Vikings cancel practice to attend Friday service for Sparano

The Minnesota Vikings canceled a scheduled training camp practice Friday to attend the memorial service for late offensive line coach Tony Sparano.

Sparano, 56, died unexpectedly Sunday due to arteriosclerotic heart disease, a Hennepin County medical examiner revealed, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin.

The 19-year NFL veteran coach died just before 9 a.m. in his home. He is survived by his wife Jeanette, his sons Tony and Andrew, his daughter Ryan Leigh, and his four grandchildren.

The Sparano family asks that donations be made to the American Heart Association in lieu of flowers.

The Vikings' Saturday practice will go ahead as planned.