Vikings – Page 113 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Ex-Gopher Was U President Candidate

Posted on December 7, 2018December 7, 2018 by David Shama

Although it hasn’t been reported, Minneapolis native and former Gophers linebacker Pete Najarian was a candidate to be the next President of the University of Minnesota. Najarian, who was co-captain of the 1985 Gophers, confirmed his candidacy to Sports Headliners during a telephone interview this week.

Najarian, who found success and fame nationally as an options trader, financial markets analyst and TV personality, didn’t seek the position that now has a sole finalist in University of South Carolina Provost Joan Gabel. “The fact that I was nominated was very flattering,” Najarian said.

Najarian loves the University and pursued the school’s athletic director’s position before it was filled in 2016 by Mark Coyle. Unlike that process when he was given a formal interview, there was no such sit down for the President’s position, although he had conversations with selection committee members.

To some observers of the Presidential selection process that could raise the question of whether a business person with an accomplished background like Najarian was treated as a serious candidate. “You know, I think it’s a tough thing, quite frankly. I think they were legitimately considering (alternative) folks but I think also they’re looking for somebody…within the educational system already,” Najarian said. “I am sure there are many, many highly qualified candidates out there…who have great résumés from different universities.”

Najarian has an easy going personality, and that along with his professional background, could have made him a strong leader and uniter of the many factions at the University. He said that while the President’s position “was not something I had sat back and dreamed about like I did the AD position,” he envisioned things where he could make the University better.

A source told Sports Headliners the final three candidates to become President were all females and high level administrators at other schools. Cabal would be the first female President ever at the University of Minnesota.

Worth Noting

Condolences to family and friends regarding the death this week of pro wrestling legend and Minnesota native Larry “The Axe” Hennig. He was a star in the old American Wrestling Association that entertained generations of fans in Minneapolis, St. Paul and other major cities.

Jim Brunzell, another AWA star, emailed with the news yesterday and wrote: “I affectionately called him Dad, and would greet him with a hug and big kiss on the cheek! May he rest in peace!”

Former Spring Lake Park football player E.J. Ejiya, a senior at North Texas, was named this week as a Conference USA all-league first-team linebacker. After graduating from high school in 2014, he became a Junior College All-American at North Dakota State College of Science. His skills and work ethic have him positioned now as an NFL prospect.

Ejiya ranks fourth nationally in tackles for loss with 23 and leads the Mean Green in sacks with 9 (fourth in C-USA). His 113 total tackles are also fourth most in the league. As the top rated defensive player for North Texas, he has a grade of 86.5 from Pro Football Focus. That ranks him 26th among all FBS linebackers.

A side benefit for the Golden Gophers in preparing for Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense in the December 26 Quick Lane Bowl is that Georgia Southern, Minnesota’s nonconference opponent on September 14 of next year, also employs that seldom used system. The run-dominated offense at Southern is coached by coordinator Bob DeBesse who was Gopher OC under Jim Wacker from 1992-96.

Will the Gophers have all their starters for the Quick Lane Bowl game on December 26? Maybe more on that later.

Bud Grant will be at the Triple Crown Sports Card and Bobblehead Show from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday at Southtown Shopping Center in Bloomington. Two of his former Vikings players, Bob Lurtsema and Dave Brown, make appearances from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Minnesota Twins legend Joe Mauer was in the holiday spirit last weekend at Mauer Chevrolet where he was helping build bicycles for Toys for Tots.

Mark Rosen said he is retiring January 10 from his longtime position as WCCO TV’s No. 1 sports anchor. Rosen, whose wife Denise is dealing with cancer, had announced earlier this year he intended to retire from TV in April but he has moved up the date. The 67-year-old started working part-time at WCCO TV in 1969 and will be missed a lot by Minnesota sports fans.

Rosen told Sports Headliners he has signed a new contract with KFAN and will continue a regular role with the Minneapolis FM station. His new schedule without TV but with radio will allow him to be home by late afternoon weekdays. The Rosen family will vacation in Mexico later in the month.

Recently retired Star Tribune sports editor Glen Crevier is interviewed on “Behind the Game,” the Twin Cities cable TV program co-hosted by Patrick Klinger and Bill Robertson. Crevier had a 43 year career in journalism, including the last 20 at the Star Tribune. He is passionate about college football and has visited famous stadiums including Michigan Stadium this year. In addition to cable, the Crevier interview can also be viewed on YouTube.

As the nation mourns the death and also celebrates the life of George H.W. Bush, coaches and athletes could pause and remember the grace and humility with which the former war hero and President lived his life.

Today’s “look at what I did” athletes stand in sharp contrast to the quiet, humble and kind manner in which Mr. Bush lived his life including accomplishments that in perspective were far more important than winning touchdowns, last minute goals and ninth inning home runs. When the heroes from “The Greatest Generation” scored touchdowns, they simply handed the football to the referee. After a creative scoring play in basketball, the athlete from that era quietly headed back up the court to take his position on defense.

Hotdogging after a spectacular accomplishment in sports or another endeavor? Mocking an opponent by wagging a finger, or nodding a head? Not in Mr. Bush’s generation that included all those World War II men and women who came home and were reluctant to even talk about what they had seen and done.

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Could Vikings’ OC Be Next GB Coach?

Posted on December 5, 2018December 7, 2018 by David Shama

Nobody is talking much about this now but how the Vikings offense performs in the remaining games could have a lot to do with the immediate future of John DeFilippo.

Minnesota’s first-year offensive coordinator has been prominently mentioned this fall for a head NFL coaching job next season. The Vikings’ offense, though, has sputtered with the run game and been inconsistent with the pass. At times the team’s head coach, Mike Zimmer, has more than hinted that his offense needs to run the ball more, and run it better.

Both Zimmer and DeFilippo know the offense is held back by a substandard offensive line, particularly lacking efficiency in the interior. First-year quarterback Kirk Cousins has been on and off, with critics claiming he needs to process faster what is happening on the field, and thereby connecting better with receivers, throwing the ball away when needed, and even executing an occasional scramble or straight line run.

The Vikings rank 16th in the 32-team NFL in yards per game at 360.9. Cousins has thrown for 3,490 yards, sixth best in the league. Wide receiver Adam Thielen ranks No. 2 in reception yards with 1,166. This an offense that has had its highlights including six times scoring 24 points or more, and twice topping 35 as the team has compiled a 6-5-1 record.

Fox analyst Troy Aikman, the former Super Bowl winning quarterback with the Cowboys, gave a shout-out to DeFilippo during last Sunday’s Vikings-Patriots game. Aikman and broadcast partner Joe Buck were delivering news that Green Bay’s longtime head coach, Mike McCarthy, had just been fired.

Aikman referred to the 40-year-old DeFilippo as a “great young mind.” Then Aikman referenced how DeFilippo could fit with a young quarterback, or perhaps a veteran like Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, and perhaps approach the offensive fireworks of the 11-1 L. A. Rams. They are among the NFL leaders in both passing and rushing, ranking second in the league in yards per game at 439.9 under the direction of 32-year-old head coach Sean McVay.

“… I think John DeFilippo is worth taking a look at,” Aikman said Sunday in regard to the Packers opening, and the franchise that is Minnesota’s biggest rival.

Internet stories identify DeFilippo as a favorite for the Green Bay job. A 247Sports article Monday by Brian Jones had DeFilippo listed first among possible candidates. The next favorites were Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Dolphins head coach Adam Gase and University of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.

In a SI.com article last month mentioning names to watch for NFL head coaching jobs in 2019, DeFilippo was described as the “safest bet on this list to be leading an NFL sideline next season.”

The Sports Illustrated article by Jenny Vrentas referred to his success in 2016 and 2017 with the Eagles where he was the quarterbacks coach, and his impact on Carson Wentz and Nick Foles. This season the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles have regressed without DeFilippo and offensive coordinator Frank Reich, now with the Colts.

That 2018 Super Bowl experience should add “esteem” to DeFilippo’s resume, according to S.I. who seems to believe the former James Madison college quarterback is overdue for a head job. “DeFilippo interviewed for the Bears and Cardinals jobs last offseason, and the 49ers vacancy three years ago,” Vrentas wrote.

Before joining the Eagles, DeFilippo was the Browns’ offensive coordinator and he has solid NFL experience dating back more than 10 years. He has worked for several head coaches in the league including Zimmer.

“What I love about Coach Zim is that he’s the same guy every day,” DeFilippo said answering a question from Sports Headliners last week. “He’s knows what he believes in and he holds those values true to himself, the staff, and our team.”

Vikings center Pat Elflein raves about his offensive coordinator. “He coaches with a lot of emotion, very passionate. Loves the game, loves his players, his coaches. He treats everyone with respect and he is always bringing ‘juice.’ He’s always has a lot of emotion behind what he is preaching.”

What about DeFilippo’s football know-how? “He is very knowledgeable about offense,” Elflein said. “He always has a plan for worst case scenarios, (and) best case scenarios. He is always getting us in the right position, so he’s very knowledgeable about all that.”

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‘Jury’ Still Out on Vikings Kirk Cousins

Posted on December 3, 2018December 3, 2018 by David Shama

After last night’s 24-10 loss to the Patriots, the Vikings are 0-4 this season against teams with winning records. That also means Minnesota’s new $84 million starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins, is also 0-4 for the 6-5-1 Vikings who are scrambling to make the NFL playoffs after a near Super Bowl run last season.

Cousins has been impressive many times this season, including in Minnesota’s 24-17 win over the Packers late last month. He completed 29 of 38 passes for 342 yards, with three touchdown throws and a QB rating of 129.5. That doesn’t mean, though, that NFL authorities who praise him don’t also express concerns.

In yesterday’s game the Vikings scored only one touchdown, a late second quarter end zone reception by wide receiver Adam Thielen. The Vikings had struggled in the first half to get themselves going with an offense referred to as “herky-jerky” by former Viking linebacker Ben Leber.

Although the Vikings managed just a second half field goal for points, Leber saw a better quarterback. “He doesn’t seem like he’s playing mentally very fast (the first two quarters)…they come out in the second half and he was like a completely different quarterback,” Leber said during postgame comments on KFXN Radio. “I just don’t understand why it takes a lot of time to get him really mentally involved in the football game.”

During the national TV telecast on Fox, Troy Aikman, the former Super Bowl winning quarterback for the Cowboys, said Cousins can struggle with defensive pressure. The Patriots sacked him twice in the game and other times had him under duress. Although he avoided some blitzes, he threw two interceptions and had his lowest quarterback rating of the season at 70.4.

“There are certain instincts that good quarterbacks have,” former Viking defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema told Sports Headliners. “…They know when they have pressure from the right side, the left side or behind. I don’t know whether he (Cousins) picks it up fast enough.”

The Vikings have been looking for a consistent running game all season including yesterday, and they rank 30th among 32 NFL teams, averaging 86.1 yards per game. “You gotta establish a running game,” Lurtsema said. “Once I know you don’t have a running game as a defensive lineman, that puts twice as much pressure on the quarterback.”

Cousins could help himself with timely runs but often seems reluctant to do so. Yesterday he didn’t have a single rushing attempt or yard. With the Patriots showing the Vikings different looks during the game, a timely scramble or running in a straight line for a first down would have helped.

The 30-year-old was sacked a career high 41 times last season playing for the Redskins. Opponents have put him on the ground 30 times this season with four more games to play.

“He’s got the arm. He’s smart. He’s just a great, great kid,” Lurtsema said. “…As far as the few negative things he does have, you can overcome them very easily once you establish the running game.”

Lurtsema and many others will be rooting for Cousins as the Vikings close out the schedule with a chance of winning the NFC North Division title, or at least gaining entry into the playoffs as a wild card team. Cousins has already established himself here as a personable and high character individual.

Worth Noting

Lurtsema, who played in the 1970s, talking about the trend toward guaranteed contracts in the NFL: “Once they get job security in the National Football League, a lot of them lose that competitiveness.”

That is University of Minnesota regent Michael Hsu who wrote an article posted on Deadspin.com last Friday headlined “Here’s A Fair Way To Pay College Athletes For Their Labor.”

He writes that the NCAA “…should allow the total compensation received by athletes at any school within a conference to be equal to the highest-value full ride within the same conference. Better still, the NCAA could permit total allowable compensation for every athlete in the nation to equal that of whichever school is the most expensive in a given year. (Northwestern’s full ride was the most expensive among all Division I schools in 2017-2018.)”

By full ride (Northwestern was $70,385) Hsu is referring to the fact schools are already “…permitted to pay athletes with grant-in-aid scholarships, which are good for tuition and fees, room, board, and books, as well as small cost-of-attendance stipends.” He suggests the easiest way to distribute the increased compensation to athletes would be via cash payments, increasing the amounts of the cost of living stipends they already receive.

Cyndi Bickerstaff, vice president of event operations for the 2019 Minneapolis Final Four® Local Organizing Committee, is the sister of former Gophers basketball player J.B. Bickerstaff who is now head coach of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.

Andrew Wiggins, the Timberwolves second highest compensated player with a reported $147.7 million deal, is averaging five-year career lows in minutes, points per game and field goal percentage. By position a small forward or shooting guard, his limitations are often glaring including needing the ball to be a team contributor.

The Twin Cities Dunkers have gifted over $593,000 in the last eight years to the athletic departments of Minneapolis and St. Paul high schools.

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