--DE Kenechi Udeze, who missed last season after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in February 2008, won't be at the start of the Vikings' offseason program on Monday. However, that's not a cause for concern. Coach Brad Childress said Udeze continues to work out and attend classes at his alma mater, Southern Cal. Udeze is expected to get his degree in sociology in mid-May. Udeze expressed confidence in late January that he would be able to take part in the Vikings' workouts and Childress said that remains the plan. "There are a few other things that he's got to clear," Childress said of Udeze. "But he won't be here physically, simply for the fact that he's finishing his semester there."
--Childress said he did not know if restricted free-agent and backup defensive tackle Fred Evans has signed the second-round tender ($1.545 million) he received but is confident that will happen. "I think he'll be taking part in the (offseason) program," Childress said.
--DE Ray Edwards is among those who are not a fan of the recent NFL rule change that will make it illegal for defensive players to hit a quarterback once they are knocked to the ground, if the play is still in progress. "We all wake up in this game knowing what this game brings," he said. "Nobody told us, 'Well you know, you have to play quarterback today. I don't care what you say.' You chose to play quarterback, you could have played wide receiver, you could have played defensive line, you could have played anything. Nobody tells you to play this game. If you chose to play this game you suffer the consequences."
--The Vikings preseason schedule includes games at Indianapolis (Aug. 14 or 15), at home against Kansas City (Aug. 21 or 22), at Houston (Aug. 31) and at home against Dallas (Sept. 3 or 4. The Houston game will be played on a Monday night and aired nationally on ESPN.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "There was no regret in saying that. It's just like Jared (Allen) said in the paper, 'Everybody sets their goals as high as they can.' I was just the one bold enough to say it. That's the reason you play this game. You don't want to play this game just to be somebody who played. You want to be known as somebody who made a statement in the game." -- DE Ray Edwards when asked if he regretted saying that his goal for 2008 was to break Michael Strahan's NFL single-season record of 22.5 sacks. Edwards finished with five sacks.
