice Hicks.

DE Brian Robison played an impressive game.

Owner Zygi Wilf wasn’t at the game.