--RB Chester Taylor rushed for a career-high 1,216 yards in 2006, his first season with the Vikings. Now, entering the third year of a four-year free-agent deal he signed, Taylor is clearly the No. 2 running back behind Adrian Peterson. But running backs coach Eric Bieniemy said there is more than enough room for both. "Chester's role is still the same. His role has not changed," Bieniemy said. "Chester is one of the better backs in this league. We've got to find ways to get him out on the field and utilize him. Obviously, we have a very good player in Adrian Peterson, but also we have a very good one in Chester Taylor. The thing about it is there are not enough balls to go around. You can only have one. But there's room for Chester on the field."
--Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell worked from the sidelines for the first time during the Vikings' preseason opener. Quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers, meanwhile, was in the press box. The Vikings are going to evaluate the switch in the exhibition season but very well will stick with it during the regular season.
--How much different has Brad Childress run his third training camp compared to his first? In 2006, Childress scheduled full-pads practices on 12 consecutive days. This year, the Vikings were in full pads for only four of their first 21 practices and that included a joint-session with the Kansas City Chiefs. "It's a beautiful thing," veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield said. "Probably the easiest camp that I've been through."
--The Vikings most spirited training camp practice was on Aug. 4. With the team in full pads during the morning session, coach Brad Childress surprised his players by calling for a "sudden change" drill. He deviated from the practice script and called for a live team situation to see how the players would respond. On the first play, defensive end Jared Allen overwhelmed backup left tackle Drew Radovich and tackled running back Chester Taylor for a 5-yard loss.
--Coach Brad Childress was sporting a full beard when he came off vacation in late July. He then wore a goatee for the first week-plus of training camp but was back to having just a mustache by the time the first preseason game rolled around last Friday.
--WR Jaymar Johnson might be fighting an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster considering he was a sixth-round pick. But Johnson did stand out during a recent practice when he made a left-handed, over-the-shoulder catch while double covered by cornerbacks Charles Gordon and Brandon Sumrall. The ball was thrown by Brooks Bollinger, who appears to be a long shot to make the final roster.
--Former Vikings Pro Bowl defensive tackle John Randle will become the 17th member of the Vikings Ring of Honor during a ceremony to be held during the team's Sunday night game against the Chicago Bears on Nov. 30. "It's unbelievable," said Randle, who was signed as an undrafted free agent from Division II Texas A&I in 1990 and played for the Vikings through 2000. Randle's 114 sacks rank third in team history and are the most by a defensive tackle.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't know how you guys feel about old news. It's generally not good to write the same thing twice. I'm glad that you guys won't be able to get away with old news anymore." - Vikings coach Brad Childress expressing his happiness that with Brett Favre traded to the Jets he won't have to answer any more questions about the Vikings potential interest in the quarterback.
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