MANKATO, Minn. – If Mike Zimmer somehow forgets the No. 1 decision he faces as a rookie head coach, there's a certain former NFL MVP who could probably remind him.

Tucked away in today's transcript of Adrian Peterson's first interview of training camp was his thoughts on the quarterback situation and the importance of coming to a quick, definitive decision when it comes to deciding whether to start Matt Cassel, Teddy Bridgewater or even the long, long, long shot, Christian Ponder.

"I feel like it's going to be very important for us," running back Adrian Peterson said Thursday as players reported to Minnesota State Mankato for the start of training camp. "It's not a secret. The quarterback position really hasn't played well."

Peterson went on to express confidence in Cassel and Ponder because of their efforts to improve this offseason and rookie Bridgewater, a first-round draft pick who was meticulously researched by the Vikings prior to the draft.

"I feel like we have three good quarterbacks right now," Peterson said. "Basing everything off OTAs and the minicamps, of course Matt Cassel is our guy, with Christian Ponder and Bridgewater right there. I have confidence in our organization from the top to the bottom, the head coach."

Zimmer said the first-team reps will not be split evenly between the three quarterbacks when practice begins on Friday. But that's subject to change based on daily performance on the field and in the classroom.

"In my mind, I have Cassel as the No. 1 quarterback going into camp, but I don't have a starter in mind yet," Zimmer said. "They're going to determine who the starter is on the practice field about how they go about their business, how they perform in the preseason games."

Barring something completely unforseen, the competition is between Cassel and Bridgewater. Asked essentially if he'd have the courage to start a rookie quarterback, Zimmer said, "The Minnesota Vikings, (General Manager) Rick (Spielman) and myself, we're really not afraid to do anything. It's really about doing what we feel is best.

"If we do make a mistake, pick the wrong guy or play the left corner the wrong guy to play, then we'll try to fix it at that time. That's part of adjusting. I have no problem playing a rookie quarterback, or a ninth year veteran or a fourth year veteran. We're going to do what we think is best collectively as a group. I'm lucky as heck to have Norv Turner here to help with this decision. I was lucky to have him in the draft process to help there and honestly our scouts. I know I keep saying these kinds of things and people think that I'm saying it, but it is true. I've been in a lot of organizations and these are first class people that know their jobs very, very well."