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http://www.startribune.com/510/story/675534.html
Vikings ask NFL to investigate radio trouble
The Vikings didn't suggest sabotage, but their wireless system was OK before the game.
Kevin Seifert, Star Tribune
Last update: September 13, 2006 – 8:10 PM
The Vikings asked the NFL on Wednesday to investigate a sudden disruption of their wireless communications system early in Monday night's 19-16 victory over Washington, a failure of unknown origin that forced them to send in plays manually rather than by radio.
Coach Brad Childress asked Ray Anderson, the NFL's senior vice president of football operations, to "take a peak at" the problem.
The Commanders reported no such malfunctions with their equipment. Childress stopped far short of suggesting sabotage, but he said two experts could find nothing wrong with the Vikings' equipment.
Asked if the problem was the result of an intentional act, Childress said: "I don't know."
An NFL spokesman acknowledged there was an "interference problem" with the Vikings' wireless frequency. The spokesman said no specifics were available on the nature of the interference.
Most teams use some sort of wireless radio to send in offensive plays from a coach's headset to a speaker in the quarterback's helmet. Childress said two consultants travel with the team for each road game to set up the technology and provide troubleshooting.
"It worked right before we came out for the game," Childress said. "They take those helmets all over the stadium and check them in every corner. They worked before we came out [of the locker room]. They didn't work for the first play. They worked before we came out for the second half, because they rechecked everything -- batteries, cells -- and it didn't work as we started the third quarter."
The Vikings eventually resorted to a backup system of wired headsets, but on several drives -- including the opening drive in which they scored a touchdown -- Childress shuttled in plays with several receivers as well as tight end Jermaine Wiggins. "Anybody I thought that could spit it back out," Childress said.
Receiver Travis Taylor was among the group.
"Hadn't done that since Pop Warner," Taylor said. "They would give me the formation and the play. Brad [Johnson] pretty much knows the plays, so I just had to remember two or three words of it and everything was good."
Johnson ran to the sidelines on numerous occasions to pick up the play himself. The Vikings snapped the ball several times with one or two seconds remaining on the game clock, but they were not called for any delay-of-game penalties.
"That's the way it goes," Childress said, "and that's the way it goes in a noisy stadium. You better be able to adjust."
Vikings ask NFL to investigate radio trouble
The Vikings didn't suggest sabotage, but their wireless system was OK before the game.
Kevin Seifert, Star Tribune
Last update: September 13, 2006 – 8:10 PM
The Vikings asked the NFL on Wednesday to investigate a sudden disruption of their wireless communications system early in Monday night's 19-16 victory over Washington, a failure of unknown origin that forced them to send in plays manually rather than by radio.
Coach Brad Childress asked Ray Anderson, the NFL's senior vice president of football operations, to "take a peak at" the problem.
The Commanders reported no such malfunctions with their equipment. Childress stopped far short of suggesting sabotage, but he said two experts could find nothing wrong with the Vikings' equipment.
Asked if the problem was the result of an intentional act, Childress said: "I don't know."
An NFL spokesman acknowledged there was an "interference problem" with the Vikings' wireless frequency. The spokesman said no specifics were available on the nature of the interference.
Most teams use some sort of wireless radio to send in offensive plays from a coach's headset to a speaker in the quarterback's helmet. Childress said two consultants travel with the team for each road game to set up the technology and provide troubleshooting.
"It worked right before we came out for the game," Childress said. "They take those helmets all over the stadium and check them in every corner. They worked before we came out [of the locker room]. They didn't work for the first play. They worked before we came out for the second half, because they rechecked everything -- batteries, cells -- and it didn't work as we started the third quarter."
The Vikings eventually resorted to a backup system of wired headsets, but on several drives -- including the opening drive in which they scored a touchdown -- Childress shuttled in plays with several receivers as well as tight end Jermaine Wiggins. "Anybody I thought that could spit it back out," Childress said.
Receiver Travis Taylor was among the group.
"Hadn't done that since Pop Warner," Taylor said. "They would give me the formation and the play. Brad [Johnson] pretty much knows the plays, so I just had to remember two or three words of it and everything was good."
Johnson ran to the sidelines on numerous occasions to pick up the play himself. The Vikings snapped the ball several times with one or two seconds remaining on the game clock, but they were not called for any delay-of-game penalties.
"That's the way it goes," Childress said, "and that's the way it goes in a noisy stadium. You better be able to adjust."
