Vikings invade Mankato

Pat Christman/The Free Press

Today (Thursday) is reporting day. Vikings players, we're told, are to arrive at Minnesota State University and check into Gage Center between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. The first practices will take place on Friday (see schedule at right).

Meantime, The Free Press is already covering some story lines leading up to this nearly three-week camp. In Thursday's paper, Jim Rueda writes about 35-year-old Antoine Winfield, who still believes he can play at a high level but can "hear the clock ticking."

Also, Rueda opines that there is hope for the Vikings this season, but that improvement depends on the play of second-year quarterback Christian Ponder.