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MANKATO - The Vikings waived Aundrae Allison on Tuesday afternoon, ending a bizarre day that began with the wide receiver's agent using his Twitter account to update his client's situation.

Allison was not on the field as practice began in the morning and the reason became clear when Drew Rosenhaus tweeted that the Vikings had informed him they would waive Allison by 5 p.m. if he wasn't traded first. If Allison had any value, Rosenhaus' tweet about Allison's impending release alerted the rest of the NFL and meant the team wasn't going to get anything for him.

This couldn't have thrilled Vikings officials, who saw Rosenhaus on Monday when he visited Mankato. Vikings coach Brad Childress addressed the media twice Tuesday, but both times were before the Allison move became official, so he would not comment on the situation.

While Allison being jettisoned did not come as a surprise -- he appeared to be a long shot to make the final 53-man roster -- the transaction came only five days into camp and caught some off guard. Teams aren't required to make their first cuts until Sept. 1.

So why the quick exit? Allison, a fifth-round pick by the Vikings in 2007 out of East Carolina, struggled with his route assignments. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said last August that Allison's freelancing on the field could be a problem. At the time, Bevell referred to Allison as a "cowboy" and a "free rider," before adding, "We tell this to Aundrae all of the time: He is his own worst enemy."

Allison had 18 catches for 231 yards in 26 games with the Vikings. He also was used on kickoffs and punt returns and had an average of 25.9 yards on 26 kick returns and a touchdown. The TD came on Dec. 2, 2007 against Detroit when Allison went 104 yards, setting a Vikings record for the longest play.

Allison's departure leaves 10 wide receivers on what is now a 79-man roster. The Vikings will be able to add a player.
Getting into the mix.

With Cedric Griffin limited because of a minor leg injury, rookie Asher Allen got work with the first-team defense and held his own. Allen stripped a ball out of Bernard Berrian's hands for an interception, and he played aggressively at the line of scrimmage.

"I'm a real physical player," Allen said. "I enjoy hitting and things like that. But I'm still coming out here and trying to learn from Antoine [Winfield] and Cedric and those guys who have experience."

Allen is competing for the nickel back job with Marcus McCauley and Benny Sapp. Childress said he likes what he sees so far from Allen. "He makes plays on the ball," Childress said. "He is quick-footed, doesn't shy away from contact, and doesn't shy away if you're a No. 1 receiver. He will get up in your face and he is a smart guy."
Fighting through pain

Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe does not appear to be 100 percent after suffering a minor leg injury early in camp, but he refuses to sit out.

"He's got a little aggravation right now and little nicks that everyone has, but he will not miss a practice right now," Childress said. "You would have to stick him in a straightjacket for him not to come out to practice. That's an evolution because his first year he would have stayed inside [the locker room.] I think he has learned what it means to be the lead dog at the tight end position."
Etc.

• Wide receiver Jaymar Johnson and his wife, Kassy, are expecting their first child any day. Johnson is competing for a roster spot and will leave camp for the delivery.

Allison put on waivers after Twitter spills beans

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