The Gang's All Here

There was a time when "optional" meant "no-show" when the Vikings conducted developmental camps. Not anymore, as the turnout for the start of this year's developmental sessions included all of the team's top stars.

When Cris Carter had players working out at his Florida compound, there were two types of Vikings in the offseason -- the Winter Park Vikings and the Carter Compound Vikings.

That has all changed and was in evidence Wednesday, as the Vikings opened the first of their developmental camp, all but three players were in attendance -- rookies Onterrio Smith and Keenan Howry still had school and LB Greg Biekert is still recovering from shoulder surgery.

Coach Mike Tice was ecstatic with the turnout, especially seeing team stars/leaders Daunte Culpepper, Randy Moss and Chris Hovan all in attendance.

The developmental camps will run for the next three weeks.

THURSDAY NOTES
* Moss has been working hard in the offseason in the team's quickness program as well as lifting weights to add some upper body strength. Tice was glowing in his praise of Moss, saying there is a chance he could even get better.
* The Lions signed former Vikings scout Silas McKinnie as a regional scout.
* Culpepper finally signed his new endorsement deal with Reebok. A year ago, Culpepper was in the middle of a controversy when trying to switch from Nike to Reebok and getting caught in the middle of a shoe war.