Is it Sept. 8 yet?

With a 16-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Minnesota Vikings finished the 2008 NFL pre-season 1-3.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

The Vikings didn't play any starters in this game. Neither did the Cowboys. Both teams probably would have preferred that the game not have been played at all. And after suffering through a quarter and a bit of this game myself, I feel the same way.

But anyway, the next big event for Vikings fans comes when the Vikings settle on the 53-man roster that will roll into Lambeau Field for the season opener. Who should make the team – guys currently thought to be on the bubble?

Well, I'll be disappointed if linebacker Erin Henderson doesn't stick.

I'll be somewhat disappointed if second-year linebacker Rufus Alexander doesn't stick.

And that's about it. Peace out. Whatever that means.

Booty or Bollinger?
Before the pre-season started I figured Brooks Bollinger was a goner. But John David Booty hasn't exactly separated himself from Bollinger in the battle for the third quarterback spot. In fact, he's been slightly outplayed by the veteran. This could be a close call.

So who stays and who goes? In this case, head coach Brad Childress shouldn't base his decision on Bollinger's ability, a guy who is in his sixth NFL season, who will be 29 in November and who is probably as good now as he's ever going to be.

Rather, Childress has to make a call on what kind of player Booty is going to be in two or three years. What kind of player he is right now doesn't really matter. As the team's third quarterback, Booty isn't going to play unless both Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte go down. And if that does happen, it doesn't matter whether Booty or Bollinger are playing in 2008. The Vikings will be toast either way.

So if Childress decides to keep Booty and cut Bollinger it's because he thinks the former will be of more use to the Vikings in 2009, 2010 and beyond.

Booty's bigger. He's got a slightly better arm. He's younger. He should get better with more experience and coaching. Those are all good enough reasons to cut loose Bollinger. But Booty hasn't helped his case with his ho-hum play in pre-season.