Frerotte To Start

After a week when he set a franchise record for the highest QB ranking ever, Gus Frerotte made Mike Tice's quarterback decision easy Wednesday, as he was announced as the starter vs. Atlanta Sunday.

It became pretty obvious Wednesday, whether coach Mike Tice announced his intentions or not, that Gus Frerotte was going to be the starting QB vs. the Falcons Sunday.

Frerotte took every snap Wednesday, while Daunte Culpepper worked out in a pool at Winter Park to help heal his ailing back -- prompting Tice to announce that Frerotte will start his second game.

The decision makes sense, since it will give Culpepper three full weeks to rest his ailing back -- the Vikings bye week comes after the Falcons game. After Frerotte's performance last week, Tice's decision became much easier, since the offense didn't seem to miss a beat with Frerotte at the wheel. However, it was made clear to VU that, regardless of how Frerotte performs this week, after the bye week, it is Culpepper's job.

THURSDAY NOTES
* Nate Burleson will get his first NFL start Sunday. D'Wayne Bates will miss a third straight game with a foot injury and Burleson, who was the No. 3 WR, has moved past Kelly Campbell into a starting spot.
* Randy Moss didn't practice Wednesday, but is listed as probable on the Vikings injury report and will start Sunday.
* As if not having to face Michael Vick wasn't good enough, the Vikings offense won't have to deal with No. 1 CB Tyrone Williams. After a Terrell Owens-like outburst in practice, Falcons coach Dan Reeves suspended Williams for Sunday's game for "conduct detrimental to the team." Now if we can only get Peerless Price to pop off today.
* The Vikings had a longer-than-usual practice Wednesday as the team tries to scheme the Falcons' 3-4 defense. So few teams run the 3-4 anymore that when a team does face it rarely, it can create blocking scheme problems.