The Chiefs, in need of an experienced backup for left tackle Willie Roaf, may be close to a contract agreement with one in Kyle Turley.

Turley, who formerly played for the Saints and Rams, could also become a candidate to be the starter at right tackle.

“Both parties are speaking, so it’s just a matter of whether it can all get worked out,” coach Herm Edwards said. “Both parties are interested.”

The Chiefs suffered when Roaf missed six games with a hamstring injury last season. Turley was once a first-round draft pick with New Orleans.

Practicing with Vikings

After a one-year absence, the Chiefs will again practice at training camp against the Minnesota Vikings.

The teams will meet at Vikings camp in Mankato, Minn., for an evening practice on Aug. 4.

The Chiefs declined to practice against Minnesota last season because they believed the Vikings were undisciplined. The joint practices were frequently fight-filled, and the Chiefs had a player receive a serious injury in each of the previous two years while working against Minnesota.

But Edwards replaced Dick Vermeil as Chiefs coach, and the Vikings hired Brad Childress as the successor to the fired Mike Tice. The bad blood may have left with Vermeil and Tice.

“That’s not going to be a problem,” Edwards said. “I’ve talked to (Childress). He understands how we handle it. I know how he’s going to handle it. It’s going to be fine. I don’t foresee anything going astray.”

The Chiefs had talked with the Packers about joint practices. The Packers insisted that the sessions be held in Green Bay. The Chiefs weren’t willing to travel to the far corner of Wisconsin.

Friend of Hochevar

Royals top draft pick Luke Hochevar won’t be a total stranger when he comes to Kansas City. He’s a good friend of Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt.

The two are from the University of Tennessee. Colquitt was one of the first people Hochevar called after being selected by the Royals with the top pick in Tuesday’s amateur draft.

“He was excited,” Colquitt said. “He asked me if I was ready for a roommate. He said a deal would be worked out in a couple of weeks.

“The Royals are getting a steal. He’s had a year to get better, rest his arm. He’s a hard worker. He’ll do really well for them.”

The misnomer known as the NFL offseason ground on Friday for the Minnesota Vikings as 45 rookies and select veterans wrapped up another round of OTAs (organized team activities) Friday at Winter Park.

No. 1 pick Chad Greenway and the rest of this year's draft class were on hand for the last of six voluntary practices, as were a number of young veterans, including running back Chester Taylor, who is expected to be the team's featured ball carrier after signing a four-year, $14.1 million contract to leave Baltimore during the offseason.

Friday's practice was the first OTA session open to the media and first since the Vikings' May 13-15 minicamp for Taylor, but he should have plenty of opportunities to start earning his money this fall after four seasons of backing up Jamal Lewis with the Ravens.

"I'm ready for the challenge," Taylor said. "I had my spurts in Baltimore when Jamal got hurt, and then he got suspended (for two games in 2004) and I had to take the load. I know I can do it. I just want to prove I can do it for a whole season this time."

Taylor rushed for 1,599 yards and averaged 4.3 yards a per carry during his four seasons in Baltimore, where he had the luxury of running behind an offensive line anchored by left tackle Jonathan Ogden, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection.

The Vikings' front five might be even better, though, after the offseason addition of all-pro left guard Steve Hutchinson to go with Pro Bowl center Matt Birk and left tackle Bryant McKinnie.

"I'm real excited," Taylor said. "I had a great offensive line in Baltimore, but I'm really looking forward to playing behind this line."

At the moment, Taylor is just trying to get his legs loose for the next round of voluntary practices, with all veterans expected to be on hand Monday, and accustom himself to a radically different offseason routine.

Suffice to say Ravens coach Brian Billick didn't work his veteran players as hard or as often as Vikings coach Brad Childress has during his first offseason.

"I heard that new coaches get more practices anyway, but Baltimore is totally different," Taylor said. "We didn't practice as much as we're doing here. As coaches, they both want to put the best players on the field to win. I just feel the practice style is totally different. Here, coach is going to put us through every practice he thinks we need to get better."

Childress said the objective of this week's practices was to get the rookies and young players more accustomed to the Vikings' tempo and system in addition to the larger goal of teaching them how to be professionals.

It also was a good opportunity to get some extra work for players such as rookie quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who took all the snaps as the only QB at Friday's practice, and two players just back from NFL Europe, wide receiver Aaron Hosack and cornerback Ronyell Whitaker.

"Great hand-eye coordination," Childress said of Hosack. "Obviously, he's a bigger target, which quarterbacks love. He kind of vacuums up the football. As my old stats guy used to say, receivers by definition should receive, and he does a good job of that."

Like Hosack, Whitaker was named to the All-NFL Europe team, and the fact that he played under Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin at Tampa Bay won't hurt his chances in the race for the nickel back job.

"I think the great thing is they have a feel for his football character and how he plays the game," Childress said. "He's a great competitor. He already caught our guys' eyes in the special-teams area. He's got a chance. You like those guys that compete."

 The Minnesota Vikings finalized their personnel department Monday, retaining the majority of their existing staff with new contracts.

Rick Spielman, the recently hired vice president of player personnel who replaced the fired Fran Foley, heads the department that is also buoyed by director of college scouting Scott Studwell.

Pro scouts Paul Wiggin, Jeff Robinson, Frank Acevedo and Ryan Monnens were all brought back, as were regional scouts Frank Gilliam, Conrad Cardano, Kevin McCabe, Mike Sholiton and Jamaal Stephenson. Paul Roell replaced Kevin Fitzpatrick. Wiggin's and Gilliam's titles changed slightly.

Since Zygi Wilf and his group bought the team a year ago and coach Brad Childress was hired in January, the Vikings have made significant changes to the front office, coaching staff and roster. The personnel department is the lone exception to the turnover.