The 2010 Gopher football schedule still needs two more non-conference teams. The two non-conference teams already booked are home games with South Dakota September 11 and USC September 18.
Seantrel Henderson, the 6-foot-8 Cretin-Derham Hall tackle who is rated the No. 1 prep prospect in the country, is playing AAU basketball this spring.
The Vikings, who upgraded their pass catching by drafting explosive Percy Harvin from Florida last weekend, might have had an extraordinary receiver trio in Bernard Berrian, the team’s leading receiver last season, along with Harvin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, a coveted free agent who left Cincinnati and signed with Seattle rather than coming here. You wonder whether the opportunity to play with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who has been a high achiever, was a major factor in turning down the Vikings who have two guys with modest resumes, Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels. Both are trying to prove they deserve to be the starter. Figure Houshmandzadeh knows what he’s doing, though. His last name means “son of wisdom” in Persian, according to Wikipedia.
Harvin has apparently fast tracked his learning curve. It was just weeks ago that he reportedly tested positive for marijuana but last weekend announced he’s more mature and learned from past mistakes.
Local journalist Larry Fitzgerald Sr. told Sports Headliners via e-mail that his son Marcus, a former wide receiver at Marshall University, will be among the rookies and free agents trying out for the Vikings at the team’s mini-camp tomorrow through Sunday.
Cornerback Asher Allen, the Vikings third round pick, will likely see his former Georgia teammate Matthew Stafford in the second game of the regular season. Stafford, who was the first overall pick in last weekend’s NFL draft, could be starting at quarterback for Detroit while Allen might have spot assignments for the Vikings, assuming he makes the team.
Allen was asked if going against Stafford in practice, versus a player better than he would see in a game, elevated his skills. “Picture this for a second: This was my practice; it was Stafford throwing to Mohammed Massoqoui, who is with the Browns now, and Knowshon Moreno (Denver first round pick last week). That was practice. That was for three years. …There were plenty of fights out there between the guys. Just how competitive we are. By the time you got there you were ready for the game. You were looking around like, ‘Man, this is not the same. This is pretty easy.’ …”
With catcher Joe Mauer set to join the Twins, it won’t be surprising if erratic center fielder Carlos Gomez is optioned to the minors later this week to clear roster space. Another possibility is to place catcher Mike Redmond, who has had problems with a groin injury and now a sore shoulder, on the disabled list. Redmond, who turns 38 next week, probably is in his last season with the Twins who have the 26-year-old Mauer and also good catching prospects.
Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon talking in the Sporting News about which players he couldn’t make the playoffs without: “If you look at the whole group, quite frankly, it’s hard to replace Navi’s position (catcher Dioner Navarro) and it’s hard to replace J.B. (Jason Bartlett at shortstop). …” Bartlett, the Twins former shortstop, is solid defensively and hitting .368.