This rumor will not be new to anyone who’s followed the team this off-season. What is new is that, for once, there’s an actual legit source involved.

Mike Jones of The Washington Post is that source. “The Vikings are indeed one of the teams interested in McNabb, according to two people with knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity,” says Jones. “But obviously, no deal could be made until there is a new collective bargaining agreement.”

Thanks for the heads-up on that last bit Mike.

Whenever McNabb trade talk surfaces, the next subject to be addressed is his contract. McNabb will make $12.5 million in 2011 unless he agrees to restructure. Jones’ story mentions that McNabb would likely give back $3.5 million he received as a signing bonus last year in exchange for his freedom from Shannyland.

Jones also mentions how the Redskins probably blew all McNabb’s trade value by basically announcing to the world that they no longer wanted him. This being the case, it’s unlikely the Skins will be able to score the third rounder they supposedly want for the QB. Many media types, including Judd Zulgad, are firm in their insistence that the Skins will never be able to trade McNabb and will end up cutting him.

Obviously, if McNabb is cut, the Vikings would then be able to sign him. Assuming McNabb wants to sign with them. Reports have suggested McNabb wants to play for the Vikings – Obi Wan Schefter even sensed it using the Force – but until a couple teams are bidding for his services, we won’t know what his real desires are.

If the Vikes want McNabb and he wants them, I say make the deal happen, either via trade or waiting for him to be released. I may be alone in this conviction, but I really have no desire to watch Joe Webb and/or Christian Ponder stumble through 2011.

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The idea that Chilly could be fired if the Vikes lose Sunday was floated earlier in the week by Judd Zulgad, who qualified his remark by saying it all depends “on how the game goes.”  In other words, if the Vikes fall flat on their faces, Childress could well find himself looking for other work.  And then there’s this from Fox NFL writer Alex Marvez, who called up images of the megalomaniac captain played by Humphrey Bogart in The Caine Mutiny in making his point about Childress:

Much like when Queeg’s superiors failed to remove him from power following a series of mishaps, Wilf has errantly allowed Childress to remain in charge. This shows for at least one week that not even a typhoon could oust Childress from the helm. But if the Vikings lose again Sunday against visiting Arizona, Wilf may finally do what he should have done after learning of Childress’ actions: Appoint defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier head coach for the rest of what has become a shipwreck of a season.

I’ve thought all along that Zygi’s fondness for Childress, not to mention the money Zygi would have to eat on Chilly’s contract were he to fire him, would keep the owner from making any rash decisions regarding the coach’s future.  But, after all the reports of Zygi’s anger at Chilly over the handling of the Moss fiasco, it becomes apparent that Zygi doesn’t like Childress as much as we were led to believe.  A coach pissing away draft picks on misbegotten trades and generally turning the team into a laughing stock will tend to sour his relationship with his owner.

And now there are two more factors entering the equation.  One is the on-going stadium effort, which many people believe could be damaged if Wilf elects to keep the unpopular Childress around.  The second factor is purely a matter of speculation but it does get one to thinking:  Zygi Wilf, being a life-long Giants fan, might be interested in bringing Bill Parcells on-board to rebuild the organization from the ground-up.  Hiring Parcells as an overall football guru would certainly spell the end of Childress as head coach.

Again, it’s all speculation.  And, even those who think Childress is on shaky ground believe if the Vikings win Sunday vs. Arizona, upping their record to 3-5, the situation will quiet down and Chilly will be safe for the time-being.  The question now becomes, if you’re a Vikings fan who hates Childress, do you root for the Cardinals to crush us by four touchdowns Sunday?

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I use the word “presumably” there because, all of a sudden, there is talk that Rice’s hip isn’t as bad as he wants everyone to think.  In his August 10 column, the ever-controversial Judd Zulgad not only raises the possibility that Rice is exaggerating the severity of his injury, but also speculates on a motive.

All the attention that has been focused on Brett Favre‘s absence from training camp has meant the elephant in the room (or at least in Mankato) has been pretty much overlooked.

That would be the curious case of wide receiver Sidney Rice and his hip injury.

First, what we believe to be true: There is something wrong with Rice’s hip. The problem landed him on the physically unable to perform list to open camp, and he has yet to practice. No one believes Rice is faking an injury that we’re told happened in the NFC Championship Game in late January.

But here’s where it gets murky and where everyone has gone silent: Rice and the Vikings have declined to reveal the exact nature of the problem — no one outside of the organization knew he was hurt until Rice’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, tweeted about it last month — and there appears to be no timetable for his return. In fact, coach Brad Childress said last week that Rice was “a ways away from returning.”

The situation is so vague that it has led to a growing feeling that Rice isn’t rushing back in part because of a contract that will pay him a base salary of $550,000 this season with no escalators. Rice is in the last season of his four-year rookie deal that averages less than $1 million per year.

Last season, Rice racked up 1312 yards on 83 receptions with 8 touchdowns, and added another 4 touchdowns in the playoffs.  So, yes, he can legitimately make the case that he is underpaid.

But, there’s an above-board way of dealing with the frustration of feeling you’re not getting your fair share, and there’s an underhanded, slimy way.  And if Rice really is exaggerating his hip injury out of disgruntlement…well, to me that qualifies as underhanded and slimy.

Not as underhanded and slimy as sending a bunch of texts to your pals on the team saying you’re going to retire, thereby forcing the team to come to you begging and offering more money, but still.

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