The Vikings released Onterrio Smith on Wednesday with at least six weeks left on his one-year suspension for violating league drug policy -- ultimately deciding there was too much trouble in his past to wait for, let alone welcome back, the talented 25-year-old runner. "We've decided to terminate Onterrio Smith's contract ahead of this weekend's college draft. We wish him well in his future endeavors," coach Brad Childress said in a statement released by the team less than two hours after a predraft news conference.

The agent for former Vikings running back Moe Williams said it is presumptuous to assume his client will retire. "It's not clear that he's retiring," agent Ethan Lock said Tuesday. "That's not accurate at all." Williams, charged in the wake of a team boat party on Lake Minnetonka last fall, was found guilty of disorderly conduct last week.

People close to Vikings owner Zygi Wilf say the team has no plans to renegotiate starting quarterback Brad Johnson's contract for $1.2 million this year even though Johnson was a backup QB when he signed it.