Ben Goessling, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Mike Zimmer had to remind Vikings that last year doesn't matter anymore

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- It has seemed since the beginning of the Minnesota Vikings' offseason workout program that coach Mike Zimmer wasn't going to let the team luxuriate much longer on its 2015 NFC North title. When players returned to the team facility in April, Zimmer warned them not to be content in what happened last year, rolling out his 2016 saying, "Good is the enemy of great."

At the start of organized team activities on Tuesday, Zimmer had to reiterate that message. It was probably in more forceful terms, if it was anything like the tone of what the coach said in one outburst during Wednesday's open OTA.

"Anything we did last year really doesn't matter, and I think they understand that -- most of them do," Zimmer said. "I had to remind them a little bit yesterday. We came out and we were a little bit, just not like us. We were kind of cocky, and talking smack to one another. I had to remind them a little bit who we were."

Here are some other notes and observations from the Vikings' first open practice of the spring on Wednesday:

  • John Sullivan and Phil Loadholt were both practicing on Wednesday after returning from back and heel injuries, respectively. Sullivan was the center on the second-team offense, while Loadholt was at right tackle with the top unit. "It's nice to get those guys back; they've been working hard [in rehab]," Zimmer said. "I think the more competition you have, the better you are."

  • Sharrif Floyd, Anthony Barr, Matt Kalil, Rhett Ellison and Brandon Watts didn't practice on Wednesday; Zimmer said Floyd was dealing with things similar to last year, when he missed time because of knee and ankle injuries, but said he didn't think Barr was hurt. Kalil was on the field for practice, but watched most of the session with his helmet in his hand. Defensive lineman B.J. Dubose left with a lower leg injury.

  • Moritz Böhringer will presumably have better days as a receiver than he did on Wednesday. For the sake of his NFL prospects, he'll have to hope he does. The receiver dropped three passes on Wednesday (though one was on a diving attempt), and got a brief pep talk from Stefon Diggs after the third one. The drops weren't exclusive to the German receiver, though; Diggs also had one, as did undrafted free agent Troy Stoudermire.

  • Captain Munnerlyn could get a challenge from second-round pick Mackensie Alexander for the slot cornerback spot, but Munnerlyn was with the Vikings' first-team defense on Wednesday and came down with an interception off Teddy Bridgewater on a pass that was tipped by linebacker Eric Kendricks.

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