Vikings sail along despite charges

The chatter was upbeat, smiles abounded and hip-hop blared on the locker room stereo.

If the Minnesota Vikings were shook up by the news that four of their teammates were charged with misdemeanors stemming from an October cruise on Lake Minnetonka, they sure did a good job of hiding it.

“It’s business as usual,” quarterback Brad Johnson said Friday. “Everyone knew that at some point this was going to come out. We’ve dealt with it as individuals and as a team and we’re moving forward.”

The Vikings are looking for their seventh win in a row Sunday against Pittsburgh (8-5), the best team they’ve faced since their winning streak started against the New York Giants.

Thursday, Hennepin County authorities charged Daunte Culpepper, Bryant McKinnie, Fred Smoot and Moe Williams with indecent, lewd and disorderly conduct for participating in a bawdy boat party on Oct. 6.

Around the league

The Carolina Panthers released wide receiver Rod Gardner, who caught only nine passes in 13 games after being acquired from Washington in a summer trade… . Washington Redskins cornerbacks Shawn Springs and Walt Harris returned to practice, while cornerback Carlos Rogers, linebacker LaVar Arrington and safety Matt Bowen sat out ahead of Sunday’s NFC East showdown with the Dallas Cowboys. Coach Joe Gibbs said pregame workouts Sunday might determine who can play and who can’t. … The Detroit Lions placed linebackers Boss Bailey and Earl Holmes on injured reserve, finishing them for the season. … Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Lauvale Sape was placed on injured reserve.