Mike Zimmer’s last press conference of Minicamp was a reminder of the Good Old Days of his tenure as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.Zimmer talked for 19 minutes with the same comfort as he would sitting on the back deck in July with charcoal smoke in the air. And despite a salty disposition toward a media he believes turned on him, Zimmer still opened up when asked about perspective he gained reflecting on last season’s collapse.

“It takes awhile to learn how to do this job, it really does,” Zimmer said. “I probably shouldn’t say this, but there’s a guy in New England that’s doing pretty damn good now that might have had a rough start…so that’s kind of my mentality, to continue to grow.”
http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2017/0...ead-coach/

MANKATO _ It wasn’t a typical day for Vikings defensive back Antone Exum. He actually was healthy enough Monday to practice.
It’s been one injury after another the past 1 1/2 years for Exum, entering his fourth NFL season. But he was able to make it through the first day of training camp unscathed.
“It’s a blessing for me because I know what it’s like to not be able to play the game,’’ Exum said.
The bad run of fortune for Exum began when he suffered rib and shoulder injuries Dec. 6, 2015 against Seattle, and was placed on injured reserve.
Exum didn’t play in a single regular-season game last season. He suffered a leg injury in an Aug. 28 preseason game against San Diego and soon was placed was on injured reserve.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/07/24/oft...-practice/

MANKATO – On a rare summer vacation with his wife, Jeanette, a few weeks ago, Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano failed at his goal of leaving work at work, too pleased, he said, to contain his excitement.
So, he gushed to Jeannette about his optimism for the team’s beleaguered offensive line, pleased both with the talent and work ethic of a revamped unit that will go a long way in determining how successful the Vikings are this season.
Perhaps more than anyone else, Jeanette was thrilled with the prospects of a strong offensive line.
“Because she has to ride home with me after games,” Sparano said with a smile.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/07/24/rei...or-season/

http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/video...803a153fa3

http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Vi...7b9f46124b

I expect both of them to sleep with one eye open...  B)

This was the kid that had the gruesome injury in college and the Cowboys still took him in round 2 last year of the Draft. When healthy, he was absolutely dominate. But he didn't play a down last year and I just saw some video of him at their camp this year: he's still limping. He's not right yet. I don't see how he's going to play this year as a starter. So that could be 2 YEARS with nothing to show for taking the 34th player in the Draft....that's an incredibly high gamble. Of course, the national media draft pundits gave Dallas major kudos for it at the time.

Its interesting.

I am working on something and trying to get something set right. If you see blank pages or errors this is why.

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Vikings hope early start helps rookies have fast startCoach Mike Zimmer's goal: Make sure these rookies are ready to contribute more than last year's rookies. MANKATO - Ifeadi Odenigbo turned to a group of unknowing reporters, asking where Vikings rookies were convening for dinner.
Odenigbo, the seventh-round pick, was one of 35 or so Vikings players to report early Sunday afternoon for training camp at the Julia Sears dormitory at Minnesota State University in Mankato. The NFL allows teams to set early report dates for rookies, quarterbacks and injured players for up to a week before veterans are required to show up.
These Vikings will get three extra days before veterans report Wednesday, giving rookies such as Odenigbo a chance to settle into their new homes for the next couple of weeks. However, Mike Zimmer’s decision for younger players to bid an early adieu to their summer vacations has a fine point — doing anything possible to make sure these rookies are ready to contribute more than last year’s rookies.
“I just felt like it was important,” Zimmer said. “I just felt like we wanted to try to get them up to speed as quickly as we can. Last year, a lot of the rookies didn’t play as much as they had in the past, so I just figured let’s give these guys every opportunity to get them up to speed a little bit quicker.”
This is Zimmer’s fourth training camp as Vikings head coach and the first time he decided to open camp early...


http://www.startribune.com/vikings-hope-...6198133/#1