Vikings’ Udeze “in remission, but playing in 2008 remains unlikely”

By Neal Coolong | Saturday, April 19, 2008 | ( 0 )

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The Star Tribune in Minneapolis is reporting that DE Kenechi Udeze's leukemia is in remission, and his brother, Thomas Barnes, is a 100 percent match for a bone-marrow transplant that will occur later this year.

Udeze was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in February. He told the Star Tribune returning for the 2008 season is the least of his worries.

"The (Vikings) coaches have done a great job reassuring me: No. 1, making sure you're healthy and making sure that you're OK for the next 50 years of your life," Udeze said. "That's all we're focusing on. Football is not going anywhere. And just like football, I'm not going anywhere."

Commentary: To say the least, it's an unfortunate situation for Udeze. For the Vikings, not only do they stand to lose a locker-room leader for 2008, but they are perilously thin at the defensive end position. Media outlets have confirmed that Chiefs DE Jared Allen is in Minneapolis Saturday, and the Vikings and Chiefs are working on a trade for the 2007 NFL sacks leader in sacks.

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	About Neal Coolong Neal Coolong is a freelance sports writer with contributions to Scout.com, AOL and Steelers Live. He lives with his fiance in St. Paul, Minn., and saves every dime (that she knows about) for their wedding next June. He's already made the prediction that the Steelers 2007 draft class will be one...
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