Vikings Smoot breaks jaw in 5 places!

[Outdoors Junkie]

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings cornerback Fred Smoot will miss the last game of the regular season because of a jaw that's broken in five places as a result of a recent car accident.

The single-vehicle crash, revealed by coach Brad Childress at his Wednesday news conference, occurred on Friday evening in Smoot's home state of Mississippi. After the Vikings were eliminated from playoff contention with a 9-7 loss to the Packers last Thursday, players were given the holiday weekend off.

Childress said his information, coming mostly from Smoot's agent, Bus Cook, was "sketchy" but that he believed Smoot was recovering from surgery and out of the hospital. Smoot, whose interception return was Minnesota's only score in the game at Green Bay, has exchanged text messages with Childress but is unable to speak. He was placed on injured reserve so the Vikings (6-9) can use his roster spot for someone else.

Rookie cornerback Cedric Griffin, who replaced Smoot in the starting lineup last month, was also placed on injured reserve on Wednesday with a neck injury that kept him out against the Packers. That leaves Minnesota quite thin in the secondary for the final game on Sunday against St. Louis.

The Vikings have allowed more yards passing than any other team in the league this year, and the Rams, who still have a chance at a wild-card spot in a weak conference, are fourth in the NFL in yards passing.

Childress said the team, which released veteran receiver Marcus Robinson on Sunday, was still considering possibilities for filling out the roster. Since they're out of the playoffs, the Vikings will use the Rams game as a head start on next season and plan to give several young players an extended look -- especially receivers and cornerbacks with Robinson gone and Smoot and Griffin out.

Backup quarterback Brooks Bollinger's shoulder has improved, Childress said, but he is still not fully healed. Other injured players whose health is in question this week are fullback Jeff Dugan (foot), tight end Jim Kleinsasser (elbow), punter Chris Kluwe (hamstring) and receiver Troy Williamson (hamstring).

[JohnWester]

anyone wanna bet $100 that alcohol was a factor?

[jigglestick]

anybody wanna bet troy williamson isnt really injured? ::)

[WoodChuck]

  :laugh:  anyone wanna bet ?  he should stay out of those 5 places!  :o

[jigglestick]

:laugh:  anyone wanna bet ?  he should stay out of those 5 places!  :o

that is truely funny