Author: David Shama

The easy guess is that Vikings’ seventh round draft choice Tyler Thigpen won’t make the team’s final roster later this year.  Going into the draft last month the Vikings had three players on their roster who they had picked in rounds five or later.  However, there are always surprises in the draft as former Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson, a ninth round pick in 1992, will tell you. 

Thigpen, a quarterback from small school Coastal Carolina in Conway, South Carolina, is familiar with surprises.  He didn’t see pro football in his future growing up near Columbia, South Carolina and even after his junior year at Coastal he didn’t anticipate a tryout in the NFL. 

“Coming out of high school I didn’t think I was going to play college football,” Thigpen told Sports Headliners.  “Going into college football I had no clue I would even dream of being an NFL player.  Things opened up for me after my senior year.  I’ve taken advantage of every opportunity I’ve had.” 

Coastal Carolina intensified its passing game in Thigpen’s last season.  After throwing for 1,589 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior, he increased his numbers to 3,296 yards and 29 touchdowns.  “That was a big jump and that (difference) caught the eyes of a lot of guys (scouts),” he said. 

The Vikings liked his talent, including his passing touch, and his character.  The organization looked at Thigpen on film and even included him among the players who visited here before the draft.  “We thought this kid was more than talented enough to get drafted and was definitely worth a seventh-round pick to get him,” said Rick Spielman, Vikings vice president of player personnel. 

Thigpen, about 6-foot-1, 223 pounds, talks modestly about himself and said he doesn’t know what’s next if he isn’t successful in making the team.  “I have no clue,” he said.  “I pray about it.  I ask the good Lord to tell me and send me in the right direction.” 

Would he try NFL Europe? “I definitely want to keep trying,” he said. “If it’s a possibility for me to keep playing, I definitely want to.” 

Thigpen was a sports management major in college.  His future could eventually include coaching at the high school or college level.  For now, though, he’s trying to join the profession of playing football, not teaching it.   

What have the Vikings coaches told him?  “They haven’t really told me anything,” he answered.  “This is a job.  This is a profession.  You gotta come here and compete. …”

Tonight the Twins are giving away Michael Cuddyer jerseys to the first 5,000 fans 14 and under.   

The Twins’ third annual Armed Services Appreciation Day is Sunday, May 27 against Toronto.  Any past or present member of the armed services who presents valid military identification receives four free tickets to the game.  Video connecting families with those serving in Iraq will be part of the day.  Twins players will wear caps representing the five branches of the American military and Toronto players will wear caps from the three Canadian branches.  Tickets can be obtained the day of the game only at the Gate H tent.  

Jacques Lemaire and his coaches are meeting this week with general manager Doug Risebrough to evaluate the team and plan for next season. 

Former Minnesota North Stars president Lou Nanne, who still follows the NHL with passion, predicts Ottawa will upset Buffalo in the Eastern Conference finals of the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

Murray’s restaurant co-owner Tim Murray is rooting for the Utah Jazz in the NBA playoffs.  Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is a Murray’s regular when he’s in Minneapolis. 

University of Minnesota women’s basketball coach Pam Borton leaves later this month for a vacation to Italy and Switzerland.

Denny Schulstad said 3,700 people attended the University of Minnesota Alumni Association Annual Celebration earlier this week where Tony Dungy was the featured speaker.  Schulstad is the association president and is credited with bringing Dungy, the Super Bowl champion coach and U alum, to town.

Adrian Peterson, who didn’t even belong to the Vikings two weeks ago, is being called the “face of the franchise.”  Tarvaris Jackson, a second round pick a year ago, can now be branded the “arm of the franchise.”  Together Peterson and Jackson have two NFL starts.   

A.P. and T-Jack will be fun to follow for more reasons than their nicknames as they try to use their arms and legs to generate production in a Vikings offense that frequently struggled last season including a three first down performance against the Green Bay Packers.  Yes, there will be other storylines in training camp and early fall but the 22-year-old Peterson and 24–year-old Jackson will almost assuredly have more to do with the team’s offensive revival than other players. 

Linemen and receivers must contribute for the offense to improve. Management is hopeful that converted center Ryan Cook will become a player at right tackle.  Center Matt Birk, left guard Steve Hutchinson and left tackle Bryant McKinnie remain what they were last season, a trio with huge upside.  Second round draft choice Sidney Rice, with speed and athleticism, boosts the potential at wide receiver where the Vikings are rebuilding. 

The reality in regard to the line is Peterson, one of the great running backs to come out of college in the last 15 years, can make his blockers look very good.  A handful of elite running backs have always had the ability to make their linemen more productive than normal. 

Peterson was so good at Oklahoma he almost won a Heisman Trophy as a freshman. During his first season, the one year he was free from injury, he broke the NCAA freshman running record and the school single season rushing mark.  He gained 1,925 yards.  In three years with the Sooners he ran by and over tacklers with an angry demeanor and combination of power and speed seen only among the greatest college runners. 

Vikings coach Brad Childress described Peterson as “electric” and is already an admirer. “We are obviously elated to have this guy,” Childress said on draft day. “He is an explosive football player that can take it to the house every time from any point on the football field. He has that type of speed and ability.” 

The Vikings could have drafted Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn instead of Peterson.  Quinn was highly regarded before the draft and although he slipped to No. 22, he was still the second quarterback taken.  The Vikings chose not to bail out on their commitment to Jackson who compiled these stats as a rookie in four games: 81 pass attempts, 47 completions, two touchdown passes and four interceptions. 

It’s almost done in a whisper but knowledgeable sources talk with near reverence about Jackson’s skills: the strong arm, quick release and fast feet.  There’s probably near consensus that he has the physical skills to be a premier quarterback in the NFL.  But then comes the question of whether he can process all the physical and mental aspects into a package that makes him the Vikings’ QB for a long time.

Playing quarterback at a high level in a player’s second year is asking a lot, more than NFL history teaches us to expect.  Jackson didn’t play much last year and much of his career was spent at Alabama State, a second tier college football school.  All of that probably doesn’t help but Jackson could play effectively enough, allowing for inconsistencies, to win and hold the starting job for the 2007 season.  That will qualify for progress for Jackson and the Vikings. 

Former Viking assistant coach Dean Dalton, now an NFL media expert, is a Jackson admirer.  He said Jackson has an “incredible work ethic,” with a “fabulous attitude.”  He praised Jackson’s “natural and innate leadership skills.” Dalton suggests the Vikings will be wise not to place too much management and execution of the offense on Jackson in 2007.