Vikings invade Mankato

Adrian Peterson (Free Press file photo)

Vikings players are to arrive in Mankato today (Sunday) and check into Gage Center (yes, they're back in Gage after a year in Sears!), likely between noon and 4 p.m. The first practice of training camp will take place at 3 p.m. Monday. However, new players, including Donovan McNabb and Michael Jenkins will not be able to practice until Thursday, according to new NFL rules.

In Sunday's edition of The Free Press, Shane Frederick wrote a Training Camp Primer. Check it out.

Meanwhile, Chad Courrier will be at MSU to cover check-in, and a whole host of Freepers will be at Monday's practice and the rest of training camp.

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

Monday morning reading

The Vikings picked a good day to take off. Sunday was hot and humid in Mankato. Even in the evening it was 90 degrees with 86% humidity. Yuck! Today should be a little better but just a little.

If you're going up to Blakeslee, do what the players will be doing regularly -- hydrate. New a reminder? Think of coach Brad Childress' words to describe the Brett Favre saga: "It's a fluid situation."

The Free Press does have some Vikings news this morning, namely a feature on second-year linebacker Jasper Brinkley. Brinkley (pictured), who made an impact on special teams last season, was thrust into a starting role when E.J. Henderson was lost for the last four games of year and the playoffs after suffering a horrific leg injury (broken femur). Brinkley said one of the reasons he was prepared for the task was the fact that Henderson took him under his wing early in the season. Read more here.

The Associated Press, meanwhile, did a story on safety Husain Abdullah, who, beginning Wednesday, will be fasting during daylight hours for Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting and prayer. Abdullah will be working with the Vikings' nutritionist to make sure he remains healthy during the holiday. Abdullah says he will not even have a cup of water between sunrise and sunset during Ramadan.

Check back following today's practices for blog updates from Chad Courrier and Jim Rueda.

(Photo by John Cross)

Monday morning links

Practice starts in about an hour, but here are a couple of stories from Monday's edition of The Free Press ...

Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway (pictured) is off to a good start at camp. Just a continuation of the last two seasons in which he led the team in tackles.

Meanwhile, coach Brad Childress had good things to say about the new turf at Blakeslee Stadium. That story kick off today's Training Camp Notebook. For more on the Blakeslee improvements, go here and here.

Also in the notebook, The Free Press caught up with punter Chris Kluwe, who was in Mankato a week before training camp with is band Tripping Icarus and gave a quick review of the gig. Our entertainment writer, Amanda Dyslin, did a story on the band (Kluwe is the bass player) last month before the show. Read that here.

(Photo by John Cross)

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)