1. Vikings: RB Bennett Now to Miss Week 2?Full Article:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/510/4953677.htmlClipped from the Kevin Seifert article:An MRI performed Saturday revealed a second-degree sprain of Bennett'smedial collateral ligament, giving him virtually no chance to play in theSept. 12 season opener against Dallas. Privately, team officials arebracing for him to miss the Sept. 20 game at Philadelphia as well and arehoping he can return Sept. 26 against Chicago.With backup Onterrio Smith expected to serve a four-game suspension forviolating the NFL's substance abuse policy, the Vikings will start veteranMoe Williams against the Cowboys, coach Mike Tice said. Williams, rookieMewelde Moore and first-year player Larry Ned will split time in theabsence of Bennett and Smith."That's why we kept the depth, so we wouldn't have to worry aboutsomething like this," Tice said after the Vikings' 45-minute workoutSaturday at Winter Park. "If we didn't have the kind of depth we have,we'd be worried. It's a shame to lose Mike, but this isn't golf. Injurieshappen."Bennett was convinced Friday night that his injury was minor as well.After his injury-shortened 2003 season, he was primed for a breakoutperformance this season.Instead, injuries will shorten a season for the third time in hisfour-year career. Bennett appeared distraught by Saturday's news as heleft Winter Park. "I have no comment," he said. "It just feels real sore, man."Tice acknowledged he briefly second-guessed his decision to send thestarting offense onto the field for the first series of the third quarter.Along with many other NFL coaches, Tice uses the third preseason game togive his first-team players the sensation of returning to competitionafter the halftime cool down. When both Bennett and McKinnie were hurt on the same play, Tice wonderedif the approach was worth the additional injury risk. "But the more I thought about it, the more I realized an injury can happenany time," Tice said. "Michael could have done the same thing in the firstquarter, and it wouldn't be an issue. [Extending starters into the thirdquarter] is something you have to do. How can your team be in game shapewhen the season starts if they haven't even played into the second half inone preseason game? It's a shame, but injuries are a part of football."The Vikings could do worse than start Williams against Dallas. He rushedfor a career-high 745 yards last season, including a combined 283 yards inthe first three games. He was limited during this year's training camp bya strained calf muscle but said Saturday, "I feel great now."Tice traditionally limits the play of rookies early in the season; lastyear, Williams carried 22 times in the opener at Green Bay while Smith didnot play. But Moore should take some carries against Dallas, and theVikings are hoping that Ned -- who reeled off a 24-yard touchdown run inthe fourth quarter Friday -- can contribute as well. Ned will play extensively Thursday against the Seahawks."I came to camp knowing that I needed to be ready for anything," said Ned,who spent last year on the practice squad. "I needed to be ready to stepup when the opportunity is there. Unfortunately, Bennett is out. He'llcome back and be well. But in the meantime, the rest of us have to step up-- me, Mewelde and Moe."[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]This seems to be getting worse by the minute. Friday night, it was just abump and totally minor. After the MRI, he went to "iffy" for week one. NowKevin Seifert at the Star Tribune is reporting that team officials areprivately bracing for him to be out week 2. Moe Williams is the logicalguy to benefit here. But as I said earlier, keep an eye on Mewelde Moore.He's a scrappy player and the coaches like him.