Twins – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Murray Project Can Take KOC Closer to Great QB ‘Whisperers’

Posted on March 15, 2026March 15, 2026 by David Shama

The work of Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell with quarterback reclamation projects Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones is well documented. Now comes the opportunity with new arrival Kyler Murray to take another step toward the company of pro football’s all-time elite quarterback “whisperers.”

Both Darnold and Jones had disastrous experiences with other teams before they came under the tutelage of KOC. Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 record in 2024 before bolting in free agency to the Seahawks and playing a huge role in a season and postseason that culminated in a Seattle Super Bowl win over the Patriots last month.

Jones had a shorter time at “KOC U” but like Darnold flourished in Minnesota and joined Sam in leaving in March of 2025. Jones had a comeback season in 2025 with the Colts after his earlier failure with the Giants and Indianapolis reportedly rewarded him this month with a two-year $88 million deal.

Could Murray be the next summa cum laude grad? Although the Cardinals gave up on him, his resume and profile instill optimism among those who want to feel it. In 2019 he was the Pro Football Offensive Rookie of the Year. Twice in his career he was a Pro Bowler.

The 28-year-old Murray, listed at 5-10 and 207 pounds, has quickness of foot and running ability that can bedevil opponents. His ability to turn a potential loss of yardage into a big gain certainly wasn’t lost on the Vikings who picked up the free agent last week on a bargain deal that reportedly has them paying out $1.3 million while the Cardinals are on the line for over $35 million.

Murray, who The Athletic rated as only the 40^th best free agent available this offseason, has his critics. His career passing rating of 92.2 is in the average range. Four times in his career he has thrown for over 3,500 yards. In 2,941 passing attempts he has totaled 121 TD passes with 60 interceptions over seven seasons. He has struggled with injuries including an ACL tear and missed most of last season with a foot injury.

Murray’s critics have questioned his study habits. Beyond his work ethic, concerns have been raised about his short stature and ability to see down field. He’s even been criticized for not running enough.

So the immediate future for Murray, who is on a one-year deal, will be interesting. He grew up a Vikings fan and at his initial presser last week gushed enthusiasm about his new start including being with KOC.

KOC will scrutinize Murray from top to bottom and will tinker with his offense to make it conducive to the new quarterback’s skillset. At the same time, J.J. McCarthy will also have to fit into the overall offense. O’Connell has declared Murray and McCarthy are competing for the starting job. No one has been named No. 1 yet.

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell image by David Shama — Kevin O’Connell

As the process develops, O’Connell can take another step toward the elite names among quarterback “whisperers,” especially if the Vikings become a winning team with Murray or McCarthy who will be in his second season as a potential starter. Toward the top of a list that does not yet include KOC, are names from the present and the past: Andy Reid of the Chiefs and Sean Payton of the Broncos and past icons Bruce Arians and Mike Shanahan.

That would be nice company to join.

Worth Noting

The Vikings could see an old friend wearing dark green, gold and white next fall. The Packers are looking for a backup quarterback with Kirk Cousins a possible candidate.

If the 37-year-old continues his career after being released by the Falcons last week, it presumably won’t be just for the money. He has reportedly earned over $351 million playing for the Commanders, Vikings and Falcons, and is among the highest paid NFL players of all-time.

The Vikings have provided $600,000 to the development of high school flag football in Minnesota. That’s from Minneapolis-based attorney and writer Marshall Tanick who reported details via email about a talk given recently by Vikings top marketing executive Martin Nance to a Florida group. Although not yet sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League, the girls’ sport is growing fast, and women’s flag football will debut as an Olympic sport at the 2028 games in Los Angeles.

Nance told attendees at the Minnesota Breakfast gathering in Naples that about 45 percent of the franchise’s fan base is women.

Nance, who was a wide receiver with the Vikings in 2006-2007, also shared this nugget: the Vikings “SKOL” chant, entering its 10th year, was derived from the Icelandic national soccer team.

Professional football scouts will have a look at these former Gophers at the University of Minnesota’s Pro Day on Wednesday. Confirmed participants are Nate Becker, Drew Biber, Le’Meke Brockington, Brady Denaburg, Deven Eastern, Jameson Geers, Darius Green, Rushawn Lawrence, Derik LeCaptain, Jalen Logan-Redding, Marcellus Marshall, Jai’Onte’ McMillan, Aluma Nkele, Dylan Ray and Devon Williams.

Football coaches can still register for the acclaimed MFCA Clinic. Headquartered at the DoubleTree Hotel in St. Louis Park, the clinic will be held March 26-28 and is a partnership with the football Gophers. https://www.mnfootballcoaches.com/page/show/2279758-mfca-clinic-information

Presenters will include Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck and selected Gopher assistants, along with St. Thomas head coach Glenn Caruso, St. John’s head coach Gary Fasching and FCS national championship coach Brent Vigen of Montana State.

A hockey aficionado tells Sports Headliners the on-ice vision of defenseman Quinn Hughes is so special it’s the best of any Wild player ever. The authority added Hughes might be the best team leader in franchise history.

The Twin Cities Dunkers scored a coup scheduling Timberwolves and Lynx owner Alex Rodriguez as a speaker later this month. Wolves and Lynx president & CEO Matt Caldwell is a Dunkers member. The sports focused organization dates back to 1948 when it was the Minneapolis Dunkers.

The field for the 2026 National Invitation Tournament will be announced tonight starting at 8:30 p.m. Minneapolis time on ESPN2. Both the Gophers and St. Thomas men are eligible for consideration, with some fans wishful of a matchup at Williams Arena.

The women Gophers, 22-8, are assured of an NCAA Tournament berth and will host first and second round games at Williams Arena. The NCAA Tournament bracket, matchups, dates and times will be announced tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

Kevin Kernan, a renowned national baseball authority and guest last week on Dan Barreiro’s KFNX Radio show, was asked how the Pohlad owned Twins are regarded nationally. He labeled the ownership a “clown show” and said only the Pirate ownership is disdained more.

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QB Consistency, Longevity for Vikings Far Down the Road

Posted on March 12, 2026March 12, 2026 by David Shama

Because of injuries, failed performance and misjudgment, the Vikings have a revolving door at quarterback. Eight different players have been starters going back to the 2022 season.

The best of them were Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold. The club’s decisionmakers made the right call in not meeting the mega contract demands to retain Cousins. Ownership, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell whiffed on not retaining Sam Darnold with a new deal.

This is a franchise desperately in need of a quality starter who can perform at a high level for many seasons. In fact, Minnesota hasn’t put together a string of three consecutive playoff appearances since 2000.

It was just in August of 2024 that O’Connell told the public the team had “its franchise quarterback in the building.” After a struggling 2025 season for J.J. McCarthy, O’Connell has said he wants a “deep and talented quarterback room.”

The Vikings have seemingly hedged in their full commitment to the 23-year-old McCarthy as their starter. Martin Nance, the franchise’s executive VP and Chief Marketing Officer, recently told a social group in Florida that regarding McCarthy the club still believes he has an “upside.”

J.J. McCarthy, Vikings QB, image by David Shama — J.J. McCarthy

But at this time McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 draft, might be the best bet to emerge as the longtime starter for the team. True, as of today the Vikings are the wagering favorite to land 28-year-old quarterback Kyler Murray after the Cardinals released him yesterday. As a free agent he and the Vikings may prefer a one-year deal that could allow the parties to part ways after the 2026 season.

Regarding the 2026 NFL Draft, the Vikings might be savvy to take the best player available, regardless of position. After that draft for specific needs.

The Big Ten, of course, offers players who likely could help the Vikings, including at two high positions of need, center and running back. Logan Jones from Iowa and Pat Coogan from Indiana are centers who figure to be available after the first round.

Penn State’s running back duo of Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton will be intriguing draft choices. Singleton, particularly, could be a fit for the Vikings because the club needs an explosive home run threat.

Worth Noting

Mission accomplished: Golden Gophers basketball coach Niko Medved told Sports Headliners last fall his goal for his first season was to have fans “more excited” about the program than when the season started. Interest is on the upswing after an overachieving season that included three home wins over top 25 ranked teams.

With the Wild almost assured of the third seed for the playoffs in the Central Division, it will be interesting to see if coach John Hynes rests his best players including Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes when the schedule gets closer to ending.

Myforecast.com projects a high of 59 and thunderstorms on March 26 when the Twins open the regular season in Baltimore against the Orioles. The weather site projects 40 and partly cloudy in Minneapolis for the Twins home opener April 3.

It’s a small sample size but Twins fans have fingers crossed key hitter Royce Lewis, who had disappointing seasons in 2024 and 2025, will do better than his now spring training average of .176 (three hits in 17 at bats). Two of those hits came on February 27 against the Red Sox. With a history of injuries including right side tightness currently, the Twins are cautious about his playing time in Florida.

Financial industry and community leader Dan Stoltz, the Blaze Credit Union President & CEO whose identity is seen in local TV commercials with legends from Minnesota sports, is a proud graduate of Northwestern University—St. Paul. He and his wife Robin, along with their three children (and spouses), are graduates of the school. He and Robin recently provided a generous gift to the University, and the School of Business is now known as the Stolz School of Business.

Well wishes to 1966-1967 Golden Gophers basketball captain Paul Presthus on his 81^st birthday Tuesday. An All-American player in small town Rugby, he is one of the most storied players in North Dakota basketball history. While in high school, he was on the cover of a national magazine with Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).

Condolences to family and friends of Dave Wicker, the longtime coach (Patrick Henry) and administrator for the Minneapolis schools who recently passed away. He was revered for how he related to and worked with others.

Comments Welcome

Owner Tom Pohlad: Minnesota Twins “Building for 2028”

Posted on March 1, 2026March 1, 2026 by David Shama

Tom Pohlad, the new face of the Pohlad family Twins ownership group, sounds like he might be tempering his previous optimism for the club in 2026.

Pohlad apparently indicated that at a social club gathering in Naples, Florida recently. Minneapolis-based attorney, writer and historian Marshall Tanick reported via email to Sports Headliners what Pohlad said at the Minnesota Breakfast club gathering, an organization in Southwest Florida that was started in 1964 by Minneapolis natives and draws prominent speakers during the winter months to its weekly programs.

Tanick wrote that Pohlad concluded his remarks by cautioning the team may not be immediately successful but is “building for 2028.” Earlier in the winter Pohlad repeatedly said the club will be competitive in 2026, perhaps indicating a final record that could challenge for the postseason.

A MLB.com story in mid-February said Pohlad met with reporters and was told one sportsbook projected the team’s over-under win total at 73.5 wins. “That’s ridiculous,” Pohlad said, per an article by Matthew Leach.

The Twins are coming off two disappointing seasons including a 70-92 finish last year. The club has made no significant roster changes as Minnesota prepares for the coming season in Florida. And the team’s prospects for a winning season have been further dimmed by a season-ending arm injury to ace starting pitcher Pablo Lopez.

The Twins have a short list of proven talents including pitcher Joe Ryan, catcher Ryan Jeffers and centerfielder Byron Buxton. Sportsbooks forecast a losing season.

Pohlad, though, is optimistic about the club’s farm system that is rated among the best in baseball. He’s hopeful that many players will emerge who can make the roster talent special.

Tanick reported that Pohlad also referred to young talent already with the Twins and those players coming from the farm system create an optimistic outlook for future team performance. “There’s no reason why every single year we can’t win our division,” Pohlad said.

Twins lead owner Tom Pohlad — Tom Pohlad photo courtesy of Marshall Tanick

Pohlad, who replaced brother Joe Pohlad as the Twins leader late last year, has emphasized improved communications since taking over. He addressed the team at the start of spring training, for example. And he’s been aggressive in reaching out to the fans including ticket buyers.

Tanick reported Pohlad told his Minnesota Breakfast audience he’s “trying to turn a new page” after what he termed “a rough couple of years” for the AL Central Division team. Part of mending fences with the fanbase, of course, will include better results on the field.

The organization will be mindful, too, of the fan experience at Target Filed. Traditionally overachievers on promotions, key offerings by the Twins in 2026 will include $2 pre-game beers, free ice cream on Sundays for kids, Friday Happy Hour (beer and food), merchandise giveaways, music concerts, and other allurements.

The disenchantment by Twins fans, though, takes many forms. For example, a middle aged couple whose past passion has included watching the club in spring training, has opted this year to attend Cactus League games in Arizona.

Worth Noting

New Twins manager Derek Shelton and general manager Jeremy Zoll also spoke to the breakfast group in Naples. Shelton is using the term “hunt for the good” to encourage an optimistic outlook.

He announced the club will be aggressive in its play including “run a lot” on the bases, per Tanick’s reporting. Surprisingly, in the team’s opening spring training game against major league competition, the oft-injured Royce Lewis stole a base.

Attendees at Twins home games at the Lee Health Sports Complex can expect extraordinary customer service. Smiling faces and helpful information are abundant. Game pricing can easily be three figures for two fans but can include parking, and hot dogs and sodas.

Longtime Twins broadcaster Dick Bremer, scheduled to be inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame July 11 when Minnesota hosts the Angels, turns 70 years old today. He was the franchise’s TV voice for 40 years with his career ending in 2023.

The Capital Club breakfast group will hear from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson on Wednesday, March 11 at Mendakota Country Club. Before his recent departure from the Department of Justice, Thompson was the lead prosecutor in the Feeding Our Future fraud investigation and related investigations of fraud in Minnesota Medicaid programs. Now in private practice, his clients include journalist Don Lemon. For more information, contact Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com.

Pat Colbert, with the United States Tennis Association’s Northern Section since April of 1989, retires July 1. The former Assistant Executive Director of the section has been working part-time since January 1, leading up to his retirement. The Bloomington native played tennis for Normandale College where he was team MVP on the 1977 conference champions.

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