Will Work For Food

Four former Vikings remain unemployed as the date for NFL training camps draws nearer. All of them were key contributors with the Vikings, but are finding the going tougher on the free agent market than they anticipated.

With training camps ready to open in seven weeks, four former Vikings are still waiting for the call to continue their careers.

Running back Moe Williams recently worked out with the Rams, but has yet to receive a contract offer, but he is the luckiest of the four Vikings -- all of whom wait without a team at this point. The others -- kicker Paul Edinger, cornerback Ralph Brown and center Cory Withrow -- all remain unemployed and waiting for a return to the league.

While none of them are currently signed, expect to see all of them in a training camp somewhere. Kickers never seem to fade away gracefully, so Edinger will likely end up with a team that is either moving to a young kicker or have a kicker that struggles. Because of their special teams ability, Williams and Brown will likely find employment somewhere and, with his starting experience, Withrow will likely find a spot somewhere as well.

Until then, they sit and wait...and hope.

SATURDAY NOTES
* The early preseason publications are starting to hit the newsstands and the early word is that the Bears are the team to beat in the NFC North. Both Lindy's and Athlon's preseason publications have the Bears defending their NFC North title, with both picking the Vikings to finish second.
* Daunte Culpepper had his first public workout with the Dolphins Friday and earned rave reviews, showing mobility and few ill-effects from his season-ending knee surgery.