Childress opens camp with news conference

This is Chad Courrier, reporting back after coach Brad Childress' press conference to begin the Minnesota Vikings training camp. Check back in a couple of hours for Jim Rueda's observations on the first practice.

Childress said that the players took the field earlier Friday for some special teams work and other group drills, just "to knock the rust off." He said it looked like the players were in great shape, judging by the players' check-in weights. The team no longer conducts a conditioning test before the first practice.

"Everybody here has a sense of unfinished business," Childress said. "Based on the offseason these guys have had, we're going to have a good football team."

Cornerback Cedric Griffin and receiver Sidney Rice will open camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list, meaning they can work out on the practice fields but not with the team. Griffin is recovering from knee surgery, while Rice has a hip injury. It's expected that Rice might be the first of the two to get fully activated.

Linebacker E.J. Henderson, who broke his leg last season, has been cleared to practice, though Childress said they'll take it slowly with contact drills.

Running back Toby Gerhart signed Friday, meaning all the signed players, except for Brett Favre, will be here.

As for Favre, Childress said there is no news. "He'll make his decision, and I can live with it, either way," Childress said. "I'd love to have him here. It's something he's wrestling with right now."

The lightest moment of the press conference came when Childress was asked about the weight loss by defensive tackle Pat Williams. He's still "big enough to eat hay and (crap) in the street. I don't know how he lost 18 pounds, but I'm glad he did."