Golden Gophers – Page 6 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Birthday Wish for WR Adam Thielen: Please Come Home

Posted on August 17, 2025August 17, 2025 by David Shama

Minnesota native and former Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen turns 35 on Friday. What a birthday present for him and the Vikings if he returned home to bolster a potentially troubled Minnesota passing game.

Will it happen? It’s possible but probably less than a 50-50 bet.

Thielen, still a productive receiver, is valued by the Carolina Panther where his experience is a settling factor for quarterback Bryce Young who is trying to establish consistency as he begins his third NFL season. Thielen, who in 2023 with Carolina had his only 1,000-yard reception year of his 11-year NFL career, is also positioned to mentor Carolina’s inexperienced wide receivers.

The lowly Panthers, 5-12 last season, might be more inclined to part with Thielen deep into the season rather than when hopes are beginning. The Vikings have a need of receiving help now, though, with Jordan Addison suspended for the first three regular season games. Addison is a star having 875 receiving yards last season, second on the team to Justin Jefferson with 1,553.

A gloomy possibility for the Vikings is the hamstring injury for superstar wide receiver Jefferson lingers into the early season. Even if Jefferson returns 100 percent, he will miss the threat Addison brings to defenses by taking attention off him. Jefferson is likely to line up on opening night in Chicago September 8 with mediocre receiver company in starters Tai Felton and Jalen Nailor.

Adding to uncertainty is that Nailor has a hand injury. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said yesterday: “…I definitely don’t feel overly concerned about a long-term thing. But at the same time, we want to make sure that…he can hit the ground running and be healthy. And that’s where we’ll make sure we know exactly what it is…(and) can I get him rehabbed and ready to roll.”

Thielen, playing the slot instead of Nailor, would be an upgrade for first season starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. He’s going to have plenty of challenges out of the gate and could be nursed along by Thielen who played under head coach Kevin O’Connor in 2022, and he wouldn’t be an expensive addition at a base salary of $6.25 million, per Spotrac.com

The Vikings want to build confidence in McCarthy from the beginning, and they need help in the pass catching room to make that happen. Without it, look for the Vikings to depend on the running game even more than suspected prior to Addison’s suspension.

The Vikings best shot at acquiring Thielen could be by offering 29-year-old Harrison Phillips, the defensive tackle whose base salary is $7 million this season, per Over the Cap. The Panthers were the NFL’s worst defense last season and could strengthen their interior line and run-stopping with Phillips, a valuable veteran. The Vikings would still retain defensive tackle quality in Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen.

Worth Noting

O’Connell said local favorite Max Brosmer, who is trying to make the Vikings’ 53-man roster as a rookie free agent, “plays with very fast eyes, and very rarely, you know, puts the ball at harm’s way when he’s doing it, which is a unique trait.”

After yesterday’s second preseason game, O’Connell said he’s still sorting out the quarterback competition (involving Brosmer, Sam Howell and Brett Rypien) behind starter McCarthy.

Look for the Vikings to cap their season tickets at about 60,000 for home games at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Former Vikings and Packers quarterback Brett Favre continues to battle Parkinson’s Disease. Interestingly, the Hall of Fame gunslinger seldom got to throw the football in high school playing in his father’s wishbone offense. He was recruited to Southern Mississippi as a defensive back.

John Randle was a big hit as the celebrity golfer at the Ben & Adith Miller Golf Classic last week. The former Viking and Pro Football Hall of Famer helped raise $150K for the Patient Fund at Winona Health. The fund helps provide financial support to those who need healthcare but cannot afford it

ESPN’s 2025 preseason college football All-America team includes the Golden Gophers Koi Perich at second team safety.

The Associated Press, celebrating 100 years of AP college football All-American teams, named its all-time team and included Gopher legend Bronko Nagurski at defensive tackle. Honored as all-time wide receivers were Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald Jr. who played at Pitt, and former Viking Randy Moss, a Marshall University alum.

In advance of their August 28 season opener against Buffalo in Minneapolis, the Gophers are selling upper level $10 tickets for a 24-hour span starting Monday at 12 p.m. and continuing until the same time Tuesday.

Sushi Man, whose owners include Steve and Dorothy Erban, won the $75,000 Minnesota Derby at Canterbury Park earlier this month. Race horsing patrons for years, the Erbans are also known for their ownership of Minnesota based Creative Charters which annually takes travelers to events such as the Kentucky Derby and Golden Gophers football and basketball games.

Former Twins GM Thad Levine has a podcast worth a listen. “Rosters to Rings” started a few months ago and offers insights about sports front offices. Levine is joined by former NBA GM Ryan McDonough on the weekly podcast that can be found at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rosters-to-rings-podcast/id1815705227

Levine told Sports Headliners the podcast was encouraged by his wife who recognized he had so many experiences to share that could give fans an inside look at what goes on with front office decision making. He said certain things or people are off limits, but he can share about “60 percent” of experiences during his career which includes leadership positions with the Rangers and Rockies

Calling it a “passion project,” Levine and McDonough might discuss what goes into making or not making trades. They might compare the MLB and NBA drafts, offering interesting nuances. Varied guests can include prominent media, too, with their unique insight on what they see, hear and who they talk with

Levine, who is also lecturing on leadership to corporations and has spoken on the subject at the University of Minnesota, has no timetable but is interested in going back into management with an MLB team. He was with the Twins from 2016-2024.

MLB.com ranked the Dodgers No. 1 and Twins No. 2 recently among the 30 farm systems. Rankings, of course, aren’t the literal gospel. A better way for fans to understand rankings is to break them into tiers or groups. The Twins, with their prospects including those acquired this summer in trades, for sure deserve to be in the top half dozen tier.

Jim Kaat, the former 86-year-old Twins pitcher in town for the weekend’s celebration of the 1965 Twins American Lague championship, is probably the only ambidextrous golfer ever to shoot his age multiple times. And he’s still playing.

That 1965 Twins team won the pennant with a 102-60 record after being 79-83 the year prior. A number of Twins had superb seasons, but perhaps none bigger and more surprising than AL MVP and shortstop Zoilo Versalles.

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Ownership Speculation Puts Spotlight on Falvey, Baldelli

Posted on August 12, 2025August 12, 2025 by David Shama

If the Pohlad family finds a buyer for the Minnesota Twins franchise in the next six months (no guarantees), that new individual or group will decide the fate of employees including club president Derek Falvey and manager Rocco Baldelli.

Fans rightfully expect new ownership to be passionate and knowledgeable enough to make informed decisions about their MLB acquisition. Keeping the status quo, of course, will require the least work, including retention of Falvey the leader of baseball personnel decisions since October of 2016 and Baldelli, the field boss dating back to the 2019 season when he was chosen American League Manager of the Year.

That combo’s highlights include the Twins division titles in 2019, 2020 and 2023. Falvey’s 2017 team was also a Wild Card entrant in the playoffs. During his entire regime the Twins have won a single playoff series in the postseason.

Over the years much of the fan base has soured on Falvey and Baldelli. A team last season that looked like a cinch to make the playoffs went through a late season collapse including losing 25 of 37 games. The Twins finished 82-80 and Falvey and ownership received criticism for not making mid-season moves to strengthen the roster.

This summer personnel moves by Falvey gutted 40 percent of the team’s roster, moving 11 players in what was an unprecedented 96-hour stretch in club history. The team moved on from key contributors, particularly in the bullpen, in return for a clubhouse full of prospects.

New ownership will have to decide if Falvey and Baldelli, and those who work for them, measure up to whatever standard they set for performance. Ownership must discern in the highly competitive marketplace of Major League Baseball, how good are the two at what they do?

Falvey and Baldelli backers can argue they have done okay or better with the limited payroll the Pohlads have dictated. And certainly, this summer’s result of saving a reported $30 million from the payroll wasn’t a move that ownership didn’t have its hands involved with.

The Twins have a serious product and image challenge with the public including present and past season ticket holders. Apathy and disgruntlement have been building for years and is not likely to change until there is new ownership.

The reconstructed Twins could sweep away some gloom among the more loyal fans if they vastly exceed low expectations from now through the rest of the season. On the positive side, this bargain basement roster of unknowns, journeymen and holdovers has won five of its last eight games.

If the Twins were somehow able to play over .500 baseball the rest of the way that would be an achievement worth noting on the resumes of Falvey and Baldelli. That could quiet some of the speculation that the Twins are three years or more from being a division and post season contender.

If the club collapses in August and September, the move on from Falvey and Baldelli voices will grow louder. And if new ownership wants to make the proverbial “clean sweep” of its front office and manager/coaches, that’s the quickest way to create a new image and ease the anger among Twins fans.

Retention of those presently in authority will require courage and explaining by new ownership.

Niko Medved Talks Keeping Best Hoops Talent Home

For most of this millennium the men’s Gopher basketball program has been unable to bring the best players in the state to Dinkytown. From Tyus Jones to Chet Holmgren, the elites have gone elsewhere.

That has contributed to dismal results at Minnesota. In the past 20 seasons the Gophers have one winning season in Big Ten games. Twice during that stretch, they have won an NCAA Tournament game.

In the class of 2026 the top two prep players in the state, according to 247Sports, are Faribault center Ryan Kreager and Wayzata shooting guard Christian Wiggins. They’re committed to Loyola Chicago and Iowa State respectively. Wayzata small forward Nolen Anderson is ranked No. 3 and verbally committed to the Gophers.

New head coach Niko Medved was asked by Sports Headliners what it will take to reverse the longstanding trend at Minnesota of not convincing the most elite players to choose the program. Medved said there’s “a lot to sell here” and at his previous job (Colorado State) there was a track record of winning and helping players reach full potential.

“Playing in a system that they love playing in, that is conducive to them growing and developing as a player,” Medved said. “I think we have a great culture that guys want to be a part of and it’s just continuing to sell that. …We have really made an effort to do that and try to get the best guys, but they gotta be the best fit for us.

“…I look at what P.J. (Fleck) has done right across the way (for football). It didn’t necessarily happen for him right away but, man, he just kept chopping wood, chopping wood, and selling and selling, and now look at it. All these guys from around the area want to come and play for the Gophers. And we are going to get there too.”

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Vikings Reserve QB Roster Battles Command Attention

Posted on August 10, 2025August 10, 2025 by David Shama

Enjoy a Sunday notes column.

J.J. McCarthy is rock solid as the Viking starting quarterback but better believe the jockeying for status behind him is a competitive situation.

McCarthy played briefly in the first quarter of Saturday’s opening preseason game, a 20-10 win over the Texans in Minneapolis. Head coach Kevin O’Connell indicated after the game he was more than satisfied with how his 22-year-old leader ran the offense.

Before the first quarter was over Sam Howell relieved McCarthy. Then later in the game the Vikings turned to another veteran, Brett Rypien, before having rookie Max Brosmer finish up.

Howell completed 11 of 13 passes for 105 yards. Rypien was 1 of 4 for six yards while Brosmer, 5 of 8 for 47 yards, threw the lone Minnesota touchdown pass of the game.

O’Connell thought Brosmer “did a pretty darn good job coming in…and putting the ball in the end zone there.” Brosmer had a 118.2 rating, the highest of the Viking quarterbacks.

Minnesota may decide to keep Brosmer on the 53-man roster to start the season. Whether it’s been FCS New Hampshire, the Big Ten Golden Gophers or the Vikings, the likeable and football savvy Brosmer attracts admirers. Don’t be surprised if the eventual QB roster looks like this: No. 1 McCarthy, No. 2 Howell and Brosmer No. 3, with Rypien cut from the team.

If the Vikings don’t place Brosmer on their roster they take a major risk of another team picking him up.

McCarthy said this about Brosmer earlier in training camp: “Max is the man. Just super detail oriented, works his butt off. I can’t say enough good things about that guy. He is just an awesome human being. …”

Ben Solak, writing for ESPN earlier this month, ranked the Vikings coaching staff No. 1 among the 32 NFL teams. Solak’s approach was to evaluate not only the head coach, but also analyze offensive and defensive coordinators. He is especially an admirer of O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

“O’Connell has easily leaped into that utmost echelon of offensive designers, and Flores remains the cream of the defensive crop,” Solak wrote. “There are always little things to wonder about– scheming for a rookie is different from scheming for a veteran, even if that veteran had never been successful elsewhere — but there is no doubt that O’Connell & Co. elevate players more than any other coaching staff in football.”

David Hale, writing recently for ESPN.com on college football, placed the football Gophers among five under the radar teams who may exceed expectations. “Not counting the 2020 COVID-19 season, Minnesota is one of just 15 teams to win 60 percent of its Power 5 games. That’s more impressive than it sounds. It’s better than Washington, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Miami and Texas A&M.

“The Gophers enter 2025 with a ton of intriguing options led by Koi Perich and Darius Taylor, and while the schedule includes road trips to Ohio State and Oregon, there’s certainly a path for P.J. Fleck to get Minnesota back to the 10-win plateau (last achieved in 2019).”

The Twins try to win their three-game series at home today against the Royals who Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli has a 60-42 career record against. That’s his most victories over any team.

University of St. Thomas Athletic Director Phil Esten will be joined by head men’s basketball coach Johnny Tauer and men’s hockey coach Rico Blasi at a meeting of the Capital Club at Mendakota Country Club on August 27. They will discuss UST’s transition from DIII to DI, the new campus arena, NIL and potential competition with the Gophers. More information about the club is available from Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com.

Twin Cities Business has honored Patrick as one of 25 Notable Marketing Leaders for 2025 for his work on behalf of clients.

Tomorrow, August 11, will be the 22^nd anniversary of Herb Brooks’ death in a car accident. The legendary hockey coach’s gravesite at Roseville’s Roselawn Cemetery is frequently visited by admirers who remember his extraordinary career that included the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” at the Olympics.

Former Viking and NFL Hall of Famer John Randle will be the celebrity golfer tomorrow at the Ben & Adith Miller Golf Classic benefitting the Winona Health Foundation. The event will be at the Cedar Valley Golf Course in Winona.

Former Hopkins superstar Paige Bueckers is a huge favorite to win WNBA Rookie of the Year honors. Playing for the Dallas Wings (8-23 record), Bueckers is averaging 18.6 points per game, 5.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds from her guard position.

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