Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield wasn't on the field when the team kicked off their three-day mandatory minicamp on Friday. Minnesota coach Brad Childress didn't expect to see the Pro Bowler at all over the weekend. Winfield is entering the final year of his contract, but Childress said his absence is not related to his deal. He was reportedly attending a funeral.

The Vikings have added pages to their playbook for rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin, their first-round selection. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said there are 20 or 30 plays in their scheme designed specifically for the fleet-footed Harvin. "We're up there trying to diagram everything we can," Bevell said. "We're looking at things we can do. We're looking at things other teams have done and trying to get the ball to our playmakers."

Vikings running backs coach Eric Bieniemy expects more from Adrian Peterson this coming season. Peterson led the NFL in rushing in 2008, just his second season. "I thought he made a tremendous jump from [his rookie season], but also I think he will improve again this year," Bieniemy said. "My main concern with him is just basically getting back to understanding run-game reads. Because, obviously, he had a great year last year, but it could have been so much better. I know for a second-year player to go out and rush for 1,760 yards is a tremendous, tremendous success. "The sky can be the limit."

Vikings defensive end Kenechi Udeze never doubted that he'd play football again, but admitted that he has faced a long road back from cancer. "I'd be lying if I said it was easy," Udeze said. "There was never an easy point. The first time I went back to USC and started working out with the fellas, I fell. I took two steps and I fell. I took small steps at first and, to where I am now, I can't complain." Udeze took part in Minnesota's mandatory minicamp on Friday, after missing all of last season with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. His recovery included a bone marrow transplant last July. "My weight is a little bit heavier than it was before [listed previously at 281 pounds]," he said. "It's a lot because the neuropathy will pretty much slow you down from doing just about anything. When it sets in, your feet start getting really numb and really sensitive, and it's really hard to ... especially at the level that we're at out here. For the most part, I can't complain. I saw where I came from Day 1, and where I am now. I know I'll get better with time."

Vikings coach Brad Childress said on Friday that there have been no new developments regarding Brett Favre. Childress said that he hasn't spoken to Favre or his agent, Bus Cook, since he addressed the media regarding the subject last week. At that time, he said he hadn't spoken to Favre in "several weeks." "Nothing has changed," Childress said Friday.

Vikings coach Brad Childress has defended the work ethic of quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. Childress said that he wanted to "set the record straight" about Jackson's work ethic on Friday. "Tarvaris Jackson is one of the hardest-working guys you're going to find on this 85-man roster right now," Childress said. "Just in terms of the time he spends here, the time he spends in the books, with the wide receivers, in the weight room, strength and conditioning ... there are very few people who work as hard as he does in the offseason."

Peter King of Sports Illustrated has reported that the Vikings want an answer from Brett Favre this week. Minnesota wants to know what their situation at quarterback will be for the 2009 season, and they don't want to wait any longer. King also wrote that he believes the Vikings will try to get a guarantee that Favre will report to training camp in game shape.

It was reported on Friday that a federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit against the NFL that five players unknowing took a banned substance. That means that Saints defensive ends Charles Grant and Will Smith, free agent running back Deuce McAllister, and Vikings defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams will miss the first four games of the 2009 season. "The decision strongly supports the NFL program on performance-enhancing substances that protects the health and safety of NFL players and the integrity of our game," the league said in a statement.

Rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin impressed the Vikings at their OTAs this week. "It feels great," Harvin said. "There's no better experience than what I'm going through right now. I'm glad to get the combine and all the stuff over with and finally lace it back up and get on the football field. It's a wonderful feeling." He lined up in a number of different spots, including the backfield and the slot, and is also getting reps as the punt and kickoff return man.

A federal judge has dismissed most of the claims by two Vikings facing suspension over their positive test for a banned diuretic, according to the Associated Press. U.S. District Judge Paul A. Magnuson rejected two of the claims by defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams on Friday. Attorneys for the union and the Williamses argued that league officials knew a supplement called StarCaps contained a banned diuretic back in 2006 and did not notify players.