Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings began organized team activities at Winter Park in Eden Prairie Wednesday. Starting quarterback Christian Ponder attended the event all with the newly drafted rookies and free agent signees and some veterans. Among the free agents trying to make the team are receiver Marcus Fitzgerald, the younger brother of Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals. Marcus Fitzgerald playing college football at Marshall University.

The Vikings have released running back Caleb King just 3 days after he was arrested in an alleged beating outside a birthday party last weekend. Anoka County prosecutors' spokesman David Cossi says King was released from jail on Tuesday with no charges being filed. The case is still under investigation. King was accused of punching a 22-year old man and throwing him headfirst to the ground early Saturday. The altercation began after the man allegedly teased the 24-year old King about his resemblance to comedian Eddie Murphy.

NFL teams look to improve with the NFL draft but sometimes after the draft teams really make big steps if they identify and top sign undrafted free agents. The Vikings signed 16 undrafted free agents after selecting 10 players in the draft. Inside linebacker Tyler Nielsen of Iowa, defensive tackle Tydreke Powell and center Quentin Saulsberry appear to be the best chances to make the Vikings roster in late August. NFL network's Mike Mayock raves but the sleeper posibilities of Nielsen.

Viking running back Caleb King was arrested Saturday for allegedly beating a man at a birthday party after the man teased King about looking like a celebrity. The victim needed 50 stitches to his head and my have brain serious brain damage. The man is in serious condition. King was 3rd on the depth chart at running back behind Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart.

The Vikings closed the 2012 NFL draft Saturday by selecting 2 more defensive players. The Vikings picked inside linebacker Audie Cole of N.C. State and defensive lineman Trevor Guyton of California in the 7th round. Both players were expected to be drafted prior to the 7th round. Minnesota also traded a 5th round pick for a 4th round pick with Detroit in 2013 and dealt a 7th round pick to Tennessee for a 6th round pick in 2013.

The Vikings selected 5'11 199 pound cornerback Josh Robinson of Central Florida with their 3rd round pick (66th overall) Friday night. Minnesota then went heavy on receivers in the 4th round Saturday taking 5'9 receiver Jarius Wright from Arkansas, 6'5 251 pound tight end Rhett Ellison of USC, and 6'3 219 pound receiver Greg Childs from Arkansas. The Vikings in the 5th round picked 6'1 cornerback Robert Blanton of Notre Dame and kicker Blair Walsh of Georgia. The Vikings still have 3 7th round picks.

The Vikings traded back into the first round Thursday night to select safety Harrison Smith from Notre Dame 29th overall. Minnesota gave Baltimore their 2nd round pick (35th overall) and a 4th round pick (98th overall) to draft Smith. Smith is a 6'2 213 safety who had 85 tackles for Notre Dame his senior season. Smith was considered the 2nd best safety in this draft.

The Vikings traded down from #3 overall to #4 overall with Cleveland and received the Browns 4th, 5th and 7th round picks and then the Vikings chose left tackle Matt Kalil from USC. The Vikings chose Kalil over cornerback Morris Claiborne and receiver Justin Blackmon. Claiborne was picked #6 by Dallas while Blackmon was picked #5 by Jacksonville.

The 1st round of the NFL Draft will take place tonight in New York. Indianapolis has the first pick and is expected to pick quarterback Andrew Luck of Stanford. Washington has the 2nd pick and is expected to chose quarterback Robert Griffin III of Baylor. The Vikings have the 3rd pick and will chose from 3 players or trade down. Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman has said the Vikings are interested in trading down. Buffalo reportedly is interested in trading up to draft left tackle Matt Kalil. The Bills have the #10 overall pick in the first round and #41 overall pick in the 2nd round.

The Vikings have signed free agent ex-Cincinnati Bengal receiver Jerome Simpson to an undisclosed contract. Simpson will have to sit out the first 3 games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy while a member of the Bengals. Simpson was a 2nd round pick by the Bengals in 2008. He had 50 catches for 725 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2011.