Jared Allen is ready to lasso opposing quarterbacks for the Vikings

Harvin turned his ankle late in Saturday's morning session and was carted off the field for treatment, although he played in the night scrimmage.

With Sidney Rice rehabilitating from a nagging hip injury, the Vikings have been without their two most productive receivers of 2009 for most of camp.

Early impressions: Coming off a wildly inconsistent season that ended with the ignominy of having the NFL remove him from the Pro Bowl roster, left tackle Bryant McKinnie is having a strong camp.

"He's gotten better and better since I've been here," Childress said. "Regardless of whether he played in the Pro Bowl or not, he was voted a Pro Bowler last year, which is usually a vote by your peers. He's done some exceptional things here in the first four practices."

Also drawing rave reviews is rookie cornerback Chris Cook, who intercepted three passes during red-zone drills Sunday.

At 6-foot-2, Cook is the tallest player in the Vikings' secondary by three inches, Tarvaris Jackson giving them a new dynamic. He feasted on receivers trying to outjump him in tight coverage on

fade routes to the corner of the end zone.

"As a tall guy, he's got a pretty good drive," Childress said. "When you continue to throw to spots, sometimes those smaller defensive backs can't get to those spots by virtue of their size. He's making some plays on some balls that are being thrown into some pretty decent spots."

Since Favre is still tossing the pigskin with high school students, I would move on to what makes the Vikings a dangerous team in the NFC. Vikings is one few teams in the entire NFL with a very good offense and defense. Last year, the Vikings fell to eventual Super Bowl Champions, New Orleans Saints but for the season they played well from both sides of the ball.

Jared Allen is ready to lasso opposing quarterbacks for the Vikings. He was able to leave Tarvaris Jackson opposing quarterbacks fit to be tied because of his fellow defensive linemen Pat and Kevin Williams' strong defensive line play. Defense will be glad to see E.J. Henderson heading the Linebacker corps who has proven to be a good unit of players. The secondary is packed with veterans such as Lito Sheppard and Antoine Winfield. Winfield if he is 100 percent after the foot injury suffered last year, he should contribute to a good defense. Vikings' defense if they play like last season then Minnesota can contend for the NFC spot in the Super Bowl.

The offense has a few weapons and at the top of the list is the Cashier or Mr. Fumbles depending on which Adrian Peterson takes the field. Peterson's ability goes without question, but the frequency of putting the ball on ground has to be addressed. He cannot be on the sidelines when the game on the line because his carrying the football is unreliable. Percy Harvin is listed as a wide receiver but he does it all. The drafting of Toby Gerhart will add the big bruising runner who will provide good change of pace to Peterson's speed.

If Favre can have repeat of the season he had last year, the Vikings will do well. He and Sidney Rice seem to form a Corsican Brother- type wide receiver and quarterback connection with few big plays as result of the bond. Sidney Rice numbers is great reflection of what Favre means to team under center. Rice had a great season. If Peterson can protect the ball then offense will be able to give him the ball more and control the clock. Favre still has the gunslinger mentality encoded in his DNA but he should keep it to minimum because the Vikings will be better team for it.