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Vikings Decide On Frerotte As Starter

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The Associated Press

Published: September 18, 2008

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Out with the new, in with the old.

After losing the first two games of the season, Minnesota coach Brad Childress decided the Vikings can no longer afford to let 25-year-old quarterback Tarvaris Jackson learn on the job. Wednesday, Childress turned to 15-year veteran Gus Frerotte to run the offense.

"I'm just not seeing right now the aggressiveness from Tarvaris that I saw throughout the offseason, training camp, the two preseason games that he played in," Childress said. "And part of it may be experience. I know Gus will give us that. And I know his approach will also lend itself to that."

Jackson completed just 51 percent of his passes this season. He threw a game-ending interception at Green Bay that sealed the Packer victory and was partly responsible for the offense settling for five field goals and scoring no touchdowns in an 18-15 loss to the Colts.

Frerotte, 37, was signed in the offseason to be a backup.

"I can't say that it was a shock, because I've been playing for a long time," Frerotte said. "I've been through a lot of shocking moments in my time, so nothing really shocks me anymore. It's obviously something Coach wanted to do."

Jackson was unavailable for comment.

Chiefs Say Thigpen Will Start Against Falcons

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tyler Thigpen, the first player from Coastal Carolina selected in the NFL draft, will be the first to start at quarterback.

The 24-year-old Thigpen will be under center Sunday for Kansas City when the Chiefs go to Atlanta. It will be exactly 11 months after the struggling young Chiefs (0-2) last won a game.

CHARGERS: With his toe injury lingering, LaDainian Tomlinson sat out Wednesday's short practice as winless San Diego began preparing for its home game against Brett Favre and the New York Jets on Monday night.

COLTS: Safety Bob Sanders could miss up to six weeks after spraining his right ankle last weekend at Minnesota.

Team president Bill Polian, while taping a segment for his television show on WISH-TV, said Sanders would miss four to six weeks.

JETS: The team announced a partnership with online ticketing Web site StubHub to auction licenses to 2,000 of the best seats at the new Meadowlands stadium scheduled to open in 2010.

Fans will be able to bid on the exclusive field-level seats, in an area called the Coaches Club, on the Web site from Oct. 19-27.

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