Vikings – Page 192 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Peterson Owes Vikings Fans in 2015

Posted on December 22, 2014December 22, 2014 by David Shama

Vikings and Gophers notes:

Sources believe Vikings decision makers want Adrian Peterson to play for their team next season. Assuming that’s accurate, where will Peterson want to play?

Peterson should decide he is not interested in playing for another NFL team, and offer a “make-good” to the Vikings franchise, his teammates and fans. His lost season in 2014 was of his making. He made a terrible mistake in mistreating one of his sons and he has paid for his actions in the legal system, court of public opinion and via suspension by the NFL.

The Vikings, unable to duplicate Peterson’s running production in 2014, would upgrade their offense next year with the All-Pro’s return. Peterson’s large salary, though, is something the Vikings will want to address because of his advanced age for a running back, 30 years old. He reportedly is to be paid $13 million in 2015, although the money is not guaranteed.

In the pass-happy NFL, where the role of the running back has been devalued, no team in the league is likely to pay the aging Peterson anywhere near $13 million. Those facts will be in the Vikings favor (or any other team) at the bargaining table.

After a career where Peterson has earned mega riches in salary and endorsements, he is at a place where money should be a secondary concern. Peterson should take the high road and show his character by accepting a significantly reduced salary for 2015. Such a decision is another way of expressing remorse, and also gratitude to the franchise, players and fans that have supported him over the years.

The Vikings, 6-9, end their season on Sunday at home against the Bears, 5-10. A win by the Bears would leave both teams tied for last in the NFC North final standings.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer was upset after yesterday’s 37-35 loss to the Dolphins in Miami. Greg Coleman asked Zimmer on KFAN’s postgame show what he told the players in the locker room about next Sunday. “I’ll keep that between us,” Zimmer said on the radio.

The Vikings, for the second consecutive game, couldn’t stop an opponent’s comeback. The game winning points came when the Dolphins got two points by blocking a Vikings punt and creating a safety.

“We played so poor on defense today it was embarrassing,” Zimmer said on KFAN. “Allowed them five-for-five in the red zone, nine out of 12 or something on third downs (nine of 13). Offensively, I thought we did some good things, and then to get the punt blocked at the end for the safety is ridiculous.”

Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater impressed again yesterday, completing 19 of 26 passes including two touchdowns. His season completion percentage is 64.2 %. That is nearly an NFL record for a rookie but with one game remaining in the season odds are long that Bridgewater could break Ben Roethlisberger’s 66.4% mark set in 2004.

Vikings offensive tackle Mike Harris and wide receiver Charles Johnson have become friends, with the two sharing a room in hotels before Vikings games. Johnson dyes his hair blonde, and Harris described his roommate as a “fashion kind of a guy.”

“He’s a clean-cut guy—dresses nice,” Harris told Sports Headliners. “He’s a true pro.”

In Si.com’s December 18 college mock draft for 2015, the Vikings choose Washington outside linebacker Shaq Thompson with the No. 11 pick. Maybe the Vikings, with problems at offensive tackle, are better off selecting Texas A&M’s Cedric Ogbuehi—predicted to be drafted at No. 12 by the Rams.

Gophers football players Mitch Leidner, Tommy Olson and Maxx Williams will do the “Let’s Play Hockey” shout-out tomorrow night to start the Wild-Flyers game at Xcel Energy Center. Williams, by the way, wasn’t included in the Si.com mock draft (first round only). The redshirt sophomore tight end is eligible for the 2015 draft and may consider leaving the Gophers this winter.

Former Gophers tight end and accomplished singer Ben Utecht performed at a benefit concert earlier this month for the American Brain Foundation. The concert was held in the Gophers football locker room at TCF Bank Stadium and was by invitation only.

Utecht, 33, has experienced memory loss after a football career that included the NFL. He sang the national anthem on Friday night for the Eastview-Lakeville North boys’ basketball game at Eastview.

Gophers wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky hasn’t played since the Illinois game on October 25 because of a high ankle sprain but coach Jerry Kill said if Minnesota had a game yesterday the California sophomore would have been able to play. That means unless something unforeseen happens, Wolitarsky will play in Minnesota’s January 1 Citrus Bowl game against Missouri.

The Gophers are taking two charter airplanes and close to 300 people to the bowl game. They leave at 11 a.m. on Thursday (Christmas Day) and return after the game on January 1.

The Big Ten Network asked fans of the 14 Big Ten football schools to vote for their four “Mount Rushmore” favorites at each program. Minnesota fans got it right with Bobby Bell, Paul Giel, Bronko Nagurski and Bruce Smith selected as the four greatest Gophers ever.

Is it a challenge for coaches to win regular season Big Ten football games? Well, it is at most schools other than a couple of them like Ohio State who have the best resources including nearby high school talent. OSU coach Urban Meyer is 24-0 in three seasons of Big Ten games while the Gophers Jerry Kill is 13-19 in four seasons with a career best 5-3 in league play this fall. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who reportedly earns $3.825 million, is 68-60 in 16 seasons while Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald is 30-42 in nine seasons. Wisconsin legend Barry Alvarez, who will leave his athletic director’s chair to coach the Badgers at the Outback Bowl, is 65-60-3 in 18 Big Ten seasons.

Ohio State’s quarterback depth and talent is indicative of how much skill the Buckeyes have. Senior quarterback Braxton Miller was a popular candidate to be Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and the Heisman Trophy winner before he was injured in August and lost for the season. Redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett replaced Miller and was recently named third-team Associated Press All-American quarterback. Barrett was injured late in the season and couldn’t play in the Big Ten Championship Game so redshirt sophomore Cardale Jones, the third string quarterback earlier this year, stepped in to lead a 59-0 win over the Badgers.

What will the Buckeyes do with all that talent at quarterback next season? A Big Ten insider told Sports Headliners Miller will be the starter.

The Seattle University basketball team the Gophers defeated last Friday night at Williams Arena has attracted a couple of miniscule crowds at home—554 for a December 1 game against Pacific Lutheran and 267 for the Northwest University game on December 15.

In the Seattle game Gophers senior center Mo Walker continued his efficient offense, scoring 15 points in 15 minutes on the floor. He made all six of his field goal attempts and three of four free throws. In 11 games Walker is averaging 11.5 points in only 19.7 minutes per game.

The Gophers, 9-2, play Furman at home tonight and have scored over 80 points in five consecutive games. As of December 21, the Gophers lead the nation in assists per game, 20.1. They are second in steals, 12.1, and third in turnover margin, 7.0.

Mike Lukashewich, the walk-on guard from Appleton, Wisconsin, who joined the team last week, played four minutes in the Seattle game and made his college debut. His stat line was goose eggs except for a block. The 6-3 freshman likes to play defense and came to Minnesota because of the school’s sports management program. He tried out for the Gophers earlier in the fall, then was called back and finally added to the roster. “I am having a blast so far,” he said.

Gophers coach Richard Pitino said Lukashewich has “long arms” which can contribute to his defensive effectiveness. Lukashewich had considered attending St. Thomas and playing basketball there.

Gaston Diedhiou, the 6-9 freshman scholarship forward from Senegal, suited up for the first time on Friday night but didn’t play. Diedhiou became eligible recently after improving his English proficiency. Pitino noted that Diedhiou’s English is now superior to Bakary Konate, the Gophers 6-11 freshman center from Mali, who has been eligible and playing this fall.

Charles Buggs, the 6-9 redshirt sophomore counted on to play reserve minutes as a small forward, said the left knee he had surgery on last summer is still bothersome and he expects the discomfort to continue all season. The knee impacts mobility to his left. Buggs, who was a power forward, is learning the plays for the small forward position. His reverse dunk against Seattle will be among the most spectacular at Williams Arena this season and was included in the top plays on ESPN SportsCenter Friday night.

Gophers baseball coach John Anderson is working on dates for games in 2017 to be played in the new Vikings stadium. The Gophers are interested in a first game that year against a marquee college baseball program.

The foul pole distances for the baseball field configuration are expected to be 305 feet in right field and 330 in left. The distance to the right field power alley will only be 340 feet with a 30-foot high wall.

The Metrodome was used for over 400 amateur baseball games in a single year but that number will be reduced dramatically in the new enclosed Vikings stadium because the facility is expected to aggressively seek high revenue events.

WWE Raw is at Target Center tonight with Hulk Hogan, 61, performing in Minneapolis for the first time in over a decade.

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WR Johnson Finds a Home with Vikings

Posted on December 19, 2014December 19, 2014 by David Shama

Charles Johnson has travelled a varied route to Minneapolis, but he sure looks at home with the Vikings. The 25-year-old wide receiver was signed off the Browns’ practice squad on September 20 and despite not playing a snap for the Vikings until October 2 he has become one of the team’s most productive offensive players.

Johnson totaled 103 and 72 yards in receptions the last two Sundays. His 415 yards for the season ranks third on the team and his 16 yards per catch is best on the Vikings. He has become a big play receiver, taking over as a starter and pushing high potential-inconsistent Cordarrelle Patterson to the bench. Last Sunday his 72 yards on five catches against the Lions were better than Detroit’s All-World wide receiver Calvin Johnson who totaled four receptions and 53 yards.

“I’ve known I can do this my whole time,” Johnson told Sports Headliners. “It’s just that you’ve got to have opportunity. You wouldn’t know (Hall of Famer) Jerry Rice was the best receiver in the league until he got out there and played that day.”

Nobody is saying Johnson will have a career like Rice—perhaps the greatest wide receiver of all-time—but it’s interesting that the two played collegiately at small schools. While the 49ers chose Rice in the first round out of Mississippi Valley State, the Packers drafted Johnson on the seventh round in 2013 from Division II Grand Valley State in Michigan.

Johnson, who also attended two other colleges before Grand Valley, believes he was worthy of being selected higher. The 6-2, 220-pound native of Kentucky mentioned his 31 touchdowns in Division II, 40-inch vertical jump and 4.3 time in the 40-yard dash. “I know I am a D-II guy; they’re not going to give too much credit for that,” he said.

Johnson, though, isn’t focused week to week on statistics. He didn’t have much to say about his numbers being better than Johnson’s last Sunday. “Stats don’t really mean too much to me. I just like to win.”

The Packers—among the savviest of organizations in judging personnel—knew what they were doing in drafting Johnson. Problem was Johnson injured a knee and it slowed down his progress last year. That led to being placed on the Packers practice squad and then the Browns signed him. In Cleveland he was told of an ACL tear and didn’t play in any games during 2013. Norv Turner, the Vikings offensive coordinator, had the same role with the Browns last year so he became familiar with Johnson and thought he could help the Vikings.

Teammates like offensive tackle Mike Harris are happy to have Johnson on their side. He and Johnson room together in hotels on Saturday nights before Sunday games. Harris described Johnson’s journey to the Vikings as an “underdog story.”

“The guy is a beast,” Harris said. “He’s a playmaker.”

Whatever success Johnson has achieved so far doesn’t surprise him. “If you’re willing to work hard you can do anything you want. Like I always say, ‘When hard work meets opportunity, you create your own success.’ ”

Worth Noting

Turner, who likes the ability of Johnson to get separation from defenders and thinks he has “very good upside,” also talked yesterday about how despite all the changes on the team’s offense including Adrian Peterson’s suspension and injuries to linemen, rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has demonstrated considerable promise. “We’ve kind of had an interesting group and the people we’ve played on offense have been wide ranging and to do the things he’s done (Bridgewater), it just tells you something about the type of person he is. …

“The thing that excites me is he can make any throw you need to make. He does it with people around him. He does it with people hitting him. He does it when he has to slide in the pocket. He knows how to play football and that’s the starting point of the quarterback position. He’s got the intangibles you need and he’s going to continue to get better and better.”

If the Vikings defeat the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday and win their last game at home on December 28 against the Bears, Mike Zimmer will finish the season 8-8. The franchise has never had a first-year coach with a .500 record. Jerry Burns and Dennis Green had winning first seasons while Norm Van Brocklin, Bud Grant, Brad Childress, Leslie Frazier, Les Steckel and Mike Tice all had losing records.

Before the season Bob Lurtsema predicted his ex-team would finish at 8-8, as reported previously in Sports Headliners.

The Twins announced today 18 players on minor league contracts have been invited to major league spring training camp. The players are right-handed pitchers Jose Berrios, Tyler Duffey, Mark Hamburger and Adrian Salcedo; left-handers Ryan O’Rourke and Taylor Rogers; catchers Mitch Garver, Tyler Grimes, Dan Rohfling and Stuart Turner; infielders James Beresford, Doug Bernier, Argenis Diaz and Heiker Meneses; outfielders Byron Buxton, Eric Farris, Danny Ortiz and Shane Robinson.

The Gophers’ offense had little success against TCU’s fast defense when the Horned Frogs defeated Minnesota 30-7 last September. The Gophers will face a similarly fast defense against Missouri in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on January 1 in Orlando. The Tigers tied Alabama with seven selections each on the coaches All-SEC first and second offensive, defensive and special teams. Among those honored were defensive linemen Shane Ray, a first team choice; and second team selection Markus Golden.

Sun Country Airlines sent e-mails to potential customers earlier this week notifying them the Minnesota-based airline has added flights to Orlando from Minneapolis that depart December 31 and January 1, and return January 1, 3 and 4.

It appears the Gophers Athletic Department will sell all of its 9,000 tickets allotment for the Citrus Bowl. Figuring in other ticket sources, the Gophers might have between 12,000 and 15,000 fans cheering for them at the game. That would be the largest bowl game number for the Gophers since they played in the Rose Bowl more than 50 years ago.

Among the speculated reasons Gary Andersen left Wisconsin for the Oregon State job is the Badgers don’t competitively pay assistant coaches. The Badgers rank ninth in total salaries for assistants at $2,368,600 among 12 (of 14) Big Ten schools that disclosed information, according to data released by USA Today on December 10. The Gophers rank fifth in the Big Ten at $2,757,000 and just ahead of Nebraska.

The top paid assistant coach in college football is believed to be newly hired Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp at $1.6 million. According to USA Today, MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi is the highest paid assistant in the Big Ten at $905,033. Gophers defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys ranked No. 33 in USA Today‘s listings at $600,000 while offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover ranked No. 47 at $550,000. Former Gophers head coach Tim Brewster, now tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida State, makes $340,000 and is ranked No 159.

Last minute Christmas shoppers looking for an entertaining and inspiring true story about dog ownership and spiritual faith will want to consider David Wheaton’s new book, “My Boy, Ben.” The Minnesota native and former professional tennis star writes with passion and provoking thought about his daily journey with Ben, an extraordinary yellow lab. More at Davidwheaton.com.

Twins outfielder Torii Hunter, and ex-Twins Dave Winfield and LaTroy Hawkins, are among the scheduled baseball celebrities to be in Las Vegas in January for a poker tournament and golf tournament to benefit the Players Trust, a charitable foundation.

When the Star Tribune relocates its offices to the Capella Tower complex, the company may have an exterior news ticker similar to that in Times Square in New York.

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Zimmer ‘Glad’ Teddy Playing as Rookie

Posted on December 15, 2014December 15, 2014 by David Shama

Mike Zimmer is now comfortable with the decision to make Teddy Bridgewater his starting quarterback. The Vikings coach has seen rookie quarterbacks “get the heck beat out of them” and the resulting damage to their careers.

When Zimmer lost veteran Matt Cassel to a season ending injury in September, he was concerned about exposing Bridgewater, his first year QB, to the learning curve and pressures of the NFL. “I know this guy’s got a chance to be the guy for a long, long time here, and what I was nervous about at the beginning of the year is I didn’t want to get him beat up,” Zimmer said. “I didn’t want to get him a bunch of bad outings where he didn’t have that confidence and that attitude (to be successful). …”

The Vikings have tried to create an environment where Bridgewater, despite his inexperience, can avoid trauma and progress positively. “I think in the long run his playing and going through all of these experiences, and getting a chance to play against Green Bay and Chicago and Detroit, will be a big factor for us in the future because he’s been through these things now,” Zimmer said. “It’s not new.”

Zimmer has seen Bridgewater learn from being on the field and is “glad” the 2014 first round draft choice is playing so soon. Bridgewater has quarterbacked the team to five wins and six losses. Yesterday he had interceptions on consecutive possessions in the first half and that changed the momentum of a Vikings lead but overall he made plays with his arm and legs. He completed 31 of 41 passes for 315 yards and one touchdown. He ran three times for 30 yards. Two of his last three games his passing rating has impressively been over 115.

Bridgewater has helped lead the Vikings, 6-8 overall, to comeback wins in previous weeks but couldn’t yesterday. The game ended with a 16-14 loss to the Lions when Vikings kicker Blair Walsh missed what would have been an NFL record field goal of 68 yards. Walsh said this afternoon he “lobbied” for the opportunity to try the kick.

Although it’s not reasonable to expect a record game winner, the last two weeks—by Walsh’s admission—have been “tough.” He missed a potential 56 yard game winner in regulation a week ago Sunday against the Jets before the Vikings scored a touchdown to win in overtime. He was one for three on field goals in that game and yesterday didn’t connect in three tries including a 26-yard attempt that was blocked.

“I don’t feel like I am hitting the ball poorly but the results say otherwise right now,” he said. “So it’s something I gotta get shored up and fixed.”

Trailing 16-14, the Vikings didn’t make enough productive offensive plays on their final drive—and really all game—to defeat the Lions, now 10-4 and tied with the Packers for first place in NFC North. But Zimmer did praise his rebuilt offensive line that is without three starters. “I thought they battled their rear ends off,” Zimmer said. “I think they competed. I thought they fought like crazy to give us the opportunity to get the ball in the right place.”

One replacement is Mike Harris who has taken over at right tackle for Phil Loadholt. Harris said the coaches gave his work yesterday the best evaluation he’s received this season. He thought his run blocking and physical play was evident against the Lions.

“My pass blocking was okay,” Harris said. “It‘s something I continue to work on with timing, with my punch.”

Worth Noting

When the Vikings prepare this week for the Dolphins, Minnesota defensive coordinator George Edwards will have knowledge of Miami’s personnel since he was that team’s linebackers coach last season.

Rookies Anthony Barr, Teddy Bridgewater and Jerick McKinnon have received more attention but the Vikings have other first-year players they like, too, including seventh round pick Shamar Stephen. A defensive tackle at 6-5, 310, Stephen was in on 10 tackles in the game against Carolina last month and he has become a starter replacing the injured Shariff Floyd.

Jerry Kill gave an answer that couldn’t resonate better with Gophers football fans when asked by L. Jon Wertheim in the December 1 issue of Sports Illustrated about the program’s long-term goal. “Our long-term goal is to continue to get better. Our mission is to win the Big Ten championship. It’s not easy to do, but that’s what our mission is.

“The next stage is, we haven’t been to the Rose Bowl—I get reminded every day—since (1962). So everybody wants to get that accomplished. The ultimate thing is to win it all. But we’ve got to take steps. We have to improve our operating facilities because in recruiting that’s what kids look at. …”

The Big Ten Conference has 10 teams in bowl games, a total that ties the league’s previous high set in 2011. A difference, though, is three years ago the conference had 12 teams and now has 14.

After bowl matchups were announced, odds-makers had all of the Big Ten teams as underdogs in the 10 games. Dating back to 2000, the conference is 38-62 in bowl games.

Bobby Bell ranks among the greatest Gophers football players ever. He was a two-time All-American tackle and 1962 Outland Trophy award winner. Yesterday he posted the following news on Facebook: “I went back the past seven months to the University of Minnesota after 52 years in order to complete my college degree. It feels so good to be a college graduate. …”

Dave Stead, executive director of the Minnesota State High School League, said he doesn’t have a final figure but he expects ticket sales revenue from the 2014 Prep Bowl to be down about 50 percent. Attendance and ticket revenues will significantly increase when the Prep Bowl leaves outdoor TCF Bank Stadium for the enclosed Vikings stadium in 2016. Stead said although the Prep Bowl normally is a profitable event, he’s not sure if it will be in 2014.

Timberwolves rookie Andrew Wiggins is on the cover of Mpls.St. Paul Magazine’s best of the year issue. The article on Wiggins, who last June was the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, discusses the 19-year-old’s life as a professional and living in a new community.

While Wiggins has been a regular starter, rookie guard Zach LaVine, also 19, has started just 11 games. But that is 10 more than at UCLA last season, and before the Timberwolves made him a first round choice.

A local pro hockey source said Thomas Vanek’s slow start scoring goals for the Wild can be explained by off-ice distractions including his transition back to Minnesota where he knows so many people. He predicted Vanek could be productive, though, by playoff time when things have settled down and the 30-year-old forward knows his teammates better. Vanek has only three goals in 28 games but does have 14 assists and is fourth on the team with 17 points.

The same source said the Wild have been looking for goalie help and doesn’t believe the team is committed to starter Darcy Kuemper. The franchise decision makers, though, are “solid” in their commitment to fourth season coach Mike Yeo and the players like him.

It wouldn’t be surprising if former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who has been offered a role with Minnesota, ends up working for the Rangers, Astros or Mets. Gardenhire grew up in Oklahoma and the two Texas teams, the Rangers and Astros, provide proximity to home while the Mets were the team Gardenhire played for in the major leagues.

Former Gustavus Adolphus golf coach Whitey Skoog was recently inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame. Skoog, who retired in January of 1995 after 22 seasons, coached the Gusties to 17 MIAC titles and 12 NCAA Division III tournaments including second place finishes in 1990, 1991 and 1992. The former Gophers All-American basketball player also coached basketball at Gustavus after his NBA career with the Minneapolis Lakers.

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