The reason Vikings special teams coach Mike Priefer is back this week and not next Monday was the week of sensitivity training that he completed during what became a two-week suspension for using an anti-gay remark during a team setting in 2012.

While some of us probably wouldn't head into such a training session in the best frame of mind, Priefer told reporters today that he embraced the opportunity to hear what the sensitivity trainer had to teach him.

"The details, we're going to keep those confidential," Priefer said. "But I will tell you this: It was real positive. It was very professionally done. And like anything else in life, if you put a lot into it, you're going to get a lot out of it. I tell my kids that, I tell my players that. So I went into it with a great attitude and I got a lot out of it, quite honestly."

Priefer was asked if he's a changed person.

"I don't know if I've changed, but I think I have more awareness of my surroundings and other people around me," he said. "I think I'm a better man because of it."

Priefer was allowed to return to the team on Monday. He arrived at 5:30 a.m. ready to go, he said, and happy he no longer has to watch his team on television.

"Both games were hard to watch," he said. "I was with my family. I think they were watching me, seeing how I was going to react. It's kind of weird for them, especially my kids. My daughter looked at me and said, `Dad, this is kind of weird,' seeing me sitting on the couch watching the Vikings. It was hard. It was difficult."

And what did you say during that punt return in which the Vikings had only nine men on the field?

"I probably can't say it in public," he said.

Priefer said he stayed calm and followed his wife's "lecture" not to throw anything during the game.

"I think I was pretty calm," he said. "I think the only time I got really excited was when Marcus [Sherels] got hit in the Rams game, because I thought we lost him. He got hit pretty hard."

Priefer said he was allowed to watch tape of the team's practices, so he's been up to speed on how the players have looked between games.

"When I walked in Monday, I just let them know that I appreciated all of their effort while I was gone and it's all behind us, it's over," Priefer said. "The situation is a dead issue and it's time to move on. I know it was hard for them. I apologized to them because of what I basically put them through being away for two weeks. But now it's time to improve and get better. We have a lot of work to do."

Fullback Jerome Felton told reporters that players gave Priefer a standing ovation when he walked into the team meeting on Monday morning.

"It was awesome," Priefer said. "Normally, I'm there three or four minutes before the meeting starts. I walked in right as the meeting starts because we had just finished up a staff meeting and it was really, really a cool thing. It was something I didn't expect. It was a warm reception and I really appreciated it.

"I'm an emotional guy and I really did appreciate it. Reflecting back on it, I think that will be one of the great things that's ever happened to me as a football coach."