Vikings Rookie Says Following Longwell An 'Honor'

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Blair Walsh says he would've enjoyed meeting Ryan Longwell. He surely would've benefited from learning from the 16-year veteran, too.

But the Minnesota Vikings rookie is on his own now. And that, he says, is a humbling honor.

The Vikings began spring practice Tuesday — known around the league as organized team activities — but Walsh said being on top of the depth chart didn't feel any different to him.

Longwell was let go earlier this month in a cost-cutting move by the rebuilding Vikings, who have handed this important job to the sixth-round draft pick out of Georgia. Walsh is a former soccer prodigy who became burnt out on that sport and switched to football in high school.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)