Vikings – Page 183 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikes Rudolph Knows NFL Demands

Posted on July 24, 2015July 24, 2015 by David Shama

Playing professional football looks glamorous to the naïve but the start of Vikings training camp this weekend reminds close observers about the physical demands of the NFL.

The Vikings and Steelers will be the first to open training camps this summer because the two teams play on August 9 in the NFL Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. That means both teams will play five preseason games in 2015, not four like other NFL clubs. While players play limited minutes during exhibition season, a fifth game does add to the risk of injuries.

The additional preseason game could help the Vikings better prepare for the 16-game regular season, a football marathon lasting until early January. Then 12 of the NFL’s 32 teams (the Vikings, of course, hope they’re included) are in the playoffs. The two franchises making it to the Super Bowl put their players through a survivor experience that can total up to 25 games including exhibitions.

Kyle Rudolph (Photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings)

Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph has missed 16 games during the last four seasons. In 2014 he played in nine regular season games. He dedicated the offseason to being on the field in 2015, not the sidelines, and expressed optimism about his health this week.

“Everything is good,” Rudolph told Sports Headliners. “Training camp is an opportunity for me to just get better and stronger to prepare myself for September when we get started.”

With Rudolph’s injury history he’s certainly qualified to voice an opinion about ongoing speculation the NFL will add more games in the near future. That speculation includes expanding the regular season schedule to 18 games.

“Sixteen games is a lot of games,” he said. “To play much more than that…I think right now we’ve got it right. And I don’t see a reason that we would need to change that, to add more games.

“Even when you go through a 16-game season completely healthy, it’s a long year. To add many more games than we already got, I think it would just be difficult with the limited numbers of players that we have available.”

The NFL could increase revenues by dropping two preseason games for each team and adding two regular season games. The league could also more quickly grow revenues by adding teams to the playoffs. The NFL is a cash cow, reportedly generating a minimum of $7 billion per year and perhaps over $10 billion. There are projections of doubling or tripling revenues in the not too distant future. That would not only enrich owners but also provide bigger paychecks for the players as part of the league’s revenue sharing agreement.

Vikings safety Harrison Smith said “it wouldn’t surprise” him if more games are coming soon. If so, he suggested NFL rosters be increased to add depth and help with the challenge of getting through more games. He acknowledged the 16-game schedule and playoffs are physically demanding. “It takes a toll on you,” he said.

The NFL is facing issues regarding the health of current and former players. Their mental and physical health has become an ongoing national story, and a threat to the league’s image. Increasing the number of games “would go in the opposite direction” of health concerns, Smith said.

The league has taken steps to increase player safety and financially assist former players with health problems. The NFL, if it does expand the schedule, will present the change in positive terms for not only fans but also for players who likely would see a reduced number of preseason games, larger rosters and bigger salaries.

“…At the end of the day it’s a business and they’re going to make as much revenue as possible,” Smith said. “That’s not a bad thing. It’s just you kinda gotta weigh your options out.”

Worth Noting

The Vikings report to training camp in Mankato tomorrow and will be there through August 13. The team practices for the first time on Sunday. All regular practices are free and open to the public. The Vikings will have night practices beginning at 7:30 p.m. on August 1 and 4 in Blakeslee Stadium.

More than 64,000 fans passed through the Vikings Village last year. The Village offers refreshments, memorabilia and fan activities as part of the training camp experience. More fan camp information at Vikings.com.

Gophers practices at the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex are open to the public on August 10, 11 and 14 starting at 10:25 a.m. The team’s scrimmage at TCF Bank Stadium beginning at 10:10 a.m. on August 15 is also open to the public.

Frank Ragnow, the offensive lineman from Chanhassen High School who made the Coaches All-SEC team as a freshman last season playing for Arkansas, could be one of the Razorbacks breakout players in 2015 under former Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema. Ragnow was in on more than 200 snaps last season and only had one penalty.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said his team interviewed five prospects prior to taking forward-center Karl-Anthony Towns with the NBA’s No. 1 overall draft pick last month. The other four were guards Emmanuel Mudiay and D’Angelo Russell, center Jahlil Okafor, and forward Kristaps Porzingis.

Taylor, the Mankato-based billionaire and owner of different companies including the Star Tribune, isn’t planning a summer vacation. In addition to business responsibilities, Taylor and wife Becky spend time most weeks with grandchildren—a group that totals 26.

The Minnesota United is averaging 9,200 fans per game and ranks third in attendance in the 11-team North American Soccer League. The United’s average is about 3,000 better than last season and a big increase over 2013 when the team was drawing 4,500 fans per game.

United president Nick Rogers told Sports Headliners the franchise’s marketing and anticipation of a possible Major League Soccer team in future years have contributed to more interest. Rogers said there was a “spike” in interest in March when news broke about a potential MLS expansion team in Minnesota. Within a week 1,000 season tickets were sold.

The United has 4,000 season ticket holders and those customers will have priority on buying season seats if Minnesota is granted an MLS team. The team’s 9,200 per game average attendance includes tickets sold and promotionally distributed. The average ticket price is $15 to $16.

It’s believed that despite the increase in attendance, the United—as has been true in the past—will not be profitable this season. The United’s majority owner is Dr. Bill McGuire who is leading the effort to acquire an MLS team and build a soccer stadium in either Minneapolis or St. Paul.

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No Contract Talk for Harrison Smith

Posted on July 22, 2015July 22, 2015 by David Shama

Harrison Smith could become a near consensus All-Pro safety in 2015 but the Vikings, who open training camp in a few days, haven’t locked him up long term. He played a major role in improving the Vikings defense from 31st in 2013 to seventh last season.

Smith told Sports Headliners on Monday there is no “timeline” for getting a deal completed. He was a No. 1 draft choice in 2012 and had an impressive season in 2014 including being named to the PFWA All-Pro team. This offseason the Vikings exercised an option on his expiring contract in 2015—meaning that he is bound to the team for 2016.

But a long-term agreement seems only a question of when, not if. Smith, though, isn’t spending time dreaming about a rich payoff. NFL contracts don’t guarantee all the money for the deal’s duration and he, of course, knows it.

Harrison Smith (Photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings)

“You see all these guys sign these big contracts—which is awesome—but it’s still a year-to-year contract when you really break it down,” Smith said. “You see guys sign five-year deals and then get cut after the first year or the second year. You gotta play your best every year, so that’s all I am worried about is just playing my best this year.”

Smith reportedly is finishing up a $7.14 million contract he signed as a rookie. He said the Vikings will pay him more in 2016 than 2015 but he didn’t specify the amount. He could make a persuasive argument for a big money deal with an All-Pro and Pro Bowl year in 2015, and if the Vikings become an elite team.

But Smith said he isn’t into formulating strategy right now. “I don’t worry about leverage,” he explained. “All that stuff doesn’t matter (now). Just go play football and play well. That’s all that matters.”

Smith played in all 16 regular season games last season, setting career highs in interceptions with five and sacks with three. He had 71 tackles, only three fewer than 2012 when he was an All-Rookie selection. The 26-year-old former Notre Dame player is regarded highly within the Vikings organization as both a player and person.

Worth Noting

Gophers coach Jerry Kill expects junior defensive end Hank Ekpe, who started one game last year, to have a “breakout season.” Kill made that prediction on WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle Sunday and said the 6-5, 244-pound Texas native has the speed to run with the team’s secondary players.

Kill also said junior quarterback Mitch Leidner returned this summer from the famous Manning Passing Academy with more confidence. Kill noted that several years ago then Gophers quarterback Adam Weber benefitted from his camp experience.

Despite the team’s popularity and the small seating capacity of TCF Bank Stadium (52,525), the Vikings are still promoting season tickets. The Vikings used a Valpak advertising insert pitching “great lower level seats are available.”

Darrell Thompson caught a pass from Brett Favre in the flag football celebrities game on Sunday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. The Packers Legends team defeated the NFL Legends group that included former Vikings quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Sage Rosenfels. Thompson, the Gophers all-time leading career rusher, was a teammate of Favre’s for three years with the Packers. Last weekend Favre returned to Wisconsin where he was honored by the Packers organization and the team’s fans.

Condolences to family and friends of Paul Faust who died recently. The former Edina High School football player was captain of the 1965 Gophers.

Glen Perkins saw his 28 consecutive saves streak end against the A’s last weekend. The A’s didn’t exactly rock the Twins All-Star closer with an infield hit and bloop single to the outfield. Perkins made a wild pitch that put a runner in scoring position and instead of protecting a 2-1 Twins lead in the ninth inning, the A’s were able to tie the score and force extra innings where they won the game. Perkins told Sports Headliners earlier this month that the pressure of the saves streak didn’t bother him.

“I go into it (relief pitching) knowing that I am going to fail because you can’t expect to be perfect,” he said. “The hitters on the other teams are too good, and at some point you’re going to fail. And you just have to be able to move on from that. …”

Saints owner Mike Veeck will speak at the next CORES luncheon on September 10 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington, 1114 American Blvd. Former Gophers basketball coach Jim Dutcher will talk to the group November 12. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans. More information about CORES is available by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.

NHL players Derek Stepan and Jordan Schroeder will host the fifth annual Charity Face-Off Golf Classic on August 3 at Indian Hills Golf Club in Stillwater. The scramble event is a fundraiser for the Friends of Saint Paul Hockey nonprofit that helps youth in the city participate in hockey. More information on playing and sponsorship opportunities is available by contacting Robert Smith, rsmith.forslind@comcast.net.

“Jumpin Jim Brunzell” recalled in his self-published book that 30 years ago the Minneapolis-based American Wrestling Association was deteriorating financially. Before deciding to join the upcoming World Wrestling Federation, he asked for a $95,000 annual guaranteed contract from the AWA where he had become one of the organization’s stars. Brunzell writes in his new book Matlands that AWA owner Verne Gagne turned down the request. “Verne said I wasn’t worth that much money and told me to go,” the former University of Minnesota and White Bear Lake High School athlete wrote. “I was heartbroken to leave Minnesota, but I had to for the future of my family.”

Brunzell wrestled professionally from 1972-1999. For the last 16 years he has worked for Dalco Enterprises, a Minneapolis-based janitorial supply company. More on his book at: www.blurb.com/b/6298514-matlands.

WCCO sportscaster Mark Rosen is Grand Marshall for tonight’s Minneapolis Aquatennial CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade. The downtown event is the largest nighttime parade in the state.

The Twin Cities Dunkers have now contributed over $250,000 in four years to assist Minneapolis and St. Paul public high schools with their athletic programs. Funding for uniforms, equipment and fees has impacted thousands of athletes, and every sport offered by the schools.

Volunteers working at the 2016 Ryder Cup are asked to work four-hour shifts and asked to pay a $205.85 volunteer/uniform fee. The Cup will be played next September and October at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska.

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Raves Roll in for Gophers Offensive Line

Posted on June 24, 2015June 24, 2015 by David Shama

When BTN.com writer Tom Dienhart ranked the Gophers offensive line the best in the Big Ten Conference’s West Division for the coming season it didn’t surprise Zac Epping. “Not at all,” Epping told Sports Headliners. “The group that they have there right now is an awesome group.”

“The Golden Gophers have a deep and talented collection of blockers that is better than even Wisconsin, which has been the measuring stick for offensive lines in the Big Ten for years,” Dienhart wrote earlier this month.

Epping and Tommy Olson are the two offensive line starters from last year’s group the Gophers must replace in 2015 but this looks like the best line coach Jerry Kill and staff have produced in almost five years in Minneapolis. Dienhart wrote that Minnesota has eight linemen who have a combined 88 starts.

Dienhart ranked Michigan State the No. 1 offensive line in the East Division but Epping believes Minnesota will have the best unit in the Big Ten next fall. “I think so,” Epping said. “There’s a lot of potential in that group. Coach (Eric) Klein does a great job in the offseason getting all the o-linemen healthy, stronger and ready for the season. If they stay healthy then that’s going to be a great group and the running backs are going to have a good year running behind them.”

Epping said the quality of Minnesota’s offensive lines has been evolving, and he not only mentioned Klein, the team’s strength and conditioning coach, but also offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Matt Limegrover. “Coach Limegrover has done a great job of getting the o-line ready for the game days and all that,” Epping said. “He’s definitely helped us improve that group.”

The Gophers ranked No. 28 nationally in rushing last season. Among Big Ten teams they were sixth with 2,801 rushing yards, the program’s best total since 3,277 yards in 2005.

Guard Josh Campion, 24, is receiving preseason publicity as a potential All Big Ten offensive lineman. A 6-5, 310-pound senior from Little Falls, he made All-Big Ten Honorable mention last season on teams selected by the media and coaches. He started 13 consecutive games at left tackle but is expected to play guard this year. Epping said Campion’s “great work ethic” and age have contributed to the native Minnesotan’s success and improvement each year.

Former Gophers wide receiver Isaac Fruechte, who is trying out for the Vikings, has lived with Campion. “Sometimes he’s kind of hard to read,” Fruechte told Sports Headliners. “He likes to sleep so we try not to bother him too much. He’s a little bit older than all of us but when he gets out there and wants to play he’ll get after it.”

Fruechte, too, is optimistic about the Gophers 2015 offensive line. “That’s a unit that they should be very confident with over there (on campus) because it’s got a lot of veteran guys, a lot of kids with some experience that really know how to play, and play against big time teams.”

Worth Noting

Collegefootballnews.com recently listed “the 15 best redshirt freshmen going into the season” and the Gophers Jeff Jones was ranked No. 5 in the country. “Academics shelved Jones last year, but he got (out) of the gate quickly this offseason, impressing the staff with his ability as a playmaker and his dedication to the game,” Collegefootballnews.com wrote. The website predicted Jones is most likely to see playing time at slot receiver, not running back.

A source said 6-foot-5-plus wide receiver Sean Engel, who will be a senior at Chaska High School this fall, has added 30 pounds, now weighs 203, is running a sub 4.5 40-yard dash and is receiving increased interest from the Gophers after excelling this month at a football camp on the Minnesota campus. Engel, the brother of former Gophers wide receiver Derrick Engel, has offers from several colleges including North Dakota State and Northern Iowa.

Former Gophers and Vikings defensive back Tyrone Carter held another of his football camps in Minnesota last weekend. He will also assist friend and former Viking Randy Moss at a camp in North Carolina.

Harrison Smith (Photo courtesy of Vikings)

Safety Harrison Smith, who will be in his fourth season with the Vikings this fall, wants to be named All-Pro for 2015. “Yeah, that’s my goal every year. Whether I make it or not, I don’t know. But there’s no reason not to shoot for the highest (goal).”

Although the Vikings have several weeks off until training camp starts in Mankato, players like Smith know they have to continue work outs and conditioning. Back home in Tennessee, Smith will run, lift weights and punch a boxing bag several days of the week.

“As long as you’re in good shape and you’re not going to pull anything in training camp (like a hamstring or groin muscle), that’s the goal,” said Smith who has been told on game days NFL players run close to nine miles including pre-game activity.

While at home, Smith also plans to play golf, a sport he acknowledges he could improve at. “In the 90s is my best day if I am playing by the rules. I just like to play in the scrambles because I don’t feel so bad about myself.”

The early guess is the MIAC football race for the title will involve Bethel, Saint John’s and St. Thomas.

The June 22 issue of Sports Illustrated predicts the Timberwolves will use the No. 1 overall selection in tomorrow night’s NBA Draft to choose ex-Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns. Four of S.I.’s top 14 projected picks are former Wildcats.

S.I. has guards and Minnesota natives Tyus Jones and Rashad Vaughn being No. 21 and 25 choices of the Mavericks and Grizzlies. The magazine said Jones isn’t “big or athletic” but the Mavericks would welcome his “high IQ as a playmaker.” S.I. described Vaughn as a “multifaceted scorer.”

Former Gophers and Twins pitcher Cole DeVries is out of professional baseball and working for Edina Realty.

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