The blog is back!

With the Vikings set to return to Mankato for the 46th consecutive year, The Free Press will once again be blogging from training camp. You can see the schedule for this year's camp at right or click here for a PDF version. Players are expected to report to Minnesota State University on Sunday with the team's first practice set for 3 p.m. on Monday.

Of course, camp will begin with the buzz that the Vikings have traded for former Eagles and Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb (pictured). McNabb will be the bridge between the Brett Favre and Christian Ponder eras in Minnesota.

Add to that the fact that this will be Leslie Frazier's first training camp as head coach (the team's fourth head coach in 11 training camps) and the mad scramble of free agency gains and losses since the NFL lockout was lifted earlier this week, and it should be a very interesting 12 days in Mankato.

Be sure to check out Sunday's Free Press for a Training Camp primer.

Can't wait that long, check out our latest podcast, featuring staff writers Tanner Kent and Shane Frederick talking Purple.

—Shane Frederick