Williamson given OK to catch on elsewhere

INDIANAPOLIS - Troy Williamson's time of 4.34 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the 2005 NFL Scouting Combine played a major role in the Vikings' surprising decision to take the South Carolina wide receiver seventh overall in the draft.

Three disappointing years later, the Vikings have made another decision on Williamson at the combine. Coach Brad Childress gave Williamson's agent permission to shop his client for the purpose of making a trade.

David Canter said he conducted discussions with "eight to 10 teams" and that "there already have been offers exchanged."

There had been speculation the Vikings would release Williamson before the NFL's new year and free agency begins at 11 p.m. next Thursday, but that appears unlikely. What does appear likely is the Vikings will make serious plays for free-agent receivers Bernard Berrian (Chicago) and Jerry Porter (Oakland).

Williamson, 24, was excited about getting a fresh start and isn't concerned that he'll have no suitors. "I don't know how this will work out," he said. "But I look at it and I'm pretty sure somebody will take a look, and they'll be able to get something for me. I believe a team will see that [I'm available] and jump on it."

Teams believed to have expressed interest in Williamson include Cleveland, Jacksonville, Miami, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle and Tennessee. Mike Tice, the Vikings' head coach when Williamson was drafted, is a member of the Jaguars' coaching staff.

Childress declined to speculate on what the Vikings might get for Williamson -- a second-day draft pick and a player is one scenario -- but did say, "You might be surprised."

"Three people grabbed me on the way out [of the combine] today," Childress said. "We'll just see. I wouldn't probably venture a guess."

The timing of this decision is no accident. Every team is represented at the combine, meaning Canter can quickly relay any interest to Vikings VP of player personnel Rick Spielman. Spielman, who like Childress wasn't part of the Vikings organization when Williamson was selected, is then in an easy position to negotiate.

Asked if the Vikings have put a timetable on making a trade, Childress said, "Really not, it's kind of open-ended."

Canter would like to see something get done before he leaves the combine. He will be out of town today attending a client's wedding but plans to return Sunday. The combine runs through Tuesday.

"That doesn't necessarily mean it will happen; you have to have two to tango," he said. "But it would be in everyone's best interest if March 1 or March 15, the offseason workout program starts, that Troy is able to go to someone else's program."

Williamson has two years remaining on the $32 million, seven-year deal ($13.3 million guaranteed) he signed after being drafted. Childress said if the Vikings don't receive a satisfactory offer that Williamson is "under contract to us," meaning he could remain with the organization.

Don't count on that happening. Williamson has been plagued by dropped passes in his three seasons and has not been a good fit in the West Coast system Childress introduced two years ago, when he took over as coach. Williamson, who had 11 dropped passes in 2006, spent time last offseason at the Nike Vision Center and caught thousands of balls in drills before training camp.

Williamson, though, finished the 2007 season with a career-low 18 receptions for 240 yards with one touchdown in 11 games. One of his brothers was badly injured in a September car crash, and his maternal grandmother died in November, causing him to miss a game in an incident that received much publicity after the Vikings initially said they would withhold his game check. That didn't happen.

In the regular-season finale at Denver, Williamson dropped two passes, including one certain touchdown.

"Troy has had two offensive coordinators, three wide receivers coaches and two head coaches," Canter said. "He's not Brad Childress' player, he's not their guy. It's unfortunate because they are going to lose the best blocking wide receiver they have on their roster and they are going to lose a guy who has a lot of versatility. But it's a positive thing because they are going to allow him to go to a positive situation."

Said Williamson: "I would say with me not being drafted by Childress they had a plan, and I guess I didn't work into their scheme or system. ... But I'm good. I made a bunch of friends and met a lot of new people. I'll always have ties to Minnesota."