KEVIN O’CONNELL – Page 27 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikings’ wide receiver Justin Jefferson will hear his name announced tonight on the NFL Network and find himself in elite company. The network has been on a countdown of the league’s 100 best players and names of the top 20 will be announced starting at 7 p.m. Minneapolis time.

This will be a milestone for the third-year star who ranked No. 53 in last year’s annual voting done by league players to recognize the best of their peers. In 2020 the explosive pass catcher was among the NFL’s headline making rookies (Pro Football Focus Offensive Rookie of the Year) and in 2021 Jefferson was even better in key categories including 1,616 receiving yards, the second most in the NFL. He has twice been named AP second team All-Pro.

Best guess is Jefferson was voted into a 10-20 ranking for 2022. At least two wide receivers are certain to be ahead of Minnesota’s late first round draft choice in 2020, Davante Adams from the Raiders and Cooper Kupp of the Rams. Other wide receivers on the top 20 list are Tyreek Hill from the Dolphins and Deebo Samuel of the 49ers, per a Thursday story from NFL.com that didn’t reveal ranking of the players but listed them alphabetically.

Justin Jefferson image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

Interestingly WR Stefon Diggs, who the Vikings traded away in the 2020 offseason and Jefferson replaced as the team’s big play receiver, was voted No. 26 after being at 11 a year ago. Also of note, WR Ja’Marr Chase, who played at LSU and set Bengals records as a rookie in 2021, was voted No. 24 on the list of top NFL players. Chase claims to be better than his former college teammate.

With new coach Kevin O’Connell known for his offensive expertise, Jefferson is now likely to be even more of a focal point for the Vikings, who had two other players announced in the top 100 voting. Quarterback Kirk Cousins was voted No. 99 after not making the top 100 a year ago. Running back Dalvin Cook was No. 31 after being No. 20 in 2021, a decline due in part to missing four games.

A year ago four Vikings made the NFL players’ top 100, Jefferson, Cook, linebacker Eric Kendricks at No. 70 and WR Adam Thielen, No. 80.

Worth Noting

It will be interesting to see if WCCO Radio’s “Sports Huddle” show continues. Station owner Audacy has been making financial cuts in Minneapolis and with other properties. The Sunday program, featuring Sid Hartman and Dave Mona, aired for about 40 years before ending during the pandemic. It was the longest running program in station history. Then last October the show was revived with new hosts Mike Max and Pete Najarian.

Jerry Kill turned 61 last Wednesday but the week didn’t end well with an opening game loss to Nevada last night. The former Gophers coach, now in his first season at New Mexico State, saw his team lose, 23-12.

The Gophers will practice tonight and Monday evening at Huntington Bank Stadium to acclimate to the 8 p.m. start time for Thursday’s season and home opener against New Mexico State.

Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said there is still a three-way competition to win the offensive right tackle position between Quinn Carroll, JJ Guedet and Martes Lewis. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we rotate those guys,” Fleck said.

Look for an announced crowd of 40 to 45,000 for Thursday night’s game.

Jay Sawvell, a former Kill assistant at Minnesota, is defensive coordinator at Wyoming. The Cowboys lost yesterday to Illinois, 38-6.

The struggling Twins, who have lost 12 of their last 21 games and are in second place three games behind the AL Central Division leading Guardians, held first place for 106 days this year. Injuries have been an issue all year and the club has used 56 players, including 32 pitchers.

Former Nationals and Reds front office executive Jim Bowden, now writing for The Athletic, has one Twins’ prospect on his latest top 50 MLB prospects list, while the Guardians have three. Brooks Lee, who the Twins drafted No. 1 earlier this year, is No. 27 with the comment the switch hitting shortstop could proceed “relatively quickly” to the big leagues.

The Hutchinson community will dedicate Rostberg Stadium at S.R. Knutson Field on September 23 prior to the high school football game between Hutchinson and Becker. The father-son coaching duo of Grady and Andy Rostberg have combined for an overall record at Hutchinson of 455-116-1, a 79.6 winning percentage.

Grady coached from 1970-1999, winning three state titles. Andy succeeded his dad and is still coaching the Tigers who have also won three state championships under his direction.

A hockey source, speaking anonymously, believes former Gophers star Sammy Walker received about $1 million in signing bonus to join the Wild. He predicts that Walker, a center, could spend a year or two at the Wild’s Iowa farm team before becoming a 20-goal per season NHL scorer.

Steve LaCroix, president of the esports entertainment company Wisdom Gaming and former marketing boss of the Vikings, is the latest guest on “Behind the Game.” The program is seen on local cable markets and YouTube. It is co-hosted by Agile Marketing owner Patrick Klinger and USHL commissioner Bill Robertson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K083w0Y6NE&t=3s

Baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. will be the featured speaker at the September 10 Morrie Miller Athletic Foundation banquet in Winona. The foundation’s mission is to support and sustain youth sports in the Winona area.

Word is Hazeltine National Golf Club has renewed interest in hosting more of golf’s biggest events, including the Presidents Cup and U.S. Open. The Chaska facility has the 2029 Ryder Cup booked after hosting the event in 2016. Hazeltine will be the first American site to ever host the event twice.

Belated happy birthday wishes to former wrestling coach Paul Ehrhard who is in five halls of fame and coached state championship teams at Albert Lea High school. He turned 89 years old on August 18.

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Try opening your phone and not finding a recent story about Vikings’ quarterback Kirk Cousins. This market is obsessed with the Vikings and Cousins—even five months away from the next NFL season.

Fans (knowledgeable or not) have strong feelings about Cousins and the Vikings who have missed out on the last two playoffs. Cousins and former head coach Mike Zimmer, while they have their supporters, have frequently been vilified by the public.

Cousins, who is among the best paid players in NFL history at $35 million this year, is a polarizing figure that the media and fanbase scrutinize constantly. Former Vikings’ linebacker Ben Leber suspects Cousins is among the “most polarizing” athletes in Minnesota sports history.

Head coaches and quarterbacks can cause that kind of divide. In Minnesota it has gone to extremes because Vikings mania goes on 12 months per year.

If Cousins hasn’t performed up to expectations since he arrived here in 2018, all the media and fan “noise” probably isn’t to blame. “I don’t think he allows a lot of outside distractions,” Leber told Sports Headliners. “I am sure he hears it and feels it and all that stuff but he is so regimented about his day that I don’t think that he’s going to really let that affect him. …”

What may improve the chances of Cousins being a huge contributor to a Vikings’ return to the playoffs is his relationship with new head coach Kevin O’Connell. The 33-year-old Cousins had a rocky status with Zimmer, while O’Connell worked effectively with him in 2017 with the Washington Redskins.

Leber refers to a “black cloud” hanging over Cousins in the past. “I think he is going to walk in now feeling like he is wanted there, and feeling like this offense and this team and the coaching staff is going to be behind him,” Leber said.

Leber, who remains close to the Vikings organization, said an absence of communication and rapport had to impact leadership coming from their quarterback.

“Well, I can’t image it not being a factor. When it’s publicly known that the head coach and the quarterback don’t necessarily have a relationship I think that’s an issue for any team.

“I think it’s a responsibility that the head coach has…to have that connection to the quarterback, whether you’re an offensive minded guy or defensive minded guy. Everybody knows that these 32 NFL quarterbacks are the most important player on the team, and most important person outside of the head coach. So the dynamic has to be solid. …I am not saying they have to be holding hands walking down the hallway, but I think it has to be respectful, and it didn’t sound like it was.”

This offseason, per Leber, there was a players’ meeting where team issues were candidly discussed. He was told about the gathering and won’t reveal a lot of details but said teammates of Cousins were wowed with the quarterback’s leadership.

Cousins reportedly verbalized concerns from the past season in ways those in the meeting never expected at the Vikings complex in Eagan, Leber said. “It certainly seemed like it turned some guys’ heads as far as Kirk’s leadership.”

Worth Noting

Gopher coach P.J. Fleck reads children’s books to his players on Friday nights before games. He read “Elephant Me” to high school coaches last Friday evening at the annual Minnesota Football Coaches Clinic. Educated as a sixth grade social studies teacher, Fleck uses children’s books to share life messages such as being true to who you are.

The clinic registered nearly 1,500 attendees, breaking the old record of 1,412 set in 2012.

Peter Usset, the former defensive coordinator at Henry Sibley High School, is the new head coach at Apple Valley. His staff includes 2008 Minnesota Mr. Football Varmah Sonie who played for the Eagles.

At the clinic and a Saturday night banquet the MFCA honored many state football leaders including Hall of Fame inductees from two different categories. High School Division: William White, Westbrook/Monticello; Bob “Bubba” Sullivan, Northfield; Dean Aurich, Mayer Lutheran; Gary Sloan, Grand Meadow; Rob Nielsen, Detroit Lakes. College Division: Gary Fasching, St. John’s.

Hutchinson’s Andy Rostberg was honored as 2021 Coach of the Year. His Tigers were 12-1 last year and won the Class 4A state title.

While rookie Joe Ryan starts the Twins’ home opener Thursday, ex-Minnesota veteran Jose Berrios will have opening day honors for the Blue Jays. Former Twin Lance Lynn’s status as the White Sox’s opening day starter appears uncertain after a reported knee injury yesterday.

The MLB Morning Lineup newsletter ranked the top 100 players in the majors, with Twins shortstop Carlos Correa No. 14, center fielder Byron Buxton No. 39 and former Twin DH Nelson Cruz, now with the Nationals, No. 90.

The Twins announced this morning they have reassigned left-handed pitcher Devin Smeltzer and outfielder Jake Cave to minor league camp. Minnesota optioned left-handed pitcher Jovani Moran to the Triple-A Saints.

Jim Lehman will be attend his 27th Masters this week. Representing his Minnetonka-based pro sports management company, he will be working with clients including Fargo’s Tom Hoge who is enjoying a breakthrough PGA season.

It was 25 years ago last week Clem Haskins’ Golden Gophers lost to Kentucky at the Final Four in Indianapolis.

After the tragic death of his son last summer, many in the college hockey world will be pulling for coach Bob Motzko to win the Frozen Four that starts Thursday night in Boston. The Gophers will be trying to win their first national title since 2003 and first under Motzko now in his fourth season at Minnesota.

Minnesota Junior forward Ben Meyers, a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, leads the Gophers with 41 points this season (17 goals, 24 assists). That’s the most points by a Gopher since Rem Pitlick (45) and Tyler Sheehy (41) in 2018-19.

Vikings executive Lester Bagley, a franchise leader for years on community and business initiatives including the building of U.S. Bank Stadium, is the latest guest on the “Behind the Game” program seen on local cable markets and YouTube. The show is co-hosted by Agile Marketing owner Patrick Klinger and USHL commissioner Bill Robertson.

Professor Michael Hicks from Ball State told the Front Office Sports newsletter the economic impact of the Women’s Final Four in Minneapolis could be $75 million to $125 million.

Former Gopher Amir Coffey was a steal for the NBA Clippers when they signed him out of college as a free agent in 2019. He scored a career-high 32 points Friday night against the Bucks.

KARE-11 news anchor and former sports anchor Randy Shaver is a proud dad, sharing news with Sports Headliners that son Rob Shaver, 29, graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School on Friday.

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Category: KEVIN O’CONNELL

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