Like it or not, defensive linemen get a break
 With plenty of depth, everyone rotated, like it or not.

By CHIP SCOGGINS and JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune staff writers
Last update: September 10, 2010 - 8:53 PM

The Vikings kept 10 defensive linemen, one more than last season. That is their deepest position, and it showed Thursday in a 14-9 loss in New Orleans that they plan on using everyone.

The Vikings had eight defensive linemen in uniform and rolled them in freely in the season opener.

Even All-Pro defensive end Jared Allen, who typically plays almost every snap, got several breaks. Allen said he never wants to leave the field but "when they're throwing the ball like that, you have to try and keep people fresh."

Coach Brad Childress is pleased with the progress of backups Jayme Mitchell and Letroy Guion and wants to get them on the field. Veterans Brian Robison, Fred Evans and Jimmy Kennedy (sidelined because of a knee injury) also are part of a regular rotation.

"We had a pretty good wave going in there," Childress said. "You saw Jayme Mitchell get in there and get a sack. You saw Brian Robison go inside and rush. You saw Ray [Edwards] rushing from the right side where he normally rushes from the left side. We're going to keep that mixing [players in]. We've got good football players in there. Guion did a good job, Evans did a good job, so we're going to keep those guys fresh and wave them in and out."

Allen, Edwards and All-Pro defensive tackle Kevin Williams don't like to take plays off. Childress admitted that Allen is not crazy about the plan but said "he's a team guy."

"It'll pay dividends as we go down the road," Childress said.

Harvin reveals new details

Percy Harvin expressed confidence that doctors are confident they have found a way to manage the wide receiver's issue with migraine headaches.

Harvin told NBC's Andrea Kremer that he has been diagnosed with sleep apnea and that doctors believe that his condition are largely responsible for triggering his migraines.

Harvin had a scary moment during the preseason when he collapsed on the field at Winter Park after the onset of a migraine. He was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and he said his heart stopped beating for 10 seconds while he was there.

Four days after being released from the hospital, Harvin took an overnight sleep test. He told Kremer that during the test his heart stopped beating eight times. That led to the diagnosis of sleep apnea, a disorder that affects breathing while sleeping.

Harvin now sleeps while wearing a device that pumps air into his nose and told Kremer he is no longer taking any medication.

Etc.

Thursday's game had an overnight rating of 17.7 with a 28 share on NBC, making it the highest-rated prime-time game in the regular season since Dec. 15, 1997, when the Broncos-49ers game had a 19.3 rating and 30 share.

The game had a 43.8 rating and 64 share on KARE-11, placing Minneapolis-St. Paul second among markets used to determine overnight figures. The New Orleans market was No. 1 with a 60 rating and 78 share.

Childress said he expects receiver Greg Camarillo to get more involved after only one catch for 29 yards Thursday. "You could say, 'Yeah he's still getting up to speed,'" Childress said. "I would think you would see him more and more if we had played more snaps."

Running back Toby Gerhart (knee) is close to returning, but cornerback Chris Cook (knee) probably isn't. "I know how he's progressing in the training room and on land," Childress said. "But to play the game is a whole different thing."

Quarterback Brett Favre went home to Mississippi after the game to attend his grandson's baptism.

The NFL fined linebacker Erin Henderson the standard $5,000 for throwing the ball into the stands after he scored a touchdown in a preseason game against Denver.