Harvin's role may be expanding

This is Jim Rueda reporting from Minnesota Vikings training camp after the team's first full morning practice Saturday at the MSU football practice fields.

The Vikings practiced in shorts and shoulder pads again and did some extensive special teams work for the first part of practice. Second-year wide receiver Percy Harvin, who was limited almost exclusively to kickoff returns on special teams last season, has done some live punt return work on the first two days of camp and has looked good doing so.

Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevel said the team is always looking for ways to get the ball in Harvin's hands and punt returns might be one of them. Special teams coordinator Brian Murphy indicated Harvin spent some time fielding and returning punts during the offseason so the team wants to give him a long look there.

Harvin did leave the field early at the end of practice but no word yet on what his injury might be. Defensive back Benny Sapp had to leave the field with cramps with about 45 minutes left but should be fine for tonight's 7 p.m. practice inside Blakeslee Stadium.

Rookie running back Toby Gerhart got an unofficial welcome to the team by the defense during 11-on-11 "non-contact" drills. At the end of one short gain, Gerhart was knocked down hard by defensive tackle Pat Williams who just turned and walked away. Later, towards the end of practice, safety Jasper Brinkley knocked Gerhart down again on a passing play.

To his credit, Gerhart did not seem intimidated. On the very next play after the Williams hit, he caught a flare pass from Sage Rosenfels out of the backfield and continued up field through traffic.

The Vikings players will officially introduce themselves to the fans at tonight's 7 p.m. practice. The workout will be followed by a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.

Morning links

Here is some of The Free Press' coverage of Day 1 of Vikings Training camp ...

Tarvaris Jackson is the No. 1 quarterback -- for now. Like last year, mot people are expecting Brett Favre to join the team after camp breaks.

Minnesota State's Adrian Battles (pictured) went through his first NFL training camp but on a very familiar practice field. Te story leads a notebook that includes notes on Toby Gerhart's signing and Sidney Rice's and Cedric Griffin's injury situation.

The Associated Press tracks down Adrian Peterson, who is trying to put some troubles -- fumbles, some hot water from skipping the June minicamp -- behind him.

For more on The Free Press' Training Camp coverage, go to our website, www.mankatofreepress.com.

(Photo by John Cross)

Vikings survive Day 1 of camp

Hello. This is Jim Rueda reporting on the first practice from Minnesota Vikings training camp Friday. The humidity was high but the heat wasn't nearly as bad as some recent training camp openers, making for pretty good conditions at the Minnesota State practice fields.

Everyone took part in the shorts and pads practice Friday with the exception of cornerback Cedric Griffin and wide receiver Sidney Rice, who are both starting the summer on the physically unable to perform list. Griffin tore his ACL in last year's playoffs and Rice is dealing with a lingering hip injury.

At the close of practice Rice talked with the media and said he'd definitely be back in time for the regular season. Earlier head coach Brad Childress said surgery was considered for Rice's injury at the end of minicamp but the team's medical staff rejected that option.

The only other player not practicing Friday was quarterback Brett Favre who is still trying to decide whether he wants to play another season. Even if he decides to play, he is not likely to make an appearance at training camp in Mankato.

As for the other quarterbacks, the pecking order has been established. There were indications during some of the OTAs and minicamp that rookie Joe Webb from Alabama-Birmingham had already moved ahead of veteran Sage Rosenfels on the depth chart but that was clearly not the case Friday.

Tarvaris Jackson (pictured) was the clear-cut No. 1, Rosenfels was the obvious No. 2 and Webb is No. 3. Jackson was the sharpest of the threesome in passing drills and Rosenfels was a close second.

Rosenfels had the two longest completions, a 45-yarder to Jaymar Johnson and a 40-yarder to Greg Lewis on consecutive plays. Webb's passes were not as consistently on-target, but he did manage to hit Johnson with a 30-yard pass in traffic down the left sideline.

Defensively, veteran linebacker Chad Greenway was the standout, knocking down two passes intended for receivers over the middle.

The Vikings resume practice today with a morning session from 9-11:15 a.m. The team will move into newly-refurbished Blakeslee stadium for a 7 p.m. practice Saturday night.

Photo by John Cross

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."

Vikings arrive for camp

The Vikings begin training camp with a practice on Friday afternoon at Minnesota State University. Players began arriving on Thursday. Be sure to check this blog throughout camp for news, notes and other observations. (John Cross photo)