Vikings in no rush with Williamson

INDIANAPOLIS — Vikings coach Brad Childress said Saturday a trade involving Troy Williamson was not imminent, but things could heat up again today when the wide receiver's agent returns to the NFL Scouting Combine after attending a client's wedding in another state Saturday.

David Canter received permission Thursday to begin talking to other teams about a possible deal, but any transaction would need the Vikings' approval. Canter said Friday he had spoken to "eight to 10 teams" and that "there already have been offers exchanged" with some clubs. In a text message Saturday, Canter said there was nothing new to report.

Because Canter is driving business, Childress admits it's difficult to gauge the exact interest level in Williamson.

"I certainly have spoken to a few [clubs], but I haven't talked to eight teams," Childress said. "You have no way to verify or graduate because I'm not walking around with David Canter or listening to his telephone. I don't know what those things all entail. And you don't know what was getting said back this way, 'Yeah, we might have an interest.' How do you know?"

Rick Spielman, Vikings vice president of player personnel, said Saturday "a few teams are interested" but declined to give a specific number.

Williamson hasn't lived up to expectations since being the seventh overall pick in the 2005 draft; he caught a career-low 18 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown this past season. As for what the Vikings might get in return for Williamson, Childress said, "That doesn't come down until you really are pushing [the talks]."

While NFL executives can't address Williamson's situation specifically (that would be considered tampering), two team officials at the combine discussed what a change of scenery can mean for a player.

"I'm a firm believer that schemes and how you utilize players make a big difference sometimes in a player's career," said Rod Graves, vice president of football operations for the Arizona Cardinals. "That's not to say that he wasn't utilized correctly in Minnesota. But if someone can find a niche for him, I would have to believe he has some tools to work with."

Williamson does have blazing speed, but he has been plagued by dropped passes in his three NFL seasons.

"I think it's an avenue that you have to look at as a club," Tennessee Titans GM Mike Reinfeldt said of considering a player who didn't pan out with another team. "I think if a guy has certain skill sets and he kind of matches what your offense or what your defense does it's certainly worth looking at. And sometimes a change of scenery does help players."

Graves points to Cris Carter as a player who thrived after the Vikings picked him off waivers from the Eagles for $100 in September 1990. "Back during the years when Cris was at Philadelphia and all the problems he had early on in his career, and then all of a sudden he goes to a team like Minnesota and he blossoms," Graves said.

It remains uncertain just how quickly Williamson might end up on another roster. Canter would like to get a deal done before the combine ends Tuesday, but Childress made it clear the team is in no hurry. "I don't have any way of knowing that," Childress said when asked if he thought a trade could be concluded quickly. "I don't know who specifically [Canter's] talked to. I have ideas, but just because he's talked doesn't necessarily constitute a deal."

If the Vikings don't get a satisfactory offer for Williamson, the team has no plans to just let him go. "I have no motivation to release him," Childress said. "There's no sense in that."