The Vikings released the longest-tenured player on their roster today. Cullen Loeffler, who had played in 171 career games dating back to 2004, was let go because competing long snapper Kevin McDermott performed better as the Vikings prepare this month for the 2015 season.
“He (McDermott) was faster with his snaps,” head coach Mike Zimmer said. “He was more accurate with his snaps. We charted every one.”
The Vikings have two more preseason games to play before the regular season begins on September 14. Zimmer wants to use the coming days and weeks to get the “timing down” between McDermott and other specialists involved with placekicking and punting. The coach indicated the Vikings are committed to McDermott who was signed in the offseason as a free agent, and they don’t plan to fill the roster with a second long snapper. He also said a disappointing performance by placekicker Blair Walsh last Saturday night (see Worth Noting section below) had nothing to do with releasing Loeffler.
McDermott, 25, was a teammate of Vikings punter Jeff Locke for five years at UCLA. He snapped the ball to Locke for the Bruins during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. The 49ers signed McDermott as a rookie free agent in 2013 and he played in 16 regular season games and three playoff games that season. Last season he played in seven games with the Ravens.
Loeffler, 34, played in all 16 regular season games during 10 of his 11 seasons with the Vikings. He has been a popular player with teammates and off the field with fans where his volunteer focus has sometimes been on military veterans.
Vikings general manager Rick Spielman admires Loeffler. “These types of decisions are the hardest part of our jobs. Cullen was outstanding in the community and on the field for the Vikings. He handled his business with class, and his impact in the locker room and on the franchise were second to none. We wish him the best in the future.”
Worth Noting
Walsh, who missed three field goals and one extra point on Saturday night in the preseason win over the Raiders, also struggled at times last season—his third in the NFL. Walsh made a career worst 74.3 percent of his field goals in 2014. An Associated Press All-Pro as a rookie in 2012, Walsh had a big junior year in college at Georgia, but missed 14 of 35 field goal attempts as a senior.
Chase Ford had a touchdown catch on Saturday evening but Zimmer wouldn’t say today how many tight ends the team plans to keep on its final 53-man roster. “I am just out there trying to get better everyday. That’s up to them (the coaches) and Rick (Spielman) who they want to keep on the squad,” said Ford who during both the 2013 and 2014 seasons has been promoted to the roster from the Vikings practice squad.
Christian Ponder anticipated being booed and he was when the former Vikings quarterback played on Saturday night for the Raiders at TCF Bank Stadium. He had thought about taking a bow but said he “wimped out.”
PGA Tour Golf Course Properties is promoting discounts at golf courses when Vikings fans travel to games in California and Arizona this year. More at TPC.com/football.
Gophers coach Jerry Kill had several interesting observations about his team and its August practices while talking yesterday on WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle. He said 6-10 redshirt sophomore tight end Nate Wozniak is “maybe the most improved” player on the roster, and redshirt sophomore linebacker Cody Poock is having an “unbelievable” preseason camp. Kill identified true freshmen who will not redshirt including running back Shannon Brooks, defensive lineman Colton Beebe and offensive lineman Tyler Moore. As Kill did earlier this month, he raised the possibility of gifted runner Chris Streveler playing at a position or two other than quarterback this season.
Today is Kill’s 54th birthday.
The Gophers-TCU game on September 3 will be televised nationally on ESPN with Dave Pasch providing play-by-play and Brian Griese doing analysis.
Mike Grant is now the fifth coach in Minnesota high school football history to achieve 300 career wins. Grant’s record in 33 seasons is 300 wins and 66 losses after Eden Prairie defeated Totino-Grace on Saturday night. Other members of the 300 club are Ron Stolski (Brainerd), Mike Mahlen (Verndale), Dwight Lundeen (Becker) and George Larson (Cambridge).
Zach Zenner, from Eagan High School and South Dakota State, is an undrafted rookie running back with the Lions who is making news. Zenner rushed four times for 22 yards and caught five passes for 59 yards and a touchdown in a preseason game last Thursday against the Redskins. In two exhibition games he has rushed for a team-best 77 yards on 17 carries.
Saints owner and “fun is good” specialist Mike Veeck will speak at the next CORES luncheon on September 10 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington, 1114 American Blvd. Reservations must be made by September 7 or sooner. More information about CORES is available by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.
It looks almost certain 2015 will be remembered as the season the Twins’ highly-hyped minor league prospects began to change the franchise. Coming into this season Baseball America’s top 10 Twins prospects included No. 1 Byron Buxton, No. 2 Miguel Sano, No. 9 Trevor May and No. 10 Eddie Rosario. All four are making a difference for the Twins including run producers Buxton, Sano and Rosario, and the relief pitching of former starter May. Right-handed pitcher Jose Berrios, ranked No. 3 in the listings, seems likely to join the Twins from Triple-A Rochester on September 1 when major league rosters can be expanded.
Twins right fielder Torii Hunter, who turned 40 on Saturday, is hitting .174 in his last 30 games. Hunter’s season average is .235, or 42 points lower than his career average. Despite his locker room leadership, it’s questionable whether he, or the Twins, will want a return year in 2016 unless his hitting picks up between now and season’s end.
Amanda Zahui B., the former Gopher who left school with two seasons of eligibility remaining, is averaging nine minutes per game as a rookie for the WNBA’s Shock. The 6-5, 250-pound native of Sweden is scoring 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.