Despite rumors to the contrary, the Vikings are not interested in the services of Jason Taylor, according to a report in The Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The defensive end, who is believed to have been made available by the Dolphins, has yet to report to the team but claims that he will be in training camp later this summer.

Minnesota has traded defensive end Erasmus James to Washington, according to ESPN.com's John Clayton. The Vikings appeared ready to release James on Friday, but the Redskins convinced Coach Brad Childress to deal the former top pick their way instead. Minnesota will receive a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2009 draft. James has had three surgeries on his left knee and has missed 24 games over the past two seasons.

The Minnesota Vikings have waived troubled defensive end Erasmus James, a former first-round pick, according to The Associated Press. He was one of the top-rated pass-rushers in 2005, but a series of knee injuries derailed his career. "We decided to waive Erasmus, and we wish the best for him in the future," Coach Brad Childress said in a statement issued by the team.

Carl Eller, the former Vikings' defensive great, faces assault and drunken driving charges from an incident a month ago and was cited earlier this week for failure to have the correct license plates on his motorcycle. Police said Eller, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was stopped Wednesday when police saw him riding his motorcycle,then ran his plates and realized Eller did not have special license plates indicating he had past alcohol-related driving offenses.

Minnesota wants defensive end Kenechi Udeze to focus on his leukemia and have placed him on their reserve list for the 2008 season, according to ESPN.com. Udeze isn't eligible to participate this season but will still be paid his salary ($807,500) for the year. "He can focus on getting well. He's done a great job with that so far. He's been positive. He's been upbeat," said Childress, who praised owner Zygi Wilf for the decision. Because his illness doesn't relate to football, the Vikings were under no obligation to pay him this upcoming season.