Peterson starts training camp on PUP

Pat Christman/The Free Press

Running back Adrian Peterson was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list as he continues to rehab his knee, which means he can't participate in team drills.
He will work with trainers on an adjacent field, and coach Leslie Frazier said that Peterson will be evaluated daily to determine when he can join practice.
Peterson said Thursday that he would prefer to stay off PUP and participate fully, and he discussed that with Frazier.
"He put up a fight," Frazier said. "He said `don't hold me back.' He wants to get out there, but we have to be smart."
Tight end Mickey Shuler (heel) and receiver Stephen Burton (toe) both are on the non-football injury list, which means they will also practice individually. Frazier said he expects both to be back soon.
Percy Harvin spoke at camp and said that all the offseason issues, which reportedly included a trade request and other problems with management and coaches, were resolved.
"I'm at camp, I'm happy," he said. "I'm on board and ready to go out here and start practicing."
Defensive end Jared Allen said that not having to deal with lofty expectations, it might be easier for the Vikings to focus on the upcoming season.
"I think this is the first year where they're are no real expectations going into camp," Allen said. "Our expectations are the same, an NFC North title and get to the Super Bowl. But we were 3-13 last year, and we have a completely new team."

Quiet day at Vikings camp

Even though the Minnesota Vikings players were in full pads, there wasn't a lot of eye-catching action during Tuesday's morning practice.

Linebacker Chad Greenway made a couple of interceptions during team drills, and in a short-yardage drill, Adrian Peterson made a ridiculous cutback against linebacker Erin Henderson to spring a long run.

Other than that, it was pretty quiet.

Defensive coordinator Fred Pagac held a press conference to tell everyone how much he liked the attidtude of his group, and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave followed to say that his unit knows what it's doing but needs time to become more precise.

On the injury front, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and Tyrell Johnson both missed practice with hamstring injuries. Receiver Percy Harvin (ribs) and guard Steve Hutchinson (shoulder) both returned, as did defensive end Adrian Awasom (illness). Safety Simeon Castille continued to do some running on the adjacent field, though his injury has not been reported.

Check out Wednesday's print edition to see what Jim Rueda writes about new nose guard Remi Ayodele. There will also be an AP story on Cedric Griffin as well as other notes from both practice sessions.

Bomar, Bomar ... where art thou, Bomar?

Vikings backup quarterback Rhett Bomar proved to be pretty shifty Monday, leaving practice through a different exit to avoid the media after morning practice.

The 26-year-old Bomar, who signed with the Vikings in December, was arrested on suspicion of third-degree DUI, a gross misdemeanor early Sunday morning. He was arrested at 2:47 a.m. in downtown Mankato, and he spent the day in jail, posting a $12,000 bond  before getting released Sunday night.

Coach Leslie Frazier said that Bomar addressed the team before Monday's practice and apologized for his actions. Romar then participated in the practice. However, he did not leave the field through the same exit as he and all the players do every day.

"Hopefully, he can learn from his mistake and move forward," Frazier said. "It's disappointing, but hopefully, it's something we can all learn from."

On the field, there were quite a few injuries to key players, though none were considered serious. Guard Steve Hutchinson missed some snaps with a sore shoulder, and receiver Percy Harvin sat out a couple of periods with sore ribs. Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe pulled up during a passing play, grabbing his hamstring, but he walked off the field and into the locker room with a trainer a few minutes later.

Safety Tyrell Johnson, who is competing for a starting spot at safety, missed the morning practice with a hamstring injury. Safety Simeon Castille, who suffered a leg injury Saturday, did some light running on an adjacent field, and defensive lineman Adrian Awasom was absent because he was sick.

Check out Tuesday's print edition for a story on second-year cornerback Chris Cook, who struggled with injuries last season. There will also be more news from Monday's practices.

Final week of camp begins Monday

There are just four days of training camp remaining, with full practices in the morning and walk-throughs in the afternoon.

There's a few things to look for over the next week:

Quarterback Donovan McNabb has looked OK but needs to get more comfortable in the system. The receiving corps is nondescript, and every defense is going to focus on Adrian Peterson, so there's more pressure on the QB.

The offensive line is a work in progress, needing serious time to play together. Right guard Anthony Herrera will probably remain on the physically-unable-to-perform list for a couple more weeks, but the other four starters -- tackles Charlie Johnson and Phil Loadholt, guard Steve Hutchinson and center John Sullivan -- aren't likely to change. They will have to play better for this team to succeed.

The defensive secondary also has some moving parts. Cornerback Antoine Winfield is a given, and Cedric Griffin won't likely play in the first two or three preseason games. Chris Cook was the third cornerback on Saturday and will probably start in the preseason opener at Tennessee, but Asher Allen remains in the mix.

At safety, Hussain Abdullah seems cemented at one position, while Jamarca Sanford and Tyrell Johnson are competing at the other. Sanford has made the most noticeable plays so far at training camp.

See you at early practice Monday.

9,145 fans? Really?

The Minnesota Vikings held their annual night practice Friday at Blakeslee Stadium, with an announced crowd of 9,145 fans.

Don't think they were lying on attendance, but the fans couldn't have been happy with how little action they saw over the two-hour practice. But there were fireworks, and I'm not talking about the scrum between the offense and defense during one full-contact drill.

 Coach Leslie Frazier has said that the defense is usually ahead of the offense during the early part of training camp, which makes sense. The offense is installing and perfecting a bunch of new plays, which require timing among all 11 players, while the defense can play with more emotion and just run to the football.

But the defensive line has dominated the offensive line nearly every time the No. 1 units face each other.

The defensive line of ends Jared Allen and Brian Robison and tackles Kevin Williams and Remi Ayodele have caused several sacks, whcih are signaled by a whistle because there's no tackling the quarterbacks.

The offensive line is a work in progress, with three starters back: center John Sullivan, left guard Steve Hutchinson and right tackle Phil Loadholt. Right guard Anthony Herrera is rehabbing a surgically repaired knee and arm, and Chris DeGeare is filling in at that spot. Left tackle Charlie Johnson has only been with the team for six days, three of which he could practice, as he takes over for Bryant McKinnie, who was released this week.

It's too early to get concerned about the offensive line, but Donovan McNabb is not nearly as elusive as he was earlier in his career, and Adrian Peterson can't be an elite running back without room to run.

In case you pay attention to position battles, safety Jamarca Sanford was the starter ahead of Tyrell Johnson, and Chris Cook was the third cornerback in the nickel defense.

Peterson shines at physical afternoon practice

At one point during the afternoon practice, in a short-yardage drill, Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said he looked at running backs coach James Saxon, who asked if it was OK with him that running back Adrian Peterson take part in the full-contact drill.

"Yes, I am," Frazier said, cracking a big smile.

Frazier, the former defensive coordinator, was clearly pleased with the full-contact workout, smiling as he left the practice field. The team did several short-yardage drills, with the defense stuffing nearly every play. On one, however, Toby Gerhart broke around the right end and dived past the pylon just before the defense pushed him out.

Peterson did show off his receiving skills, making two catches on patterns down the sideline. "That's something he wants to do," Frazier said. "He wants to stay in the game on third down, and to do that, he has to do what he did today."

Peterson returned to practice Friday after missing three days to be with his fiancee for the birth of the couple's son.

Quarterback Joe Webb made several good throws Friday, including the one to Peterson. On a 50-yard pass, he hit Jaymar Johnson, who made a diving catch in the end zone.

Rookie quarterba ck Christian Ponder wasn't so good, throwing one pass right to cornerback Devon Torrence, who would have scored an easy touchdown. "It's called being a rookie in the National Football League," Frazier said. "There's going to be other days like that, and he's going to have a lot of good days, too."

The physical practice did incite a couple minors scraps between players. Tackle Phil Loadholt and rookie defensive end D'Aundre Reed had a short flareup, followed by another between receiver Percy Harvin and safety Eric Frampton.

Linebacker Kenny Onatolu continues to wear a walking boot on his injured ankle. Rookie cornerback Marcell Gipson left camp to attend to a family problem.

Ho hum, another walk-through

The new collective-bargaining agreement stipulates that teams can't have two full-contact practices in a day, which means one of the workouts will be a walk-through, in shorts, T-shirts and caps.

On Friday, that was the morning practice, and anyone who paid to get into the practice-field stands should get their money back. To say that nothing interesting for fans happens at these practrices doesn't quite capture the depth of dull in that hour.

Of course, at a press conference after practice, defensive coordinator Fred Pagac rejoiced in how much technique and teaching was accomplished.

Of the newsworthy things Pagac offered, cornerback Cedric Griffin has made good progress from his knee injury, and he anticipates Griffin being the starter in the season-opener at San Diego. Hussain Abdullah is the starting safety, with Jamarca Sanford and Tyrell Johnson competing for the other safety spot, tthough he sees all three rotating.

Pagac hopes that Kevin Williams isn't suspended for the first four games, but if he is, a rotation of Remi Ayodele, Letroy Guion and Fred Evans will be used at the two defensive tackle spots.

Running back Adrian Peterson returned to practice. He left Mankato on Monday to be with his fiancee, who gave birth to a son Tuesday.

There was a transaction as the Vikings added defensive tackle Colby Whitlock, a rookie from Texas Tech. The 6-foot-2, 302-pound Whitlock, who made 57 tackles last season with two sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss, and another player were put through a tryout Thursday on one of the practice fields. Receiver Ryan Lincoln was released.

The afternoon practice, scheduled from 3-5:30 p.m., is expected to include contact, which should make it more interesting, though no one should have to pay anything to watch.

At the stroke of 4, let the practice begin

It's been an odd offseason in the NFL, and the first three days of training camp were unusual, with the limited activity and all the players with new contracts standing on the sidelines, only allowed to watch.

But Thursday was the day when the entire team could practice ... if the collective bargaining agreement was ratified by the players. The Vikings switched practice times so that the main, 2 1/2-hour workout would be conducted in the afternoon, after the CBA was approved.

But players voted 'til 3 p.m., then took the field as the results were forwarded to union leaders. By 4 p.m., the CBA was ratified, and all players were eligible for practice, signaled by Donovan McNabb's first pass to one of the assistant coaches, which was met by cheers from the biggest crowd so far at camp..

"It felt good to have our whole team together," coach Leslie Frazier said. "It was a good, spirited practice. It was a good start for our football team."

McNabb was the center of attention. His first pass in a team drill was a long touchdown to Bernard Berrian. His next throw was intercepted by Jamarca Sanford.

"Made a lot of big plays today, but also plays we wanted back and to get changed," McNabb said. "That's what film is for. It's a good start for us."

McNabb, Berrian and Jenkins had been working out Monday and Tuesday at Mankato West's Todnem Field, trying to build some chemistry.

"The fact that Donovan took the lead in that is a good sign for our football team," Frazier said.

There were a couple of things to be learned from the first full-squad practice. Free agent Charlie Johnson took over at left tackle, replacing Bryant McKinnie, and second-year Chris DeGeare was at right guard, with Anthony Herrera sidelined as he rehabs from knee surgery. Veteran Ryan Cook was signed Wednesday as competition for the right-guard position.

Frazier said that Phil Loadholt will remain at right tackle and not be tested at left tackle. "We think he can be an outstanding right tackle in our league," he said. "We don't want to weaken that position.

Running back Adrian Peterson was flying back to Minneapolis Thursday and should be at practice Friday, Frazier said. He's been gone as his fiancee gave birth to the couple's son.

Walk-through is more about who's not the field

The Minnesota Vikings held a walk-through Thursday morning and will be in full pads this afternoon.

While most of the players stood around, there were plenty of dignitaries on the sidelines. Owners Zygi Wilf and Mark Wilf were at training camp for the first time, and there were a few state legislators on hand, no doubt geeting wooed by the Vikings, who still hope to get a new stadium deal through a special session this summer.

U.S. Senator Al Franken also stopped by practice as part of a tour of south-central Minnesota.

A group of NFL officials also attended practice.

It was unusual to see quarterback Joe Webb, lending a few tips to Donovan McNabb, as the quarterbacks worked together.

While other players watched from the sidelines, veteran guard Steve Hutchinson was working on technique with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson.

It was odd to see the team work on pooch kicks and onside kicks without using a ball.

We'll be back with some thoughts after the afternoon practice.

McKinnie apparently has been cut

Bryant McKinnie set out a tweet Tuesday afternoon that "it's been fun."

According to several sources, the Minnesota Vikings have released the 10-year left tackle, who showed up at training camp looking far heavier than 335 pounds, his weight listed on the roster.

McKinnie had been placed on the non-football injury list, meaning he couldn't participate in team practices but could work out on the side with a trainer. He'd been doing conditioning drills and lifting weights with guard Anthony Herrera, who is rehabbing from knee surgery, for the last two days.

Coach Leslie Frazier had been tight-lipped when talking about McKinnie, never giving the media any reason why McKinnie wasn't practicing with the team.

McKinnie played in 132 games over nine seasons, all with the Vikings, and was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2009. He was the team's first-round draft choice in 2002.

He was already deleted from the team's web site by early Tuesday afternoon, before the team made an announcement.

This move became a possibility when the team signed tackle Charlie Johnson, who had played in 74 games and started 54 over the last five seasons at Indianapolis. Coach Leslie Frazier said that he liked Johnson's versatility at tackle or guard, though it looks like he'll now be penciled in at tackle.

Competition begins at Vikings camp

Monday's first practice was a glorified walk-through, but on Tuesday, though still in shorts and T-shirts, the Minnesota Vikings held some competitions during 7-on-7 and team drills.

"If that's any indication of where we're going to be when we leave training camp, we're headed in the right direction," coach Leslie Frazier said.

Among the highlights of Tuesday's practice was a deep ball from quarterback Christian Ponder to Jaymar Johnson. Joe Webb, who threw a few high balls, finally connected on a deep pass with Perc y Harvin, who made a diving catch.

"All three (quarterbacks) did a lot of good things today," Frazier said. "It was encouraging to see that they've really improved. Hopefully, they keep getting better."

Defensively, safety Jamarca Sanford made an interception off a deflected pass, and linebacker Jasper Brinkley scooped up a fumbled exchange in the backfield and would have scored a touchdown on the play.

In Frazier's post-practice press conference, he said that when Thursday comes, and all the newly signed players can begin practice, there will be no easing-in period.

"They'll be thrown right in the mix," he said. "That's what they're here to do."

Donavan McNabb is expected to take the No. 1 spot at quarterback, and Frazier said that Remi Ayodele, who was signed as a free agent from New Orleans, will be te starting nose guard. Erin Henderson will get the first shot at the weakside linebeacker spot, replacing Ben Leber.

Running back Adrian Peterson left camp Monday to be with his fiance as she gave birth to their child. Frazier said he hadn't heard if the baby was born yet, and he expected Peterson to return in a couple of days.

Percy Harvin took a lot of reps in the kick return, with Lorenzo Booker and Cord Parks also getting a chance. Jaymar Johnson will join that group in punt returns.

Check out Tuesday's print edition for more on the Vikings, including a look at defensive end Brian Robison, who has a new contract and a chance to be the starter with Ray Edwards having left for Atlanta as a free agent.

The Vikings are here, the Vikings are here!

Donovan McNabb signs autographs (John Cross photo)

The Minnesota Vikings arrived at Minnesota State's Gage Hall on Sunday, greeted by about 30 fans, most of which looked like the folks who were there last year and the year before that and the year before that.

Head coach Leslie Frazier addressed the media and had a few tidbits:

He called second-year quarterback Joe Webb "the incumbent," meaning that Webb will run with the first-tea offense at Monday's first practice. Newly acquired Dononvan McNabb isn't allowed to practice until Thursday, and rookie Christian Ponder will have to earn reps with the starters.

Negotiations are ongoing with linebacker Chad Greenway on a long-term contract. The Vikings locked up Greenway by using the franchise tag, but Greenway's one-year, $10 million hit on the salary cap would be eased by a multi-year deal. Frazier said that talks are not active with running back Adrian Peterson, who is entering the final year of his contract.

All of the Vikings draft choices were singed by Sunday and reported to Mankato.

Linebacker Ben Leber and defensive tackle Pat Williams, both free agents, could return to the team, though Frazier said nothing is imminent.

Cornerback Cedric Griffin will not be placed on the physically unable to perform list, but he won't take part in 100 percent of the practices. Guard Anthony Herrera may start on the PUP as he rehabs from knee surgery.

Even though he can't practice right away, McNabb arrived on Sunday, eager to start camp. He said he wasn't sure where he'd end up this season and was grateful to be acquired by a veteran team with a chance to win.

The veteran will likely be the starter hen he begins to practice, and he's aware of the expectations that he'll mentor the young quarterbacks on the roster. But he also said he wants to play and win.

See John Cross' photo gallery of the Vikings arrival here.

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.

Lockout? What lockout?

In Friday's edition of The Free Press, Chad Courrier opines that the NFL lockout didn't really affect football fans at all. In fact, it did away with a lot of the mundane news of the league until the week before training camp started. Everybody wins! Read Chad's column here.

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

It's over. Really, really over

At 2:45 p.m., with about half of the team on the field, and no fans to be seen, the Minnesota Vikings ended their 45th training camp at Minnesota State.

This is Chad Courrier, rubbing my tired feet and stretching a sore back, the effects of standing on the sidelines for the past two weeks.

Thursday's final practice was limited to special teams, meaning there wasn't much of note. Darius Reynaud had trouble fielding punts. Jaymar Johnson, Greg Lewis and Ray Small handled kick returns.

Since this it the last post of training camp, here are some of my highs and lows of the last two weeks.

The highs: Attendance seemed to be up, though it's always tough to tell by looking at the grandstands and autograph lines.

Adrian Battles, the former Minnesota State lineman, made it through camp, living out a dream that may or may not die in a couple of weeks.

Two weeks is about the right amount of time for the Vikings to be here. Remember when the team was here for six weeks? I do.

It's unfortunate that the best, and only, fight of camp came on the last day, when defensive end Ray Edwards was ready to scrap with rookie Toby Gerhart, mammoth Phil Loadholt, coach Eric Bienemy and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.

The lows: the misreporting of the Brett Favre story last week. Something must have happened to cause the reports of retirement texts, but the way the media grabbed on to the story and embellished it was embarrassing, made even more so when Favre denied the story the next day.

Only a couple of reporters had sources, while most of the media members used rumors as facts. ESPN's full-time programming of the "story" that day was the most embarrassing.

Injuries or absences from Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice and Visanthe Shiancoe didn't allow for the Vikings' starting offense to practice together once in Mankato. Of course, Favre wasn't here either, meaning this unit will have to "cram" for the season-opener Sept. 9 at New Orleans once all the pieces are in place.