The Vikings say they have reached a tentative deal with the University of Minnesota on how much the team will pay to use TCF Stadium while a new stadium is being built. Team spokesman Lester Bagley declined to name a dollar amount, but said the "agreement in principle" would add about 3,000 temporary end zone seats to the 50,000-seat stadium.

Adrian Peterson says he is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He plans to begin running again on Feb. 28 and is very optimistic about playing sooner than initially expected. "Right now my goal is to be back by the first, the regular-season opener," Peterson told "The Dan Patrick Show" on Tuesday. "That's my goal." Peterson underwent ACL surgery on Dec. 30 -- a little more than eight months before the start of the 2012 season.

The Vikings plan to get younger this offseason and veteran Steve Hutchinson is aware that he could be cut loose as a way to save money. The five-time All-Pro guard is scheduled to make $6.95 million in 2012, the final installment of a seven-year deal worth as much as $49 million. "I know what the cap situation is and all that, but it's out of my control," said the 35-year-old. Hutchinson said he wouldn't be surprised if the team asks him to redo his contract to stay this season and he acknowledged he has considered the possibility of being let go before the new league year begins.

Ray Rice is set to become an unrestricted free agent next month and figures to cash in significantly. Peter King of Sports Illustrated writes that Rice wants an Adrian Peterson-like contract. Peterson signed a seven-year, $100 million contract in September, with $36 million guaranteed and $40 million in the first three years. There has been little progress between the Ravens and Rice on a long-term deal and they will likely place their franchise tag on the running back.

The Vikings have reached a preliminary agreement with Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota on a new stadium, according to a report. The report, which cited multiple sources, said the sides agreed on the division of costs for a $975 million stadium on a site at or near the Metrodome, the team's home since 1982. Sources claim the city would pay $150 million in construction costs and roughly $180 million in operating costs over the next 30 years, while the state would pay $398 million and the Vikings would pay $427 million.

Adrian Peterson plans to begin running by the end of the month after having surgery on Dec. 30 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. "I'm definitely making improvement. I'm starting to get my muscle tone and strength back into the legs," Peterson said. "I'm happy with the progress I've made so far. I'm extremely happy."

Given the trouble Randy Moss caused during his second stint with the team, the disinterest in bringing back one of the most popular players among Vikings fans in franchise history comes as no surprise. But GM Rick Spielman confirmed Thursday the Vikings "will be moving on" without Moss.

Cris Carter didn't even qualify for the final group of eligible inductees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year. Carter discussed his frustration on "The Michael Irvin Show" Tuesday. "I don't look at the (eligibility) list every year," Carter said on 560 AM in Miami. "I felt good my first year. I am the only person alive that's eligible for the Hall of Fame that has 130 touchdowns that is not in it, so when you have a stat like that. "You got more touchdowns than Jim Brown and Walter Payton ... I am not campaigning for the Hall of Fame, so for me the list doesn't change every year," the former wide receiver added. "My numbers ain't going to change. It's just too much productivity over the time ... like I have no argument, Mike. I really don't."

The Vikings will play at least one more season at the Metrodome after a team executive said they will not file a notice of relocation with the NFL ahead of Wednesday's deadline. Lester Bagley said the franchise remains optimistic that state lawmakers will approve a plan for a new publicly subsidized stadium. "We're making solid progress toward a solution," Bagley said. "We're doing everything we can to get a stadium done in Minnesota. There's just no point to us filing that notice."

A Vikings spokesman says that team owners don't like a new proposal to fund a $1 billion stadium in the Twin Cities suburbs using ticket fees and other game-related charges. The latest proposal floated by several Ramsey County commissioners was meant to replace a previous stadium financing plan that relied on a county food and liquor sales tax. Instead, it would draw $20.6 million annually from stadium user fees, an admissions surcharge, a stadium sales tax and parking lot naming rights. The county board said the plan would generate $618 million over 30 years.