Sports Drafts – Page 4 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Zim Looks for New WR to Play Now

Posted on April 24, 2020April 24, 2020 by David Shama

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer made known his expectations for first round draft choice Justin Jefferson last night on KFAN Radio. “He’ll be able to come in and should be able to play right away.”

The Vikings selected the former LSU wide receiver at No. 22 in last night’s NFL Draft. Zimmer praised Jefferson’s ability to play inside and outside in an offense. He also mentioned Jefferson’s work ethic in practice, competitive nature and intelligence.

Jefferson has a reputation for making difficult catches and the Vikings considered him one of the best wide receivers in the draft. “Quite honestly, we tried to move up and were hoping that he would be there,” Zimmer said.

Minnesota acquired another first rounder in TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney at No. 31. Zimmer told KFAN the 5-foot-10 Gladney needs improvement with his playing technique but expressed enthusiasm about his new defensive player.

“He’s very quick. Good accelerator, has a lot of speed,” Zimmer said. “He’s a little on the shorter side. (But) of some of the other guys (in the draft) he had longer arms and longer wing span. But he’s a very competitive kid… .”

Will Jefferson and Gladney ultimately be judged as productive players for the franchise? General manager Rick Spielman is in his ninth season with the Vikings and led last night’s opening round decisions. Looking at his eight previous drafts, Spielman hit the success button more often than not, but a few misses standout now when the Vikings have needs at cornerback and wide receiver.

Cornerback Trae Waynes and wide receiver Laquon Treadwell were first round selections in 2015 and 2016. Neither is with the team and they didn’t even come close to being impact contributors for Minnesota. Spielman drafted cornerback Mike Hughes No. 1 in 2018 and while opportunity waits in 2020, Hughes has struggled with injuries and has made only five career starts at a position of ongoing need.

Those three players haven’t benefitted Minnesota much, but five others have from earlier drafts. That includes last year when the Vikings made Garrett Bradbury the highest drafted center in franchise history at No. 18 in the first round. He was a starter in his rookie year and while evaluators say he has lots to improve on, he’s a first round success story right now.

The Vikings didn’t have a No. 1 pick in 2017 but let’s count running back Dalvin Cook to Spielman’s credit. At No. 41 in the second round he was the first player chosen by the Vikings that year, and he is the team’s best weapon on offense.

Spielman had two first rounders in 2014, linebacker Anthony Barr and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. At No. 9 in the first round of the draft, Barr was the second highest linebacker the franchise ever drafted and has been a Pro Bowler. Bridgewater was on track to become the club’s starting quarterback for years until a devastating knee injury in 2016 eventually caused the Vikings to move on.

Spielman maneuvered for three first rounders in 2013 in this order: defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, cornerback Xavier Rhodes and receiver-kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson. All three gave the Vikings help, with Rhodes becoming (at times) a shutdown cornerback playing one of the most important positions in the NFL.

The Vikings didn’t hit a homerun with their No. 4 pick in 2012, selecting offensive tackle Matt Kalil, but no one will deny Spielman a gold star for choosing safety Harrison Smith with the No. 29 selection of the first round. Smith is still a starter and has consistently been rated among the NFL’s better defensive players. In 2017 Pro Football Focus ranked him the third best player in the league.

From 2012-2015 Kalil started 64 consecutive games for Minnesota but is no longer with the team, and he never fulfilled the expectations of a No. 4 overall pick.

Worth Noting

With NFL teams done with the draft after Saturday, they will focus even more on college free agents and veteran NFL free agents. It could be a telling week for 32-year-old Everson Griffen who was once an All-Pro defensive end and opted for free agent status last month. Probably a long shot the Vikings will re-sign him.

Former Gopher All-American safety Antoine Winfield Jr. will likely be chosen in the second round of tonight’s continuing NFL Draft. Dan O’Brien, now head football coach at St. Thomas Academy, was a Gophers assistant coach when Minnesota recruited him. Winfield was only a three-star recruit out of high school in Texas but O’Brien said the Gopher coaches knew after the first couple of practices the freshman was going to be an impact player.

“He just had fantastic instincts,” O’Brien said. “It seemed like he would read the quarterback as good as any kid we had, even though he was just a freshman. He was one of those players that just was always in the right spot.”

With 13 verbal commits, including four four-star players, the 2021 Gophers football recruiting class is second in the Big Ten and No. 5 nationally in the latest 247Sports rankings.

Condolences to family and friends of former Gopher and Viking star lineman Milt Sunde from Bloomington, who died this week. Sunde, the Gopher team captain, played his last college game on the surprise date of Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1963. The game against Wisconsin at old Memorial Stadium had been moved from the original playing date of November 24 following the November 22 assassination of President John Kennedy. The Vikings drafted Sunde in the 20th round of the 1964 NFL Draft but he had a surprisingly successful career playing for 11 seasons for his hometown team.

Kerwin Walton, the four-star wing from Hopkins, is expected to announce his college choice Saturday. It’s believed his finalists are Arizona, Creighton, Minnesota and North Carolina. After following Walton’s recruiting, the guess here is Arizona will be the choice because of the Wildcats profile as a college heavyweight and the positive experience Zeke Nnjai, a former Hopkins teammate, had this season with the Pac-12 program.

This week NBAdraft.net projected Nnaji, a power forward, being selected at No. 22 in the first round. Gopher center Daniel Oturu is projected at No. 10, with Apple Valley point guard alum Tre Jones a second round pick at No. 41.

The NCAA has pushed its vote back to June regarding a new policy allowing a one-time immediate eligibility for athletes transferring from one school to another. Even if the policy is approved, it seems likely not to be implemented until the 2021-2022 school year given the late timing and upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Wild Never Got Started in Playoff Series

Posted on May 8, 2015May 8, 2015 by David Shama

Chicago swept the Wild 4-0 in the playoffs that ended last night at Xcel Energy Center. “We were chasing (from behind) every game,” said Wild coach Mike Yeo. “It was an incredible stat. We never had the lead.”

During the second round Stanley Cup playoff series the Blackhawks frequently used a lead to turn up their defense and make it more difficult for the Wild to score. Minnesota produced just seven goals in the series, once being shutout and in another game scoring one goal.

A year ago media and fans sat at Xcel Energy Center and recognized the team’s need for additional scoring. A common wish was for the Wild to acquire forward Thomas Vanek during the off season. That happened but during the playoffs this spring, including against the Blackhawks, Vanek didn’t score a goal.

The Wild’s offensive shortcomings weren’t just because of the 31-year-old former Gopher who had come home to help the Wild make a deeper playoff run. The series against the Blackhawks exposed the truth that Chicago had superior playmakers and scorers.

Former North Stars player and executive Lou Nanne acknowledged the Wild’s need for “more scorers” and that some Minnesota players didn’t do enough in the series. “They’ve got a couple superstars we don’t have,” Nanne said.

But Nanne said this season has been a success for the Wild and the 2015 team is the best in franchise history. There’s a nucleus to build upon while the Wild compete in what he described as the NHL’s best division (Central) and conference (Western).

After watching the Blackhawks’ impressive play against the Wild, Nanne said Chicago is his favorite to win the Stanley Cup.

Worth Noting

With yesterday’s win over the A’s, the Twins have now won 10 of their last 13 games. The Twins, 16-13 overall, are 6-1 in May and 12-5 this season at Target Field.

The Twins try to improve their 4-8 road record this weekend starting with tonight in Cleveland against the Indians. Mike Pelfrey, among the surprise contributors in the starting pitching, has a 2-1 record with a 2.63 ERA. Tonight he faces Cleveland’s Trevor Bauer, 2-0, 3.38 ERA.

During the weeks ahead Vikings rookies will have about 20 sessions to help them with life skills and behavior, according to Rick Spielman. The Vikings general manager said his organization offers diverse presentations ranging from all the negative things that can happen to players off the field, to the decision-making of buying or renting a car, or house. “We are very proactive,” Spielman said. “We’ve had guest speakers come in from all over the country that we feel can help educate our guys.”

Prior to drafting players, the Vikings devoted a lot of time to psychological test results and background checks. Character played a major role in who the Vikings were willing to select. Spielman knows, of course, that one or more of the 10 rookies drafted last week will make mistakes but hopefully not career threatening errors. “Everybody does (make mistakes), but we try to be as diligent as we can in that area (prevention),” Spielman said.

Spielman will speak next Thursday at the CORES luncheon at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington, 1114 American Blvd. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans. Reservations for the program (deadline is next Monday) can be made by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.

Spielman said his son J.D. Spielman, who will be a senior at Eden Prairie High School next year, has football offers from Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan and Minnesota. He potentially could be a slot back, defensive back or return specialist in college.

The Vikings will have 10 draft choices, 10 free agents and 40 other prospects in for rookie workouts this weekend including today. The club emphasizes inviting ex-college players from this area to workouts. Among the organization’s “finds” over the years have been cornerback and punt returner Marcus Sherels (Gophers) and wide receiver Adam Thielen (Minnesota State-Mankato).

Vikings marketing executive Steve LaCroix said the club has sold about 40,000 season tickets for the new stadium scheduled to open in 2016. The stadium capacity for football will be about 66,000 and eventually over 60,000 of the tickets sold could be season tickets. By state legislative mandate, some single game tickets at affordable prices must be made available for purchase.

The Vikings could have interest in some day hosting the NFL Draft that for decades was held in New York but this spring was staged in Chicago. Various fan activities drew about 200,000 people in Chicago.

Jerry Kill credits the late Dave Larson, who once gave $500,000 to the football program to pay for tutors, laptops and enhancements to the weight room, with playing a major role in improving academics. Kill said earlier this week his players have seven consecutive semesters of collective GPAs of 3.0 or better.

Larson was a University of Minnesota regent and philanthropist. His widow, Janis Larson, told Sports Headliners late last year she will provide $15 million for the football complex that is part of the Gophers’ $150 million plan to build and renovate athletic facilities.

Kill is Honorary Chair of the group trying to bring the College Football Playoff National Championship Game here. “They’re going to move that game around just like the Super Bowls,” Kill told Sports Headliners. “There’s not a finer place than the Twin Cities. They have the Super Bowl and Final Four (already booked), and should have the national championship game.”

Kill said he hasn’t started lobbying efforts on behalf of a national title game for the new Vikings Stadium. Minneapolis is expected to bid for the 2020 game. “I am not that far along on all this,” said Kill, who agreed a few weeks ago to become Honorary Chair. Minneapolis and stadium promoters are aggressively pursuing national attractions for the domed multipurpose stadium that is expected to be among the most unique sports venues in the world.

Kill said all four of his players chosen in the NFL Draft are in “perfect” places for opportunities with their new teams. The four are tight end Maxx Williams, Ravens (second round); linebacker Damien Wilson, Cowboys (fourth round); running back David Cobb, Titans (fifth round); and safety Cedric Thompson, Dolphins (fifth round).

The 1950 NFL Draft was the last time Minnesota had four players selected in the first five rounds.

Former Gophers wide receiver Derrick Engel developed tendonitis in his knee awhile ago and that has slowed his pursuit of a pro football opportunity.

Congratulations to 74-year-old Bobby Bell who will be among University of Minnesota graduates receiving a degree next Thursday during ceremonies at Mariucci Arena. Bell, arguably the greatest Gophers football player ever, will graduate with a park and recreation degree. Friends and family will attend his graduation and celebrate at a party on campus Thursday evening. Among those expected at activities are former Chiefs teammate Willie Lanier and Bell’s son Bobby Bell Jr.

Bell was a two-time All-American tackle for the Gophers. He won the 1962 Outland Trophy, and during his three-year career at Minnesota the Gophers had a 22-6-1 record while playing in two Rose Bowls, and winning both a Big Ten and national championship.

Tom Obarski, the 2014 Concordia-St. Paul Division II AFCA All-American, has signed as a free agent placekicker with the Bengals.

Canterbury Park’s live horse racing season begins next Friday. The 70-day race meet is the longest since 1992. It’s estimated approximately $14 million in purses will be paid to horsemen, a record for the Shakopee racetrack. For the third consecutive season, Canterbury Park’s nearly 1,600 horse stalls will be at capacity.

Wednesday’s column about Verne Gagne prompted e-mails from readers with their own memories of local professional wrestling. A friend remembered going to the Minneapolis Auditorium as a youngster and bringing a squirt gun. “I sat at the end of an aisle with my arms folded. I then proceeded to squirt the Kalmikoff brothers as they walked by,” he wrote in an e-mail. “When they looked over, I was looking elsewhere with an angelic look on my face.”

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Wild’s Mike Yeo Deserves New Contract

Posted on May 12, 2014May 12, 2014 by David Shama

Wild coach Mike Yeo’s job status drew speculation in recent months but with Minnesota’s impressive Stanley Cup playoff run this spring it will be a major surprise if he doesn’t return for the 2014-2015 season. Yeo’s current contract reportedly ends this year.

Tom Reid, who played more than 11 seasons in the NFL and now is the Wild’s radio analyst, likes Yeo’s performance. “I expect Mike and the entire coaching staff to be back,” Reid told Sports Headliners. “They’ve done a good job here.”

Yeo, who had never been an NHL head coach previously, was hired at 37 years old to lead the Wild starting with the 2011-2012 season. Minnesota made the playoffs last season but lost in five games to the Blackhawks who went on to win the Stanley Cup.

This year more was expected from the team and coach. “They went through a couple hiccups along the way (this season) but I think for the most part Mike has learned an awful lot,” Reid said. “I like the way he’s managed behind the bench. The (line) combinations he’s put together.”

Reid said the young coach shows an ability “to read” players well. “He’s certainly learned much better bench management than he had when he first came in,” Reid said.

Yeo has juggled goaltenders but often been successful during the season and playoffs. The team’s overall defense has been a factor in the Blackhawks series holding Chicago to between 19 and 22 shots in the first four games. Impressive, too, has been the development of inexperienced players like Mikael Granlund and Jared Spurgeon.

Yeo is the NHL’s youngest head coach. He has had the Wild in the playoffs the last two years after a five year absence. “With coaching it’s no different than being a player,” Reid said. “You’re a rookie when you come into it and you have to learn the ropes of what has to be done and how you conduct yourself on the ice.”

The Wild lost 2-1 last night in game five and now trail the Blackhawks 3-2 in their second round best of seven series. Minnesota is back home for game six on Tuesday night.

The team has shown persistence under Yeo, recovering from 2-0 series deficits first against the Avalanche and now with the Blackhawks. Even if the Wild season ends on Tuesday night, expect Yeo to return for a fourth season with a new contract.

Worth Noting

Metro area Culver’s Restaurants will donate 10 percent of sales today to the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund. Culver’s is a longtime sponsor of the fund and from May 5-19 is giving customers a $1 coupon in return for a $1 donation.

Randy Shaver, the KARE 11 news anchor and cancer survivor, was an all-state high school cornerback in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. High school football has long been a “passion” and he was Benilde-St. Margaret’s freshman team head coach for four seasons before resigning last year.

Why did he give up the position? “I have a mom who is very sick right now with a rare head and neck cancer,” Shaver told Sports Headliners. “I didn’t want to get too involved with something and not be able to fulfill the commitment because I think her situation could change this year. There’s a lot of other factors too but that’s part of it.”

Shaver’s son Ryan Shaver is a TV sportscaster in Mason City, Iowa.

It might not be that much of a stretch to think Teddy Bridgewater, the Louisville quarterback who the Vikings chose with the No. 32 pick during round one of last Friday’s NFL Draft, could have played for the Gophers. Louisville head coach Charlie Strong was defensive coordinator at Florida in 2007 and may have been a finalist to replace Gophers head coach Glen Mason in January of that year. Strong was later hired at Louisville and he successfully recruited many Florida high school players including Bridgewater.

Bridgewater was the third quarterback taken in the first round and at one time there was speculation he would be first. Will being passed over by so many teams provide motivation? “You can bet that,” Bridgewater said last Friday. “I talked with (Vikings) coach (Mike) Zimmer awhile back when I came here and he told me he loves guys that play with a chip on their shoulder. So after having that conversation with him and just experiencing last night, I’m glad to be a Viking, but you can best believe I’ll play with a chip on my shoulder.”

Vikings’ NFC North rivals Chicago and Green Bay selected defensive backs in the first round. The Bears chose cornerback Kyle Fuller from Virginia Tech. “My favorite cornerback in the draft,” ESPN analyst Jon Gruden said on Friday night.

The Packers, in need of a turnover causing defender in the secondary, chose Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.

ESPN showed Mel Kiper’s draft grades for all NFL teams last night including a “B” for the Packers and “B-minus” labels for the Bears, Lions and Vikings.

The Vikings lost five games in the closing minutes last season. This message is displayed at the team’s indoor practice facility: “Tough teams win in the fourth quarter.”

Ra’Shede Hageman and Brock Vereen were chosen on the second and fourth rounds last weekend, becoming the first former Gophers to be taken in the NFL Draft since 2010 when Eric Decker and Nate Triplett were selected.

Ex-Gopher Derrick Engel, the team’s best wide receiver last season, is still recovering from ACL surgery and although he wasn’t drafted last weekend NFL teams have interest.

The Twins demoted shortstop Pedro Florimon to Triple-A Rochester last week because he was hitting .108. His lifetime major league average is .207. Twins pitching great Jim Kaat’s career batting average was .185.

The last Gophers national championship baseball team was honored at Siebert Field on Saturday. Players from the 1964 team were recognized before Minnesota’s home game with Purdue. Minnesota also won NCAA titles in 1956 and 1960.

Jay Buckley’s Baseball Tours, based in La Crosse, is promoting a September 13, 14 and 15 trip making stops in Milwaukee for the Brewers-Reds game, in Green Bay to see the Packers and Jets, and ending in Chicago to watch the Cubs and Reds. More at Jaybuckley.com.

The Lynx, who have media day today, will have nine games televised on Fox Sports North including next Sunday’s regular season home opener at Washington.

Cross country and track and field standout Kristina Poss will be one of three students in the 2014 St. Catherine senior class to graduate as valedictorian. A chemistry major, she will begin medical school next year at Minnesota.

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