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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Just wrapped up the first day of the Minnesota Vikings' veteran minicamp. From the top, let's just say coach Brad Childress is not on board with tailback Adrian Peterson's decision to skip the weekend to attend a hometown parade in his honor.

Childress opened his post-practice media session by noting this is a "mandatory minicamp." He provided terse answers about Peterson's absence, suggested that discipline will be discussed and mocked the significance of "the fourth annual Adrian Peterson day" in Palestine, Texas.

Childress also made clear that the only Vikings player receiving the "Brett Favre Exception" is Favre himself. His answers were worthy of providing in transcript style, which I've done below. I'll be back shortly with some perspective and a roundup of my other minicamp observations:

Could the parade have been rescheduled so that he could attend this?

Brad Childress: That would probably be a good question for Adrian.

Did you talk to him about that? I mean, you don't usually keep the offseason schedule a secret to players.

BC: Yes, we promulgated that schedule at a very early stage. The work is here. The work is here.

How much did Adrian get done this week when he came in for organized team activities? Was it any kind of substitute for what will take place this weekend?

BC: He got a couple things done. He got a couple doctors appointments. He got out on the field with his 14-pound ball.

Is that really a new drill you guys started to help him with his fumbles?

BC: Part of that comprehensive offseason study.

Are you also working with him on how he carries the ball?

BC: When he's here.

Does it annoy you that he's not here?

BC: I just know that there's a bunch of guys here. This has a term "mandatory" for a reason. The work is here. Period. You can say whatever you want. This is the fourth annual Adrian Peterson day. I don't know if it's going to be every year. But we're going to have this, too. ...

Is this an excused absence?

BC: That's something we'll talk about upstairs here.

Will Adrian miss the entire weekend? Or could he be here Sunday?

BC: I don't think so. My understanding is he won't be here for any of it.

When did he inform you he wouldn't be here?

BC: In my office on Thursday. Maybe Wednesday.

Was that a surprise or did you know it was a possibility?

BC: I think somebody showed me something on a website. I had an inkling. Let's put it that way. I didn't know if he was going to come out here and practice this afternoon, and then catch a late flight. I didn't know how he would.

Is there more to it than a parade?

BC: Not from my standpoint. We were going to be here with the people who were going to be here.

Are you worried that players will start to question the standard you have set for Favre and want to skip camps?

BC: First of all, that's a special circumstance. I don't think Adrian is batting around retirement in his mind. It's a special set of circumstances. Is it special? Is everything equal? Obviously it's not. That's just the way it is. It's a matter of fact. I think everyone understands that from our side.

Newz wrote:If I was a Vikings player, I probably wouldn't show up if I didn't feel like it either.

If the QB doesn't have to do it, why should I?

DrugBust wrote:

Newz wrote:If I was a Vikings player, I probably wouldn't show up if I didn't feel like it either.

If the QB doesn't have to do it, why should I?

The thought crossed my mind, too. Favre is under contract, and no one is saying boo about him not being there.

DrugBust wrote:

Newz wrote:If I was a Vikings player, I probably wouldn't show up if I didn't feel like it either.

If the QB doesn't have to do it, why should I?

The thought crossed my mind, too. Favre is under contract, and no one is saying boo about him not being there.

rilamann wrote:Maybe I'm wrong but I could see the Vikings going something like 6-10 this year,one of those teams that's on the brink of the SB one year and just falls completely apart the next.

And yes it would have a lot to do with Favre.

Last year there was that ''honeymoon'' affect and the Vikes got off to a great start with some (lucky) dramatic wins,which I think was huge.

Now that the honeymoon is over players are quickly going to get tired of Favre and his dramatics off the field,if the Vikes get off to a bad start I could see things spiraling downward rather quickly.

Last year after Favre got the special treatment the rest of the team seemed to have a ''well he's a lot better than what we got at QB,let's see what happens''.

Favre played great and the team got off to a great start with Favre pulling out that dramatic win vs the 49ers so everything was roses.

But let Favre (with the NFC title game INT cloud over his head) throw a couple INTs and the Vikes lose @NO in week 1 and maybe get off to a 2-4 start,things will get ugly quickly.

“Bus Cook. I know you’re media, but do you know who I hate? The goddamn media! You watch ESPN this morning?”

“No.”

“Brett talked to goddamned Ed Werder at ESPN, says he needs ankle surgery. Now why did he do that? I’ve got Childress calling. I’ve got reporterscalling all damn morning. Goddammit, why does he have to be such a goddamned drama queen? Play, don’t play, goddamn, people are getting sick of it. I’m getting sick of it! Why does he have to talk to these people? What good does it do? Ed Werder at ESPN! What’s he ever done for anybody other than say, ‘Look, look, Mommy, I got this first, ain’t I special?’ You got problems with surgery, talk to your wife. Why talk to goddamned Ed Werder?”

A giant white pickup truck rumbles into the parking lot. The driver gingerly steps down from his perch. Cook looks out the window. He mulishly paws the rug with his sneakers.

“Goddamn, there’s Brett. This is going to be interesting.”

The silver-haired Favre is dressed in shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt, looking simultaneously like a kid and the grandpa he has just become. As he comes in the front door, his ruddy face breaks into a sheepish grin, one he’s flashed a thousand times, chinstrap undone, at head coaches after throwing across his body into double coverage. He didn’t flash it the lasttime he tried that maneuver on New Orleans turf. He was too tired, too broken. Actually, we may never see that smile again. That’s why we are here.

“Hey, Bus,” says Favre.

He speaks slowly, a boy trying to delay a spanking.

“I guess I screwed up. I didn’t think it was a big deal. I just told him that I might need surgery. He made it into a big thing.”

Bus stares him down, but his face crumples into an exasperated grin.

“Jesus, Brett. You never learn. You guys go talk. I’ve got goddamn phone calls to make.” He pokes a finger at Brett. “Thanks to you.”