The Fan Hub

After an embarrassing 3-13 season, the Minnesota Vikings are hoping to use this time to improve and have high hopes for 2012. Owner Zygi Wilf has been very optimistic and told reports he feels the team can once again contend for a NFC North title. Doing so would be highly improbable, but here are some things that have happened during training camp.

-Tight end John Carlson, who signed a 5-year, $25 million contract in March, sprained his MCL yesterday. He has been injury-prone since 2010 and missed all of the 2011 season due to a shoulder injury. He is likely to be out of practice for a few weeks.

-A scarier story is the hospitalization of Adrian Peterson. The star running back is still rehabbing from his reconstructive knee surgery, but has resumed light training and added more weight training to his regimen. His setback, however, was not related to his knee — it happened while eating.

After eating jambalaya during a team lunch, Peterson’s throat tightened and he was given a shot of epinephrine by the club’s medical staff. An ambulance then took him to a local hospital for blood work and other treatments. The results were positive, but Peterson vows he will “stick to hot dogs” from now on. He has since returned to the field and is trying to persuade coaches to let him practice with the rest of the team. “I definitely want to play a preseason game,” claimed Peterson. Although he feels he will be ready for the team’s September 9 opener, Minnesota is being very cautious with their $96 million asset.

-Some good news is that the team’s first round pick, LT Matt Kalil, has been impressive. He has been giving last year’s sack leader Jared Allen a lot of trouble during practice. Tom Pelissero of ESPN Twin Cities tweeted that Kalil “stonewalled” Allen on two consecutive snaps, causing him to curse loudly. Allen noted that Kalil possesses “all the skill set you’d want” and he should develop into a premier left tackle.

Having Kalil on the offense line will be a big boost for second-year pro Christian Ponder. Allen also shared his opinion on the quarterback, claiming it is his time to “take that step in being that franchise quarterback.” “He has all the ability in the world,” claimed Allen “and I’m really excited to see what he does this year.”

-More good news is that Percy Harvin seems completely happy. Despite a questionable few days earlier in July, Harvin claimed, “We’re all on the same page…I’m here to do whatever the team needs me to.” He is apparently in great shape and coach Leslie Frazier feels he will boost team chemistry because his “attitude is so good” and “he’s an excellent player.”

— Tim Moczula