Birk joins push to aid retired players

Vikings center Matt Birk is among a group of NFL players who are joining a national movement to aid retired players through financial donations and other means.

Birk declined comment Friday, saying he would appear at a news conference Tuesday at Matty B's restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. It is expected that Birk, along with several other active players, will announce plans to donate at least a portion of their Dec. 23 game check to Gridiron Greats, an assistance fund that includes former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka on its board of directors.

Kansas City offensive lineman Kyle Turley, who last week announced he was donating his entire $25,000 game check, also will attend the press conference. Former Vikings players Chuck Foreman, Ed Marinaro, Carl Eller, Jim Marshall and Paul Krause will be in attendance as well.

This week, former tennis player John McEnroe announced he was matching Turley's donation. Former basketball star Charles Barkley and sports personality Bob Costas both did the same.

Gridiron Greats was established to provide financial assistance and social services to retired players. Ditka, former Bears running back Gale Sayers and former Buffalo offensive lineman Joe DeLamielleure have been its most outspoken advocates in pressuring the NFL Players Association to increase its pension payments to retired players.

Linebacker E.J. Henderson returned to practice Friday after missing the previous two days because of flu-like symptoms. The Vikings listed Henderson as questionable on their injury report, but he is expected to play Sunday against San Francisco.

In other injury news:

• The Vikings also listed receiver Troy Williamson (concussion) and offensive lineman Artis Hicks (back) as questionable.

• Safeties Tank Williams (knee) and Mike Doss (hamstring) did not practice and are doubtful for Sunday's game.

• Cornerback Antoine Winfield (hamstring) was listed as probable, meaning it's all but certain that he will start after missing four of the Vikings' past five games.

Vikings coach Brad Childress used the word "embarrassing" several times to describe the team's 9-3 loss at San Francisco's Monster Park last season. In that game, the Vikings mustered only a first-drive field goal against a defense that had been giving up an average of 33.6 points per game.

The teams and situations have changed, but it's clear Childress has used that game as a motivating tool this week.

"It was terrible," nose tackle Pat Williams said. "We were on the sidelines saying, 'Hey, can we score some points?' That was the lowest point of the year. I hated that game."

The Vikings enter this year's matchup as a season-high nine-point favorite, but Williams said: "There ain't going to be no letdown.

"Everyone is going to have some fun," he added. "We've got our mind on this game."

• The Vikings promoted linebacker David Herron from the practice squad to take the roster spot of defensive end Erasmus James, who was placed on injured reserve. Herron has worked predominantly at outside linebacker during practice.

• Vikings players will participate Tuesday in a blood drive at the Qwest offices in downtown Minneapolis from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The public can participate as well by registering online at allstarclub.mbc.org.