Author: David Shama

Ryan Longwell, a Vikings captain, said so far this season there have been no player council meetings with head coach Brad Childress.  Longwell also said there have been “less fires to put out” and the team benefits from a veteran locker room.  “We kind of know what to expect from each other,” Longwell said.  “We all kind of handle our position groups.  If there’s an issue, the guys in the locker room know who they need to go to.  So it really hasn’t been necessary.”

Longwell, a former Packer, is targeted by mouthy fans when the Vikings go to Green Bay. “When I go on the road in this league you just kind of go numb with the ears,” he said.  “Although you hear everything, you don’t really listen to everything. …”

Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards told Sports Headliners that if details aren’t worked out by next month between the NFLPA and ownership regarding a new collective bargaining agreement there’s likely to be a disruption of the 2011 season.

Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin will sign autographs as part of an appearance tonight at the Outback Steakhouse in Inver Grove Heights.  There will be a live webcast interview, www.larry-fitzgerald.com.

A pro scout told Sports Headliners Gophers senior quarterback Adam Weber has “regressed” during his career at Minnesota.  Weber, he said, is too inconsistent to be drafted in the early or mid rounds by an NFL team, and likely will be pursued as a free agent.

Including his redshirt freshman season, Weber has had four offensive coordinators at Minnesota.  It’s impressive that despite all the change Weber has succeeded in becoming the fifth player in Big Ten history to throw for over 10,000 yards.

With good reason, Gophers booster Gene Allen is upset with a Minnesota GOP advertisement that compares President Barack Obama with Tim Brewster.  “They both let us down,” says the ad.  In a letter to the Star Tribune, Allen writes that the GOP owes the coach an apology.  More on “The Moment” at https://www.mngop.com/inner.asp?z=6

The Wild will make its third national television appearance of the season tonight playing against the Kings on Versus.  The club is scheduled to make a franchise record 10 national television appearances, nine on Versus and one on NBC.

Wild Curator Roger Godin is donating the proceeds from his newest book, “Red, White and Blue on Ice: Minnesota’s Elite Teams and Players of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s”, to the Herb Brooks Foundation’s Rink Rat program. The foundation provides inner-city children with opportunity to play and learn about hockey at no cost. Godin will host book signings at Xcel Energy Center before Wild games on November 2, and December 3, 16 and 20.

The Gophers will enter tomorrow’s game at home against Penn State (3-3) as more than a touchdown underdog.  The Nittany Lions can’t be too impressed with Minnesota’s record, 1-6.

That might give Minnesota an edge and interim coach Jeff Horton expects the Gophers will dedicate the game to fired coach Tim Brewster.  “I think so,” Horton said.  “It was really emotional in here on Sunday (when Brewster said goodbye).  You could tell.”

Penn State is 0-2 in Big Ten games.  The Nittany Lions have often struggled this season to score points including producing a total of 16 in the first two league games.

Since taking over as interim coach on Sunday, Horton has received hundreds of fan emails about MarQueis Gray but don’t expect Gray to replace Adam Weber at quarterback.  “Our best chance for success right now (is) with Adam at quarterback and MarQueis at wide receiver,” Horton said.

Horton was offensive coordinator when he and Brewster approved making Gray, perhaps the best athlete on the team, both a quarterback and wide receiver.  Gray, a sophomore, hasn’t taken a game snap this season at quarterback for the Gophers.

Among the most common storylines in football is for fans to want a quarterback change on a losing team.  But while Weber has been inconsistent throwing the ball, he has the approval of Horton and before that Brewster.  Gray has boosted the talent pool at wide receiver, catching 26 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns.  His ability to both catch the ball and make runs gives the Gophers an impressive pair of wide receivers with Da’ Jon McKnight.

Gray was troubled with plantar fasciitis earlier in the season but is healthier now. Opposing defenses have been focusing on Gray and he hasn’t been as effective as earlier in the season.

Based on their aggressive player acquisition moves in recent seasons and willingness to sign Joe Mauer to a $184 million contract, look for the Twins front office to improve the team during the off-season.

The Twins have two choices before next season begins.   Management can make a few minor adjustments to the roster and probably win another Central Division title.  Or option two is to face the reality that without a major personnel move or two there’s not much possibility of the team advancing to the World Series after winning the division.

In the post-Carl Pohlad era the Twins are likely not satisfied with just packing the home ballpark and being Central Division champs.  The club is receiving criticism following another winless post-season when the team looked overmatched in ability and emotion.

Acquiring right handed pitcher Fausto Carmona from the lifeless Cleveland franchise would be a good start for the Twins.  Carmona, 6-4, 230, is only 27 and might develop into a strong starter for the Twins.

The Twins have to be searching for pitchers who can do more than pitch to contact.  They need a few overpowering arms capable of occasionally silencing the bats of the Yankees and the other best teams in the American League.

Carmona, although an innings eater and a pitcher who might be available, isn’t a strikeout starter but there’s a “hometown boy” out there who is intriguing.  Josh Johnson was born in Minneapolis, became a major league prospect in Oklahoma, and has been a power pitcher for Florida.  The Marlins right-hander, 26, had an extraordinary season in 2010 with an 11-6 record, 2.30 ERA and 186 strikeouts in 183.2 innings.

Kansas City’s Zach Greinke, a 27-year-old right-hander, could really perk things up around here, too.  He struck out 242 batters in 229.1 innings in 2009.  The Royals need to find ways to improve their ball club a lot and might listen to the right deal.

The Minnesota roster needs a few bats that won’t whimper in the playoffs, too.  It seems like bringing 41-year-old Jim Thome back is a mandate because of his power and experience.  If Justin Morneau doesn’t play next season because of his concussion, a Thome return is even more vital.

It will be an interesting off-season in the Twins front office when things “heat up” this winter.