Minnesota Vikings full offseason schedule revealed

May 27, 2015; Eden Prairie, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer speaks to his team at practice at Winter Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2015; Eden Prairie, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer speaks to his team at practice at Winter Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Minnesota Vikings full offseason schedule has been revealed, including dates for OTAs and minicamp.

Real news still flows even on April Fools’ Day. Today, the Minnesota Vikings’ full offseason schedule was revealed. I’m happy to announce that we are just 17 short days away from the beginning of the offseason program.

The first big day on the calendar is May 24 when the Vikings start their first OTA session, which lasts until May 26. Another OTA session is scheduled for May 31. Then June 1-2 and again June 6-9.

And then OTAs end and real full minicamp begins. Minicamp runs from June 14 until June 16.

If you need that in handy chart form, here you go:

April 18 – Start of offseason program.

May 24-26 – OTA session one.

May 31 – OTA session two.

June 1-2 – OTA session three.

June 6-9 – OTA session four.

June 14-16 – Minicamp.

The Vikings figure to be relatively drama-free when it comes to questions of players reporting, holding out etc., It’s not like the old days when folks like Bryant McKinnie and Percy Harvin felt the need to create negotiating leverage by not showing up. The Vikings these days are one big happy family of people who are satisfied with their contracts.

That’s not to say nothing interesting will happen in these early sessions. Remember last year when Josh Robinson tore his pectoral muscle falling down in an OTA session. Also, remember the developments at right guard when Mike Harris surprisingly was named the starter.

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There will be plenty of storylines to watch this year too, even in OTAs. The Vikings have lots of positions where there is at least apparent competition, so it will be interesting to see who gets how many reps at what spots. OTAs of course also provide us the first chance to look at newly-signed free agents and rookies in their Vikings stuff, and that’s always a kick as well.