Author: David Shama

Last night’s loss to the Cardinals in Arizona left the 10-2 Vikings in need of a “holiday gift” to earn home field advantage in the playoffs.  With four weeks of the NFL schedule remaining, 12-0 New Orleans looks like a solid bet to be at home through the NFC playoffs including a possible conference championship game against the Vikings with the winner going to the Super Bowl.

The Vikings have Cincinnati (9-3) at home next Sunday, then consecutive road games with Carolina (5-7) and Chicago (5-7), before ending the regular season in the Metrodome against the New York Giants (7-5).  The Saints are at Atlanta (6-6) next Sunday, then have consecutive home games with Dallas (8-4) and Tampa Bay (1-11) before finishing the regular season on the road at Carolina.

The Vikings’ remaining opponents are a combined 26-22.  The Saints’ opposition is 20-28.

The Vikings obviously face the challenge of not only having two more losses than the Saints, but Minnesota’s remaining schedule might prove to be the more difficult including the Cincinnati game and a “Weather Bowl” matchup in Chicago.  Cincinnati has a rushing defense that ranks second in the NFL giving up only 81.8 yards per game. The Bengals have balance in their offense with quarterback Carson Palmer throwing and multiple quality runners including Cedric Benson, the former Bear.  The Bengals and the Vikings have faced common opponents including Pittsburgh, one of only two  teams to defeat Minnesota.  Cincinnati has two wins over the Steelers this season.

The Vikings’ games with Chicago and the Giants make for interesting speculation.  The Vikings embarrassed the Bears here, winning 36-10.  But who knows what kind of factor the weather will be in Chicago on December 28 for that Monday night game.  Football lore is filled with upsets by lowly teams who took advantage of help from the weather gods.

Before the season the Giants were thought to be among the elite teams in the NFC.  It’s been peaks and valleys so far.  As one NFL source told Sports Headliners, “Who knows which Giants team will show up here?”

That’s a good question, but there’s no doubt about these last few weeks holding intrigue for Vikings fans.  Coach Brad Childress and his players just wish Arizona had gift wrapped a win for them last night.

Seantrel Henderson has been the nation’s No. 1 ranked prep football recruit this year but the Cretin-Derham Hall offensive tackle isn’t winning all the local awards including yesterday’s announcement of Rosemount’s Zach Vraa as the state’s Mr. Football.

A 10 member Mr. Football committee chose Vraa as its award winner.  Committee member Jim Dotseth, former head coach at Minneapolis Patrick Henry High School, said Henderson’s national reputation didn’t put the committee in a difficult position for selecting a winner.

Dotseth said that those who look at potential college players are making projections about them and he can understand what puts Henderson at the top of the lists.  Henderson, about 6-8, 330, has NFL size already with impressive footwork and athletic ability.  “He’s a special recruit,” Dotseth said.  “He’s the same size as the two Vikings’ tackles (Bryant McKinnie and Phil Loadholt).”

The Star Tribune selected Wayzata linebacker A.J. Tarpley as its Metro Player of the Year.  The Pioneer Press made Cretin-Derham Hall quarterback Mark Alt its Player of the Year in the state.  Henderson was honored by the Associated Press as Minnesota’s Player of the Year.

Cretin Derham-Hall coach Mike Scanlan considered Henderson his most valuable player on the state champion Raiders.  After the Mr. Football banquet Scanlan told Sports Headliners that Henderson certainly could have been the recipient of the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press and Mr. Football awards. “He was the one most deserving of these considerations, but like you saw tonight, 10 guys each one deserving in his own right,” Scanlan said.  “Only one is going to get the award.”

Henderson has been rated the nation’s No. 1 recruit by Rivals.com since last winter and other sources believe he’s the best college prospect regardless of position.  The Mr. Football committee members (other than Dotseth, all are active Minnesota high school coaches) looked at game video and other information on the 10 finalists for the award and decided Vraa was the most impressive player to them.

Vraa, 6-3, 200, was a defensive back, wide receiver, and punt and kickoff returner for the Irish.  Dotseth said Vraa, who played on a run oriented offense but accounted for nine touchdowns and 77 percent of his team’s receiving yards, has a reputation for “circus” catches.  “If you look at him on film he probably most reminds you of Eric Decker from the Gophers,” Dotseth said.

In addition to Henderson and Vraa, the Mr. Football finalists were Beau Allen, Minnetonka; Joel Bauman, Kerkohoven-Murdock-Sunberg; Jacob Brusehaver, Hutchinson; John Crockett, Totino Grace; Ben Henson, Buffalo; Brandon Marquart, Champlin Park; Ryan Tri, Eden Valley-Watkins; and Zach Zenner, Eagan.  The annual Mr. Football program is a project of the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association, an organization that works to promote football throughout the state.

Henderson was the one player among the 10 finalists not present at the Mr. Football banquet in St. Louis Park.  He was on a recruiting trip to Southern California.  Before being wooed by Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll this weekend, Henderson had a visit here a few days ago from Ohio State coach Jim Tressel.

Henderson may not be collecting all the local “hardware” but nobody can match his list of college suitors.

“Which active (NFL) player is the best role model on and off the field?”  Sports Illustrated (December 7 issue) asked that question in its NFL players poll.  Kurt Warner of the Cardinals with 18 percent of the vote and Peyton Manning of the Colts at 17 percent finished one-two.

Don’t be surprised if the Vikings choose Gophers wide receiver Eric Decker in the later rounds of next year’s NFL draft.  Decker’s chances of being drafted by the home town team might be enhanced by the trust between Vikings coach Brad Childress and Gophers coach Tim Brewster.

The Wild remains interested in hosting a New Year’s Day outdoor hockey game, with TCF Bank Stadium and Target Field both being considered.  A franchise source said planning is still in the “infancy stages” and that other NHL franchises are interested in hosting New Year’s Day outdoor games.  The NHL office makes those decisions as it does the annual site for the June entry draft, another attraction that interests the Wild.

The Wolves Kevin Love, 2-19 on three point field goal attempts last season, is 4-6 in two games this season.  He’s averaging 14.5 points and 10.5 rebounds since returning to the active roster following his hand injury.

The Wolves had a ticket promotion last week offering $10 lower level and $5 upper level tickets for a game against Utah.  The club has a regular Wednesday night $5 ticket promotion for college students.

Author Jim Holden has a special $30 holiday offer on his book, Tennis in the Northland.  The former Northfield tennis coach has written a comprehensive history of boys’ high school tennis in Minnesota.  More information including how to contact Holden at https://www.jim-holden.com/.