Randle joins Vikings HOF candidates

Former Vikings tackle John Randle joined a list of more than 100 preliminary candidates to be discussed as possibilities for the 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement. Randle joins Cris Carter and Randall McDaniel on the list, as those two were on the ballot for the first time last year.

The preliminary list of 2009 Hall of Fame candidates was released Tuesday and the list is dotted with Vikings greats from years past.

Two former Vikings – guard Randall McDaniel and wide receiver Cris Carter – were finalists last year and return to the ballot with a strong chance of gaining induction this year. After the Class of 2008 was announced last year, there was a fair amount of shock that Carter, who retired second to only Jerry Rice in almost every statistical category for wide receivers, wasn’t inducted his first year. McDaniel still holds the record for Pro Bowl selections with 11 and it seems like only a matter of time before he too is called to Canton for enshrinement.

Other players who spent all or a portion of their careers with the Vikings include RB Herschel Walker, TE Steve Jordan, DT John Randle, DE Chris Doleman, LB Darryl Talley and safety Joey Browner.

Randle is among 11 players in their first year of eligibility, a list that includes DE Bruce Smith, TE Shannon Sharpe and defensive back Rod Woodson.

The list of modern-era finalists will be reduced to 25 next month and later reduced to 15 for a mailed ballot. The 17 finalists – 15 modern-era and two old-timer’s finalists (Bob Hayes and Claude Humphrey) will be voted on by the selection committee during Super Bowl week. The Class of 2009 will be announced Saturday, Jan. 19.

WEDNESDAY NOTES

If Carter and McDaniel can both earn induction, don’t be surprised to see the Vikings play in the Hall of Fame Game next season.

After missing most of the regular season, both wide receiver Sidney Rice and safety Madieu Williams (out since the second week of training camp) are expected to return to the lineup Sunday. Rice played against Chicago, but it turned out to be a sparse contribution.

On a Sirius NFL radio show Tuesday, Bernard Berrian told hosts Adam Schein and John Riggins that he called the NFL’s toll-free hotline twice to ask about the legality of supplement products, but didn’t have his calls returned. He finally got an answer after the third try.

Daunte Culpepper left the Lions facility Tuesday without a contract being signed, but there is talk that the two sides have discussed potential contract parameters. Culpepper, who was set to meet with Kansas City officials earlier this week, cancelled that visit to go to Detroit.

Former Vikings defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell was fired by the Chargers as their defensive coordinator Tuesday. He will be replaced by linebackers coach Ron Rivera.

New Orleans guard Jamar Nesbit, one of the players caught up in the water pill scandal (presumably being called Waterpillgate), has sued the maker of StarCaps – a supplement believed to be responsible for most if not all of the positive tests for a banned substance. The product, which claims to be “all natural” does not list Bumetanide as an ingredient on its packaging. That is the substance several players tested positive for, according to a Fox Sports report on Sunday.