The first training camp practice of 2008 is in the books (with the second one taking place as we speak), and the team has managed to make it through Day One with no significant injuries. (Well, no NEW injuries, anyway.) If you want to get yourself a nice little football fix, check out KFAN's PA & Dubay page and click on the "7/25 - Final Hour" podcast link. It's not much, but it IS Paul Allen calling the plays that are taking place at Training Camp. Say what you will about PA, but I really like the guy as a play-by-play announcer. I like him largely because he's a gigantic homer, just like I am, and an announcer for your local team should have just that quality. Guys that work for the "big networks" have to be impartial. . .guys that cover the games for your local market really shouldn't be.
Just my opinion, anyway. . .your mileage may vary on that one.
You can certainly tell that the season has started, because the Star-Tribune's Vikings page and the Pioneer Press' Vikings page both have all kinds of stories about the Beloved Purple. And not a moment too soon.
A couple of developments from the first day of camp, via various sources:
-Pat Williams showed up to camp with a fairly sizeable brace on his elbow. Right after the Pro Bowl this year, Williams had surgery to have his elbow "cleaned out." His participation in various camp activities is going to be limited. However, he'll still be ready to kick ass and take names when the time comes. Why? Because he's Phat Pat, that's why. In the meantime, Fred "BZZZZZZZZT" Evans was taking #94's place in team drills.
-Adrian Peterson is still awesome. Like you had to ask.
-Sidney Rice (the official wide receiver of The Daily Norseman) has, from all appearances, put on about 10 pounds of muscle this off-season. Rice is another guy that I'm expecting big things from in 2008, and it sounds like he's already off to a good start.
-Tarvaris Jackson looks pretty good thus far in drills. Yes, I know, we won't REALLY know about T-Jack until the bullets start flying, but this is already more encouraging than the reports we got early in camp about him last season.
Man, I wish I was significantly closer to the action than I am right now. It's still 13 days until the first pre-season game, and 44 days until the Vikings defeat the Green Bay Packers in the 2008 season opener. But, at last, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel from here.
If any of you are attending or have attended any portion of this year's Training Camp, you're encouraged to leave links, pictures, or anything else in the FanPosts to give those of us that are less fortunate a little taste of what's going on at Winter Park. I thank you in advance for your contributions.
That's all for now. . .and, yes, I know that I STILL need to get the roster projection done. I'll have to see if I can't get that knocked out this afternoon or this evening sometime. Keep enjoying your weekend, folks!