Rice: No issues with right knee

Sidney Rice made a leaping, twisting touchdown catch after being bumped by cornerback Karl Paymah on the final play of the Vikings three-day mandatory minicamp Sunday.

Rice landed on the ground but quickly got to his feet. It was a positive end for Rice, who showed no signs of trouble with his right knee this weekend.

"It's not really an issue," he said.

That is encouraging news for the Vikings. The third-year wide receiver said several weeks ago that his knee still was not 100 percent after suffering a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in Week 2 last season. But Rice took part in every drill and did not seem restricted in any way. He made a handful of plays and said afterward that his knee felt good.

"It really didn't bother me none this weekend," he said. "No pulls, nothing like that."

Rice said he will take part in OTAs this week and then will spend six weeks building up strength in his leg.

Antoine Winfield's absence this weekend gave cornerback Marcus McCauley an opportunity to work with the first team. McCauley said he's in a better place mentally and physically after a disappointing 2008 season.

"It doesn't matter what happened the year before," he said. "This year lives on its merits because you're here one day, gone the next."

McCauley had a promising rookie season in 2007 with nine starts, but he fell way behind after suffering a knee injury in training camp last year and was inactive for six games. McCauley's roster spot for 2009 is not exactly secure, but he has made an impression with his attitude this offseason.

"From the time that we started our offseason program back in April, his attitude and his demeanor, everything has been A-plus," defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. "This is his third season in the league and you have to believe that this is the year that things will really come into play for him."

McCauley said he can't afford to worry about what happened last season.

"Obviously it's tough having to watch your teammates," he said. "You want to be out there with them. But for whatever reason, I wasn't able to get out there as much as I wanted to. It was coach's decision and whatever decision they make I back it 100 percent. I'm just doing whatever I can right now to be out there as much as I can."

Vikings coach Brad Childress wore a visor that had a brown wig attached to the top during Sunday's practice, which made him look like he had a bushy head of hair. Childress said he bought the gag gift in Florida and he even wore it with a beard and sun glasses to the Senior Bowl in January.

"I looked probably 15 people that I know pretty well in the face and was able to fool them," he said. "They didn't know who it was, including members of my staff. It's kind of in honor of Jared [Allen's] mullet. He told me there's a website specifically dedicated to mullets and this is about as good as I can do."

Childress said some players didn't recognize him at first when he walked onto the field Sunday. And their reaction when they figured out their follicly challenged coach was wearing a wig with spiked hair?

"I don't know if I can really put that on tape or not," Childress said. "Probably some of their thoughts were: 'The guy's in crisis right now, midlife problem.' "

Quarterback Sage Rosenfels had the quote of the weekend when discussing the Wildcat formation. Rosenfels lines up at wide receiver in that formation and another player -- either Percy Harvin, Chester Taylor or Darius Reynaud -- takes the direct snap in the backfield.

After pointing out that the Vikings don't refer to the formation as 'Wildcat,' Rosenfels was asked what they call it.

"I call it the play where I don't touch the football," he said, smiling.