Last year's four-month NFL lockout was especially hard on Vikings strength and conditioning coordinator Tom Kanavy, who had to plan every week as if players were returning to the Winter Park facility. http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_20650623/nfl-commissioner-roger-goodell-sued-by-jonathan-vilma?source=rss

NEW ORLEANS -- Suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma filed a defamation lawsuit Thursday, May 17, against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, claiming the league's top executive made false statements that tarnished Vilma's reputation and hindered his ability to earn a living playing football. http://www.dailynorseman.com/2012/5/17/3027934/grandpa-sports-thinks-e-j-henderson-will-be-back-with-minnesota

Buried in this column about how awful the Minnesota Twins have been thus far in 2011 is an interesting little bit from Sid Hartman. . .the man who, apparently, is wholly and solely responsible for the Minnesota Vikings getting a new stadium.

There is still a good chance that E.J. Henderson will sign with the Vikings once he agrees to a contract paying the linebacker quite a bit less than the $6.7 million he was paid last year. Henderson still is demanding the same pay he got last year.

Now, don't get me wrong. . .we all love E.J. Henderson around here. The guy has proven that he's a warrior and has gone through a hell of a lot during his career with the Vikings.

But E.J. Henderson isn't getting $6.7 million from anybody to play football this year. He sure as heck isn't going to get it from the Minnesota Vikings.

Will Henderson the Elder be back in purple next season? That remains to be seen. . .but if he is, it will be at a significantly reduced price tag, and he's likely going to have some serious competition for the middle linebacker spot.

Quarterback Donovan McNabb is coming off two poor seasons since being jettisoned by the Eagles, but the 35-year-old said he plans to continue with his NFL career.

This just came across from Judd Zulgad over at 1500 ESPN.

Add the Minnesota Vikings to the list of NFL teams that won't be appearing on HBO's "Hard Knocks" during training camp this summer.

An NFL source said that for the second consecutive year interest was expressed in having the Vikings be part of a show that has become very popular but is seen as being far too intrusive by many organizations.

Makes plenty of sense. . .Leslie Frazier certainly doesn't come off as a "Hard Knocks" type of coach or anything like that. Throw in the fact that this team has a ton of young players on it jockeying for position that don't need any more distractions, and being on Hard Knocks would probably do the Vikings far more harm than good.

I don't believe it has been made official yet which team will be on Hard Knocks this year, but it won't be the Vikings. The Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, Houston Texans, and (surprisingly) the New York Jets have all denied interest in being on this year's installment of the program.

NEW ORLEANS -- Suspended New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma filed a defamation lawsuit against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday, May 17. http://www.topix.net/nfl/minnesota-vikings/2012/05/minnesota-vikings-christian-ponder-pump-it-up-in-the-weight-room?fromrss=1

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder in the huddle during the first quarter of the Minnesota Vikings game against the Green Bay Packers on October 23, 2011 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

Mark Murphy: Packers Will Retire Brett Favre’s Number “In A Year Or Two” - The Viking Age - The Viking Age - A Minnesota Vikings Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

The other day I posted a story about Tommy Kramer being elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, and we had some great 'back in the day' comments about the Vikings, and some other exploits of Two Minute Tommy, ahem, both on and off the field.

One of those was a sequence of plays that have come to be known as the 'Met Stadium Miracle'.

It was the last home game of the 1980 season, and by the end of 1981, Metropolitan Stadium would be no more. The historic run the Vikings were on was just about over, but with a win against Cleveland, the Purple and Gold would clinch their 11th NFC Central title in 13 years, and Bud Grant would get one last shot at a Super Bowl.

It seemed, however, that it wasn't meant to be. The good guys were down 23-9 in the fourth quarter, and although they scored a TD early, they still needed two scores. All Cleveland had to do was run out the clock, but for some reason, Sam Rutigliano called a pass, which Bobby Bryant picked off on the Cleveleland side of the 50. Tommy Kramer quickly struck, hitting Ahmad Rashad and cutting the lead to 22-15 with right around 2:00 to go.

Cleveland forced the Vikes to use all their timeouts, and when they punted, the Vikings had the ball on their own 20, with only 14 seconds left and no timeouts. If I'm not mistaken, the Browns also ran out of bounds on one play as well, which really helped the Vikes cause.

What transpired? Only the greatest two play sequence in Minnesota Vikings history, that's all:

And that's why Cleveland is the only sports town more tortured than Minneapolis, kids

Note that both teams were on the same sideline, and how cool it was a bunch of jubilant Vikes were running past a bunch of forlorn Browns as the game ended.

Oh, and Viva Two Minute Tommy!

Enjoy your Thursday, folks.

Today will be another big day at the Capitol for Vikings fans - as Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signs the stadium bill into law.

The Minnesota Vikings have waived offensive tackle Kevin Murphy from Harvard and cornerback C.C. Whitlock from South Carolina, both rookies, the team announced Thursday, May 17.