MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings suffered from the limited preseason practice time during last year’s lockout as much as any other NFL team.

They had a new offense and a new quarterback to break in and plenty of other newbies to accommodate. They finished with a 3-13 record, matching the franchise’s all-time worst.

This season, coach Leslie Frazier is trying to take full advantage of opportunities to develop his young roster.

After breaking training camp before their first exhibition game each of the previous three years, the Vikings will prepare for the 2012 season at Minnesota State University in Mankato for three weeks this summer. Frazier says he’d always like to take the team out of town for at least that long if the schedule works with the school calendar.

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