Clouds don't scare Vikings

Shane Frederick checking in following Tuesday afternoon's practice. ...

Weather pushed the Vikings indoors in the morning but it didn't deter them from staying outdoors in the afternoon. The team practiced for about 90 minutes including the last portion in Blakeslee Stadium, despite an ominous black cloud rolling over the university and some lightning and thunder in the distance. The cloud was followed by a 10-minute downpour and some wind, but -- it's football -- they played on with some live hitting.

If anything, the front cooled things down after a sweltering Monday.

"It was a little cooler that's for sure," rookie running back Toby Gerhart said. "It's been nasty and humid. Fortunately, we were able to get some work in. ... The weather held off enough that we were able to get a little live portion in and get the work in that we needed to do."

While there was some action, several players sat out, including starting offensive linemen Anthony Herrera and John Sullivan, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and linebacker J Leman. Missing from practice were Percy Harvin, Jim Kleinsasser and Cullen Loeffler. Receiver Sidney Rice and cornerback Cedric Griffin, of course, remain on the PUP.

Oh yes, there was football at training camp

This is Chad Courrier. After spending a couple of sweaty hours Tuesday standing alongside the fields at Minnesota State, watching various media members working their PDAs to try get the Brett Favre story, there were actaully some things that happened at practice.

The Vikings were in pads Tuesday morning for the first full-contact practice of training camp. The star of the goal-line drills was safety Jamarca Sanford, who broke through the line to stuff running back Ian Johnson on consecutive plays.

Then the offense tried to fake the dive play and throw to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, but linebacker Kenny Onatolu leaped to tip the pass away.

When the No. 1 offense line played against the No. 1 defensive line, rookie Toby Gerhart made a strong run behind right tackle Phil Loadholt and right guard Anthony Herrera. On the next play, going left, safety Husain Abdullah stuffed Gerhart in the backfield.

Earlier, Gerhart took a big shot from Jasper Brinkley in a short-yardage drill.

Rookie quarterback Joe Webb fumbled his first snap during the goal-line practice, and somebody from the defensive sideline noticed. "Don't get nervous back there, 14."

E.J. Henderson caught a deflected pass for an interception, and as he ran down the field, someone in the crowd yelled, "Nice to have you back."

Coach Brad Childress (pictured -- yes, he did answer a non-Favre question) noted that running backs Ryan Moats and Darius Reynaud looked good carrying the football in short-yardage plays.

Will be back on the field for afternoon practice, though after a physical morning, it's unlikely much of note will happen. Unless someone says they got a call from someone who knows someone who talked with Favre.

(Photo by John Cross)