The bottom, of course, came Sunday in Jacksonville, when Frerotte completed only 12 of 20 passes for 120 yards, the lowest output since Tarvaris Jackson completed 6 of 19 passes in Dallas for 72 yards.

"Man, I think we're leaving a lot on the table, as a matter of fact," Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said. "This could be one of the best offenses in the league. We have all the potential."

Shiancoe then listed a handful of offensive teammates before adding, "I feel like we really need to get it together when it comes to our offense."

The numbers, though, suggest things have fallen apart since Frerotte nearly topped 300 passing yards in mid-October.

Just as important, the Vikings' long passes have diminished dramatically over the past three games. In their first eight games, the Vikings averaged nearly three catches of 20 or more yards per game. But they have only one each in the past three games, with two from Shiancoe and none from Bernard Berrian.

Frerotte was not available for comment Monday.

"I just think that we are finding different ways," coach Brad Childress said. "If they are legislating against somebody, you are going to see a guy like Chester (Taylor), a guy like Visanthe pick up some slack. The idea is that you are able to throw it to whoever you want, but realistically sometimes people are going to legislate against a Bernard Berrian.

"I think the good thing is six different guys caught balls (Sunday), and (Frerotte) did a good job of spreading that thing around."

Not slowing down: Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards had only half a sack Sunday, but he was key in Jacksonville right tackle Tony Pashos' four holding penalties.

Asked about his $25,000 fine for a hit from the Vikings' previous game, Edwards said: "We just go out there and play ball.

"We signed up to play this game; Football didn't choose us, we chose it. No offense to women, but don't no men wear panties."

Edwards said he appealed his fine, which he called "ridiculous," and he noted that he apologized to Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia for the late hit that drew the flag.

"I told him, 'My bad, I thought you still had the ball.' He was running around like a rabbit, so I didn't know if he still had the ball still or not," Edwards said.

Edwards lamented that a tight end would not get fined for a crack block on him, suggesting that defensive players are more scrutinized than their offensive peers.

Edwards, though, insisted he wouldn't tone down his aggressiveness.

"If you go out there passive-aggressive, that's when bad things happen to you," he said. "You've just got to go out there and play ball, have fun. If you get a fine, you get a fine, you've got to pay it.

"But hopefully you can appeal it and get some of the money back. If not, it's going to charity, so it's a good cause."

Hicks could have played: Artis Hicks had a good showing in his first start at right tackle, even though he didn't finish the Jacksonville game because of an arm injury.

"I thought he played pretty well there," Childress said. "I think he missed 16 snaps. He could have come back into the game after that series; we just didn't think there was any reason to bring him back."

Childress said Hicks and right guard Anthony Herrera were "very good."

Hicks was not flagged for any penalties, and he didn't appear to give up any of the sacks.

Ryan Cook, the previous starter, finished the game for Hicks, who underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam on his arm Tuesday.

Specialist update: Although Berrian wants to return punts, Childress said he would mix in Aundrae Allison and make sure the veteran receiver doesn't do too much on special teams to the point of diminishing returns.

Meanwhile, Childress said rookie receiver Darius Reynaud, who averaged 18 yards on two kickoffs, has running back skills.

"I think he'll get better as well back there as a kickoff returner," Childress said.

Childress said Reynaud is more versatile than Maurice Hicks, who was inactive, because he also can serve as the gunner on kickoff returns.

"He's a multiphased special-teams guy," Childress said.