Former Viking Randy Moss returns to home to the Metrodome as a 49er

Injury report for Sundays game versus San Francisco 49ers:

• Out – LB Erin Henderson (concussion) and DE D’Aundre Reed (calf)
• Probable – John Sullivan (ankle), Andrew Sendejo (ankle), CB Chris Cook (biceps), TE Rhett Ellison (ankle), Mitchell (ankle), Brian Robison (elbow) and Jarius Wright (ankle) – will likely be listed as probable.

In place of Erin Henderson, LB Marvin Mitchell will get the start, according to head coach Leslie Frazier.

“Marvin has been in ball games as a starter, he’s been in ball games as a backup, he’s played a lot of football so everything that happens is not new to him out there,” defensive coordinator Alan  Williams said. “That gives me comfort and when he’s been in ball games, he’s performed well so that gives me comfort that it’s not all new to him and we’re not playing guys that have not played a lot of football. Marvin has so I feel good about that.”

Headlines

49ers-Vikings, WHAT A MATCH-UP!: I hope you can read sarcasm because that was the most sarcastic statement in the history of sarcastic statements.  I mean, a tough Niners D versus a weak Vikings offense should prove to be thrilling.

“These guys are good,” running back Adrian Peterson said. “We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Antoine Winfield gives team speech: On Wednesday, Antoine Winfield reportedly had a talk with his teammates, coaches, GM, and “everybody.”  Although he wouldn’t specify what the speech entail, he said it was about “football.”

“I only stand up and say stuff when it’s coming from the heart and I think it needs to be said,” Winfield said.

Rookie Harrison Smith gave the StarTribune a little more insight of what the locker room speech was about:

 “He let us know exactly what he sees in this team and what he wants from us,” Smith said. “It was good to hear him calling it like he sees it and allowing us to better understand what we need to be doing and what we need to be correcting. There’s not one guy on this team who doesn’t respect Antoine and look to him for how he does things. So when he tells us what he sees, we’re going to listen with the understanding that he knows best.”

Randy Moss set to make his return to the Metrodome: Moss had a brief second stint with the Minnesota Vikings in 2010 when he was traded to the Vikings from New England.  His bright spot during his time was being in the receiving end of Brett Favre’s 500th career touchdown.  Other then that, he was rumored to be a bad presence in the locker room.  Moss even threw a hissy fit over the Vikings’ catering before he was released by head coach Brad Childress.  Although his second stint was brief and not so fond, Moss created his legacy with the Vikings and is excited to head back to where it all started

On his return to Minnesota:
“I’m just very fortunate to go back to where it all started. We had some great times in Minnesota, so I look forward to hearing the Metrodome rock. Now I’m with the away team, and I look forward to a good game.”

….

What’s the biggest thing that sticks with you during your time with the Vikings?
“I just think being able to be around guys who had a name. To see Randall McDaniel and John Randle go to the Hall of Fame. I played with those guys. I’ve been in the locker room, I’ve won with those guys, I’ve lost with those guys. To be able to practice with them day-in and day-out, and for them to receive a prestigious honor as making it to the Hall of Fame, man, it just felt good because I know those guys, not really personally but kind of personally, as teammates. I think that’s the biggest thing that stands out to me. Now, the guys making to the Hall of Fame, I’ve either played with them or played against them. It’s just something big to see John Randle and Randall McDaniel make it to the Hall of Fame.”

Uhmmm, I wonder why he doesn’t fondly remember his second stint with the Vikings.  Totally weird.