Back to work

After a four-day weekend, the Vikings returned to the practice field this afternoon before boarding buses for the team's kickoff rally at Mall of America.

Coach Brad Childress did not meet with the media and players were only briefly available coming off the field.

Tight end Garrett Mills, claimed on waivers Sunday from New England, said he learned a lot in his one season with the Patriots and is looking forward to learning a new offense and getting on the field with the Vikings.

Mills had no comment on the weekend byplay involving Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Childress, who said in a radio interview that Belichick asked him to pass on Mills so New England could re-sign him to its practice squad.

"I don't really feel I need to comment on that," Mills said. "I have a lot of respect for coach Belichick and (vice president of player personnel) Scott Pioli and the whole Patriots organization. I don't know what happened, but I'm here now and that's what matters."