Saintswrath

By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune
Last update: January 21, 2010 - 12:52 AM





The Saints' vocal fans in the Superdome can be disruptive to the visiting team, but Sidney Rice knows the antidote: Make plays.

Vikings players were fitted for custom-made ear plugs last summer to help them better cope with blistering crowd noise.
Many of them tested their ear plugs in practice Wednesday as they began preparing for the raucous atmosphere awaiting them at the Superdome for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints.
The Superdome is one of the NFL's loudest venues under normal circumstances, but the decibels could reach ear-splitting levels given the magnitude of this game.
"Playing there [last year] it was definitely the loudest stadium I've played in," running back Adrian Peterson said.
The Vikings won that Monday night game 30-27, but even some of their veterans described the atmosphere as the loudest they have ever experienced.
"That place was rocking," offensive lineman Artis Hicks said. "When Reggie Bush returned that second punt [for a touchdown], you couldn't hear yourself think. For some guys, that might not be a bad thing."
That comment drew a laugh, but his point was unmistakable. The Vikings have to manage the noise and minimize its effects, particularly when they are on offense.
"We already know how we can take them out of it: Go out there and make plays," wide receiver Sidney Rice said. "That's the only way and that's the only thing we're going to have to do to keep them quiet. If we're making plays, I'm sure it's not going to be as loud in there. We know it's a real noisy environment. It can get like the Metrodome this past week. We have to be on point."
The Vikings are taking different measures to prepare for the noise. Many players tried out ear plugs that were designed by Eden Prairie-based Starkey Laboratories. Starkey president Jerry Ruzicka described them as "passive ear plugs" that are "designed to dramatically reduce noise."
Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe showed his ear plugs to reporters in the locker room before practice.



Sound of silence is Vikings' goal | StarTribune.com

FireVenturi

Now that they have earplugs we will just have to be louder than usual!!!!!!

MATHIUS

i heard something on 870 this morning. and ive always thought this to myself and i never understood why it happens. the crowd usually waits to get extremely loud when the opposing team breaks the huddle and head to the line of scrimmage. why dont we try and get extremely loud while brett is actually IN the huddle and trying to relay the play call to his team. it just makes more sense to me. so for all of u with tickets, we have to be LOUDER when brett and the vikings are in the huddle. i bet this would make a world of difference for our defense. and one more thing. DONT GET DISCOURAGED IF WE GIVE UP A FW BIG PLAYS OR GET DOWN. YOU YELL AND KICK AND SCREAM FOR 4 QTRS! the nfc championship game doesnt come thru the dome too often.

The time has come! Who Dat

Budsdrinker

Bring it non stop except for when we have the ball!

Sir Psycho Sexy

Ear plugs to match there butt plugs you say?

foreverfan

ScottF

Whatever on the earplugs

Wideouts watch the snap anyway... are the the RB's and o-line going to have earplugs too? That should work well- a guard/tackle with earplugs and his head turned.

'zona silenced the crowd on the first play... for about 5 minutes

strato

Their dreaming ..this crowd will break all noise records..Being a musician ive tried those earplgs that allow sound thru..they dont work..they can try but they wont be able to hear either way i promise you..

Frankie Boog

Let em have their earplugs, Like scottf says, how can old man Brett change a play if his O line can't hear with them in anyway. Problem is when we do beat em that will be an excuse for them to use, "We had to use earplugs". Whatever fricken pansies

ScottF

Well, I will be wearing ear plugs Sunday, but,
I am older than Favre and have been fighting an ear infection since Thanksgiving.