Smith in Vikings lineup despite marijuana citation

Vikings safety Dwight Smith started at free safety in Monday night's 20-13 victory over Chicago, four days after being cited for possession of marijuana and obstruction of traffic in downtown Minneapolis.

Although coach Brad Childress has tried to create what he calls a "culture of accountability" since taking over the Vikings in 2006, the coach said Saturday he considers Smith's situation "under investigation."

"I am going to get all the facts before I pass any judgment on it," Childress said.

Smith has cost himself playing time before during his two-year stint with the Vikings. He was deactivated for the 2006 opener at Washington as punishment for a citation he received for indecent conduct in a Minneapolis stairwell.

He was also benched for the first series against Detroit on Dec. 2 after getting into an argument with Childress during the week; he also sat out the first series against Green Bay on Nov. 12, 2006, because he was late for a team meeting.

Vikings receiver Bobby Wade knew he would have a productive day when he saw the Bears loading up the line of scrimmage to stop running back Adrian Peterson.

"When you do that, it makes the corners play a true man coverage," said Wade, a former Bear. "From going against him for three years, I knew [cornerback Charles] Tillman is not as quick as I am. He's fast, but not that quick."

Wade had a season-high six catches for 70 yards.

With Mewelde Moore inactive, Wade was used on punt returns for the first time since Oct. 28 against Philadelphia. Wade suffered a hyperextended knee in that game and missed a practice last week because of swelling from that injury.

Wade entered Monday averaging 7.6 yards on 13 punt returns; Moore was averaging 10 yards on eight returns.

Wade returned three punts for a 4.3 average on Monday.

Wide receiver Troy Williamson and Moore headed the list of inactive players. Also inactive were safety Tank Williams, cornerback Ronyell Whitaker, tight end Garrett Mills, linebacker David Herron and offensive lineman Chase Johnson. Kelly Holcomb was the third quarterback.

Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield injured his left shoulder in the first half Monday night and did not return for the second half.

Rookie Marcus McCauley replaced Winfield, who has missed four games this season because of a hamstring injury.

Winfield said he was hurt on a third-down play when he attempted to break up a pass to Bears receiver Muhsin Muhammad and landed on his shoulder. Winfield said he the shoulder will be evaluated this morning. Winfield said he had no power in the shoulder after being hurt.

Winfield admitted he's getting frustrated by this rash of injuries. "Usually, I never get hurt," he said. "I've got the hamstring now, the shoulder, just see. Right now, I'm just hoping for the best."

In other injuries, the Vikings had two players -- quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and guard Anthony Herrera -- miss time because of cramps. Also:

• Wide receiver Sidney Rice sprained his right ankle.

• Right tackle Ryan Cook had a stomach illness.

• Receiver Robert Ferguson also had a stomach illness.

Field judge Craig Wrolstad briefly left the game after being injured in the third quarter, leaving six officials on the field for a brief time.

The Vikings brought back purple pants last season when they unveiled new uniforms. But after wearing the pants with white tops for losses at Chicago and Buffalo, the bottoms were put into what appeared to be permanent storage.

At least until Monday night.

The Vikings came out wearing purple pants and purple tops for the first time in recent memory.

While a team must receive permission from the NFL to don a third uniform -- the Vikings' throwback jerseys that they wore in Week 4 against Green Bay qualify -- the purple-and-purple is an option the Vikings have each week and is not considered a third uniform.

Rick Spielman, Vikings vice president of player personnel, said the team's scouting staff attended Monday's game after starting draft meetings Sunday at Winter Park.

The scouts will be in the Twin Cities through Thursday working on what the Vikings call their backboard.

"All the guys we don't have draftable grades on we call the backboard or free-agent guys," Spielman said.

Spielman said the "crosschecking" process also is going on for players who might be drafted. "We have three or four grades on those guys right now," he said. "Now we go through the positional cross-check process."

The next phase will involve the college bowl and all-star games. Spielman said the Vikings already have scouted many of the players who will be in the bowl games.

"Guys I haven't seen I'll go out and get a live look or [director of college scouting Scott] Studwell will do the same," Spielman said. "And then the [all-star] games, that's a whole 'nother phase for us. That's when the interview process begins.

"Then we'll grade them and put a grade on them from an all-star game."

The Vikings will find out today which players they will send to the Pro Bowl when the teams are announced at 3 p.m. today.

Players and coaches voted last week for teams, and fan voting ended last Tuesday. Each side gets a one-third say in the rosters.

Peterson appears certain to make the 43-man NFC roster. Peterson led all running backs in fan balloting with 753,294 votes. Fullback Tony Richardson was No. 1 among NFC fullbacks with 204,168 votes.

Last season, the Vikings sent defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, guard Steve Hutchinson and center Matt Birk to the Pro Bowl. This year's game will be played Feb. 10 in Honolulu.

Bears cornerback Nathan Vasher was active Monday after missing 10 consecutive games because of a partially torn groin muscle suffered in Week 3. Vasher finished with three tackles and intercepted Jackson's pass late in the first half that led to a Chicago touchdown by Jason McKie.

The Bears' inactive list included defensive tackle Darwin Walker, who has an elbow injury. Reserve defensive tackle Babatunde Oshinowo also was inactive.

• Wild forward Mark Parrish took part in the pregame festivities by sounding the "Gjallaar" horn before the Vikings came on the field.

• Vikings owner Zygi Wilf held his quarterly owners meetings Monday in Minneapolis. Wilf's limited partners include Mark Wilf, Lenny Wilf, Jeffrey Wilf, David Mandelbaum, Alan Landis and Reggie Fowler.

• The Vikings' honorary captain was Cretin Derham-Hall receiver Michael Floyd, who will attend Notre Dame next season.

• The Vikings are interested in defensive back Randee Drew, who played this season for Montreal of the Canadian Football League. Drew has spent time on the San Francisco 49ers roster and has also played in NFL Europe and the Arena League. He worked out Monday at Winter Park for the Vikings, who also worked out defensive backs Korey Banks (Mississippi State), Julian Battle (Tennessee) and Mark Estelle (Utah State); defensive tackles Joe Bradley (Louisiana-Lafayette) and Kelly Talavou (Utah); and defensive end John Chick (Utah State).

• The Vikings improved to 24-23 on Monday nights. They have played the Bears 10 times on Mondays, the most of any opponent, and are 6-4 in those games.

JUDD ZULGAD, KEVIN SEIFERT AND MARK CRAIG