Chris Cook eager to face Rodgers

Chris Cook is looking for redemption Sunday when the Vikings meet the Packers.

The Vikings' third year cornerback was torched during his rookie season by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Cook, coming off early season arthroscopic surgery on both knees, was pulled by coach Brad Childress after Rodgers lit up the visiting Vikings for 166 passing yards in the first quarter of a 28-24 victory on Oct. 24, 2010.

Things got worse six weeks later when the Packers beat the Vikings 31-3 at the Metrodome. Cook gave up receptions of 47 and 39 yards to James Jones, and was pulled by Childress after Jones caught a 3-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Cook was yelled at by teammate Ray Edwards on the sideline, and after the game both Cook and cornerback Asher Allen were criticized by teammates.

Childress was fired the next day.

Cook missed both meetings last season after an arrest for domestic assault on the eve of the first Packers game, which he spent in jail. He was inactive for the rest of the season, and missed the Vikings' 23-14 loss to the Packers two weeks ago because of a broken arm.

"I've been looking forward to this game," Cook said. "My rookie year, I was coming off both my knee surgeries, and they were picking on me – a lot. I expected that coming off two knee surgeries. But I don't have knee problems now, so we'll see how it goes this week."

"He's Brett Favre-like, but I feel he makes better decisions at times," said Cook. "He's crazy accurate, that's the thing that stands out. He can put balls in places the other guys can't put it in. It's amazing to me to me. Every time I watch him I think, man, this guy, he's great."

Holiday presents

Houston running back Arian Foster bought Segways for his offensive linemen, so the question about what Adrian Peterson will do for his offensive line has been bandied about at Winter Park.

"We'll see how it all plays out, how many yards he gets, when we win the game," said center John Sullivan. "All I'm hoping for is a good performance from him and our offense and our entire team. The playoff berth is all we reaIly care about. I don't really care about presents. I'm not too focused on that right now."

Robison, Winfield ready

"I'm doing much better, doing a lot of stuff hard in the rehab room, just trying to get it back," Robison said. "I feel like I got a good range of motion, it's just getting the strength back in it."

Cornerback Antoine Winfield, who fractured a bone in his right index finger, expects to play Sunday with his right hand padded.

Reliable rookie

The Pro Bowl rosters will be announced tonight, and Vikings rookie kicker Blair Walsh has an outside chance of making the NFC team. Walsh has an NFL record nine field goals of 50 yards or longer.

"It's one of those things where it happens, it's awesome, if it doesn't happen, keep on pushing," Walsh said. "I'm more focused on what I have to do in practice. Accolades are great and all, but this game is more important."

"I knew I was capable of doing it from the start," Walsh said. "The biggest surprise is the number of attempts we've gotten. Thirty-five attempts is a lot. It's a different beast at this level, each kick is so important, it matters so much when the game is so close."

Veteran Ryan Longwell, who was cut to make room for Walsh, tweeted his support for Walsh's Pro Bowl candidacy on Sunday.

"It was one of the most humbling things I've ever had said about me by anyone," Walsh said. "My response was 100 percent truthful -- guys like him have set the bar for other kickers who come in the league, and they hold us to a higher standards, and we try to emulate careers like his."

Ford added