Vikings confident in their other receivers

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twinci...l/15290968.htm

Posted on Thu, Aug. 17, 2006
Pioneer Press

MANKATO, Minn. — Vikings players had little comment Wednesday on the DWI
arrest of No. 1 wide receiver Koren Robinson, expressing support for
their teammate and confidence in the other receivers on the roster.

Coach Brad Childress indicated the team would bring in receivers for
tryouts with Robinson out, but he added, "There's not a rush to replace
him or anything like that."

Unless the Vikings are willing to swing a trade for a disgruntled
wideout such as Denver's Ashley Lelie, Oakland's Jerry Porter or New
England's Deion Branch, whomever they sign probably won't be coming in
as a starter.

Among the available free agents are Az-Zahir Hakim, Kevin Johnson, Nate
Poole, Chris Doering and Freddie Mitchell.

Quarterback Brad Johnson said he would wait until today's scheduled
media session to discuss the Robinson situation but said he feels
comfortable with Troy Williamson and Travis Taylor as the starting
receivers.

"(As) I've talked about from the get-go, I feel confident with the guys
we have," Johnson said. "Obviously, I've played with the four we had
last year. With Troy, Marcus (Robinson) and Travis, we've had a lot of
practice time, had a lot of playing time last year and this year. I do
feel comfortable with those guys going in."

With Koren Robinson facing a possible one-year NFL suspension, Taylor
moves into the starting lineup at the No. 2 receiver spot, with
Williamson moving up to de facto No. 1.

Off what Taylor has seen during training camp, last year's No. 1 draft
choice is up to the challenge.

"Troy has shown great improvement from last year," Taylor said. "He has
learned the game. He's picking things up a lot faster. You know he can
run, so he has been working on other aspects of his game — adjusting to
the ball in the air. This year, you can see he's timing his jumps and
using his body and his feet at the same time. He can play."

Williamson said he's ready for whatever the Vikings throw at him.

"However coach wants to use me, I'm willing to go with it," he said. "I
just have to keep doing what I'm doing and continue to keep making plays
as a receiver."

As for any added pressure he might be feeling, Williamson said: "We have
responsibility as a whole. That's how I look at it. We're all going to
work together in this."

Robinson's arrest is the first such incident on Childress' watch, and
some players said it was disappointing to have to deal with yet another
off-the-field distraction, especially with the team scheduled to break
training camp Friday after today's final practices.

"You always have to expect something every year," Johnson said. "No
matter what team, what year you play, something happens to every team.
You have to deal with it and move on as best you can."

Add in linebacker Chad Greenway's season-ending knee injury, and the
Vikings are dealing with a potentially damaging 1-2 punch. But
cornerback Fred Smoot said it's up to the team's veteran leaders to keep
things together.

"In a season, things like this happen," he said. "You lose guys by
injury or a lot of other different ways. Somebody's just got to step up.
Somebody's got to shock the world. Somebody that you probably never
heard of."

Safety Darren Sharper and cornerback Antoine Winfield, like the majority
of players, said they will decline comment on Robinson's arrest until
all the facts of the case are in.

"That happens," Winfield said. "We're all adults. You have to be
responsible for your actions. What he did, he did. It's over with."

get Az Hakim..he is surely an above average kick returner, and a great slot receiver..i still just dont understand why we wont deal a 1st or 2nd rounder for Lelie or Porter

I might just end my life if we get freddie mitchell...

its really too bad we lost Burleson... Im hopeful that Taylor, Williamson and Marcus Robinson can do well this year but i sure feel like we can use some help at WR now.

"gregair13" wrote:

Quote:

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I might just end my life if we get freddie mitchell...

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I think I just might do the same.

go with hakim.
he can at least return kicks for us if nothing else.
he's got some talent, just not #1 talent

4 words. Dont. Get. Freddie. Mitchell! But i wouldnt mind us getting Hakim or Kevin Johnson and see what they can do.