Vikings release McKinnie after he shows up for camp out-of-shape

• Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings

Talk about it

MANKATO, Minn. -- The Bryant McKinnie era is over in Minnesota. The Vikings released the six-foot-eight-inch offensive tackle Tuesday afternoon.

Coach Leslie Frazier issued a statement saying, "this decision while not an easy one is in the best interest of our football team as we move forward preparing for the season."

McKinnie was placed on the non-football injury list as training camp opened Monday. He reportedly weighed nearly 400 pounds when he showed up in Mankato and his listed weight is 335. Cutting 31-year-old McKinnie frees up about five-million dollars in salary cap space for the Vikings.

________________________________________________________

Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier says the team is practicing at a good tempo during training camp in Mankato. He says he's pleasantly surprised by the shape most of the guys are in. There appears to be a battle between Erin Henderson and Jasper Brinkley for a starting linebacker position. Frazier says new offensive lineman Charlie Johnson can line up at multiple positions and could play an important role this season. Johnson was the starting left tackle for the Colts in 2010. The Vikings have a full 90-man roster in Mankato and Frazier hopes to find a diamond in the rough. The players will work out in shoulder pads for the first time at practice today (9-11:30am).

_________________________________________________________

Minnesota Vikings fans are lined up outside the Metrodome waiting for 2011 home game tickets to go on sale. Single-game tickets and multi-game packages can be purchased in person at 9 a.m. at the Vikings ticket office. Online and telephone sales through Ticketmaster start at 10 a.m. Prices range from 39 to 143 dollars. Fans who want tickets to the October 23rd Packers game must also purchase seats for the September 1st exhibition game versus Houston. The regular season home opener is Sunday September 18th against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tags: minnesota sports, proam, football, vikings