Minnesota
Vikings

Vikings Team Report

Updated: May 25, 2012 04:23 EST

No team was hurt more by last year's lockout than the Vikings. They had a new coaching staff, a rookie quarterback and a completely new offensive system. So they started behind and never really caught up during a disastrous 3-13 season.

Coach Leslie Frazier is hoping to make up for it this season. He has scheduled the team's training camp to last three weeks, which is two more weeks than they spent in Mankato, Minn., a year ago.

"Last season was obviously difficult to plan because of the lockout. There was so much uncertainty," Frazier told reporters. "I would always like to take our team away for at least three weeks for the team building aspect that I think comes along with being at training camp, but because of the Minnesota State school calendar this is not always possible."

The residence hall that the Vikings have stayed in for years is scheduled for demolition. So no new students are moving into the hall this fall. The players aren't happy about the longer stay, but are willing to suck it up for the good of the team.

"As a player, it stinks," defensive end Brian Robison told the Associated Press. "We all know training camp is a long, grueling process. It's not fun, but it's part of the job."

The Vikings have broken camp before their first exhibition game in each of the past three seasons. But this year, they'll report July 26 and not leave until Aug. 16.

"This year will kind of be like getting back to normal," tight end Kyle Rudolph said. "Last year, it didn't even feel like we were (in Mankato)."

Some of the Vikings' veterans have talked to Frazier about the need to get back to the basics when it comes to training camp.

"You don't think it's that big of a deal until you don't have an offseason program," Robison said. "Being able to be with the guys right now is going to help us tremendously."

--Guard Tyler Holmes signed as a rookie out of Tulsa. He was undrafted in the NFL, but was a CFL draft pick last year. The 6-5 and 308-pounder has the genes to play professionally. At least in the CFL. His father, Richard, is a former CFL standout. Tyler was a first-round pick of Toronto in last year's CFL draft.

--The Vikings haven't had to worry about ego when it comes to former starting left tackle Charlie Johnson. Johnson was moved to left guard to make room for Matt Kalil, the fourth overall pick. "I feel good about it," Johnson said of the move. "Like I said, when I first got in the league, I was kind of a swing guy, reserve doing all that stuff. So I've had work there. I spent 2008 there (with Indianapolis). So I'm good with it."

--The Vikings have five players from Notre Dame on the roster. All five -- center John Sullivan, tight ends John Carlson and Kyle Rudolph, safety Harrison Smith and safety-corner Robert Blanton -- could be starters or key contributors. Carlson was asked about what a team gets in a "Notre Dame" player. Said Carlson: "Wow, that's a loaded question, right? I'd like to think that we're disciplined guys. The mental side of the game is a big part of the game, so the mental preparation is something that we take pride in. I like to think that we're physically gifted enough to play at this level, too. Hopefully the total package."

--Quarterback Christian Ponder is excited that the team has decided to build around with him several moves on offense, including drafting left tackle Matt Kalil and receivers Greg Childs and Jarius Wright, and signing tight end John Carlson in free agency.

"It means a lot to me," Ponder said. "I think that shows that they have confidence in me and trying to establish guys around me on the offensive side. Obviously on the offensive side of the ball we have a lot of improvements to make. We have so many good guys on this team already that can go out and prove themselves, but to add additional guys that bring a lot to the table is really going to help us and help me."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I wouldn't say elephant in the room. I hadn't been up there so I don't really know. But it was something that was discussed and I had no problem with it. Like I told (offensive line) coach Davidson, coach (Leslie) Frazier, anybody who asked me about it, I just want to win. Last year was not very good. I wasn't used to that and I don't want it to happen again. So if they feel that this is the best thing to make our team better, then I'm all for it." -- Veteran left tackle Charlie Johnson, when asked if the selection of first-round pick Matt Kalil to replace him was the "elephant in the room" before the draft.

The Vikings are trying to build depth as well as quality on the offensive line. They want to create a competition at every position when they get to training camp in August. That's one reason they added offensive tackle Levi Horn on May 18, four days after he was released by the Bears.

The 6-7, 315-pounder can play either tackle position and will serve as a strong camp competitor at the backup spots behind rookie first-round draft pick Matt Kalil on the left side and Phil Loadholt on the right side.

Horn spent most of the past two seasons on the Bears' practice squad. An undrafted player out of Montana in 2010, Horn is a project that could compete with and push DeMarcus Love, a promising sixth-round pick from 2011. The Vikings will have three new starters on the offensive line this season. They're also letting it be known they they're willing to make changes on the backup level as well.

MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--FS Husain Abdullah could return because he's not expected to garner much interest on the open market after suffering four concussions over the past two seasons. The Vikings need to upgrade both safety positions, but have so many other needs to address. They would feel comfortable with Abdullah, who knows the defense and was making progress before ending up on injured reserve.

--LB Xavier Adibi played in just four games, mainly as a special teamer, last year. Despite holes to fill at linebacker, the team sees little to no priority in re-signing him.

--WR Greg Camarillo has been told the team has no interest in re-signing him.

--LB E.J. Henderson is a long-time team leader that won't return. He turns 32 in August. Physically, he's beat up and does not fit the team's youth movement.

--LS Matt Katula won't be re-signed. He was brought in just to finish the season after regular long snapper Cullen Loeffler was injured.

--OL Scott Kooistra spent the season on injured reserve after fracturing a bone in his neck during the preseason.

--S Jarrad Page was a late-season stopgap signing because of injuries. Signed a minor-league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

--CB Benny Sapp at 31 he doesn't fit the team's youth movement and won't be brought back.

--TE Visanthe Shiancoe turns 32 in June and won't return.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)

--RB Lorenzo Booker (not tendered offer as RFA) is not a high priority as a little-used No. 3 running back and an average kickoff returner who took some of that workload off Percy Harvin.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.

DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED

--WR Jarius Wright (4/118): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--TE Rhett Ellison (4/128): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--WR Greg Childs (4/134): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--S Robert Blanton (5/139): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--K Blair Walsh (6/175): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--LB Audie Cole (7/210): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--DT Trevor Guyton (7/219): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

--WR Devin Aromashodu: UFA; $700,000/1 yr.

--OT Pat Brown: Potential ERFA; $540,000/1 yr.

--NT Fred Evans: UFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

--DT Letroy Guion: UFA; $9M/3 yrs, $2.5M guaranteed.

--LB Erin Henderson: UFA; $2M/1 yr, terms unknown.

--QB Sage Rosenfels: Potential UFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

--CB Zack Bowman: UFA Bears; $615,000/1 yr.

--TE John Carlson: UFA Seahawks; $25M/5 yrs, $11M guaranteed.

--CB Chris Carr: FA Ravens; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--FB Jerome Felton: UFA Colts; $700,000/1 yr.

--RB Lex Hilliard: Not tendered as RFA by Dolphins; $615,000/1 yr.

--LB Marvin Mitchell: UFA Dolphins; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--DE Nick Reed: FA Buccaneers; terms unknown.

--OG Geoff Schwartz: Not tendered as RFA by Panthers; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--WR Jerome Simpson: UFA Bengals; $2M/1 yr.

--WR Bryan Walters: FA Chargers; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

PLAYERS LOST

--NT Remi Ayodele (released).

--CB Cedric Griffin (released).

--OG Anthony Herrera (released).

--OG Steve Hutchinson (released).

--S Tyrell Johnson: UFA Dolphins; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--RB Caleb King (released)

--TE Jim Kleinsasser (UFA; retired).

--K Ryan Longwell (released).

--LB Kenny Onatolu: Not tendered offer as RFA/Panthers; 3 yrs, terms unknown.