Vikings' J.J. McCarthy on practice: 'Didn't feel like 1st day'

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EAGAN, Minn. -- Practice was long over Friday afternoon when quarterback J.J. McCarthy started running gassers across the field. The assumption was that McCarthy was working his way back into shape after an exhausting pre-draft process that ended with the Minnesota Vikings selecting him No. 10 overall.

That, however, wasn't quite the reason, McCarthy said afterward. As it turns out, McCarthy had jumped right into a friendly competition with the defensive players he faced on the first day of the Vikings' rookie minicamp. The stakes were simple: During a 16-play drill, only three (or fewer) of McCarthy's passes could hit the ground. If that happened, the…