Byline: Kevin Seifert; Staff Writer
It was a scenario the Vikings never had to face in their 35-7 shellacking of San Francisco on Sunday: What if quarterback Gus Frerotte had to leave the game?
Before the game, the Vikings had designated Shaun Hill their No. 3 quarterback; had Hill entered the game, NFL rules would have prevented either Frerotte or Daunte Culpepper from playing until the fourth quarter. Had Frerotte left once the game was well in hand, playing Hill would not have been an issue.
But had Frerotte left earlier, were the Vikings prepared to play Culpepper, who had fractured three bones in his back and partially fractured a fourth only a week prior?
'Daunte could have played if we needed him,' offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. 'I would have been a little concerned about it, but he told me he could play. If we were up 35-0, we wouldn't have played him. That scenario never came up. But Shaun was ready to go. Shaun took at the reps as the No. 2 in practice.'
The Vikings appear to be leaning toward resting Culpepper for Sunday's game at Atlanta. Culpepper, however, could resume practicing as early as today; coach Mike Tice said he would decide this morning.
Camp visits looming
The Vikings are planning visits to at least two prospective training camp sites: the St. John's campus in Collegeville, Minn., along with Sioux Falls, S.D., and perhaps other towns in that state as well.
Those trips likely will begin next week. Minnesota State, Mankato, remains the favorite to retain training camp, and the team's familiarity with the site will preclude the need for a meeting.
Blaine's National Sports Center, considered the strongest alternative to Mankato, has yet to express interest. Bids are due by Oct. 31.
4-0 revisited
Veteran cornerback Ken Irvin spent last season with New Orleans, a team that started 4-0. The Saints, however, lost five of their final seven games and missed the playoffs.
It is for that reason that Irvin, while happy to be undefeated again, is preaching patience.
'I feel like we're a good football team,' Irvin said. 'But I was on a team last year that went 4-0 and didn't go to the playoffs. The biggest difference here is that everybody is hungry and everybody is making the commitment to each other. We're becoming a family.
'But if anyone in the league says that they can't get better, or that they're where they need to be, then things will probably turn for them. We feel good where we're at, but each week gets more difficult.'
Etc.
- Tice said tight end Jim Kleinsasser (abdominal bruise) likely will practice today. Receiver D'Wayne Bates (sprained foot) likely will not. Receiver Randy Moss (back spasms) and linebacker Greg Biekert will sit out as well, Tice said.
- Culpepper received the NFL Extra Effort Award for September, honoring his work with the African American Adoption Agency in St. Paul. NFL Charities will donate $1,000 to the agency in Culpepper's name.
- After reviewing game film, the Vikings altered their defensive statistics to account properly for a play in the second quarter of their victory over San Francisco. Chris Hovan received credit for a half-sack, sharing it with Lance Johnstone, and Hovan also received credit for a forced fumble on the play.
- The Vikings' seven-game regular-season winning streak is the longest in the NFL.
Kevin Seifert is at kseifert@startribune.com.
