MINNEAPOLIS -- Last year, as the Minnesota Vikings commenced with a careful indoctrination of Trae Waynes into the NFL, they had good enough fortune to be able to bring their first-round pick along slowly.
Xavier Rhodes and Terence Newman both played all 16 games last season, as did slot cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, and the only time the Vikings had to start Waynes was when injuries at safety forced them to move Newman there for a Dec. 10 game against the Arizona Cardinals.
This year, whether the Vikings were ready to or not, they've had to rely on Waynes early.