Vikings: Offer is a surprise to Longwell

MANKATO - Ryan Longwell spent the first nine seasons of his NFL career as a teammate of Brett Favre with the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings kicker has watched with interest as the Favre situation has taken numerous twists and turns.

Longwell probably thought by this point nothing could surprise him.

And then came word Favre is considering the Packers' offer of a personal services contract that would pay between $20 million and $25 million but keep him off the field.

"I had never heard of it with [John] Elway or [Dan] Marino so it was kind of out of the blue for me," Longwell said, referring to legendary quarterbacks from the Broncos and Dolphins. "Brett is one of the icons of the franchise, but at the same time I played with Reggie White, who was an icon of the Packers franchise, too, and they let him go. He played at Carolina his last year. So, totally big-name, big-icon guys and two totally different approaches to the end of their careers."

Favre, of course, would like his release from the Packers, but the franchise has no intention of letting him go knowing he would sign with the Vikings. Green Bay doesn't want Favre back as a player because it has decided to go with Aaron Rodgers as the starter.

Vikings safety Darren Sharper and receiver Robert Ferguson, who both played with Favre in Green Bay, said they would be surprised to see Favre take the money.

"I still don't think he's going to do that," Sharper said. "I think if he does it's because it's the only option. They are saying either you do this or you come back and you're going to be a backup or you might not be able to play for us at all. I never knew you could hold a player hostage who just wants to play football, but I'm finding out something new."

Said Ferguson: "I would [be surprised]. ... But I don't know. You've got to be around him and understand what he's going through. It depends on what they are telling him. It depends on what's going on behind closed doors."

Sharper spent his first eight seasons with the Packers before joining the Vikings in 2005. It was then-new Green Bay General Manager Ted Thompson who decided to jettison Sharper; Thompson now finds himself in the middle of the Favre situation.

"It's a different helm over there. A different organization than when I was there," Sharper said. "I don't think when [former Packers President] Bob Harlan and [coach] Mike Holmgren and [GM] Ron Wolf were there, I don't think this would ever have happened like this."

Receiver Bernard Berrian did very limited work in Friday's practice because of tightness in his groin area. He also was held out of the Vikings' joint practice with Kansas City on Thursday in River Falls, Wis.

Berrian said he has been getting treatment and expects to return today.

Berrian was one of three receivers to dress but not take many reps on Friday, joining Bobby Wade and Sidney Rice. Rice, who left the locker room wearing an ice pack on his right forearm, said the coaching staff decided to limit him but that he was fine.

Wade, meanwhile, has been limited since Tuesday. Wade underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee during the offseason, the second time he has undergone surgery on that knee during his career.

"It's one of those things that you've got to pay attention to," Wade said. "You don't want it to swell. It's all pretty much being proactive versus where there is a problem. That's not the case. It's just more being proactive with it and careful with it."

• Cornerback Marcus McCauley did not practice Friday after injuring his right knee against the Chiefs. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said the Vikings' athletic trainers said the injury is not serious. "He's going to be fine from what the trainers tell me," Frazier said. "It's just a minor injury. It won't take long. He shouldn't miss any time maybe other than a practice or two." Center John Sullivan left the field briefly Friday after appearing to hurt his right leg. Sullivan said afterward that he was fine.