Vikings – Page 228 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Frazier Expects ‘Big Things’ of Simpson

Posted on August 7, 2013August 7, 2013 by David Shama

Jerome Simpson’s first season with the Vikings last year was a disappointment but he could be among the team’s most pleasant surprises in 2013.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier is expecting “big things” from the 27-year-old wide receiver who because of a suspension and injury started only 10 games and played in 12 last season. Built for speed, Simpson averaged 14.5 yards per catch with four touchdown receptions in 2011 playing for the Bengals. With the Vikings he averaged 10.5 yards with no touchdown catches.

With a developing third-year quarterback in Christian Ponder and the need for an effective deep passing game, the Vikings brought in Greg Jennings to be a big play guy but an effective Simpson can create a potent one-two combo. Ponder threw a 50 yard pass to Simpson in last Saturday night’s training camp scrimmage to preview the kind of deep threat potential the Vikings have.

Last week and prior to that scrimmage Frazier was praising Simpson. “…He looks like the Jerome we had a year ago at this time. He was doing some very good things for us last preseason, and he had done some good things in camp, and then we had to fill the time for the suspension. Then he came back, played a game, and then he was injured and never really got on track after that.

“But we are seeing a guy right now that I think can help our football team and really make a difference for us in the passing game. He’s having a very, very good camp. His attitude has been great. It’s been great watching him get in and out of routes in the passing game and we are expecting big things out of him this year. We just need to keep him on the field and keep him healthy.”

Simpson missed three games last season because the NFL suspended him for violating league substance abuse policy. Simpson told Sports Headliners last September he recognized the need to change. “Just getting back to the old Jerome Simpson, and just being myself and not getting out of character,” Simpson said. “Just always staying humble and doing the right thing.”

Wide receivers coach George Stewart said earlier this summer that while Simpson was slowed by a foot injury in 2012 he can be a contributor, and not just catching passes. “He’s a young man, if he’s healthy (he) will help us in the vertical game, but (he) also has been a good leader,” Stewart said after watching Simpson in spring activities.

Starting his sixth pro season in September, Simpson has much to prove to himself and the Vikings. He has only a one year contract so there’s extra incentive to have a productive season, and perhaps become a breakthrough player on an offense that also has plenty to prove.

Worth Noting

It will be no surprise if Texans superstar defensive end J.J. Watt doesn’t play or sees only a few series on the field Friday night when Houston meets the Vikings in the opening preseason game for both teams. Watt, who had 20.5 sacks last season, dislocated his left elbow about a year ago. He acknowledged soreness on Sunday and will wear the same mammoth black brace on the elbow used in 2012.

The Texans plan to announce today their division of quarterback reps for the game. Matt Schaub is the starter. Christian Ponder is expected to play at least a few series for the Vikings as their No. 1 quarterback.

The Texans training camp is in Houston where temperatures this week have been at or near 100 degrees.

The Vikings have 32 new players on their 90-man roster since the end of last season. Along with nine draft choices, the Vikings have nine free agents and 14 undrafted free agents.

Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier and Texans head coach Gary Kubiak were teammates at Rice University.

The Vikings are promoting awareness of the NFL’s new game day policy limiting the size and types of bags allowed in league stadiums. More information for fans is available at NFL.com/allclear.

When the Gophers play UNLV at TCF Bank Stadium on August 29 it will be Minnesota’s first home season opener since 2008. The Gophers are set to open seasons at home on future schedules including 2014-2016.

If defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman is named All-Big Ten after this season he will be the first Gophers player so honored since Eric Decker in 2009. Since 2006 Minnesota has only two other All-Big Ten players, Matt Spaeth in 2006 and Willie VanDeSteeg in 2008.

Quoting Collegefootballnews.com in its Big Ten preview story: “Minnesota could very, very quietly be dangerous. Jerry Kill might not have a whole bunch of flash, but his team should be more than just competitive.”

Two of the best prep seniors in the state will lead their teams in the annual Timberwolves Shootout at Target Center January 4. Guard Tyus Jones and Apple Valley will play Blue Valley Northwest High School from Overland, Kansas. Forward Reid Travis and DeLaSalle will meet St. Rita High School from Chicago. Also, Cretin-Derham Hall will face Bettendorf High School from Bettendorf, Iowa. Grand Rapids, featuring junior center Alex Illikainen, will play against a team yet to be determined.

Jones’ younger brother Tre Jones is a gifted playmaker but is even a better defensive player. Tre, who as an eighth grader might play for the Apple Valley varsity next season, is a great on-ball defender.

The Saints new baseball park in Saint Paul’s Lowertown might command a $750,000 to $1 million per year naming rights fee, according to a sports industry source.

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New Vikings Stadium Linked to US Bank?

Posted on August 5, 2013August 5, 2013 by David Shama

A pro sports industry source told Sports Headliners that US Bank will pay $15 million per year for the naming rights to the new Vikings stadium opening in 2016. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, believes the naming rights deal between the bank and the local NFL team could be seven to 10 years in length and an announcement about US Bank Stadium will come later this year.

However, Vikings executive Lester Bagley said there are no announcement plans about US Bank or any other company, and the naming rights project is a detailed ongoing process.

“There are 16 Fortune 500 companies in the state. We’re confident we will have a great Minnesota company (name) on the building,” Bagley told Sports Headliners.

A $15 million figure would compare favorably with reports of recent stadium naming rights fees at or approaching $20 million per year for the Cowboys and the 49ers. Both teams operate in larger population centers than Minneapolis-St. Paul, an area described by Bagley as a “modest Midwest market.”

The rights fee paid by Target for naming rights to Target Field has been reported in the $5 million range per year. The source estimated the annual rights fees at $2 million for Xcel Energy Center and $1.5 million for Target Field.

The University of Minnesota has a $35 million, 25 year deal for TCF Bank Stadium. That arrangement provides TCF Bank with benefits beyond the name on the Gophers football stadium and includes campus ATMs and other financial services.

A naming rights deal will be a major revenue source for the Vikings who by agreement with the state receive those monies. The source said US Bank is expected to receive a variety of benefits ranging from in-stadium presence to bank promotions, and from social media to community outreach.

Gophers & Other Notes

The Gophers were 3-9 in 2011, 6-7 last season. Coach Jerry Kill recently told Sports Headliners he is optimistic about continued improvement.

“I think we’ll have a better football team than we did a year ago,” Kill said. “I don’t know what that means (in wins and losses). I know we feel that way as a coaching staff.”

Strength and conditioning coach Eric Klein has voiced optimism after watching players become bigger and stronger during the offseason. He told Kill he feels this is the “first time” he has helped position the Gophers “for success.”

Kill has said the program needs more experienced players in the years ahead. The Gophers may only have four or five senior starters, and a dozen or fewer seniors who contribute during the season.

Compare that to what the Gophers encountered in Lincoln last year when on Senior Day Nebraska honored more than two dozen seniors. “That’s when you get good,” Kill said. “You can have a senior class of 20 kids, 25 kids every year, then you’ve got a program. We haven’t had that.”

Before the Gophers started official practices late last week there was the expected preseason optimism among players. “We’re comfortable in coach Kill’s system, and we’re a lot more confident,” said senior safety Brock Vereen.

Vereen, senior linebacker Aaron Hill and some others are under consideration by Kill to become captains. “This year we do expect to have a tremendous turnaround and to have my name as part of a leader of a team that made such a great stride compared to last year, it would mean a lot,” Vereen said.

If the Gophers are to improve over last season, they will need high performance years from at least a few players. Senior defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman is the most high profile player right now, and is being included on preseason watch lists like the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, recognizing the nation’s best defensive player.

How much does Hageman want to be named All-American after this season? “You’re gonna see to my actions. … Just give it my all,” he said.

But for the Gophers to exceed last year’s six win total they will need players to emerge from obscurity too. One of those players could be true freshman running back Berkley Edwards who back home in Michigan was among the nation’s fastest prep sprinters.

Quarterback Philip Nelson watched Edwards this summer in Minneapolis. “From day one we all knew that he was a speed demon. … I think he has the capability of really being able to really get through the defense and make some good plays for us.”

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier evaluating the team’s two-minute offense last season: “There were some missed opportunities, we could have did a little bit better in. We are trying to correct that. …There were times we did a real good job in our two-minute situations that we had, but we think we can be more productive.”

Concordia-St. Paul junior Tom Obarski is on the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List for the second-straight year. The award recognizes place-kickers for excellence on the field and in the community. Obarski, who has made field goals of over 50 yards including a 59 yarder, is one of 34 place-kickers on the list from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA levels.

Glen Perkins, after his 27^th save of the year yesterday in a 3-2 Twins win over the Astros, now has the most single season saves by a Minnesota pitcher since 2009 when Joe Nathan had 47.

Twins rookie starting pitcher Kyle Gibson isn’t having much success lately. He lasted only three innings on Saturday night, the shortest start of his big league career, and he gave up four runs on nine hits. He has allowed a home run in each of his last three starts after yielding none in the first four outings.

The Twins play at Kansas City tomorrow night after being swept by the Royals at Target Field last week. The Twins have won three straight since winning yesterday against the Astros and sweeping them in a three game series.

Outfielder Byron Buxton, considered by many the best minor league prospect in baseball, has hit three home runs in his last 10 games playing for the Twins Class A Fort Myers team. He also has two triples.

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Lurtsema Predicts 11-5 Record for Vikes

Posted on July 31, 2013July 31, 2013 by David Shama

Former Viking Bob Lurtsema, who remains close to the team, predicts Minnesota will finish 11-5 this season after a 10-6 record in 2012. Even rosier is Lurtsema’s opinion that before the Metrodome is demolished next winter, the last football event there could be the NFC Championship Game hosted by the Vikings who might need to win more than 11 regular season games to play in Minneapolis.

“That’s very realistic (hosting the title game),” Lurtsema told Sports Headliners. “You gotta realize when they were 6-6 last year they (the players) came together. That’s only the second time in Minnesota Viking history that they won the last four games.”

The Vikings won those regular season games before losing to the Packers in the playoffs, and giving Lurtsema confidence about continued improvement by Minnesota is the attitude of the players. “A lot of times you can preach and preach and nobody listens. But they’re listening now and they came together, and they believe in themselves. …They have that self-motivation.”

Two years ago Lurstema predicted the Vikings would win “five or six” games. They won three. Last July he told Sports Headliners 10-6 was going to be the record and the team’s first playoff appearance in three years was possible.

Now, Lurtsema said, the Vikings could not only finish with an 11-5 or better record but have at least a share of the NFC North title. “Yup. I know I bleed purple…but I am a realist.”

Lurtsema almost gushes about the team’s offense, “There’s not a negative.” He said fans are down on quarterback Christian Ponder but criticism was too harsh last season because “he didn’t have any receivers to throw to.” That situation changes now with a healthy Jerome Simpson and the acquisition of Greg Jennings, both talented veteran wide receivers.

Lurtsema likes the total package of the offense including tight end Kyle Rudolph, running back Adrian Peterson and an offensive line that impressed last season, but on defense he thinks the Vikings are more suspect. He frets about how effective both the defensive line and secondary will be.

Worth Noting

Lurtsema believes it’s time for starting cornerback Chris Cook, now 26 and heading into his fourth NFL season, to reward the Vikings for their patience with him. Two years ago Cook missed much of the season because of domestic violence charges. Although he was later acquitted, the incident was a setback to his career.

“Chris Cook has got to be awful, awful good,” Lurtsema said. “They (the organization) stuck with him. The players didn’t like that a couple years ago, when they paid his salary and (he) took up a roster spot. Players weren’t real happy about that at all. …I think all the coaches saw how good he really is.”

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier joins Steve Forbes, Rudy Giuliani, Larry King and other speakers on August 27 at the Minneapolis Convention Center for the “Success 2013 Minneapolis” motivational event, according to full page ads appearing in the Star Tribune. Frazier’s talk is titled “How to Lead Your Team to Victory.”

As a group the Gophers linebackers roster is inexperienced with only two seniors, one junior and 10 freshmen and sophomores but coach Jerry Kill is “optimistic” about the potential. “Athletically we’re gifted there,” Kill told the media yesterday.

Kill said on WCCO Radio’s “Sports Huddle” on Sunday that junior college transfer linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, who will have three seasons of eligibility with the Gophers, turned down offers from Texas and Kansas State after deciding not to attend Tennessee following a coaching change there last fall.

Kill said yesterday that highly publicized freshman quarterback Chris Streveler will work at wide receiver and QB when practices begin later this week. “Chris is a pretty intelligent guy,” Kill said about learning both positions.

Sophomore quarterback Philip Nelson thinks wide receivers Isaac Fruechte and Derrick Engle could be two of his best targets in the deep passing game. The Gophers’ first practice will be on Friday in preparation for their opening game against UNLV August 29 at TCF Bank Stadium.

Marcus Fuller, the Pioneer Press Gophers basketball writer, said on 1500 ESPN Monday he believes Rashad Vaughn is the most likely to attend Minnesota of the 2014 prep big three of Tyus Jones, Travis Reid and Vaughn. My opinion: there is no better than a 25 percent chance the Gophers will have one of the three commit to Minnesota.

As of now there is no Upper Midwest plan to televise the Gophers game at New Mexico State in Las Cruces on September 7. The game is scheduled to be televised in parts of the Southwest including Comcast in New Mexico and Fox Sports Net Houston.

In its updated rankings of prospects, MLB.com has Twins minor leaguers Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano ranked No. 1 and 3 among all players in major league systems. But Twins fans may want to hold back the enthusiasm for awhile because becoming successful in the big leagues takes time. Before the season Oswaldo Arcia was rated the organization’s fifth best prospect while Aaron Hicks was No. 6. Arcia, after two trials with the Twins, is back at Triple-A Rochester while Hicks is hitting .194 for Minnesota despite being the regular center fielder.

Nice to see Minneapolis receive attention in the 2014 MLB All-Star Game Logo unveiled yesterday depicting the downtown skyline. Hennepin County made the public financing possible to build Target Field.

The economic impact of the All-Star Game was $191.5 million in New York this year and $60 million in Kansas City in 2012, according to Rhett Bollinger’s 2014 logo story yesterday on Mlb.com.

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