NFL will announce 2008 schedule today

Vikings fans might want to take a late lunch break this afternoon.

The NFL plans to announce its entire 2008 schedule at 1 p.m. today during a two-hour show on the NFL Network. The Vikings have known their opponents since January but today will find out the dates and times of their games as well as the television schedule.

The team got a bit of a head start in this department last month when the NFL revealed the Vikings will open the season with a Monday night game Sept. 8 at Green Bay on ESPN. (KSTP, Ch. 5, also will air the game.)

The league also has announced three other nationally televised prime-time games for the opening week, including the Redskins visiting the Super Bowl champion Giants on Sept. 4 (NBC), the Bears visiting the Colts on Sept. 7 (NBC) and the Broncos playing at the Raiders as the second part of the Sept. 8 doubleheader on ESPN.

The Vikings' schedule will include NFC North rivals Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay home and away. Their other home opponents will be Atlanta, Carolina, Houston, Indianapolis and the New York Giants. The away games will be against Arizona, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Tennessee and Tampa Bay.

JUDD ZULGAD

Herschel Walker once played Russian roulette with a loaded pistol as he struggled with a personality disorder.

"To challenge death like I was doing, you start saying, there's a problem here," the former Viking said during an interview to be broadcast Monday night on ABC's "Nightline."

Walker suffers from dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder. His experiences are chronicled in his book, "Breaking Free," which is released this week.

Walker, 46, was a star running back at Georgia and in the pros. He says he had the condition during his playing days but didn't realize it. He doesn't remember winning the Heisman Trophy in 1982 or darker events, such as threatening his then-wife.

Walker has been in treatment for eight years but doesn't take medication. He believes he has improved greatly. "I've totally changed from back then to where I am today," he says.

• Saints running back Deuce McAllister, coming off the second season-ending knee surgery of his career, will remain with New Orleans for at least one more season. A member of the team with knowledge of the contract negotiations confirmed the agreement to the Associated Press. McAllister, who was due a $1 million roster bonus by today, worked out the deal that cleared the way for him to return.

• The Chiefs signed return specialist B.J. Sams and fullback Chris Manderino.

• Buzz Nutter, the center for John Unitas on NFL championship teams with the Baltimore Colts in 1958 and 1959, died Sunday of heart failure in La Plata, Md. He was 77.