Linebackers Alexander, Herron are among cuts

Linebackers Rufus Alexander and David Herron were among the players told Friday they were being released, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

The Vikings, like many teams, got a jump on getting their roster down to the regular-season limit of 53 players. The deadline to be at that number is 5 p.m. today.

It was unclear if the Vikings had informed either Brooks Bollinger or John David Booty about which of them would be the team's third quarterback, but indications are that Booty will make the cut.

Neither was impressive in the preseason, but the Vikings traded up to get Booty in the fifth-round last April and likely wouldn't be able to get him through waivers and onto their practice squad.

Sources said other players who were told they would be cut included wide receivers Martin Nance and Nate Jones, offensive tackle Chase Johnson, center Dan Mozes, cornerback Brandon Sumrall, tight end Braden Jones and defensive end Chris Norwell.

Alexander and Nance were the most notable cuts on a roster that was at 75 players when the day began.

Alexander was a sixth-round pick in 2007 out of Oklahoma but suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first 2007 preseason game. This year, Alexander tied for second on the team with four tackles in the Vikings' 16-10 loss to Dallas in the preseason finale. He had been battling for a backup spot as well as a place on the special teams units.

The fact Alexander and Herron were both cut seems to indicate the Vikings might have their eye on another linebacker in the league. It also means odds are very strong that Erin Henderson, who was signed as an undrafted free agent last April, will make the roster.

Nance had made a strong push to earn a roster spot after spending most of the past two seasons on the team's practice squad. Nance finished the preseason with eight catches for 144 yards and one touchdown.

Johnson, who made the team as a rookie free agent last season, began training camp as the backup left tackle but quickly slid down the depth chart.

The roster decisions might be more complicated with news that starting left tackle Bryant McKinnie received a four-game suspension from the NFL on Friday for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

Rookie free agent Drew Radovich had a solid start to camp at backup left tackle, but the team might elect to place him on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury.

Safety Michael Boulware suffered a wrist injury against Dallas and could be sidelined for an extended time, according to a person close to him. Boulware worked with the third-team defense early in camp and was fighting to make the 53-man roster.

Childress wasn't happy with the way his team played Thursday, but he clearly was satisfied by what he saw from second year defensive end Brian Robison. Robison missed the first three preseason games after having surgery to repair a varicose vein in his left leg.

Robison played much of the game at right end and had three tackles, including one for a loss, and a quarterback hurry. "He was playing a different speed," Childress said. "Otis Grigsby is playing a different speed. Those guys jumped out at you like a sore thumb."

Said Robison: "I was very happy. I think things went well. I showed my ability on pass rush tonight. I kind of wish they would have ran the ball a little bit more because that's the thing that I wanted to have my footwork down. But I was very happy, I was very pleased with the way things went."