Vikings – Page 185 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

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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UM Fed Inquiry Won’t Involve NCAA

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

Regardless of the results concerning a federal gender discrimination investigation of the University of Minnesota, the Gophers Athletic Department will not face penalties from the NCAA, according to Sports Headliners sources.

After the men’s basketball scandal of the late 1990s and the stern penalties administered by the NCAA, Gophers supporters have feared another problem with the national governing authority for college sports. Forfeited games, dismissal of coaches, financial penalties and even banishment of a sport can result from NCAA rules violations. Repeat offenders have the potential to be judged particularly harshly.

A gender discrimination investigation at the U began months ago after an anonymous complaint was made to the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, according to news sources. It’s believed that at the core of the complaint and investigation is the future location of the Gophers track for track and field athletes. The present track site will be replaced by a new football facility, part of a $150 million upgrade of facilities that will benefit all sports at the University.

Women’s track and field accounts for a large portion of the female athletes at the University. While there has been considerable discussion for a long time about relocating the track facility to the St. Paul area, Sports Headliners is told sites on the Minneapolis campus are being scrutinized. It’s likely a majority of those involved with track and field at Minnesota prefer the convenience of a track on the main campus, rather than practicing and competing somewhere in St. Paul such as the “farm campus” or Hamline.

The federal investigation could have various conclusions regarding whether the University isn’t in compliance with Title IX, the 43-year-old law banning gender discrimination at federally funded schools. Theoretically, the University could be told to spend more money and create additional opportunities for women, or pay a financial penalty, or have federal funds withdrawn.

But even with the most severe outcome from the Feds, the Athletic Department will not face action from the NCAA. There will be no crossover, according to sources with knowledge of the Gophers’ situation.

The U Athletic Department has a history of supporting equal opportunity. For a number of years there were even separate men’s and women’s departments. When Joel Maturi took over as the head of a combined department in 2002, he made Title IX compliance and support for women’s athletics a high priority.

The truth, too, is there are so many subtleties involving Title IX that probably a vast majority of major college athletic departments could be found—at least minimally or on some technicality—out of compliance. But that doesn’t mean such schools, even when judged by critics, aren’t providing equitable opportunities and treatment to both women and men.

It’s believed the Gophers $150 million project was delayed from a June or July groundbreaking until September because of the federal investigation and track location. But the Athletic Department also will be surer of its construction costs by then, and that may have been a factor, too.

Worth Noting

It won’t be surprising if the Wild don’t re-sign goalie Devan Dubnyk who might accept a deal with another team for $4 to $5 million per year. Sources tell Sports Headliners the Wild’s max is more in the $2.5 to $3 million range.

U.S. Bank will make its first payment to the Vikings next year for the 20-year naming rights for the new downtown stadium opening in 2016. It’s been speculated the total cost of the agreement is $220 million for 20 years.

Mike Wallace, the wide receiver acquired by the Vikings in the offseason, was headed to Jamaica for a few days late last week after the team ended its run of mini-camps. Wallace and the Vikings have several weeks off before opening training camp in late July in Mankato but that doesn’t mean conditioning stops. “I know I am gonna be running a lot when I am at home (Houston),” Wallace said. “I can’t come in looking sloppy. I gotta be ready.”

Babatunde Aiyegbusi, the free agent from Poland who the Vikings signed as an offensive tackle earlier this year, is receiving an introduction to not only football but American culture including food. “I’ve got a lot of food I shouldn’t eat,” the 6-9, 351-pound Aiyegbusi said in his Polish accent. “From the worst I shouldn’t eat is cornbread. That made my day in the restaurant.”

Aiyegbusi, 27, has experienced different cultures having lived in England, Germany and Poland. He has visited many more European countries.

A number of other Vikings will try to make the roster as free agents when the club is in training camp including former Gophers wide receiver Isaac Fruechte. He plans to work out in coming weeks with other pro players including Bills tight end MarQueis Gray and Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen.

A player who might surprise among free agents is linebacker Brian Peters who is with the Vikings after playing in the Canadian Football League for the Roughriders the last two seasons. In 2014 he led the team in tackles with 78 and also had three sacks.

Former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman was reportedly in town recently, and he dates a woman from Maple Grove who now lives in the Dallas area. Aikman is friends with Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner who was his presenter at Hall of Fame ceremonies in 2006.

Turner is a horse racing fan and was recently at Canterbury Park with Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer.

How much are major corporations willing to pay for NBA Finals courtside seats? The answer is a lot when prime seats are needed to entertain prime customers. A source told Sports Headliners mid-court tickets on the floor were priced at $12,500.00 each face value but sold on the secondary market for $25,000.00 per ticket for last Tuesday’s championship game in Cleveland between the Cavs and Warriors.

The Twins announced consecutive sellouts on Saturday and Sunday with the Cubs playing at Target Field. The Friday, Saturday and Sunday attendance total of 117,156 was the largest for a three-game series this season at Target Field, and the most since the Twins drew 118,227 against Detroit June 26-28, 2011.

Twins rookie center fielder Byron Buxton stole his first major league base yesterday in an 8-0 loss to the Cubs. Buxton had one hit and is batting .120 with the Twins, three hits in 25 at bats.

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