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While the media and others have handed the starting Vikings quarterback position over to Tarvaris Jackson, Brooks Bollinger continues to compete and believes his experience could help him in his quest to be No. 1.

"I don't really worry about it too much," said Bollinger, who was acquired last season from the Jets for defensive tackle C.J. Mosley and an undisclosed draft pick. "I think my focus is coming out here every day and just controlling what I can control -- and that's being good when I have reps and making the most of my opportunities and learning from it and trying to improve."

Working to the advantage of the former Wisconsin quarterback is that he has started nine times in the NFL and played in 14 games. Jackson has started twice while playing in four NFL games.

"I can't control what people say or what their opinions are, and it doesn't really matter to me," Bollinger said. "I'm just going to go out and, like I said, play football.

"I think, it [the experience edge] certainly helps me, and I was fortunate to have that opportunity to play a few games, and I'm just trying to continue to build on it."

Bollinger got a bad break when he injured his shoulder in the third quarter of the Dec. 3 game at Chicago and had to miss the remaining four games.

"I didn't get the opportunity to show what I could do in the remaining four games," he said. "But that's the way football goes, and you've got to just move forward."

When it comes to competing, Bollinger said he is harder on himself than anyone, and he knows he has to improve.

"I think that I see the plays where I've got to improve, but I think the important thing is I'm feeling more and more comfortable in this offense," he said. "I think a very important part of this offense is the detail -- and everybody has to be on the same page and everybody has to be perfect in their route running and their timing, the quarterback's timing, the quarterback's decisions -- and we've got guys who are doing that and doing it the way it's supposed to be done."

While Vikings coach Brad Childress doesn't have any choice but to say good things about Jackson, and he has confidence in Jackson, at the same time he also praises Bollinger.

However, there are some Vikings players who believe that Jackson's lack of experience will make it tough for him to do the job and that Bollinger's experience will give him a better-than-average chance to be the No. 1 quarterback.

Investigation of players continues

The investigation of three Gophers football players -- Alex Daniels, Keith Massey and E.J. Jones -- is ongoing, according to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman. The three were jailed and released, but not charged, last April in connection with the sexual assault of an 18-year-old woman.

"I can't talk about an ongoing investigation, but you're an old friend and I'll just tell you that we are investigating every angle of this case as thoroughly as it can possibly be done, and we are talking to Gopher football players," Freeman said.

Freeman said he hopes to complete interviews soon with several Gophers players.

Meanwhile, Gophers coach Tim Brewster doesn't know what to do about the three players, who are innocent until proven guilty.

Santana on schedule

While there has been some concern about the performance to date of Cy Young winner Johan Santana, a check of his record in 12 starts last year and the same number of starts this year before Saturday night's game shows Santana's record is almost identical. Last year, Santana was 5-4 with a 3.24 ERA in 12 starts for the Twins; this year, he is 6-5 with a 3.30 ERA. However, he went on a 14-2 tear last year starting with his 13th start.