Published: Monday, February 26, 2001

Vikings report

Vikings enter home stretch on salary cap talks

Pioneer Press

---------------------------------------------------------------------- -- BILL WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --

INDIANAPOLIS The Vikings are entering a pivotal five-day stretch as they take the final steps to get under the salary cap by Friday. Team officials met over the weekend to prepare to begin working in earnest today. The Vikings need to trim about $7 million to get under the $67.4 million cap. Perhaps the most daunting task will be dealing with left tackle Todd Steussie. The Vikings believe they'll have to release Steussie because he has balked at restructuring his contract. His agent, Leigh Steinberg, in Indianapolis on Sunday for the NFL scouting combine, didn't sound optimistic about Steussie, 30, staying with the Vikings. ``It will be one of those situations that will be answered one way or the other by Friday,'' Steinberg said. ``There is pressure of the cap for teams.'' Steinberg's problems could be a sticking point for Steussie. David Dunn, who has handled recent negotiations between Steussie and the Vikings, is in the midst of an ugly parting with Steinberg. There is speculation Steussie would go with Dunn, complicating the negotiations. Along with Steussie, the Vikings will try to resolve the contracts of John Randle, Robert Griffith and Orlando Thomas. Randle and his agent, Gary Uberstine, are expected to meet today. Randle has refused several attempts by the Vikings to renegotiate and has demanded a trade. Coach Dennis Green, after meeting with Randle last week, said Friday he's confident Randle will agree to restructure his contract. Thomas' agent, Mark Bartelstein, has been shopping his client. He was turned down by New Orleans this weekend at the combine. Still, the Vikings hope a new deal can be done this week. The team will talk today to the agent of Pro Bowl center Matt Birk, a restricted free agent, about

-- Mark (Karch 222@aol.com), February 26, 2001