Tyrone Carter and the Vikings are looking for a way to get him more involved in the defense, whether that is as a safety or a cornerback. One way or another, Carter could be seeing more playing on defense in 2001.

There aren’t a lot of kids with Tyrone Carter jerseys, but that may change during the next few months.

VU has been told the role that Carter is going to play with the Vikings is going to increase — one way or the other. Carter has seen action at cornerback during the Vikings offseason workouts and, while his short size is a hindrance, he is seen as an option. But that may not be his role with team this season.

The Vikings brass has openly questioned the health of Orlando Thomas, whom Carter replaced last season. Thomas has spent too much time injured for his contract status and the Vikings — always concerned about the buck — have lost a lot of the collective enthusiasm about Thomas’ ability to continue to hold off a hungry youngster who has shown flashes of the ability to be an NFL safety.

While Carter will enter training camp as a backup, don’t be surprised if that doesn’t last long. He is being handed every opportunity to be on the field — and not as a punt returner. Carter was a Day Two pick in the 2000 NFL draft, but could well become a Gameday regular in the NFL.

MONDAY NOTES
* VU has learned the Vikings are quietly concerned about the health of Ed McDaniel and his ability to continue to hold up to the pace of a 16-game schedule. While McDaniel played all of last season, he wore down in the latter stages of the season and, while Craig Sauer and Jim Nelson are both being viewed as backups only, if McDaniel does a repeat in 2001, his role will be cut back.
* Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper is hosting The African American Adoption and Permanency Planning Agency (AAAPPA) Celebrity Golf Classic to be held Tuesday, June 19 at The Wilds Golf Club in Prior Lake. Culpepper has donated his time and efforts to the AAAPPA since joining the Vikings in 1999. Also scheduled to join Culpepper are head coach Dennis Green, Matt Birk, Todd Bouman, Dave Dixon, Leo Lewis, Mike Kelly, Troy Walters, Robert Tate, Byron Chamberlain, Don Morgan, Matt Cercone, Kenny Clark, Jeff Hazuga, Trent Walters, Emmitt Thomas, Gary Zauner, Alex Wood, Sherm Lewis, Charlie Baggett, Dean Dalton, Silas McKinnie, Mike Tice and John Tice. The agenda is as follows: 10:30 a.m. registration and driving range opens; 11:30 a.m. lunch buffet; 1:00 p.m. shotgun start; 6 p.m. dinner and awards, silent and live auction.