Notebook 11/19: Jared Avoids Suspension, Troy Still Bitter
11/19/2008, updated 3:34 p.m.
Phil Mackey, KFAN.com

Audio: Jared Allen
Audio: Brad Childress
Audio: Artis Hicks
Audio: Matt Birk
Audio: Gus Frerotte

Winter Park was full of intriguing storylines on Wednesday. Artis Hicks will take over for Ryan Cook at right tackle, Jared Allen has avoided a fine, and Troy Williamson still hates Brad Childress.

Jared Avoids Suspension

UPDATE: Jared Allen spoke to reporters following Wednesday afternoon practice.

"I'm not suspended, I'm playing ball, so I guess it went well," Allen said about his meeting in New York yesterday. "I was able to go out there and see their point of view, they were able to see my point of view, and they came to the determination that a suspension wasn't necessary.

"It was just a culmination of the last few weeks. They wanted to see where my mind was at... Obviously, they felt I wasn't a danger on the field.

"I will play football the way I play football, and that's the way it is. I'm not a dirty player, never have been. I play hard football, and that's the bottom line. Same thing I told them. It's done with, it's over with, let's move on. We've got a six game season, and that's all our focus is."

Brad Childress informed reporters that Jared Allen will not be suspended for his various questionable hits on quarterbacks in recent weeks. Allen went to New York on Tuesday to meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The NFL will, however, take $25,000 out of Allen’s pocket for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Aaron Rodgers two weeks ago. Allen was not available for comment during the media period on Wednesday.

Pat and Kevin Williams are scheduled to meet with NFL big wigs on Thursday to beg for forgiveness as well. Sort of. They’ll discuss Water Pill-gate and attempt to fend off four game suspensions.

Still no word on consequences for Ray Edwards, who delivered a vicious late hit on Jeff Garcia last week.  

Troy Williamson Still Bitter

Troy Williamson is currently nursing a groin injury, and he is unlikely to play against his former team on Sunday, but that didn’t stop him from being brutally honest about the Vikings and Brad Childress during a conference call on Wednesday.

“I can say the attitude of me being in a different spot and I feel I’m being welcomed by a head coach and not just going to work dreading it,” Williamson said about the difference between Jacksonville and Minnesota. “And actually wanted to go out to practice and having fun and doing things like that.

The last straw between Childress and Williamson came when the Vikings tried to take a game check away from the wide receiver when Williamson left for a week to tend to the death of his grandmother.

“After that, I had no more respect for Childress,” Williamson said. “That’s gone out the window, and I don’t see that coming back ever. That bridge is burned.”

And as far as a midfield handshake with Childress on Sunday…

“Nah. You ain’t going to see that. No.”

Childress was asked to respond during his Wednesday press conference, but he said he’s “not going to get into old news. [Troy] is entitled to his opinion.” As far as why the marriage between Williamson and the Vikings didn’t work: “Just based on what I saw, just productivity at the position.”

Or, lack thereof.

Williamson, a former top 10 draft pick, has caught only four passes for 27 yards and one touchdown this season. Of course, in Minnesota, he caught only 79 passes during his three seasons.

Still, despite the lack of production, Williamson says he’s enjoying his time in Jacksonville these days.

“I’m really not frustrated here. I can really say that I am truly having fun playing football down here. That includes offense and special teams. It’s just me getting back to where I started off playing football. I feel like I’m having fun. I’m not frustrated at all. I’m just having fun playing football.”

Williamson should savor these last six weeks. He may never suit up in an NFL uniform again after 2008.

Tidbits

- Donovan McNabb’s admission that he had no idea regular season NFL games could end in ties has been the most popular water cooler conversation so far this week. Several players have followed McNabb’s lead, saying either A.) they weren’t aware of the tie rule themselves, or B.) they knew of teammates who weren’t aware of the rule.

“I had a good laugh with Andy Reid about that the other day. ‘Who was the dumbass that coached that guy when he was a rookie?’” Childress said about McNabb, jokingly.

“I didn’t see myself get blamed yet, but you know, it’s early.”

Gus Frerotte was also asked about these mysterious ties.

“I’m sure if you did a survey of the NFL and asked guys before this week who knew the game would end in a tie, it probably would have been pretty surprising what you would have come up with.”

Just for the record, Frerotte said he was aware of ties in the NFL… Whew.

- Charles Gordon underwent surgery on his ankle. He should return to full strength by May or June. The Vikings have yet to make a roster move.

- Jared Allen (shoulder), Garrett Mills (ankle) and Bobby Wade (thigh) all missed practice. Vinny Ciurciu, Benny Sapp (concussion), and Madieu Williams (shoulder) were all limited.

You can contact Phil by emailing PMac@kfan.com, or you can visit his website, PhilMackey.com.