Mike Zimmer cancels Vikings practice as way to reward players' work ethic

And on the third day, Mike Zimmer rose and told 90 hard-working men to take it easy.

The Vikings coach decided this morning to cancel the third practice of the team's three-day minicamp and sent the players on their way, telling them to behave themselves and show up for training camp in Mankato on July 28.

"This team works their rear ends off," Zimmer said while describing why he cancelled practice. "They work real hard. I like their attention to detail. I like the way they go about their work. And I felt like I've seen enough that I need to see this time of the year. Get ready to go down to Mankato healthy and get back to work."

Zimmer wasn't ready to declare the offseason a complete success. He said the team had too many penalties, particularly pre-snap penalties, for his liking. But, overall, he was happy. Happy enough to call off an entire practice in a league that has limited practice opportunities.

"If they had been crummy, I wouldn't have cancelled it, I'll tell you that," Zimmer said. "I just like the way this team works. I told them that today. I appreciate how they go about their business. They're dedicated to being a good football team and so I just felt like they needed [to take the day off]. They didn't believe me at first. A bunch of them said, 'Did he say, 'Go practice,' or, 'No practice?' They sat up there for a little while. They thought it was a joke or a trick. But I felt like I've seen what I needed to see."

Zimmer said he'll try to get in some rest and relaxation before training camp kicks off next month.

"My family and I are going on a little trip," he said. "I'll be spending some time at the ranch [in Kentucky]. I'm going to Dallas to see my other daughter. Stuff like that. I'll be working. Watching the iPad, a little red wine once in a while."

"This time of year, I expect them to be smart," Zimmer said. "You know a lot of bad things happen off the field this time of the year and to be smart. I don't want to get any phone calls about anything."

Zimmer said he will try to get in some rest and relaxation before training camp.

"My family and I are going on a little trip," he said. "I'll be spending some time at the ranch [in Kentucky]. I'm going to Dallas to see my other daughter. Stuff like that. I'll be working. Watching the iPad, a little red wine once in a while."

The Vikings announced two joint practices with Zimmer's old team, the Cincinnati Bengals, on Aug. 10-11 in Cincinnati.

After wrapping up training camp in Mankato on Aug. 9, the Vikings will fly to Cincinnati. The first day of practice will be in pads; the second day won't. A day after that, the teams will meet in their preseason opener.

"One really good thing is that we're similar, so it's not like you have to prepare that much, especially defensively," Zimmer said. "The one good thing about me is I know their players pretty well and so when our guys are going against their players I think I'll be able to have a good evaluation."

With a new-look offensive line and some schematic tweaks offensively, Zimmer said he hasn't ruled out giving Adrian Peterson his first preseason carries since 2011.

"I haven't really thought about that yet," Zimmer said. "I don't know that there's a need. Some of the different runs that we're running, maybe it might be good to get him a couple of reps. But that's probably the good thing about practicing against Cincinnati. I don't have to see him in live things, but I can see him in other situations. But I don't know. I'll have to think about that one."

• The Vikings have two open roster spots after releasing defensive tackle Bruce Gaston and linebacker Travis Lewis on Thursday. Gaston signed in May after playing for the Packers and Bears last season; Lewis spent the past four seasons with the Lions.