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Posted September 16, 2006
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QB of Character Leads the Vikings
More
than a few observers had to wonder about Brad
Johnson’s contract Monday night as they watched the 38-year-old
quarterback lead the team to an opening win over the Washington
Redskins. Johnson was superb running the team while completing 16
passes in 30 attempts and throwing one touchdown pass. What made the
performance all the more appealing was the passion with which he
played.
Post
Randy Moss and Daunte Culpepper, the face of the Vikings
is now as much Johnson as anyone including coach Brad Childress.
He took over for Culpepper last season and the team won seven of nine
games while he completed an impressive 62.6% of his passes. In
pre-season games this summer he made good on over 75.6% of his throws
and in the win over Washington he looked almost flawless with his field
command, quick releases and accurate tosses.
The
ESPN telecast Monday night showed all of this and also reported to the
national viewing audience that Johnson, a former Super Bowl winning
quarterback, is the 40th highest paid quarterback in the
NFL. Supposedly Johnson is being paid $1.2 million this season in the
second year of a four year deal for $6 million.
I
asked a former NFL executive for his take on Johnson’s contract, agreed
to when it appeared his role would be to back up Culpepper. “Obviously
they (management) don’t want to invest in a 38-year-old quarterback,” he
said. “Clearly he (Johnson) is out performing the contract.”
The
source speculated as to whether there are certain performance clauses in
Johnson’s contract that could help him earn compensation more closely
aligned with other NFL starting quarterbacks. If such clauses are not
already in place, the suggestion is to do so. That would put more money
in Johnson’s pocket without tying the Vikings to a long term deal.
Such
a move also will play well with the public and media. If you can’t like
Brad Johnson, you have a problem. He is a genuine and caring individual
who impresses new friends and old. “He has done all the right things on
and off the field,” the former football executive said. “He’s a class
player.”
The
Vikings have said much about their commitment to character and
winning. Johnson’s resume belongs on top of the pile to make good on
that mission statement.
Johnson had no comment on his contract including whether there are
incentive clauses. A team spokesman said he wasn’t aware of any
developments with the contract. |
Brad Johnson
Daunte Culpepper |
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Pretty Pitching Picture Long Term?
Rick Anderson has been the Twins' pitching coach
since 2002. He was asked if this is the most excited he has been about
the staff from the perspective of youth and potential.
“Absolutely. Except for Radke (Brad) they all should be
around here for a lot of years to come,” Anderson said. “It’s kind of
funny because (you) talk about vets (on this staff) and they are (only)
three, four years into the big leagues. Take away Radke (12 big league
seasons) and look where they are at. They all have an upside to them.”
Johan Santana and Carlos Silva, both 27, are staff elders
along with Radke, 33, and ace reliever Joe Nathan, 31.
Francisco Liriano, and Matt Garza, both 22, and Boof
Bonser and Scott Baker, both 24, lead the youth movement.
Other young pitchers who have helped the Twins are Jesse Crain,
25, and Pat Neshek, 26.
Bonser, a rookie, will pitch the second game in the much anticipated
series against the White Sox at the Metrodome September 29-30, and
October 1. The season ending series could determine whether the Twins
win the Central Division. Santana will pitch the last game.
Anderson expressed confidence in Bonser but admitted some concern about
the right hander’s effectiveness in neutralizing the White Sox’s better
left handed hitters such as Jim Thome. “He (Bonser) has done a
good job for a kid,” Anderson said. “He has shown a lot of confidence
and poise attacking hitters.”
What
about Santana, the Twins’ Cy Young candidate who is 18-5? “Santana
matches up against anyone,” Anderson answered.
Liriano, injured and out for the season, was going to pitch the opening
game in the White Sox series. It’s speculation now who will receive
the assignment. |
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota
Twins
Rick Anderson
Photo
courtesy of the Minnesota Twins
Johan Santana |
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Hard to Keep’em Home
Gone
are the days when the Gopher football program could keep almost every
outstanding player in the state here. Last week Notre Dame tight end
John Carlson, from Litchfield, gained nearly 100 yards in pass
receptions in the first half against Penn State. Before the season
started Notre Dame had three Minnesota starters, including Carlson,
listed on its depth chart and the back up to Carlson is Marcus
Freeman from St. Paul.
Jim Laurinaitis, from Wayzata High School, was so good playing for
Ohio State last Saturday he was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of
the Week. The sophomore linebacker had a
career-best 13 tackles and added a tackle for loss, two forced fumbles
and an interception leading a rebuilt Ohio State defense to a win
over Texas solidifying the Buckeyes’ No. 1 ranking.
Laurinaitis was expected to play for the Gophers but changed his mind
and became the first Minnesotan in memory to start for Ohio State.
Buckeye coach Jim Tressel is optimistic about Laurinaitis’
future. “He is a bright young man,” Tressel said earlier this week.
“He studies the film hard. He knows what we expect of him. He has a lot
of desire to uphold that tradition of the excellent linebackers in Ohio
State history. With all those things being said, he also has some very
good God given talents and we think he is going to end up being a good
one.”
Eden
Prairie High School coach Mike Grant will see
two of his seniors, linebackers, Bryce McNaul and Blake
Sorensen, accept scholarships to Northwestern. He said compared
with years ago, parents and players are so much more “savvy” about the
many assets schools offer because of the Internet and TV. “And the
movie Rudy doesn’t help because you watch that movie and you get so
excited about Notre Dame,” Grant added. He recalled that Mark LeVoir,
who played for him before going to Notre Dame, grew up wanting to play
there.
Grant
thinks the Gophers’ new on-campus stadium, scheduled to open in 2009, is
likely to help in-state recruiting. “They just gotta get a few more of
those (quality) recruits and hopefully this new stadium is going to
attract some of those kinds of kids who love that kind of atmosphere,”
he said. “I think that’s the biggest thing they are missing is that
atmosphere on Saturday afternoons.” |
Gone are the days when the Gopher football
program could keep almost every outstanding player in the state here.
“I think that’s the
biggest thing they are missing is that atmosphere on Saturday
afternoons.”
Mike Grant talking about
the Gophers' need for a campus stadium
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Extra Innings
If
the race for the American League batting championship goes down to the
last day, Joe Mauer hopes to be in the Twins’
lineup. He made it clear he wants to win the title on the field and not
finish with the highest average because he wasn’t playing.
Brad Radke said he will make a formal announcement before the season
ends regarding his retirement from the Twins.
Michael Cuddyer of the Twins likes to watch
other magicians to see if there is something new he can add to his
repertoire. He estimated he has 20 to 25 magic tricks and can put on a
30 to 45 minute show.
Once
the season ends rookie pitcher Scott Baker is looking forward to
spending time with wife Leann and their first child, 13 month old
son Eli. The family will winter in Shreveport, Louisiana but
Baker and his wife will vacation in Las Vegas.
Larry Fitzgerald, the Arizona Cardinals’ Pro Bowl receiver from
Minneapolis, stays after practice to help equipment managers with
laundry. He used to be a ball boy for the Vikings.
The
NFL monitors youth football including the number of girls playing high
school football. According to the NFL, five Minnesota girls
participated in prep football last year. Texas was first with 532,
California had 284. Iowa finished sixth with 72.
Single game Wild tickets go on sale today (Saturday) at the Xcel Energy
Center and through Ticketmaster. |
Photo
courtesy of the Minnesota Twins
Joe Mauer
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Twins
Michael Cuddyer
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