Minnesota Vikings Football Team

The efforts to bring the NFL back to Los Angeles have taken a turn both peculiar and predictable. Just as Rose Bowl officials are putting the finishing touches on their proposal to make their stadium the future home of a pro football team, the NFL is actively negotiating with a group in Carson to restart that city's stadium push.

Korey Stringer's widow will ask an appeals court to reinstate her $100-million lawsuit against the Minnesota Vikings now that she has settled with the last defendants. Kelci Stringer reached a deal with the Vikings' training camp physician, David Knowles, and his Mankato Clinic for an undisclosed sum, Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson said Monday. Last month, Larson dismissed all of Stringer's claims against the Vikings and team officials.

All-Pro safety Joey Browner failed to pass his physical because of a shoulder injury and was cut by the Minnesota Vikings. The 32-year-old Browner, who was to be paid about $1 million this year under a non-guaranteed contract, followed Herschel Walker, Keith Millard and Wade Wilson as highly paid veterans to leave the Vikings since the end of last season. A first-round draft choice out of USC, Browner played in six consecutive Pro Bowls and made the All-Pro team three times.

Tailback Roger Craig, left unprotected as a Plan B free agent by the Raiders, is expected to sign today with the Minnesota Vikings. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that Craig has agreed to a two-year contract worth about $800,000 per season. Craig signed with the Raiders in 1991 after eight seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. He led the Raiders with 590 yards, but was slowed by numerous injuries. Craig averaged only 3.5 yards per carry and did not play in the team's final two games.

People who complain about Herschel Walker's performance on the football field this season overlook the fact that, out of loyalty to the Minnesota Vikings, he gave up a guaranteed berth on the U.S. Olympic bobsled team. Granted, his seven-figure contract to play football probably played a role in his decision. Nevertheless, it is a fact Walker was the third-fastest brakeman in the U.S.