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HOT TOPIC
New coach Brad Childress has limited media access to the Vikings' Organized Team Activities (OTAs), but the one session he did open last week provided a good indication of how seriously his players are taking the offseason program.
With the Vikings installing new offensive and defensive schemes, all 87 players on the roster were present for a Wednesday workout. Keep in mind the 14 OTAs are optional and usually, for a variety of reasons, there are a few players absent.
"This is a copycat league, and if one team has players putting in 22 hours a day, you want to make sure your team is putting in 23," Vikings free safety Darren Sharper said. "That's just the way it is in the league now."
Sharper is among the defensive players adjusting to the "Tampa 2" scheme that defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin brought with him from the Buccaneers.
Childress already has conducted his two mandatory minicamps -- he was allowed an extra session as a new coach -- and the Vikings will close their offseason workouts with another non-mandatory minicamp from June 19-21. That's non-mandatory in name only.
While Tomlin has been trying to mold the defense to his liking, Childress has put himself in charge of taking the Vikings' offense from vertical to West Coast.
Veteran quarterback Brad Johnson is familiar with the new system from his time in Tampa Bay and appears at ease running an offense that is based around a short-passing game.
Johnson also knows the importance of having all of his teammates present for these workouts. The repetitions gained in the OTAs should pay off when the Vikings report for their first training camp under Childress late next month in Mankato, Minn.
"Everyone is working hard throughout the league, and everyone got better in free agency," Johnson said. "The biggest deal is you have to hone your fundamentals and be ready for all the schemes and schematics that come up during the regular season. That's why it's good to see everyone here working hard."
PLAYER NOTES
--The Vikings will practice against the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 4 during training camp in Mankato, Minn. The Chiefs train in River Falls, Wis.
--Starting right guard Artis Hicks, obtained in a draft-weekend trade from Philadelphia, is having to make an adjustment after playing on the left side with the Eagles. Asked about what he must work on, Hicks said: "Just stepping with the opposite foot from what I've been doing the last four years. You try to program yourself to step with this foot, put this hand there and when you change teams you are with a different coach, different philosophy. You've got to kind of erase what you've been taught in the past."
--Cornerback Dovonte Edwards, who made the Vikings last season as an undrafted rookie, was working as the second-team kickoff returner behind backup running back Mewelde Moore last Wednesday. Koren Robinson, who made the Pro Bowl last season for his work on kick returns, didn't get any reps. Robinson is expected to be the Vikings' top receiver, meaning he might only see limited duty on kick returns.
--Receiver Troy Williamson, recovering from surgery to remove an abscess from his hip, was present but did not practice last Wednesday. He might be ready for a portion of the Vikings' final minicamp. Running back Ciatrick Fason also sat out because of an injury to his right hamstring.
--The Vikings released rookie free agent linebacker Lee Foliaki, who was signed from Texas A&M.
--The Vikings signed free-agent defensive tackle Ross Kolodziej to a one-year contract. The former Wisconsin Badger spent the past two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, starting a career-high 14 games in 2005. He also posted career-highs in tackles (39) and sacks (three).
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Vikings coach Brad Childress made his first comments about the hire of Rick Spielman as vice president of player personnel following a recent workout. "I've known Rick for a long time and knew what kind of person he was, a good person, and I'm excited to be working with him," Childress aid. "I'm very excited."
Spielman, of course, replaced Fran Foley, who lasted only three months as the VP of player personnel before being terminated. Childress and Spielman will have the biggest say in pro personnel matters.
The Vikings also finalized their scouting staff, adding Paul Roell, who spent the past 15 seasons as a scout for the Indianapolis Colts. Roell replaced John Fitzpatrick as a Vikings regional scout. The Vikings re-signed their other nine scouts whose contracts expired June 1. Paul Wiggin and Jeff Robinson remain with the organization but were given new titles. Wiggin, who had been senior consultant-pro personnel, and Robinson, the former director of pro personnel, are now listed as pro scouts.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--CB Ralph Brown (not tendered June 1).
--PK Paul Edinger (not tendered June 1).
--RB Moe Williams (not tendered June 1).
--C Cory Withrow (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--RB Adimchinobi Echemandu: ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--OG Adam Goldberg: ERFA; terms unknown.
--S Willie Offord: Potential UFA; $1.195M/2 yrs, SB unknown.
--WR Koren Robinson: Potential UFA; $12.7M/3 yrs, SB unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--FB Joey Goodspeed: FA, terms unknown.
--OG Artis Hicks: Trade Eagles.
--OG Steve Hutchinson: TFA Seahawks; $49M/7 yrs, $16M guaranteed; 2006 cap: $13M (Seahawks did not match offer).
--DT Ross Kolodziej: Not tendered as UFA by Cardinals; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--LB Ben Leber: UFA Chargers; $20M/5 yrs, $4M SB.
--PK Ryan Longwell: UFA Packers; $10M/5 yrs, $3M SB; 2006 cap: $1.31M
--QB Mike McMahon: FA Eagles; terms unknown.
--WR Billy McMullen: Trade Eagles.
--FB Tony Richardson: UFA Chiefs; $2.5M/2 yrs, $500,000 SB.
--DE DeQuincy Scott: UFA Chargers; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--RB Chester Taylor: UFA Ravens; $14.1M/4 yrs, $5.6M guaranteed.
--OG Jason Whittle: FA Giants; $695,000/1 yr.
--S Tank Williams: UFA Titans; $900,000/1 yr.
PLAYERS LOST
--RB Michael Bennett: UFA Saints; $5M/2 yrs, SB unknown.
--WR Nate Burleson: RFA Seahawks; Vikings did not match offer of $49M/7 yrs, $4M SB and receive 3rd-round pick as compensation.
--S Corey Chavous: UFA Rams; $16M/5 yrs, $4M SB/$1M RB.
--LB Sam Cowart: UFA Texans; $1.5M/1 yr, $710,000 SB.
--QB Daunte Culpepper: Traded Dolphins.
--OG Toniu Fonoti: UFA Buccaneers; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--C Melvin Fowler: UFA Bills; $7.2M/3 yrs, SB unknown.
--QB Shaun Hill: Not tendered as UFA/49ers; terms unknown.
--DE Lance Johnstone: UFA Raiders; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--LB Keith Newman: UFA Dolphins; terms unknown.
--LB Raonall Smith: UFA Rams; $750,000/1 yr, $150,000 SB.
--CB Brian Williams: UFA Jaguars; $32M/6 yrs, $10M SB.
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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