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Ahhh. ... It's early April. Spring is in the air. The NFL Draft is just weeks away. And the draft will be followed by a flurry of mini-camps as teams around the league take the field for their first serious work of the year.

Except for those taking advantage of a league rule providing new coaching staffs an additional mini-camp. In fact, three of those teams, Minnesota, New Orleans and Buffalo, switched from off-season conditioning mode to mini-camp mode this weekend.

And by golly, if somebody is practicing, I'm willing to let you know what they're up to. If they're getting busy, we might as well join them. ...

Starting in Minnesota, where Brad Childress put the Vikings through his first workout as head coach during the first day of a three-day affair on Friday morning.

According to Minneapolis Star Tribune staffer Judd Zulgad, Childress spent the majority of his time observing and working with the offense as the Vikings began to install the West Coast system that -- at least for the time being -- will be led by veteran quarterback Brad Johnson.

"It was a good, crisp first practice," Childress said.

Owner Zygi Wilf and several members of the ownership group were in attendance to get a look at a team that includes several key new players, including No. 1 running back Chester Taylor, who was signed as a free agent after playing last season in Baltimore.

In case you missed it, Childress recently told reporters Taylor could touch the ball "20 to 30 times" a game this season and the former Raven was eager to get a first-hand look at the scheme.

"I was really anxious to see how the offense worked with us going 11-on-11 [in drills]," said Taylor. "It worked good today."

Taylor worked with the first-team offense. Another newcomer, fullback Tony Richardson, joined him in two-back sets. According to Vikings.com staffer Mike Wobschall, West Coast tactics were on full display Friday with both Richardson and Taylor catching a number of passes out of the backfield during the session.

Ciatrick Fason ran with the second team; Mewelde Moore, who underwent surgery on his right hand after the season, is unable to catch the ball at this point and is limited to individual drills.

Additionally, veteran receiver Travis Taylor wowed those in attendance with highlight-reel grabs. According to Wobschall, he seems to have the best hands of any Vikings receiver.

Wobschall added that Johnson looked extremely sharp, completing a high percentage of his passes. He hooked up on multiple occasions with second-year receiver Troy Williamson.

When asked what he saw differently in Williamson so far at practice, Johnson replied "his comfortableness."

Now that Nate Burleson, who signed with the Seahawks last week, no longer in the mix and a new coaching staff on board, those who follow the team closely believe Williamson will be given an opportunity to prove the previous regime's decision to draft him seventh overall last season wasn't a mistake. ...

Meanwhile. ... Childress has hinted that Minnesota could package several draft picks together to try to move up and take one of the top available college quarterbacks. In addition, Falcons backup Matt Schaub's name has been recently mentioned in trade rumors.

St. Paul Pioneer Press beat man Sean Jensen noted on Saturday that team officials haven't denied their inclination to bring in a younger man to learn under Johnson, whom Childress respects a great deal.

In fact, Scout.com reports the Vikings are entertaining three top quarterback prospects at team headquarters this week: Vince Young of Texas, Charlie Whitehurst of Clemson and Jay Cutler of Vanderbilt are expected to visit with club officials.

It's also worth noting that Johnson said Childress has never explicitly told him that he's "his guy."

Nor does he believe the coach needs to do so.

"I don't think he's talked to one particular player on this team: 'Matt Birk, you're our guy. Antoine Winfield, you're our guy.' That doesn't happen," Johnson said. "That's never happened in the time that I've ever been a part of. You play. You practice hard. You prove your time, and it carries over. That's where I'm at in my career.

"I don't need someone to pat me on the back or tell me anything like that."

As Associated Press sports writer Dave Campbell reminded readers, Johnson has experienced plenty in his 14 NFL seasons, so if Minnesota brings in another quarterback this spring he vows to handle it the same way he has everything else: With a shrug and a smile.

"I've been around too many different situations. I just love to play," Johnson said Friday. "All you can control is yourself and what happens on the practice field. What happens will happen."

And something will happen. ...

Sure, Johnson went 7-2 as a starter after Daunte Culpepper got hurt last year. And yes, his steady, accurate style seems to fit the Childress' version of the West Coast offense. But he also turns 38 in September.

Which means finding a young, promising talent to learn the system as soon as possible would best serve the Vikings' long-term success. J.T. O'Sullivan and Mike McMahon are currently behind Johnson on the depth chart, but as Campbell suggested, in this league things can always change quickly.

"Whatever takes place off the field and with management, that will take place," Johnson said. "But to me, I feel like I've proved myself every day in practice and look forward to it and feel like I can play a long time.

"I haven't been getting my senior citizen's card yet at Perkins, so I feel pretty good right now."

Teammates seem to feel pretty good with Johnson running the show, too.

"The confidence level in Brad has been high since even before he was starting last season, before Daunte got hurt," tight end Jermaine Wiggins said. "As players, we knew we had a very, very good backup quarterback. To win a Super Bowl as a starting quarterback in this league is something that is very hard to do, so the confidence in Brad has always been there. ..."

Pressed further about his lock on the starting job, Johnson reminded reporters he has other things to worry about. Learning a new offense being at the top of that list.

"I've been in five different systems, and I've been to the playoffs in every one of those systems," Johnson said. "I've been around great coaches, and a lot of those guys have won Super Bowls. It is the West Coast so-called terminology, but it is just terminology.

"The big thing is to get on the same page with what they want from each particular play."

For what it's worth, Childress shed little light Friday on his thoughts, but he has said that for now he feels comfortable with Johnson behind center and McMahon and O'Sullivan backing him up.

"I'm OK with it right now. I'm OK with it right now," Childress said. "I thought they did a nice job of throwing the football and moving the football around."

Asked if he was happy that McMahon was available late last month, Childress said, "I don't know if I deal in happy that much, but we were certainly interested and I wanted to be able to talk to him one on one.

"He had some other suitors, but I was glad we were able to kind of corral him and have him be a part of us. ..."

One last note here. ... Veteran receiver Marcus Robinson has a good reason for being one of the few players missing from the Vikings' off-season strength and conditioning program. Robinson's wife recently opened a hair salon near the family's home in suburban Chicago, leaving him to care for the couple's two children.

The Robinsons' daughter is in first grade and their son is 14 months old.

Robinson, who is attending mini-camp, has been working with a personal trainer and also plans to make off-season trips to the Vikings' facility. "I've been doing this for 10 years," he said. "I've been coming to every workout for 10 years. This year, my wife, I allowed her to go and do the things she wants to do. ..."

In New Orleans. ... Players and coaches had nearly three weeks to meet and greet before real football was added to the mix. According to Baton Rouge Advocate beat man Les East, new head coach Sean Payton met with all the players participating in the team's offseason program when it got under way March 20, and assistant coaches and players have visited with one another.

But mostly players have been lifting weights and doing conditioning work while the coaching staff has been preparing for this weekend's five-practice mini-camp, beginning with two workouts on Friday, two more sessions on Saturday and another on Sunday.

Learning the new playbook is a primary goal.

"I think the most important thing that takes place in this first mini-camp is the opportunity for us to give them their first opportunity to see what the system entails," Payton said Friday. "So there is going to be some learning, even for guys that aren't on the field.

"It gives us a chance to get in the meeting rooms, talk, install the running game and install the passing game as much as we can in a short period of time. It also gives us an opportunity to see what we have. As we're going through this, we're still evaluating."

According to New Orleans Times-Picayune staffer Jimmy Smith, Payton had his free hand in just about every aspect of his team's offensive effort at the first practice Friday morning.

The other hand, though, was almost always occupied by the day's printed practice plan, folded alternately horizontally or vertically.

Whether it was offering advice on running a certain pass route, or chiding another receiver for cutting off a route too soon against bump-and-run coverage, Smith advised readers that Payton's stamp was all over the offense as he saw his football team on the pitch for the first time.

And after 90 minutes, it was safe to say he wasn't totally enamored with what he witnessed.

"We're not in real good shape right now," Payton said after that first morning session. "I think we've got a lot of work to do. We've got a lot of guys struggling with the reps. And we've got to get some of these heavy guys up to speed. Quick."

As Smith noted, for a perfectionist like Payton, an out-of-shape team is doomed to failure at worst, mediocrity at best.

"I think a poorly conditioned football team gets penalties," Payton said. "A poorly conditioned football team holds. A poorly conditioned football team turns the football over. The other way to look at it is if you're not in shape, you can lose games. So I think being in shape is a must. You need to have stamina to play, strength and endurance.

"You need to be able to have some staying power in the fourth quarter to win football games. If you're not, you're going to lose."

Players seem to appreciate his approach.

Joe Horn told NFL Network "Total Access" host Rich Eisen on Friday that players really appreciate knowing where they stand; he added that Payton leaves little doubt about that.

Tight end Ernie Conwell agreed with that assessment.

"I like the fact that he's pretty much black and white," Conwell said. "I like the positive atmosphere around here right now. I think he wants to make this place an exciting, fun place to come to, but not sacrificing the discipline and the attention to detail.

"So far it looks like it's going on. It's early in the offseason. Everybody's giving their best. That kind of happens when you get a new staff and back in a new environment. We'll see how that plays out through the rest of the offseason."

Speaking of that attention to detail -- something the new coach has been known for throughout his career as an NFL assistant, Payton's focus after his first practice as a head coach was on just that.

"We've got a lot of little things to do," he explained. "You get through your first practice and there are six or seven notes you want to get cleaned up before the next practice. We'll do that. ..."

Also according to Smith, Drew Brees attended, but did not take part in either practice. He said afterward he was tempted to jump in.

"I was getting excited out there. I was calling the plays in my head, picturing myself under center, trying to see what they see. Obviously it's not the same as taking the snap, going through the read and throwing the ball and completing the pass. But it's as close as I can come to it right now. It'll come."

Brees said he expected to be cleared by his rehabilitation team to throw in two weeks, and is aiming for the June mini-camp to possibly be able to fully participate.

"You start off (throwing) short, maybe 10 yards," he said. "You gradually build it up, monitor the number of throws. You've got to be careful, especially starting it off. You don't want to push it too hard too fast. We have a lot of time here. We've got four months."

Brees, who signed a six-year, $60 million contract last month, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his throwing shoulder Jan. 5. With Brees watching, Todd Bouman and Adrian McPherson handled all the passing drills. …

Several other players who are rehabbing injuries attended but did not work out, including running back Deuce McAllister (knee), receiver Donte' Stallworth (shoulder), Conwell (knee), receiver Nate Poole (knee).

McAllister, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee against the Packers last October, will continue to participate in the team's conditioning program that runs through June 15.

However, the current plan calls for holding him out of more strenuous activity until training camp.

Conwell said he will be 100 percent by training camp, if not the second veteran mini-camp in early June.

Kick returner Michael Lewis, coming off a season-ending knee injury and an unrestricted free agent, was missing from the mini-camp, but was said to be returning to New Orleans this morning, having agreed in principle to a new contract with the team, according to one of his representatives, Greg Johnson. ...

In Buffalo. ... It was only April 7, and it was only the first voluntary mini-camp under new head coach Dick Jauron, but for the three men who will be battling it out for the starting quarterback job, the auditions have already begun.

"The competition started a month ago when we went in the classroom," said Kelly Holcomb referring to the offseason conditioning program which included classroom instruction. "As soon as you walk through the door people are evaluating you. That's part of this game."

According to BuffaloBills.com lead writer Chris Brown, Holcomb was first in the rotation during seven-on-seven and team portions of practice on day one of the three-day camp, followed by J.P. Losman and free agent pickup Craig Nall.

Should anything be read into the rotation?

"You can read into it if you want," said Jauron. "But it's just begun and it's good. It's going to be the case at every position, but we understand that quarterback will be the focal point."

Brown added that none of the three quarterbacks really hurt themselves in their first on field practice session together.

Losman had a couple of inaccurate passes early, but settled down and knifed some passes into some tight areas, and performed well on rollout plays.

Nall also had a few errant passes including one that was almost intercepted by Terrence McGee, and lacked some touch on a couple of dump-offs to the backs. But he too brought himself under control and had some good throws into some tight windows, particularly over the middle to the slot receivers and tight ends.

Holcomb was quick to check the ball down much like he did last season and was accurate for the most part, but did have a couple of deep balls that were off the mark.

While it is the hope of Jauron and the offensive staff that the three signal callers constantly push each other to be better, Nall is taking a more personal approach to the competition by drawing on past experience.

"If I start thinking about (the competitors) it's going to take away from my focus and what I'm trying to do on the field," said Nall. "I had a situation like that at LSU where I was looking over my shoulder constantly wondering what the other guys were doing and it kind of hindered me in a way.

"I wasn't getting better because I was constantly worrying about what the other guys were doing instead of taking care of my own business. So the competition I focus on is the one with myself."

One advantage Nall has in the three-man competition is he's accustomed to making the most of limited reps under center.

"I've dealt with five guys in training camp and the reps were slim to none," said Nall who played behind Brett Favre the past four years. "I'm going to spend a lot of time on my own when I'm away from the field learning the terminology of this offense."

Reduced reps however, will require an adjustment from Losman and Holcomb who are used to getting more snaps and developing a rhythm.

"Sometimes it's hard, but we've got to do it," said Holcomb. "However many reps we get you've got to be the best you can be."

"Those are the cards we're dealt this year," said Losman of the fewer snaps. "I'm happy with the reps we're getting right now, but you always want to get more. You always want to get another chance in, but we'll see how it goes."

Brown went on to suggest that one area where all three quarterbacks are dead even right now is the knowledge of offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild's offense.

"We're all kind of on the same learning curve," said Nall. "They've probably got a couple of weeks on me, but I can go into the huddle and call the play with confidence and know what I'm doing. (Holcomb and Losman) are kind of in the same boat."

When the competition is reduced from three to two is anybody's guess, but with a new offensive system to learn the quarterbacks know things will shift eventually.

"As the camps go on there's going to be somebody getting fewer reps," said Losman. "Somebody will start getting more and somebody will have to get less reps. Right now it's a three-man rotation. Whether it goes to two guys or one guy we'll find out soon."

"We have three guys and we believe that the three of them will compete and hopefully make each other better," said Jauron. We hope that one of them rises quicker and takes the job. It will be interesting to watch.

"We'll be watching and you'll be watching and we'll be talking about it I'm sure. ..."

Until then, Losman is determined to keep his battle for the No. 1 job in perspective.

"The main thing I learned last year was just thinking about so many unnecessary things -- little things," he told Buffalo News staffer Mark Gaughan. "I was worried about this and that, trying to be perfect, trying to be perfect here [in interviews], do the right thing off the field, on the field.

"There were so many unnecessary distractions. I was able to cut that down [when the season ended] and focus on exactly what I want to do and what I want to get accomplished. And it's helped me out so far."

Needless to say, the Bills are hoping less pressure and a year of seasoning produces better play. Losman had a thoroughly typical first season as a starter, getting yanked from the starting lineup once and knocked out of it a second time due to injury. He threw eight touchdown passes and eight interceptions, and the Bills went 2-7 with him at the helm.

While Gaughan believes Losman is the most physically gifted of the three passers, winning the starting job will require proving he can be a good decision-maker. So far, we haven't seen a whole lot of that from the youngster. ...

Meanwhile, general manager Marv Levy dismissed rumors that have circulated that the Bills' commitment to Losman has wavered or that they have sent feelers out about his trade value.

"We've made no overtures to anyone," Levy said in a statement released earlier this week. "No one has approached us, and even if they did, we have a regard for J.P. He's a young quarterback who has put in that learning time. I can name countless others who have gone through this process.

"There are many things about him that we like, such as his work ethic. His personal motivation and his skills are all pluses. Part of the good news is that he has yet to reach what he is capable of reaching. So, as we said before, it's an open competition at quarterback, and J.P. is very much a part of it. ..."

For what it's worth, Willis McGahee wasn't on hand for Friday's sessions. Jauron said McGahee had a scheduling conflict, but the coach added that he could show up at some point. Notes posted on the team's web site following Saturday's sessions didn't mention his arrival, however.

Now. ... Before McGahee fans start getting nervous, I'll remind you that he has been taking part in the team's voluntary, 12-week off-season conditioning program since it began late last month.

If you'll recall, McGahee did his offseason training in his hometown of Miami last year -- along with a number of other University of Miami alumni playing in the NFL. He also did not attend the first two weeks of voluntary organized practices held in late May.

"It's a fresh start," McGahee said shortly after the program began. "Just trying to do things differently. I know it makes a big difference if everybody's here. We still have a couple people out, but they're out doing things with their family. I'm pretty sure everybody will be in next week. I just want to have fun and get off to a better start."

He said his presence is a sign he's excited about Jauron and the new coaching staff. He's especially eager to finding out what he can do under Fairchild.

"I know he came from a great system with the Rams," he said. "He had a lot of great people achieve great things, like Marshall Faulk and Steven Jackson and the receivers. ... I'm pretty sure I'm going to touch the ball. I'm just here to play football and make things happen."

Of course, as Gaughan noted, there's almost nowhere to go but up for the Bills' attack, which ranked 28th last year.

"The offense [stunk]," McGahee admitted. "Say it, it [stunk]. But we've got new coaches. Everything is different. It's going to be a totally different show."

Jackson caught 43 passes for St. Louis last year in addition to running for 1,046 yards. McGahee said he would be very happy to be used more on third downs. He came off the field on most third downs last year, even in game-deciding situations, and finished with 28 catches.

"I'd love to be a part of the passing game, that would be good to show another side of my football skills," he said. "But you also have to be a team player. You can't overstep your boundaries."

Asked if he planned to play at lighter than the 235 pounds he carried last year, McGahee, who according to Gaughan, commonly jokes around with reporters, replied, "Who wants to know? I can't tell you. You know I'm not going to tell you. It's kind of a surprise."

A surprise Gaughan asked, like the fact he was in Buffalo on Day 1 of conditioning work?

"Yeah, that's one surprise. I've got a surprise as far as my playing weight," he said with a laugh. "I might come in at 250."

As long as he regains the form demonstrated down the stretch in 2004, Fantasy owners won't much care how much McGahee weighs or how many mini-camp workouts he missed. ...

Also of interest in Buffalo. ...Lee Evans officially became the Bills' top wideout once the trade of Eric Moulds was made official this past Thursday. Receivers coach Tyke Tolbert sees a player ready to handle a leading role in Buffalo's offense.

"He's been kind of grooming himself for this position," said Tolbert. "He came in here as a high first-round pick, so he knew what the expectations were from the jump. And he knew eventually Eric would be getting older and not be here anymore. I think he'll transition himself into it real well."

As a second-year receiver Evans was only able to duplicate his reception numbers from his rookie season. While some might see that as a lack of progress, Tolbert feels there is a factor that is overlooked.

"Last year he had only 48 catches, but when you watch the film after the game you see he was open a whole lot," said Tolbert. "Unfortunately we didn't get the ball to him as often as we should."

And a few final notes. ... According to Brown, Josh Reed got the reps as the No. 2 man opposite Evans on Friday. Sam Aiken and Andre' Davis were the third and fourth wideouts as the offense ran almost exclusively two-receiver sets on Friday.

Jonathan Smith and Roscoe Parrish got reps after them along with George Wilson.

However, those worried about Parrish running as the sixth receiver the first day out can take some comfort in the fact he was the slot receiver when the first-team offense lined up in three-receiver sets Saturday. Reed was in the slot with the second unit.

Also. ... Robert Royal is working as the No. 1 tight end. Kevin Everett, coming off a torn ACL suffered this time last year, is working in the off-season program but isn't ready for live action allowing Tim Euhus to work with the second team. ...

That's all for this week. ...

As always, I'll remind you to keep an eye on the News & Views section of this site throughout the week for late-breaking news and other items of interest. And watch the Headline News section for more in-depth reviews of current events -- including the Fantasy Notebook, posted each Sunday.