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Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.


Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.


Pat Williams puts retirement plans on hold

Posted by: under Vikings, NFC, Super Bowl, Vikings defense, Vikings players, Adrian Peterson, Kevin Williams, Pat Williams Updated: November 16, 2010 - 5:00 PM

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Nose tackle Pat Williams said after the Vikings loss to New Orleans in last season's NFC title game that he was going to give some real thought to retiring. Then in the spring he talked about this being his final season, although that plan included winning the Super Bowl.

At the time, the Vikings appeared to be one of the favorites to represent the NFC in that game. Now, they are a disappointing 3-6 and are long shots to even make the playoffs.

But if Williams is discouraged it didn't show Tuesday as he attended an event at Children's Hospitals and Clinics in Minneapolis that was staged by fellow defensive tackle Kevin Williams and Kevin's wife, Tasha.

Pat Williams, who turned 38 on Oct. 24 and is the oldest defensive player in the NFL, told reporters he would like to play a "couple more years."
 
"I'll play," Williams said when asked about 2011. "I've talked about it, thought about it. I’m still feeling good, I’m still playing good and the game part is easy. So I’m still going to play.”
 
Williams said he would like to continue playing for the Vikings but that is no sure thing. He is in the last season of his contract and the Vikings have a number of pending free agents and or players, such as Adrian Peterson and potentially Kevin Williams, who will be looking for contract extensions.
 
The Vikings also are going to have to worry about the lack of a collective bargaining agreement, something that could hold up their ability to open negotiations with players.
 
"There's a lot of guys up but I'm hoping to play here," Williams said. "It ain’t all about no money to me. God has blessed me good so I just enjoy playing.”
 
Williams said he played about 45 snaps last Sunday in the Vikings' loss at Chicago and is probably averaging between 35 and 40 snaps a game. Williams underwent surgery last offseason on his right elbow and said he aggravated the elbow issue in the Vikings' loss on Oct. 24 at Green Bay.
 
He wore a brace in practice last week but did not have it on Sunday in Soldier Field. "It's good. It's good," he said of the elbow. "I just practiced with it to be safe."

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