Author: David Shama

Sportsheadliners is betting its ownership in a Wisconsin dairy farm (wink, wink) on the Vikings defeating the Packers in Green Bay tonight.  Although national odds makers favor the Pack by a few points, Sports Headliners believes the Vikings’ souped up defense will be too much for Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay quarterback making his first ever NFL start.

The pass rush, led by defensive end Jared Allen, will bring pressure on Rodgers when he tries to throw.  That pressure from Allen, the defending NFL sack leader, and linemates Ray Edwards (he wants to break the NFL record for sacks in a season), Pat Williams and Kevin Williams is a physical force likely to hurry throws by Rodgers, or put him down on the sacred Lambeau Field turf.

There’s another kind of pressure Rodgers, the 24-year-old fourth year quarterback, will have to confront head-on, too.  He’s spent the summer and will continue into the fall facing a whirlwind of emotions replacing Packer legend Brett Favre at quarterback.  If there was a national vote to name the NFL player under the most pressure, Rodgers wins in a landslide.

For a season opening game, tonight in Lambeau couldn’t be any bigger unless Favre were playing quarterback for the Vikings.  But fuh-get-it.  This is the NFL, not Hollywood.  You have to settle for this scene: opening game, Rodgers’ debut, traditional rivals (Packers lead 48-45-1 including playoffs), the two favored teams to win the NFC North, and Monday Night Football with its national TV audience.

Whew! Somebody pray for Rodgers.  There likely are such prayers being said in Dairyland and not just for Rodgers.  The Packers reportedly have more injured players than the Vikings and how that plays out remains to be seen.

That’s another reason to bet the dairy farm on the Purple who likely will produce just enough points behind a patched up offensive line (see Bryant McKinney four-game suspension) and Adrian Peterson’s extraordinary running to win the game.

Vikings placekicker Ryan Longwell, who played nine seasons for the Packers, was asked about the importance of the opening game.  “It will be huge,” he said.  “You want to start off playing well and you want to start off crisp and executing.  But I think to make it bigger than it is would be a mistake because it’s a long, long season. …”

After the Packer game, the Vikings play Indianapolis and Carolina at home, before a road game at Tennessee.  Those are all expected to be winning teams this season.

“Well, without question, it’s a tough stretch, but I think two things,” Longwell said.  “One, to look past Monday is to make a huge mistake because they’re going to give us everything we can handle and then some on Monday night.

“Then the other side of it is if you look too far down the road it ends up costing you games you should be able to win. And you don’t ever want to do that, you look back with regret. …”

Gus Frerotte, the Vikings’ 37-year-old reserve quarterback, still gets excited about opening games and enjoys the atmosphere at Lambeau Field, a pro football shrine with its boisterous fans and tradition as home to legendary players and teams. “Yeah, Lambeau is great to play in,” he said.  “It’s a lot of fun. Just seeing the people, the fans how they get into the game. …(Hopefully) everybody (in the NFL) gets to play there once.”

What kind of welcoming party does Frerotte expect?  “Not a good one,” he said.

The crowd, though, won’t be coming on the field.  “…When the whistle blows you get ready to work because when you’re between those lines none of those 80,000 people, or how many are going to be there, can be out there,” he said.  “It’s just you versus them.  That’s it.”

Aaron Rodgers after being asked last week if he has a performance clause in his contract that provides $10 every time he answers a question about Brett Favre: “I don’t think so.”

Rodgers talking about the Vikings’ defense:  “Well, they got better.  Which is amazing because they had a really, really solid defense last year.  The front four they have.  I’d put that against any front four in the NFL. …You’ve got a very solid linebacking crew, you’ve got maybe the best free (strong) safety in the game in (Darren) Sharper, who is a ball hawk.  Antoine Winfield may be one of the most underrated corners in the league as far as toughness and coverage ability.  You’ve got (cornerback Cedric) Griffin playing at a high level in his third year and the rookie (safety Tyrell Johnson) in the secondary is doing a nice job. …”

Vikings’ coach Brad Childress on whether Bryant McKinnie’s four-game suspension by the NFL (personal conduct policy) is a wake-up call for the 28-year-old offensive left tackle:  “I wouldn’t suppose to speak for Bryant.  I know he knew it was out there.  He knows how the commissioner feels, having met with him.  And he certainly knows how Zygi (Wilf, Vikings’ owner) feels and I feel about going forward here and the direction of the Minnesota Vikings.  Let’s hope it’s a wake-up call.”

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse will sign copies of his new book, Minnesota Vikings: The Complete Illustrated History, on Tuesday, September 16 starting at 4 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 801 Nicollet Mall.

The Gophers are trying to reverse the trend of the state’s best high school football prospects attending other universities.  That puts a big bull’s-eye on Washburn tight end Ra’shede Hageman who might be the best senior prospect in the state.  Hold your breath, though, because Ohio State is in pursuit and so, too, is Wisconsin which will need a replacement for senior All-American Travis Beckum.

If MarQueis Gray is admitted to Minnesota next year for the spring semester, Gopher athletic director Joel Maturi said he expects the former Indianapolis high school quarterback to be a true freshman in eligibility for the 2009 season.  The NCAA has ruled that Gray, who practiced with the Gophers during August, must again take the ACT test.

“Sports Final,” a new 10:30 p.m. Sunday show with Dean Dalton and Rod Simons, debuted last night on KARE 11.  The program will be on 48 weeks covering the local sports scene including the Vikings.  Player guests will be part of the programming.  Dalton and Simons previously hosted KSTP TV’s “Sports Wrap.”

Francisco Liriano is now 5-0, with a 1.44 ERA and 38 strikeouts in six starts since being recalled from Triple AAA Rochester. The nine strikeouts he had against Detroit on Friday night were a season high.