So which position on an NFL roster would you say is most underrated?

Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell thinks he had the answer for me after spending another day without long snapper Cullen Loeffler.

"I've said all along that Cullen is the most underrated guy in our locker room," Longwell said. "I think long snapper is a very underrated position. I think we found that out with Cullen leaving and increasing his job security."

I spent a few moments with coach Brad Childress after the morning practice. Although the Vikings have been working John Sullivan and Garrett Mills at long snapper, Childress said his "ace in the hole" is All-Pro defensive end Jared Allen.

"He's like a Juggs machine," Childress said. "It's like a BB getting back there."

People forget Allen actually entered the league as more of a long snapper candidate than a defensive end. The Chiefs took him in the fourth round out of Idaho State.

It's unlikely Allen will ever snap in a game, but it sure sounds like Chilly has confidence that Allen could get the job done.