The Vikings released their complete training camp schedule today. The team will open camp in Mankato with a 9-11 a.m. practice on Friday, July 25. The Vikings have added two Saturday night practices in Mankato. The first will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on July 25 and the other will from 7-9 p.m. on Aug. 2.

The Vikings won’t play host to Kansas City in a practice — something they had done for the past two years — but will travel to River Falls, Wis., for a 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. session against the Chiefs on July 31. The Vikings will break camp on Aug. 15.

Just checked with the Chiefs on the practice in River Falls. There is going to be an admission price for the event but it has yet to be set.

The Packers will open their three-day mandatory minicamp Tuesday minus the retired Brett Favre. One would think that Favre’s next appearance in Green Bay might not be until the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Vikings when his No. 4 is retired. Two of Favre’s former teammates are glad they will get to be there for the event.

Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell and receiver Robert Ferguson recently talked about what they expect Lambeau to be like that night.

“It’ll be good for the simple fact that they are retiring his jersey, he left the game on his own terms,” Ferguson said. “There are a lot of things that are positive about the way he retired. I’m happy for him and happy to see him go into the second chapter of his life.”

(more…)

Did some checking and all indications are the Vikings will not be taking a look at former Detroit Lions receiver Charles Rogers. I’m leaving the previous blog up because there was a report out there that we had acknowledged. Looks like Rogers’ high school coach was incorrect about where his former star player will be going next to try to revive his career.

We’re checking on this one because it seems like a long shot but the Saginaw (Mich.) News reported Sunday that former Detroit Lions receiver Charles Rogers is going to workout for the Vikings. Actually, that came from Rogers’ former high school coach Don Durrett.

“He’s had a couple workouts with some teams and has a workout with the Minnesota Vikings,” Durrett said. “He’s getting caught up [with playing in the NFL again]. I tell him to play where he can play and enjoy it. People get caught up on where the best spot for him is.”

Durrett’s comment come after Rogers made a verbal agreement to play with Montreal of the CFL but never signed his contract and did not go to training camp with the team.

Rogers was the second pick of the 2003 draft and ended up being released by the Lions in 2006.

Meanwhile, The Sporting News has the Vikings No. 1 in the NFC in its position rankings for running backs. These are done by conference. Jacksonville is No. 1 in the AFC. Here are the top five teams in the NFC: Minnesota, Philadelphia, Washington, New York Giants and Dallas.

Adrian Peterson expressed optimism last month when asked about the potential of being used more frequently this season in formations that include running back Chester Taylor. The two did not get on the field at the same time very frequently in 2007 but could be an interesting 1-2 combination.

Vikings coach Brad Childress, appearing on KFAN on Thursday, made it clear that Peterson and Taylor won’t be on the field together just for the sake of it.

“At times it will make sense,” Childress said. “If we feel like it can create a personnel advantage. There’s only one ball to carry. So I would assume that somebody would be a diversion, somebody would be either carrying it or we’d be throwing it. If it creates something that they do personnel-wise to adjust to it that we feel like we an ability to attack than you might see that. But we’re not apt to just do that just to say that they’re both in the backfield at the same time.”

Peterson has worked on his pass catching and blocking this offseason and the feeling is this should make him more prepared to play in a variety of situations in his second season. So will this impact Childress’ thinking?

“I would still go back to saying let’s see how somebody decides to adjust to it and if there’s an updside for us than you could see us utilize that,” Childress said.

The retirement announcements this week by Giants defensive end Michael Strahan and Ravens offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden means the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2013 (I had put 2012 but NFL.com says it’s actually 2013) stands to be mighty impressive. So far this offseason, Brett Favre, Warren Sapp and Steve McNair also have called it quits. As many as five players could end up in the Hall in their first-year of eligibility.

A few Vikings nuggets:

• Steve LaCroix, Vikings’ vice president of sales and marketing, said the team is considering its options for a training-camp event that will replace the evening practice session the team has held the past two years with the Kansas City Chiefs in Mankato. The Vikings traditionally have one evening event that is done with the fans in mind. The complete training camp schedule should be released in the next few weeks.
• The Vikings are expected to wear their purple throwback jerseys in at least one home game this year. The team wore them last season against Green Bay at the Metrodome.
• Speaking of the Hall of Fame, former Vikings Randall McDaniel and Cris Carter should be in the Hall long before that 2012 class gathers in Canton, Ohio. Carter failed to get in this year in his first year of eligibility; McDaniel has been eligible for two years. Carter already has had his No. 80 retired by the Vikings; McDaniel has yet to have his No. 64 retired by the Vikings but that should happen soon.
• It comes as no surprise that ESPN has big, big, big plans for its coverage of the Vikings-Packers opener on Sept. 8 at Lambeau Field. A guy named Favre will be the primary focus.
• Saw a question about who will play left tackle in the event Bryant McKinnie is suspended because of his off-the-field troubles. Brad Childress said yesterday on KFAN that there are a few candidates but the guess here is Artis Hicks will move into that role for however long McKinnie is out. I don’t see the Vikings make any major moves in the short term to find a replacement for McKinnie.
• ESPN.com has a piece on Jacksonville receivers Troy Williamson and Jerry Porter. No it’s not written by Seifert.
• Former Vikings QB Tyler Thigpen and Damon Huard will battle in training camp for the No. 2 job in Kansas City.