By JUDD ZULGAD, Minneapolis Star Tribune

MANKATO, Minn. - Erin Henderson is taking nothing for granted.

Henderson, entering his fourth season, appears to be a near lock to win the Vikings' weak-side linebacker job and start alongside big brother E.J. Henderson in the Sept. 11 opener at San Diego. That would make them the first brothers to start a game alongside each other at the position in the modern era.

. After two years of having Brett Favre under center, the Minnesota Vikings appear prepared to go with a younger quarterback. But it might not be rookie Christian Ponder.

XXXXX (XXXXX, Minneapolis Star Tribune) --

Sizing up the top quarterbacks available in Thursday's NFL draft.

-- 1. BLAINE GABBERT, MISSOURI

Height/weight: 6-4, 234.

Grading the running back class for next week's NFL Draft.

-- THE CREAM

MARK INGRAM, ALABAMA

This is not a great running back class, but Ingram is regarded as the best prospect by many.

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Quarterback Jay Cutler has been prone to throwing interceptions in two seasons with the Chicago Bears, but Green Bay Packers cornerback Tramon Williams isn't about to get excited just because his team will face Cutler in Sunday's AFC Championship Game at Soldier Field.

Logic says Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre might have suffered the injury that will end his record streak of consecutive starts.

Anyone who expects Brett Favre to be gloating because Brad Childress is no longer his head coach doesn't know Favre very well. The Minnesota Vikings quarterback wasn't a Childress supporter, but he is too cool a customer to tip his hand.

Leslie Frazier made one thing very clear after being introduced as the Minnesota Vikings interim coach Monday: He won't be making a change at quarterback.

Less than a month after bringing Randy Moss back to the Minnesota Vikings, coach Brad Childress jettisoned the star wide receiver after four games.

Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress was upset by Brett Favre's decision-making on Sunday night as the now-injured quarterback threw three interceptions in a 28-24 loss to Green Bay at Lambeau Field, but the Vikings coach reserved the majority of his ire for the officiating job done by referee Scott Green's crew.