Thursday morning links

The Leber cousins, Ben and Laura.

It's the last day of practice for the Vikings. They will leave town on Friday morning for their first preseason game Saturday in St. Louis and will set up shop at their HQ in Eden Prairie for the season. It sure was quick.

In today's Free Press, you can read about linebacker Ben Leber, whose cousin Laura Leber is a standout soccer player at Minnesota State. When the Vikings are in town, Ben makes sure to catch up with his cuz.

In the Notebook, veteran Antoine Winfield says the Vikings' defensive-backs corps is as deep as it's ever been, especially compared to 2004 when he arrived in Minnesota.

Free Press sports editor Jim Rueda gives his five observations of the Vikings after watching many of their practices over the last two weeks.

The Free Press sports section was a little tight and didn't have room for this excellent Associated Press story about running back Ryan Moats, who had a hand in this year's version of the Madden football video game.

(Photo by Pat Christman)