Alex Boone leaves strong impression early with Vikings

I can't remember a new player coming to the Vikings who has impressed his teammates with his personality, leadership and just all-around good character as Alex Boone has.

So far in the workouts, Boone has done nothing but impress the coaches and his teammates, which is contrary to past free agents who failed to make a good impression in their first year here.

Boone was by far the biggest offseason free-agent addition the Vikings made, signing a four-year, $26.8 million deal. Rick Spielman said last week the Vikings have around 15 offensive linemen signed to contracts, and CBS Sports reported the Vikings have the highest priced offensive line group in the NFL at around $35 million.

While Boone should land a starting job, he started 59 of a possible 64 games over the past four seasons, he was asked what it means to have that level of competition at his position.

"I think it's the most important position, so I'm not surprised," Boone said. "I mean let's be honest, if you want to have a good team you have to build up in the trenches, and that's the truth. Competition is always a good way of finding out who's ready to play and who's not. I've always been a big fan of competition. Since high school and college we have always had that mind-set as a team. It's going to be a lot of fun. I'm excited for what this team is going to do."

Boone became a starter for the 49ers in 2012 and got to block for one of the NFC's best running backs in Frank Gore, who rushed for 1,214 yards in 2012, 1,128 yards in '13 and 1,106 yards in '14. Then last season there was a steep drop off as Gore went to the Indianapolis Colts. Carlos Hyde led San Francisco in rushing with a mere 470 yards last season.

But now Boone will get to once again block for one of the best running backs in football in Adrian Peterson, and he was asked what that means to him.

It's amazing to think that Boone, who made first team All-Big Ten and second team All-America during his senior season at Ohio State, still went undrafted. He described how he got to play for the Buckeyes.

"I went to St. Edwards High School in Lakewood, Ohio, and they're very football, football friendly," he said. "It's an honor to play there. I played for John Gibbons, who is in the hall of fame in Ohio. I was recruited early. I was a sophomore when I was committed to Ohio State. I always knew I wanted to go to Ohio State, my grandfather was a big Ohio State fan, and it was an honor to go there and play with coach [Jim] Tressel and get to play with him and know him.

"I was an undrafted free agent when I came out of college in '09. Back then I was actually a tackle, I played swing tackle first [in high school], in college I was a left tackle, and then I started at right guard for the [49ers]."

Despite the difficult road it took to get to this position, Boone was in high demand following the 2015 season.

"We had a couple clubs interested, but in the end I was happy it ended up being Minnesota," he said. "Back in a tough division that is a very prideful division for how tough they are, and winning, it's going to be a lot of fun."

"Why not? They're a team on the rise right now, the division, I thought we were playing outside but the new stadium is gorgeous and I can't complain," Boone said. "Being back in the Midwest is fun, where I'm from, and it's always fun being in the Midwest."

• The Twins started the season with 50-1 odds to win the World Series but have now dropped to 125-1, according to Bovada out of Las Vegas, the fifth-worst odds in the league. They are also 66-1 to win the American League, the lowest odds on the board.

• USA Today ranked each team's results in the NFL draft and gave the Vikings an 'A' grade, the second-highest mark in the NFL, behind Jacksonville. It wrote: "It's hard to find fault with any of the early draft picks. Mississippi WR Laquon Treadwell fills a need on offense and should be a nice complement to Stefon Diggs, while Clemson CB Mackensie Alexander could contribute immediately in nickel packages. The most surprising pick came Saturday afternoon in German WR Moritz Boehringer, who is the first European player drafted into the NFL without playing in the NCAA."

• USA Today also rated the NFL's best overall offseasons and had the Vikings at No. 6, writing, "They didn't make much noise and that's OK. New G Alex Boone should be a boon to RB Adrian Peterson while departed WR Mike Wallace won't be missed, especially with highly touted first-round WR Laquon Treadwell inbound. Overall, the Vikes quietly added depth to solidify a roster that should be ready to defend the NFC North crown."

• The Chicago Bulls have three unrestricted free agents this season and one player expected to decline his option for next season, all of whom played for new Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau. They are Aaron Brooks, Pau Gasol (expected to decline his $7.7 million option), E'Twaun Moore and Joakim Noah. Gasol would be an interesting target for the Wolves because he and Ricky Rubio are such good friends from playing together for the Spanish national team in international competition.