Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said Saturday he plans to pay Daunte Culpepper a $6 million roster bonus on March 17 and tried to defuse growing speculation that the organization is going to sever ties with the quarterback by trading or releasing him. Asked if he could definitively say Culpepper was going to be on the Vikings roster in 2006, Wilf said: "That is our plan, yes. Always was." He reiterated that point in two follow-up questions.

Receiver Koren Robinson visited with members of the new Vikings coaching staff and is expected to sign a multiyear deal in the near future. Robinson made the Pro Bowl this season.

The Dolphins expect Minnesota to release quarterback Daunte Culpepper before the Vikings are scheduled to pay him a $6 million roster bonus on March 17. Because of that belief, the Dolphins have resisted the offer to trade for Culpepper, who also is scheduled to make $2 million in base salary for the 2006 season. The Dolphins and Vikings recently discussed a trade for Culpepper. Although no exact compensation was discussed, the Vikings are asking for more than the second-round pick that was reported this month. Despite those discussions, the Dolphins are not interested in a trade at this point. They are examining a number of quarterback options. The Dolphins are expected to speak with the agents for San Diego quarterback Drew Brees if the Chargers and Brees are unable to work out a contract extension by the end of next week.

The Minnesota Vikings named cornerback Brian Williams as their transition player on Thursday, which prevents him from becoming an unrestricted free agent. By league rules, the Vikings must tender Williams a one-year qualifying offer at the average of the 10 highest-paid players at his position or 120 percent of his 2005 salary -- whichever is greater. Williams will still be allowed to sign an offer sheet with another team, which Minnesota would have a week to match.

While it has been reported that Daunte Culpepper could be traded, the Vikings' front office has been quiet on the issue. But left tackle Bryant McKinnie, tight end Jermaine Wiggins, defensive tackle Kevin Williams, nose tackle Pat Williams and cornerback Antoine Winfield all are in favor of the Vikings retaining Culpepper. "That's crazy," McKinnie said when asked about the speculation of Culpepper being traded. "I don't agree with trading him. Last year, they traded Randy Moss. "We already made one mistake (trading Moss). Don't do it twice. If that's the case, let me go."

The Vikings have held talks with the Miami Dolphins over the past week about a possible trade involving quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Two sources confirmed the talks, with one saying the Vikings have approached "a limited number of teams'' about Culpepper. No terms about a possible deal were available, but one source said the price for Culpepper would be more than a second-round pick. Culpepper and Vikings vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski did not respond to a request for comment. The Dolphins are extremely interested in Culpepper among a short list of veterans they might take a look at. Among the others are Tennessee's Steve McNair and Washington backup Patrick Ramsey. Coach Nick Saban has said on at least two occasions this offseason that he wants to acquire a young quarterback for the team to develop, but with some of those options possibly limited, Saban could turn his attention to a veteran. Saban has become progressively concerned about filling the position. The Dolphins are interested in Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler but think he might be drafted too high in the first round for them. The Dolphins have the No. 16 overall pick. Miami also is interested in Clemson's Charlie Whitehurst and Alabama's Brodie Croyle. But Whitehurst and Croyle are not considered as strong as Cutler. All of that has caused the Dolphins to take a further look at veterans such as Culpepper.

Rumors abound that Daunte Culpepper wants out of Minnesota and that the Vikings might be willing to make that happen. On Thursday, the quarterback responded to the talk in an e-mail to ESPN's Andrea Kremer, saying he's focusing on his rehab and he refuses to waste his energy on the speculation. "Because I am getting so many requests to comment about reported trade talks, I thought it best to make a clear statement that hopefully won't be misinterpreted. I have found over the years that 'people with knowledge of the situation' are usually the most ignorant, and 'anonymous sources' are usually synonymous with cowards who don't want to go on the record," Culpepper wrote. "My position has been and continues to be that I am focusing on rehabilitating my knee so that I can come back and play the game I love at the highest level. Until I hear different from [Vikings owner Zygi Wilf] or the new 'triangle of authority' at the Vikings I plan on playing quarterback for Minnesota. Trying to delve into speculation, innuendo, rumor or anything else of this nature would be a waste of energy. I choose at this time to spend my energy on getting healthy." The Star Tribune reported Thursday that the Vikings are gauging his trade value around the NFL.

The Vikings are gauging quarterback Daunte Culpepper's trade value around the NFL, a person with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday -- confirming a decision triggered when Culpepper demanded that his 2006 compensation be more than doubled. A well-connected website, reported the Vikings are seeking a second-round draft pick for Culpepper, but that asking price could not be confirmed. A trade for so little compensation would conclude a stunning fall for Culpepper, 29, who put up MVP-caliber numbers as recently as 2004. Baltimore, Miami, Oakland and the New York Jets are among those teams who are expected to pursue quarterbacks this offseason. The Baltimore Sun reported the Ravens might be interested in placing their franchise tag on running back Jamal Lewis and then trading him for Culpepper.

The Minnesota Vikings stadium campaign gears up anew tonight with a pitch to set aside politics for a moment and to take in instead: the Northern Lights at Blaine. Team owner Zygi Wilf is set to present to the Blaine City Council a newly refined vision for the stadium site that emphasizes the economic development projects that he'd help finance in the area surrounding his proposed $675 million stadium. Wilf and his partners said they plan to put $1 billion in the newly christened Northern Lights at Blaine complex -- an investment that team vice president Lester Bagley said Wednesday is certain to spur economic growth throughout the region. The full $1 billion commitment, however, hinges on public support for the stadium.

In announcing his decision to fire longtime agent Mason Ashe more than two weeks ago, Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper promised to take a more "hands-on" approach with his career. Already a unique athlete, Culpepper is giving serious thought to bucking the NFL norm and becoming one of the rare players who represents himself. While he concentrates on rehabbing his right knee, Culpepper said in a brief interview Thursday that he still has not decided whether he will replace Ashe with another agent. "I am focusing on being responsible for all of my business affairs, including my contract," Culpepper said. "I have not decided on if, or when, I may hire a new agent. "No matter what I do, I will be intricately involved in all aspects of any contract negotiations. Until last summer, I have had a very hands-off approach to my business affairs, and it has hurt me. I believe that the education process I am in is preparing me to be able to handle this important aspect of my career." According to Mark Levin of the NFL Players Association, Culpepper would be the 30th active player to represent himself. From the NFLPA's perspective, Culpepper has handled his obligation to the NFLPA by officially filing a termination letter, and he can represent himself until he decides to sign a representation agreement with another agent.