The Minnesota Vikings kicked off training camp practices with a walkthrough on Friday morning. The first three days of practice will allow the players to get acclimated to football again -- in other words, the new collective bargaining agreement doesn't allow contact during the first three sessions.
Adrian Peterson's Status
He arrived in Mankato Thursday hoping the team wouldn't put him on the active/physically unable to perform list. But Leslie Frazier announced Peterson would start training camp on the active/PUP list. The move comes as no surprise, despite Peterson's alleged speedy recovery. He can be activated at any time. With Peterson on the sidelines, Toby Gerhart took snaps with the first team offense.
Happy Harvin?
""I'm at camp. I'm happy. I'm on board," Harvin said. "We had great conversations with me and coach throughout the OTAs and the break we had. We're on the same page." He did not provide answers to what caused his unhappiness, and reported request for a trade during minicamp.
Ponder Pontificates with Vox & Xbox
QB Christian Ponder joined the FAN and admitted that he lost some confidence after a four-turnover game against the Lions last season, but says his "confidence is back and I feel like I can go out there and play well." One reason Ponder's confidence is on the rise is the addition of wide receiver Jerome Simpson.
"What I really like about him is his football IQ is up there," Ponder said. "He just knows how to get open." GM Rick Spielman wouldn't say whether Simpson would become an immediate starter in week four after he serves his three-game suspension for violating the league's conduct policy.
Starting Offensive Line?
Left tackle: Matt Kalil
Left guard: Charlie Johnson
Center: John Sullivan
Right guard: Brandon Fusco
Right tackle: Phil Loadholt
Fusco, Chris DeGeare and Geoff Schwartz were expected to battle for the starting job at right guard, so it looks like Fusco is the early favorite to earn the opportunity.
Spielman Also Sits down with PA & Charch
General manager Rick Spielman joined our live broadcast overlooking the practice fields and commented on a bevy of topics, which you can listen to right here.
On Jasper Brinkley starting at middle linebacker: "Jasper is in excellent shape. Lighter, focused, ready to prove he can take over the Mike spot."
On second year players: "Those guys are going to have to step up and take the roles of some of the guys that we let go." The players Spielman could have been referring to include Christian Ponder, Mistral Raymond, Brandon Fusco, Chris DeGeare and Christian Ballard. All of whom are second year players that got some playing time last season. As for Raymond, Spielman says, "it's night and day with his confidence level in being able to play that position." Raymond is expected to compete for a starting safety job.
Jared Allen Excited About Fresh Roster
"There's only a handful of guys that I know," he said. "The turnover rate is why football is one of the best games in the country." Hopefully the Vikings' turnover rate on the field is better than last season's -3.
