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The Minnesota Vikings look to be an improved team from 2011 this season, but right now in their organized team activities they are lacking most of their star power on the offensive side of the ball. Both Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson, the top two marquee names on the Vikings offense, are out with injury right now. Harvin did show up to the OTAs after having shoulder surgery in late April but isn't quite ready to participate yet, while Peterson is getting over a torn ACL from the end of last season.
Of course, the Vikings aren't entirely without intrigue on that side of the ball in the OTAs, with two new free agent signings that the Vikings are hoping will help light the scoreboard a bit more in 2012:
The season is still more than three months away, so May is a time to temper expectations about the offense. But that doesn't discount the interest in Ponder's new weapons: tight end John Carlson and wide receiver Jerome Simpson.
Carlson was one of the Vikings' top free-agent priorities. The team locked him up with a five-year, $25 million deal in the first week of free agency. Meanwhile, the Vikings let the market simmer for Simpson, who was marred by legal trouble, and got the former Bengal at a bargain price (one year, $2 million).
Minnesota had the 28th best passing offense in the league last season, so pretty much anything would be a boost from that.
For more on the Minnesota Vikings during their organized team activities, head over to The Daily Norseman. More news and analysis on the NFL as the off-season continues can be found over at SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.