David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Decision Day for Vikings to Upgrade Quarterback Spot

Posted on November 10, 2026November 10, 2026 by David Shama

Don’t be surprised if the Vikings make a trade today for an established quarterback and give up a king’s ransom to do it.

The franchise is desperate to upgrade its sometimes mediocre and other times dismal quarterback play and offense. Carson Wentz’s embarrassing performance last night and the failure of the offense to score a touchdown have increased urgency to make a high profile deal.

Wentz, who threw two interceptions and completed just 32 percent of his passes last evening, replaced starter Kyler Murray against the Bills. Murray, with a hamstring injury, has struggled this fall and might not have done much better than Wentz in the 23-6 loss.

The Vikings, now 6-2, have a brilliant defense that has carried the team this season, along with the field goal kicking of Will Reichard. It might be the best defense in franchise history and more than capable of doing its share in a Super Bowl win.

It doesn’t look like the Vikings can hang with the best teams in the NFL, though, without some semblance of an offense. The window is now for improving the points production as the NFL trade deadline approaches at 3 p.m. Minneapolis time.

The view here is the desperate Vikings will go so far as offering multiple draft picks for a quarterback. The package could include a first rounder.

That may sound extreme, but it might be a long time before the Vikings have a defense like now. The Wilf ownership has had the franchise since 2005, but never made the Super Bowl, and could be willing to ask new general manager Nolan Teasley to roll the dice today in a potential move that might define his career.

Ex-Vikings QB Kirk Cousins — Kirk Cousins

The gambling could be done with a Las Vegas connection. The Raiders have rookie first round pick Fernando Mendoza to replace Kirk Cousins who has been impressive this season as the starter. The Raiders are also building their roster and could be more than interested in acquiring more draft capital.

The 38-year-old Cousins ranks fifth in passing yards this season with 2,340. He is second in the NFL in touchdown passes with 20.

A high character guy who takes care of his body, Cousins could play at a high level again next season. He also, of course, played for Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell for two seasons before signing as a free agent with the Falcons.

Familiarity with O’Connell and the complex Viking offense is a valued asset. Cousins could make the easiest of transitions in coming to Minnesota of any NFL quarterback.

Other names that make sense are Daniel Jones of the Colts and Matthew Stafford from the Rams. Jones had a brief tenure with the Vikings before signing with the Colts who are having a fire sale this fall. Stafford, a Super Bowl winning quarterback and 38-years old, was with the Rams when O’Connell was offensive coordinator in 2021. A savvy organization, the Rams might be looking to move on from their veteran quarterback with the team off to a disappointing start if they can receive a king’s ransom in draft selections.

The clock (and season) are ticking.

Tommies and Gophers Energized The Barn

There was excitement in The Barn last Friday night when the Gophers and Tommies played their first basketball game against one another since 1934. In a bit of a “David” versus “Goliath” match up, the mid-major Tommies had a small contingent of fans making noise (“overrated” was heard) while most of the announced crowd of 10,604 cheered on the Power Four conference Gophers from the Big Ten.

The physically bigger, more talented and deeper Gophers controlled the game, leading 40-22 at halftime and winning 76-62. Minnesota led in the 40-minute game for almost 36 minutes.

Minnesota coach Niko Medved has been urged to play the cross-town Tommies since he was hired as Gophers coach in March of 2025. A portion of the fanbase and media like the idea of an annual game against the Tommies who are a favorite to win the Summit League title.

Among those who have beat the drum for starting a Twin Cities rivalry is Nadine Babu, the high-profile social media specialist who many fans know from GopherHole.com. She told Sports Headliners the game was a “reward to the season ticket holders because they sit through a lot of really boring nonconference games” year after year.

“I thought it (the game) was fantastic. I think the crowd was great. You don’t get this kind of experience from a lot of other nonconference games. They’re (the Tommies) a good competitor. It should absolutely be a rivalry.”

Power conference teams are reticent to play lower level but strong opposition because a loss could negatively impact their resume for selection to the NCAA Tournament in March. Babu dismissed the idea of a November 6 loss costing Minnesota or another team an invitation, opining that in such circumstances the Power Four team just isn’t deserving having not build a strong enough resume after the early season defeat.

“I thought it was great for basketball in the Twin Cities,” Medved said after the game. He added that “who knows” regarding a future game with the Tommies and their revered coach John Tauer who led his alma mater to a Division III national title in 2016.

Most elite college programs won’t schedule the Tommies because a match up can end in an upset, even though the game is in their home gyms. The Gophers have little to gain in reputation by meeting up with the Tommies. Win big and it’s ho-hum. Win in a squeaker or lose, and it’s Minnesota isn’t very good.

In several years St. Thomas might be a member of the prestigious Big East Conference. That could be the next time they’re welcome to play the Gophers, although the Tommies would be willing to sign up for a rematch tomorrow.

Last night Minnesota earned an impressive road win at Cincinnati against the Bearcats when Gopher forward Bobby Durkin made a three-point shot with less than a second to play. The 63-61 win pushed the Minnesota record to 3-0 this season.

Worth Noting

Good genes: St. Thomas junior guard Austin Herro is the younger brother of NBA star Tyler Herro now with the Bucks. Junior forward Kyle Counts is the grandson of two-time Celtics NBA champion Mel Counts.

The Wild’s Quinn Hughes was effusive in praise of his team the other night in a First Star interview on the ice at Grand Casino Arena after a 4-1 win over the Sharks. He liked last year’s team but said the Wild could be even better now, and “we’re going to be dangerous.”

In the Friday night win the gifted defenseman earned his 100th career multi-assist game. He became the fourth-fastest active player to reach that mark, trailing forwards Connor McDavid (398 games), Sidney Crosby (465) and Artemi Panarin (522).

Wild sideline reporter is referring to Hughes as the “Magic Man.”

Still pondering how the football Gophers could have played so poorly in their 41-13 road loss to the mediocre Purdue Boilermakers? Purdue defensive coordinator Kevin Kane was on the Minnesota staff in 2025 and had detailed knowledge of the Gophers schemes, tendencies and personnel. Kane, BTW, was fired over the weekend after a deflating 34-29 loss in which Maryland scored 27 second half points.

UCLA coach Bob Chesney, who in his first year has taken last season’s 3-9 club to a No. 4 Associated Press national ranking, looks like the second-coming of Indiana savior Curt Cignetti. Both are elite talent evaluators who have used large numbers of quality but undervalued transfers to immediately flip their programs from misery to glory.

The 9-0 Bruins, who defeated the Gophers 34-20 last Saturday, are fueled by 63 newcomers, including a Big Ten high 46 transfers and 17 freshmen. Thirteen of the transfers started 10 games or more during the 2025 season.

Programs like Minnesota, while active in the transfer program, believe in a developmental process relying more on high school talent that can be on their rosters for up to five years. Gophers’ coach P.J. Fleck likes the longer process to develop talent and maintain the culture in his program.

Tim Murray, the Murray’s Restaurant owner and a frequent attendee at World Series games over the years, watched three this fall in St. Petersburg between the Brewers and Rays, including the title clinching game by Milwaukee. The longtime Sports Headliners advertiser is a passionate baseball, basketball, football and hockey fan.

With the surprising upset of Moorhead by Prior Lake last week, undefeated Champlin Park could be on track to win the Class 6A football playoffs. Park plays twice defeated Forest Lake Thursday at Spring Lake Park.

In a second-round playoff game last week Park dominated Wayzata in a 48-13 victory with senior running back and college prospect Preston Nelson rushing for 192 yards and catching a touchdown pass from quarterback Cash Miller.

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Bowl Invite to Play Bison Would Be Humbling for U

Posted on November 8, 2026November 8, 2026 by David Shama

The University of Minnesota football team, 5-4 overall and 3-3 in Big Ten games, needs a sixth win to be bowl eligible.

In the Golden Gophers three remaining games they could be underdogs. All three opponents have winning records.

Minnesota is about a touchdown underdog at Penn State next Saturday. After that the Gophers could be underdogs at home against Northwestern and in the season finale at Wisconsin.

A three-game sweep by the Gophers sends them to a more prestigious postseason destination like the Music City Bowl in Nashville. A 7-5 or 6-6 record could find them back in a tier-2 destination like last year.

Minnesota won the Rate Bowl last December in Phoenix, defeating Mountain West member New Mexico, 20-17. That bowl is now the Cactus Bowl and will be played in Tempe on December 26.

Minnesota-Michigan football rivalry trophy — Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

In a season where the Gophers have won back the Little Brown Jug (pictured) and Floyd of Rosedale rivalry trophies, ending up in the Cactus Bowl would be humbling. Even more so would be an invite to play North Dakota State.

The Cactus Bowl has agreements to match up Big Ten and Big 12 schools but if there isn’t enough inventory, then a team like New Mexico or North Dakota State could receive an invite. The Fargo-based Bison, 7-2 overall in the school’s first year of FBS competition, would be an intriguing opponent because of the school’s geographic proximity to Minneapolis and past success against Minnesota.

As an FCS powerhouse, the Bison won the last two games against the Gophers, winning 37-24 in 2011 and 27-21 in 2007. Those two upsets were humbling for a Big Ten school, but the Bison has long been a model for doing more with less.

North Dakota State has mastered identifying under the radar talent (including in Minnesota high schools) and how to combine promising personnel with savvy coaching. The Bison has won 10 FCS titles since 2011.

The Bison transitioned into more competitive FBS football this fall with hardly a hiccup. Among their wins are victories over Mountain West title contenders Air Force and Wyoming.

It’s a long shot, but you can bet that North Dakota State would welcome a bowl game against the Gophers to further elevate the Bison’s reputation. Even a competitive loss would be a “win” for the Bison who now more than ever can recruit against the Gophers.

Worth Noting

The acclaimed Vikings defense faces its most formidable 2026 quarterback challenge Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Bills’ Josh Allen ranks No. 1 in NFL.com’s QB Index with impressive numbers including 1,793 yards in seven games along with a completion percentage of 65.9 and 11 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 270 yards and nine touchdowns.

Allen leads all quarterbacks in NFL history with 88 rushing touchdowns. He has 4,991 career rushing yards and needs nine yards Monday to join Lamar Jackson (6,666 rushing yards), Michael Vick (6,109), Cam Newton (5,628) and Russell Wilson (5,568) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with at least 5,000 rushing yards.

Adrian Peterson will be inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor Monday night and will sound the Gjallarhorn prior to kickoff. In 10 years with the Vikings from 2007-16 he became and remains the team’s all-time leader in career rushing yards (11,747) and career rushing touchdowns (97). He holds the franchise record for single-game rushing yards, 296 yards in 2007 against the Chargers.

Craig Leipold’s ownership group of the Saint Paul Hotel has designated February as the start month for a renovation of the sleeping rooms with a summer of 2028 completion date targeted. Leipold also told Sports Headliners there will be other changes and “nobody will recognize the lobby” after renovation.

The historic hotel opened in 1910 and much of the public associates the building with the St. Paul Grill. “The grill is going to stay the same,” Leipold said. “That’s just an iconic restaurant and bar, and everybody loves it. The first thing people ask me is what are you going to do in the grill and I go nothing, and they go great.”

Leipold, well-known in sports circles as owner of the Wild and an investor in the Twins, could hardly be more familiar with the hotel. The Racine, Wisconsin resident has lived part of the last 16 years at the downtown landmark.

How many nights has he slept there? “Oh mercy, I would say on average 2 and a half times per week, so I’ll let you do the math when you have time.”

Leipold is majority owner of the new Minnesota Forge women’s pro volleyball team that begins play in Major League Volleyball in January. The Forge opens its inaugural season with a two-match road trip: January 7 at the Los Angeles Thunder and January 10, at the Vegas Thrill. The inaugural home opener will be January 16 against the Grand Rapids Rise at Grand Casino Arena, home of the Wild.

Leipold said projected home attendance in 2027 will be 6,000 to 8,000 per date. He added the franchise is expected to lose money initially with perhaps a break-even season by year five and be profitable after that.

The Gophers have the third most NHL draft choices in the seven-member hockey Big Ten. Minnesota’s 15 trails Michigan State’s 17 and Michigan’s 16. The nationally No. 1 ranked Badgers, who won a shootout and a 6-0 follow up game last week against the Gophers, have nine NHL draft choices. That’s tied for lowest in the Big Ten with Notre Dame.

The Gophers are the only team in the league averaging over 10,000 fans per game.

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Wild Staying in the Now with Quinn Hughes Situation

Posted on November 4, 2026 by David Shama

Defenseman Quinn Hughes has been a dynamo for the Wild in the early weeks of the 2026-2027 schedule. He’s been a workhorse eating up minutes and his total points of 22 is tied for seventh best in the NHL and second among defensemen.

His overall play has been huge in helping the Wild to a successful start with a Central Division leading 25 points. The Wild’s acquisition of the 27-year-old from the Canucks last December was a home run move by general manager Bill Guerin.

Sports Headliners asked owner Craig Leipold on Monday if he, Guerin or coach John Hynes is surprised by Hughes’ performance this fall. “No, I don’t think we are surprised. He’s a special player. We knew that when we acquired him from Vancouver. He’s better than we probably thought he would be.

“He’s a game changer and you know as a result we want to sign him for as long as we can. And your next question is, well, what progress are you making?

“You know, honestly who knows? It will be his decision, and you know we certainly hope he stays here as long as possible.”

Hughes can become a free agent in July of next year. The Wild has made its desire to retain the superstar abundantly clear and hockey authorities believe he could command a league high $20.8 million per season in his next contract.

Hughes told The Athletic in an October 1 article he is happy playing in Minnesota and “I love the team.” He didn’t express urgency, though, to get a deal done.

Asked whether he would prefer to keep an unsigned Hughes when the NHL trade deadline in February approaches, Leipold said: “We’re not at that place. It’s not that time yet.”

Keeping Hughes, even if he tells the Wild he won’t sign an extension, could lead to a Stanley Cup championship next spring. Hughes reportedly said late last month a contract extension could happen soon.

Wild owner Craig Leipold — Craig Leipold

Leipold said conversations are ongoing and that Hughes is “very positive about the market and about the team.” The owner also believes Hughes knows the franchise is committed to winning and spending the money that goes with that.

An NHL insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the speculation about Hughes wanting to join his brothers, Jack and Luke, with the Devils could mean he will move on after this year. He added, though, if the Wild can acquire Red Wings disgruntled center Dylan Larkin that might “cinch” a Hughes commitment to Minnesota.

Larkin is currently suspended and wants to be traded. The 30-year-old former Red Wings captain is friends with Hughes. The star forward might transform the Wild into Stanley Cup favorites and create a three-to-five-year window where Minnesota is the place NHL titles are decided.

Leipold said that if Hughes decides he won’t do an extension the owner has confidence in Guerin making the most out of the circumstances. Nobody, though, with the Wild, or its fans, wish to see that development,

Leipold remains friends with former Wild star defenseman Ryan Suter, age 41. “He’s in great shape,” Leipold said. “I think he could play right now.”

Suter’s son Brooks is an elite prospect. He turns 16 later this month and is on the U.S. under 17 national team and plays junior hockey in the USHL. Leipold refers to Brooks as a “superstar” and predicts eventually he will go higher in the NHL Draft than his father who was selected at No. 7 by the Predators in 2003.

Ryan and another player with Minnesota ties, former Golden Gopher Phil Kessel, are part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Inductions will be November 30 in Washington D.C. and Leipold said the Wild will have representation there.

Gophers and Tommies Hoops Preview

A men’s college basketball insider familiar with Minnesota and St. Thomas said the officials will be a major factor in Friday night’s game between the two teams at The Barn. The bigger Gophers will have an advantage if the officials allow a physical style of play as seen in the Big Ten.

The two schools are playing for the first time since 1934 with a projected attendance of around 10,000. Fans have clamored for the matchup for years between the mid-major Tommies and power conference Gophers. It’s kind of a David versus Goliath match up with the Tommies only in their sixth season of Division I and membership in the Summit League.

The insider joked that the Tommies, who will receive an unannounced financial guarantee for the game, would have played the game for “three cases of Coke.” He refers to Friday night as “a favor game” by Gopher coach Niko Medved and said there is little or no benefit to the matchup for Minnesota.

The Tommies are solid underdogs but could make the game competitive. John Tauer is a terrific coach, and his teams play with discipline and savvy. If the three-point focused Tommies are shooting bullseyes, and the Gophers are lethargic, the outcome could be interesting.

Graduate student 6-foot-9 forward Carter Bjerke, from Wayzata High School, is among the St. Thomas three-point producers. He is the program’s all-time leader in making threes and connected on a school record tying 10 last season against Kansas City.

The Tommies are predicted to finish second in their eight-team conference, per the Summit League official poll. The Gophers are projected to finish 10^th or lower in the 18-team Big Ten.

The Tommies are 1-0 in the regular season with a 87-78 road win over Presbyterian. Minnesota is 1-0 after defeating North Dakota at home, 85-50.

“It’s a big game for St. Thomas,” the source said.

Worth Noting

Timely meeting: Alex Rodriguez, Timberwolves and Lynx owner, and baseball legend, speaks to the Capital Club Thursday, November 12. The Wolves season has started, the Lynx’s recently concluded, and Rodriguez covered the World Series for Fox Sports. The breakfast program will be held at Mendakota Country Club. For more information on the breakfast and program, contact Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketing.com

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