The Minnesota Vikings hired Rick Spielman as vice president for player personnel Tuesday. Spielman left Miami in June 2005 after five seasons with the club, including one as general manager. Before that, he was with Detroit from 1990-96 and Chicago from 1997-99. Spielman left the Dolphins as he became increasingly irrelevant with new coach Nick Saban having complete control over the roster. As GM, Spielman was widely criticized throughout the 2004 season for personnel decisions. Miami went 4-12 that season, one of the worst records in franchise history. Spielman replaces Fran Foley, who was fired after three months on the job following a controversy about inaccuracies on his resume and a draft that got mixed reviews.

If he is going to use his time in the CFL to eventually get back onto an NFL roster, it appears that former Vikings tailback Onterrio Smith had better get back onto the field. "I can't put him on the team if I haven't seen him perform," Winnipeg Blue Bombers coach Doug Berry told the Winnipeg Free Press. "I mean, we're going to have to see him do it, because we've got other guys that I've seen do it, and that are doing it very well." Smith, 25, has been sidelined by a foot injury and has missed virtually all of training camp, which began last week. It is unlikely, unless he makes substantial progress early in the week, that Smith, who is serving a one-year suspension from the NFL, will play in Friday's preseason opener against Montreal.

Philadelphia traded wide receiver Billy McMullen to Minnesota for rookie free-agent receiver Hank Baskett. A third-round draft pick in 2003, McMullen never really found a steady role in Philadelphia with 22 catches for 294 yards and one touchdown in three seasons. He'll be reunited with news Vikings coach and former Eagles offensive coordinator, Brad Childress, and quarterback Mike McMahon in Minnesota.

Vikings receiver Troy Williamson underwent a medical procedure earlier this week to remove an abscess from his left hip and will not participate in this weekend's mini-camp, coach Brad Childress said this morning. Williamson, the Vikings' top draft choice in 2005, worked with the first team during the Vikings' first veteran mini-camp last month. Childress said he had no reason to believe Williamson won't be ready for training camp when it opens in late July.

Former Vikings running back Onterrio Smith, who violated the league's substance abuse policy, is expected to sign a contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this week. Blue Bombers general manager Brendan Taman said Monday he spoke to Hendrickson and Smith. "(It's) looking positive he could sign by the end of the week," Taman said of Smith.

Fired Vikings personnel director, Fran Foley, plans to sue the franchise and have an arbitration hearing. "Mr. Foley had a guaranteed contract and the Vikings breached that contract," Kessler said. "They induced him to leave a job he was very happy at in San Diego by offering that guaranteed contract." "We're not going to make this into a media circus," said one Vikings executive. "We felt it was the best interests of the organization, and the future of this franchise, to terminate the contract of Fran Foley."