A handful of notable names were released around the NFL Friday in the first big day of the second round of free agency, but no additions or subtractions for the Vikings … yet.

When does no news become news? When it’s an important date in the NFL’s offseason and the Vikings don’t make any major moves. That is just what happened Friday as June 1, the official start of the second big round of free agency, came and went.

What came to the Vikings is nothing really. However, what went around the NFL was a number of other potential future signees to the open market, as other NFL clubs released names of note on the first day of 2001 when they could do so and not assume the whole of their contract against the 2001 salary cap.

Some potential names that the Vikings could look into include Arizona Cardinals defensive end Andre Wadsworth, as the Cards further dismantled what was one of the top defensive lines in the NFL just two years ago. Wadsworth is questionable entering this season after a knee injury. Another veteran end expected to be let go in the coming days is Denver’s Lester Archambeau. Also joining the new ends on the market was troubled Giants defensive lineman Jeremiah Parker, who is making more news for his legal trouble than he ever did for his performance on the field.

Some teams, including the Vikings, could be waiting until later next week to make their moves. In the Vikings’ case, however, it is only expected to be additions. First, the Vikings need additional cap room that will be created when Robert Smith’s retirement papers become official. Second, waiting a few days allows them the opportunity to get a more complete picture of who is available before making any of their own moves.

SATURDAY NOTES
* Other names of note released around the NFL Friday but not likely to garner much consideration from the Vikings: Pittsburgh running back Richard Huntley and Buffalo running back Jonathan Linton.
* It could turn out that the biggest free agent news the Vikings make in the coming days is simply re-signing wide receiver Chris Walsh and offensive lineman Corbin Lacina. Negotiations with available free agent cornerbacks (or other positions) are likely to last longer than when the team deals with their own former players.
* The Vikings have signed only one of their eight draft picks from this year, big offensive tackle Brian Crawford. The seventh-round pick signed a three-year deal with the Vikings a few weeks ago. However, the report in May was that negotiations in earnest with most of the other picks weren’t imminent. Until the July 29 report date to training camp really nears, the sense of urgency on both sides isn’t strong. That seems to hold true with all the NFC Central teams, as the Vikings are the only team in the division to have a draft pick signed.