Players warned about dehydration at Denver's high altitude

Vikings safety Darren Sharper said the most important thing about preparing for Sunday's game in Denver won't be making the adjustment to being a mile above sea level in Colorado, but rather drinking a sufficient amount of water before leaving on the trip. "You definitely have to be hydrated to deal with the altitude," Sharper said.

Dehydration can occur easily in Denver because of the altitude and the normally dry air.

"I am ongoing about that [issue]," coach Brad Childress said. "You take a long plane flight; you are at altitude (5,280 feet). Even though you don't sweat, that dry air is a factor. You stay in a hotel. That is dry air. Our guys are well aware of what it takes to go out there and play."

One of the players who probably will be frequently reminded about drinking plenty of fluids is quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. He was sidelined briefly in the fourth quarter of the Vikings' victory over the Bears on Dec. 17 after he experienced leg cramps caused by dehydration.

Sharper is familiar with making the adjustment to the higher altitude having played in Denver while with the Green Bay Packers.

"It is psychological because you're going to feel it a little bit that you can't get enough air, your chest might get a little tight," he said. "A little bit of oxygen might help but it usually wears off and your body adjusts to it. It shouldn't be a factor at all."

Receiver Robert Ferguson, another former Packer, seems even less concerned. "That's definitely more hype," he said. "That's more for people who don't exercise or anything like that. If you're in good condition, you'll get acclimated to it very fast. I think it might take like a series or two when we played up there. After that you didn't even notice the difference."

Sharper admitted he was surprised to see quarterbacks Jay Cutler of Denver and Philip Rivers of San Diego jawing at each other during the Chargers' 23-3 victory on Monday night.

But while Sharper said incidents like that don't happen often, he added, "Rivers is that kind of guy. He likes to run his mouth," Sharper said. "He's going to learn he is going to have to stop doing that, too."

Sharper said Rivers did plenty of trash-talking in the Vikings' 35-17 victory over San Diego on Nov. 4 at the Metrodome, but did not get into specifics. "He just runs his mouth a little bit," Sharper said.

Pat Williams was held out of Wednesday's practice because of what was listed as a knee problem on the injury report. A Vikings spokesman said the Pro Bowl nose tackle was being given a day off. Williams briefly left Sunday's game against Washington but was able to continue. Also held Wednesday was linebacker Vinny Ciurciu (sprained ankle). Linebackers Dontarrious Thomas (groin) and David Herron (concussion) were limited.

Paul Ernster, re-signed as the Broncos' punter after the release of Todd Sauerbrun, was waived after struggling Monday night. Denver plans to work out six or seven punters today but also could use kicker Jason Elam, who punted in college at the University of Hawaii.