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Vikings Training Camp is upon us.

Players began reporting on Sunday and are scheduled to have their first on-field practice this Wednesday. The first session open to the public will be Saturday, July 27. Visit Vikings.com/camp for more details.

It's always great to hear and see how fired up fans are at the onset of another NFL season. Players and humble staffers appreciate the boost in energy that fans provide, especially during the dog days of camp.

Sure, the old two-a-days as players returned from offseason jobs have transitioned to year-round fitness focus by players and health and performance staffs, but there's still some work required to get into "football shape."

This edition is being filed from beautiful McCarthy Beach State Park, during an annual camping trip with neighbors (it's kind of become a personal send-off to summer since the schedule is about to ramp up so much). They might not want me to tell you how great of a spot this is in Northern Minnesota (because it might make booking spots tougher), so I'll just say how much we appreciate our neighbors inviting us to this locale.

In one other indulgence, I'd like to wish a happy birthday to my grandmother, who will turn 94 on Wednesday. She's a special lady — I wish everyone in the world had someone loving them the way she has loved her family and friends. Her resilience should make her an honorary Viking.

Speaking of honorable Vikings, it was such a treat to be able to share the news that Bobby Bryant will be inducted in the Vikings Ring of Honor this fall. His accomplishments and approach to the game and the community are quite admirable.

We'll start this week with comments about him.

RE: Bobby Bryant

Great corner. I still remember the blocked FG [returned] by Bob in the playoff game against the Rams in 1976. He also scored a touchdown off the block!

— Nighthawk

Great corner, great teammate, great person. It was so cool to get to see the way Fran Tarkenton and Alan Page lit up when they joined Vikings Owners Mark and Zygi Wilf on a video call to surprise Bryant with the news.

They know how deserving he is, and both said Bryant made as many big plays as anyone on those incredibly talented teams.

That 90-yard kick return for a touchdown was about as pivotal as any play that's ever occurred in a first quarter.

Instead of the Rams going up 3-0 after resigning themselves to not being able to move the Purple People Eaters on the goal line, the Vikings went up 7-0 in an eventual 24-13 win.

Bryant added two interceptions on the day, which was his second appearance in an NFC Championship Game.

Remarkably, he also had two interceptions and a touchdown (a 63-yard pick-six) at Dallas in the 1973 NFC Championship Game.

Injuries in 1969 and 1974 kept Bryant from impacting those games, but he is deservedly being recognized with his entry to the Vikings Ring of Honor.

Bryant is planning to come up to the Twin Cities next month, so we're looking forward to gathering more content with him ahead of his Sept. 22 induction during halftime of the Vikings-Texans game at U.S. Bank Stadium.

In the Netflix Receiver show, we heard a tiny snippet of an angry Kevin O'Connell's postgame team talk from last season, shouting at the team about ball security. Whilst I hate seeing us lose, I'd love to see more of this content from the Vikings. I want to see the coaches earning their money and motivating the players after a tough game. You only ever show us the self-congratulatory speeches after wins.

Yours faithfully,

— Paul in London, United Kingdom

I saw a few others online share a similar sentiment when O'Connell's comments after Minnesota's Week 2 loss at Philadelphia were recorded and used in the second episode of Receiver.

I thought NFL Films was creative in using video footage of a security professional assigned to the door of the Vikings locker room as the visual.

Minnesota had committed seven turnovers (three at home against the Buccaneers and four at Philadelphia) in the span of five days.

Perhaps its good for fans to get to see that the normally cool and calm O'Connell was as mad as they were about his team coughing up four fumbles. Minnesota has consistently emphasized ball security and ramped up its efforts in practices to hammer home that concept.

Our VEN videographers do great work and are always willing to do more (we recap every game, win or lose), but head coaches have prerogative to decide what access is granted.

Some coaches would rather not have speeches after wins shown, but there has been good access offered after wins, and I think that is beneficial for a few reasons.

It was nice that O'Connell was able to enjoy a bit of the Minnesota summer experience and make multiple radio appearances this past Friday, including his debut on "The Initials Game" on KFAN.

We have some intriguing UDFAs. I wish they were untouchable for two to three years so we could develop them without fear of losing them. Do you ever see the league moving in that direction??

— Gerald Goblirsch

Every year, teams' rosters swell to 90 (or up 91 if an International Player Pathway spot is involved; Minnesota tight end Sammis Reyes was added through the IPP this year), but they are required to decrease to 53 by the start of the season.

Many of those additions are made through the signing of undrafted free agents. This year's initial group included 17 players who participated alongside the 2024 draft class, free agent additions and returnees during the offseason program. They play important roles in training camp as they develop, and the coaching staff enjoys developing players and realizes the importance of doing so.

A good thing in recent years has been the expansion of spots on teams' practice squads, as well as an easing of who can qualify to be on a practice squad (veterans are now eligible).

The caveat about the practice squad, however, is that a player can be signed by another team to its active roster.

We've seen the league continue to evolve the way it handles emergency quarterback situations. Last year, a third QB could dress and enter the game if the first two were both injured, if the QB was on the 53-man roster. That opportunity has been extended this year to practice squad QBs.

That change could affect how teams decide who is on the 53 and who they try to harbor on the practice squad.

Because of the complexity and importance of the position, it could be highly beneficial for a team to be able to have retention protection on a developmental QB. During the height of COVID-19 in the 2020 season, rules were minimally expanded to allow teams to make weekly protections of practice squad players.

Any permanent change of the magnitude suggested by Gerald would probably have to be included in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NFL and NFL Players Association.

Players and their representation probably want to be able to maintain the opportunity to sign on a 53-player roster elsewhere because of the pay bump.

So glad that my all-time favorite football team, The MINNESOTA VIKINGS, drafted one of my all-time favorite quarterbacks from my all-time favorite college football team, J.J. McCarthy from the Michigan Wolverines. Go Blue and SKOL For Life!! Looking forward to McCarthy proving all the doubters wrong just like he did in college and looking forward to our Vikings tearing it up through the NFC North division and reclaiming our rightful place at the top!! I live in Ohio and hope someday to get to Minnesota to see a Vikings game in person. Here is to a great season for our MINNESOTA VIKINGS!! SKOL!! SKOL!! SKOL!!

— Jody Workman

and …

I don't think that it was a smart move getting rid of [Kirk Cousins]. We will see. If this kid doesn't pan out, then we will be in not too good of shape. I am a Vikings fan but praying that he has the best season ever.

— Renee Drock

Quite a contrast between these two emails.

McCarthy has proven detractors wrong at previous points in his career. He also deftly managed the expectations placed on him by an avid fan base and by a coaching staff and teammates with legitimate title aspirations.

There were numerous aspects of the quarterback class that the Vikings evaluated before the draft.

O'Connell has talked about his understanding of the expectations placed on a starting QB and how hungry this fan base is to finally secure a Lombardi Trophy.

That remains the ultimate goal, and there's plenty of work to be done by multiple people for the team to accomplish that feat.

McCarthy's experience during the offseason program was certainly valuable, but it is only the beginning. The upcoming training camp and preseason will offer several learning opportunities, as well as some moments where he is likely to show the things the Vikings liked in their evaluation.

Before the draft and the start of free agency, the Vikings made an offer to Cousins, but he opted for the deal from the Falcons. Minnesota quickly moved to add Sam Darnold and then continued its draft preparations.

McCarthy will have the opportunity to make his impact in Minnesota whether it is this season or down the road.

How is Aaron Jones fitting in?

— Patrick McCarthy

In one word, splendidly.

I know there was a good bit to take in at the start of free agency, but the addition of Jones could be more impactful than the ripple that news generated.

He's such a complete and skilled player (as a runner, a receiving option and as a blocker) that he can deliver results when his number is called, and he can help guide the younger running backs in the room.

The Vikings personnel department and coaches were excited to add Jones' abilities to the mix, and they've enjoyed the quality of the person, as well.

I was able to cover a visit by Jones, Harrison Phillips and Andre Carter II to the United Heroes League Confidence Course earlier this offseason. It was clear how important it is for Jones, who grew up living multiple places while both his parents served in the military, to invest in connecting with other people.