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HOT TOPIC
The Vikings completed their offseason program with a two-day minicamp last week at their Winter Park facility in Eden Prairie.
First-year coach Brad Childress -- who is overseeing the installation of both a new offense (West Coast) and defense (Tampa-2) --- seemed pleased after three minicamps and two weeks of Organized Team Activities.
"I think they have done a lot in terms of learning," he said. "I've seen great progress. ... I've seen particularly wide receivers and tight ends improving in understanding conceptually what it is we are trying to do and them using freedom and their athletic ability and being able to wiggle themselves open.
"Now it all goes to another level when somebody is hitting you in the throat and you're trying to think about what you're supposed to be doing."
Both offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin stressed there remains plenty of work for players when they arrive at training camp late next month in Mankato, Minn. "You start over from scratch and keep building on it everyday," Bevell said.
Childress, of course, has plenty to do with the adjustment to the West Coast system. The former Philadelphia offensive coordinator will call plays in Minnesota, just as his ex-boss, Andy Reid, did with the Eagles.
Tomlin, meanwhile, has been working on getting the defense to adjust to a scheme that has been successful in Tampa Bay for many years and also is used by the Vikings' NFC North rival, Chicago.
"I'm very pleased but at the same time we realize that we have a lot of work to do," Tomlin said. "Football is a game that is played in pads. What we've been able to do in terms of the structure of the offseason has been good but we have miles to go in terms of being football ready."
For now, though, Childress wants his players to get away from football and enjoy some free time before the long season begins.
"I think somewhere you have to get away and you have to get your mind fresh," he said. "You know what you know. I don't think the blackboard will get erased here. ... They've had a great offseason in terms of work. They have to get their minds right and get their bodies right because we start a marathon on July 27."
PLAYER NOTES
-- The Vikings' minicamp last week was scheduled to go three days but coach Brad Childress elected to take his players bowling on the opening day. "I won't tell you who was high or who was low," Childress said. "I hate to embarrass those people. I was kind of the commissioner for any disputes."
-- The coaching staff was scheduled to work through last Friday before getting some time off.
-- Receiver Koren Robinson missed the last few OTA workouts and the final minicamp so he could be in North Carolina with his son, who was recovering from surgery.
-- Receiver Troy Williamson, who had been sidelined since undergoing surgery in May to remove an abscess from his left hip, took part in the minicamp. "I'm doing everything that everybody else is doing," said Williamson, who could provide the Vikings with a much-needed vertical threat in their offense.
-- P Chris Kluwe (knee) did not end up doing any punting during the offseason as he recovered from surgery. That gave rookie free agent John Torp an opportunity to show what he could do.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
One of the Vikings' main focuses now will be getting their six draft picks signed before training camp opens late next month.
Having first-round linebacker Chad Greenway in from the start will be extremely important, considering he should have an opportunity to compete for a starting job. The Vikings also will have three second-round picks to deal with, including cornerback Cedric Griffin, offensive lineman Ryan Cook and quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.
Signing Cook should be no problem; the Vikings took Cook at least three to four rounds before most expected.
At receiver, the Vikings cut down to "only" 14 players by releasing Jimmy Redmond. Koren Robinson will be atop that depth chart when training camp opens with Troy Williamson, Travis Taylor and Marcus Robinson behind him. After that, though, the competition should be wide open.
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.
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