Vikings – Page 233 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikings: 2014 Super Bowl Possible?

Posted on January 30, 2013January 30, 2013 by David Shama

The Vikings haven’t played in the Super Bowl since 1977 but it’s not a completely Pollyanna approach to think the Purple could be back in the big game next year or in 2015.

Emerging talent—including a list of impact players 27 and younger—led a turnaround season in 2012 when the Vikings finished 10-6 and made the playoffs for the first time in three years. Improving dramatically on their 3-13 record in 2011, the Vikings ditched their “rebuilding” label and gave notice they’re contenders in the NFC North.

But a Super Bowl in 2014? Former Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema doesn’t scoff at the question.

“If they get a deep threat, they have a great opportunity to definitely get in the playoffs, and then it’s a crapshoot (to the Super Bowl),” said Lurtsema who predicted last summer the Vikings’ 2012 record would be 9-7.

He wants the Vikings to not only acquire a deep threat to loosen up opposing defenses but also add a defensive back. “We could (then) be in great, great shape,” he said.

Lurtsema suggested there is a “70 percent chance” Packers’ wide receiver and free agent Greg Jennings will play for the Vikings next season. The Packers, with a stable of young and productive wide receivers, are believed to have minimal interest in the 29-year-old Jennings who missed games the last two seasons because of injuries and has seen his statistics decline. But Jennings’ age doesn’t bother Lurtsema who said peak years for NFL players are 28 to 33. He believes Jennings, who has 53 career touchdown receptions in seven NFL seasons, is just what the Vikings need.

In the parity-based NFL, the separation in talent is so minimal among at least several teams that a surprise entrant or two can make it all the way to the Super Bowl. The teams most likely to do so, according to Lurtsema, are the ones with outstanding lines, particularly on offense.

Lurtsema said the importance of the offensive line can be measured not only in scoring points but in controlling the clock with consistent play. That kind of performance minimizes “three and outs,” and the number of plays a defense has to be on the field.

“The success of a lot of teams still comes down to the offensive line and quarterback,” Lurtsema said.

He likes the work of left offensive tackle Matt Kalil who minimized mistakes in his rookie season and was rewarded with a Pro Bowl invitation. The drafting of Kalil allowed Charlie Johnson, the 2011 left tackle, to play left guard where he’s more effective. Kalil, Johnson and the other offensive linemen helped Adrian Peterson, 27, rush for 2,097 yards in 2012, the second highest single season total in NFL history.

Second-year quarterback Christian Ponder’s play stabilized during the team’s drive to make the playoffs. “I am happy with Christian Ponder,” Lurtsema said.

If you want to hear excitement in Lurtsema’s voice ask him about second-year tight end Kyle Rudolph. Two years ago Lurtsema described him as “the steal of the draft.” Earlier this week Rudolph’s performance in the Pro Bowl earned him the MVP award.

And Lurtsema could really get excited about the Vikings playing in the 2014 Super Bowl that will be hosted by the Giants at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. He spent part of his NFL career with that franchise and is planning to attend the game where he and other Giants alumni will be hosted by the club. “The Giants really take care of their alumni,” Lurtsema said.

Of course Lurtsema, who remains close to the Vikings and has lived in the Minneapolis area for years, will be excited to see the Purple in any Super Bowl in the near future. The franchise is 0-4 historically in the big game. “Sometimes I wonder if the good Lord doesn’t want the Vikings to bring the Lombardi Trophy to Minnesota,” said Lurtsema who played for the Vikings in their Super Bowls of 1973 and 1975.

Worth Noting

Lurtsema also said “I love the kid” but he expects much talked about Vikings’ receiver-kick returner Percy Harvin to be traded.

Vikings fans will closely watch 49ers wide receiver Randy Moss in the Super Bowl on Sunday. At 35, Moss doesn’t have scary speed anymore but Lurtsema said the former Viking is a “tremendous student” of the game.

Often quoted pro football writer Peter King said on SI.com video last Thursday the only for sure hall of famer playing in Sunday’s Super Bowl is Ravens’ linebacker Ray Lewis. That leaves doubt about hall of fame chances for Moss and Ravens center Matt Birk, another former Viking. Both players could retire after Sunday’s game.

A Monday e-mail from Sports Media News reported the Super Bowl culminates “three years of record-breaking NFL TV viewership.” SMN noted that since September 1, 2010, NFL telecasts have accounted for 55 percent of all TV shows averaging 20 million viewers, 70 percent of programs averaging 30 million viewers and 92 percent of shows averaging 40 million.

It will be 10 years this spring that Delmon Young was the No. 1 overall pick in baseball’s amateur draft. Young is now with the Phillies after the Rays, Twins and Tigers decided not to retain him. His best year in the majors was with the Twins in 2010 when he hit .298 with 21 home runs and 112 RBI.

Big Ten followers don’t believe the conference—with the recent additions of Maryland and Rutgers—is done expanding at 14 teams. A 16-team league could be next, with perhaps two of the following joining the Big Ten: Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Kansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh or Virginia.

With six days until college football’s National Signing Day, Scout.com and Rivals.com have the Gophers last in 2013 Big Ten recruiting. Scout ranks the Gophers’ class at No. 84 nationally based on verbal commitments so far. Rivals ranks Minnesota No. 72.

Supporters of Gophers coach Jerry Kill, though, insist the Minnesota recruiting classes of last year and 2013 are much better than the rankings of national experts.

The Timberwolves—starting tonight against the Clippers—play six consecutive home games. Other games are the Lakers (Feb. 1), Hornets (Feb. 2), Trail Blazers (Feb. 4), Spurs (Feb. 6) and Knicks (Feb. 8).

The Wolves have lost four consecutive games and nine of their last 10. “We keep fighting, even with injuries and everything else,” guard Luke Ridnour said last week. “We’re not going to get down.”

As of Monday, Wolves guard Alexey Shved ranked second among NBA rookies in assists (4.6), and fifth in minutes (288) and scoring (10.7). His Russian teammate, forward Andrei Kirilenko, has seven double-doubles after having a combined five in his most recent NBA seasons of 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.

Tim Larson, who once worked in the Gophers’ sports information office, has resigned his position as Jostens president and CEO.

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Local Super Bowl Perspective: Birk vs Moss

Posted on January 23, 2013January 23, 2013 by David Shama

In journalism school the professors taught us to be objective about what we wrote. However, they gave us an out regarding objectivity when writing our opinions in editorials and personal columns.

Today I exercise my option.

I am pulling for the Ravens to defeat the 49ers in the Super Bowl a week from Sunday. It boils down to a preference to see Matt Birk on the winning team, not Randy Moss.

The two were Vikings draft choices in 1998. Nobody knew if Birk, a sixth round pick from Harvard via Cretin Derham-Hall, would make the team. But everybody couldn’t wait to see “The Freak,” the team’s No. 1 draft choice, blow by defensive backs and catch long distance touchdown passes.

At Winter Park I learned more about Birk and Moss than I ever could turning on a TV set. Birk was approachable, Moss could be intimidating.

Birk, who developed into an All-Pro and Pro Bowl center for the Vikings, would cruise around the locker room with a smile on his face, willing to talk about subjects ranging from football to his Twin Cities restaurants. The lasting image I have of Moss—the 6-foot-4 All-World wide receiver with cheetah-like speed—is watching him bolt out of the Winter Park locker room so angry I might have guessed his dog died.

“He (Moss) has had some bad PR,” acknowledged Dean Dalton, a Vikings’ assistant coach from 1999-2005. “He comes across unfiltered. He can be a thoughtful (considerate) guy.

“I’ve watched Birkie pretty close this year. He contemplated retiring (after last season) but his competitive spirit compelled him to go back. He’s been one constant on a line with injuries.”

Birk made a reputation here and in Baltimore for community service. He’s a past winner of the Ed Block Courage Award and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, national honors recognizing inspiration and charity. Moss has reportedly done good deeds too but the resume is filled with negative stuff including his days with the Vikings.

In early 2005, Birk and Moss clashed after a loss to the Redskins with playoff implications for the Vikings. Moss left the field in the closing seconds and headed to the locker room, embarrassing teammates and angering fans. “Enraged, Birk confronted Moss in the locker room,” wrote Kevin Seifert on Monday for his espn.com blog.

The Vikings’ ownership tired of Moss and traded him to the Raiders during the 2005 offseason. He returned to Minnesota for four games in 2010 but apparently his immature behavior helped convince the Vikings to part ways. His most well publicized incident was a rant about food served by a local caterer at Winter Park.

Birk left the Vikings via free agency after the 2008 season. He’s the Ravens’ starting center and at 36 is playing in his first Super Bowl. Moss, who turns 36 on February 13, played on a Patriots team that lost the 2008 Super Bowl to the Giants. He came out of retirement to play for the 49ers this season and has been a modest contributor to the team’s success, catching 33 passes including three for touchdowns.

49ers’ coach Jim Harbaugh wants Moss to return next season, according to an nfl.com story by Dan Hanzus last Friday. Moss, who no longer terrorizes defenses but reportedly has been more civil and even helpful to teammates in San Francisco, has not made his plans known. Birk told Sports Headliners earlier in the year he’s undecided about how much longer he will play. Birk acknowledged he is physically not the player he once was “but I like to think I am a little smarter.”

This much is known about the future for the two former high profile Vikings: Birk or Moss will win a Super Bowl ring, and you know who I am pulling for.

Worth Noting

In addition to Birk and Moss, three other players in the upcoming Super Bowl have Minnesota connections. Ravens’ regular left tackle Bryant McKinnie, the former Viking, has become a late season success on a re-energized line. Ravens’ starting outside linebacker Terrell Suggs was born in Minneapolis and spent part of his childhood in the Twin Cities. Reserve 49ers’ defensive back Tramaine Brock was recruited by former Gophers coach Tim Brewster, and lettered for Minnesota in 2008.

Dalton, who provides NFL analysis for Sirius Satellite Radio, predicts a three point win by the Ravens in the February 3 game. The teams have similar strengths but the 49ers have been struggling with field goals. “I just really like both teams,” he said.

The Vikings need help in the 2013 draft at multiple positions. A record number of 74 college underclassmen have declared for the April 25-27 NFL Draft, according to the January 16 issue of USA Today. The list includes 15 defensive linemen, 13 defensive backs, 12 running backs and 11 wide receivers.

The NFL Scouting Combine for evaluating draft eligible players is February 23-26 in Indianapolis.

The basketball Gophers, losers in their last two games to top 10 ranked Indiana and Michigan, will try tonight for a second win this month against Northwestern in Evanston. The Gophers, who only led 17-14 at halftime in the January 6 game, defeated the Wildcats 69-51 in Minneapolis. Minnesota out-rebounded Northwestern 47-20 in that win. Look for the Wildcats to give the Gophers problems with a half court trapping defense.

According to Big Ten Conference statistics released Monday morning, the Gophers were second in rebounding margin among Big Ten teams at +9.8 per game. The Gophers were first in blocked shots per game at 6.4 and steals at 9.7. Minnesota, though, has the highest turnover average among the conference’s 12 teams, 14.7 per game.

Ross Bernstein, the local author and motivational speaker who c0-wrote Marc Trestman’s biography, told Sports Headliners that Trestman interviewed for the Browns head coaching job before being hired last week to lead the Bears. Trestman’s wife Cindy is from Cleveland so the Browns job would have been a good family fit and expectations for winning are lower than in Chicago. “He would be a hero if he won five games (the first season) in Cleveland,” Bernstein said.

The St. Louis Park native and former coach of Montreal in the CFL has never been a head coach in the NFL, although he was an assistant with the Vikings and other teams. “In my opinion his dream job would have been with the Vikings,” Bernstein said.

But Trestman, of course, is excited to be coaching the Bears, a team with potential to finish ahead of the Vikings in the NFC North next season. “Expectations are high in Chicago,” Bernstein said.

What did he learn about Trestman when the two co-wrote Perseverance: Life Lessons on Leadership and Team Work? “Just how smart the guy is. He is brilliant. He is also a quality human being.”

After Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall tweeted about Trestman’s book, sales increased dramatically and Bernstein said it is now among the top 100 sellers on Amazon.com.

Congratulations to Saint John’s men’s basketball coach Jim Smith who won his 750^th career game on Monday night when the Johnnies defeated Carleton, 73-66. He is the 19^th coach in college basketball history (all divisions) to reach 750 wins.

Condolences to the family of Conrad Smith, my former North Stars marketing colleague and friend for many years. Conrad passed away recently after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He worked for the North Stars, Twins and Timberwolves during his career, and most recently was chief operating officer of the Lynx. Conrad’s warm smile and quick wit made him a delight to be around.

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Talent, Balance Makes U Contender

Posted on January 11, 2013January 11, 2013 by David Shama

Since 2000 the Gophers have four 10^th place finishes in the Big Ten Conference and twice have been ninth. Only once did Minnesota place among the top five men’s basketball teams in the league.

But the latest Minnesota model is the best since the 1996-1997 group that went to the Final Four after winning the conference championship. The 2012 group is a 15-1 team (3-0 in the Big Ten) with experienced talent in the right positions and a balance of skills. With nonconference wins over nationally regarded teams and league victories over top 20 Michigan State and Illinois, Minnesota has earned its No. 8 ranking in the Associated Press poll.

Gophers coach Tubby Smith said earlier this week he has a team that’s not dependent on one or two players. “Anybody can step up at any time. We have a lot of players we can go to. A lot of weapons this year.”

The Gophers’ 84-67 win against Illinois on Wednesday night was one of the most impressive Minnesota road “W’s” in years. Sophomore point guard Andre Hollins’ emergence as a floor leader and clutch time shooter is a big reason why Minnesota has transformed itself from a mediocre team (10^th place last season but strong NIT run) to a contender for the conference title.

No team can think league championship without an exceptional point guard, and having a dominant inside player is almost as important. Senior center Trevor Mbakwe’s decision to return to school and play after his ACL injury has provided a shot blocking, rebounding and inside scoring terror who at times is a man playing against boys.

Junior shooting guard Austin Hollins is the team’s best perimeter defender and perhaps most consistent three-point shooter. Senior forward Rodney Williams is the second rebounding and shot blocking force, and his extraordinary jumping ability results in dunks that energize the Gophers’ offense.

When sophomore forward Joe Coleman has some of his best games, he boosts the Gophers’ performance level even higher. His hustle on Wednesday night resulted in several fast break dunks and he scored a career-high 29 points including timely baskets in the last 10 minutes.

The Gophers didn’t use their bench players for more than limited minutes on Wednesday night. There’s such a gap in talent and experience that it’s become evident when the Gophers play the better teams in the conference the starters each need to be in the game for 30 minutes-plus.

And the better teams are on the schedule now. The Gophers are in a stretch where they play No. 12 Illinois, No. 5 Indiana (tomorrow in Bloomington) and No. 2 Michigan (next Thursday at home). If that weren’t enough, three of the Gophers’ next four games are on the road (Indiana, Northwestern and Wisconsin).

So far, so good.

Worth Noting

National Signing Day (Letter of Intent) for high school football players is February 6. Minnesota is competing for players being pursued by schools from top conferences. Gophers coach Jerry Kill knows it’s difficult to obtain commitments from those players, but the opinion here is Minnesota will become more and more successful at recruiting. Kill and staff are experienced recruiters who have solid character and are well liked.

Kill is back on the road recruiting today after attending a football coaching convention in Nashville earlier in the week. In one aspect or another recruiting is a 365 days a year project, the coach said. “It all comes down to players. You gotta have (talented) players.”

The relationships Kill has formed in 30 years of coaching, including with high school coaches, is a foundation of his recruiting. He said people understand the kind of program he operates. “Life is all about relationships.”

The Gophers have verbal commitments from high school players who they will try to keep committed until signing day. Kill said the staff is also recruiting players who haven’t verbally committed, plus walk-ons.

Junior college football players can sign Letter of Intent commitments before high school players. Kansas has signed nine junior college players and has verbal commitments from seven more, according to Rivals.com.

The Timberwolves, who play at New Orleans tonight, are 8-0 this season when they score 100 or more points.

Wolves point guard Ricky Rubio, still playing less than half of the minutes in each game, had eight assists in a win over the Hawks Tuesday night and seven in a loss to the Thunder on Wednesday evening. Rubio, who averaged 8.2 assists per game as a rookie last season, played a season high 22 minutes against the Thunder as he continues his comeback from an ACL injury.

Saint John’s basketball coach Jim Smith needs four wins to become the 19th coach in college basketball history (all divisions) to attain 750 career victories (746-530 record). He is tied with Phog Allen for 19th all-time.

Smith’s team plays at St. Thomas tomorrow in a 3:05 p.m. game to be televised on KSTC-TV, Ch. 45. The Tommies are ranked No. 2 in the nation by D3hoops.com but lost twice to the Johnnies last season.

The St. Thomas First Friday Speaker Series has Vikings marketing executive Steve LaCroix scheduled for Friday, March 1 at the Nicollet Island Pavilion in Minneapolis. LaCroix’s responsibilities include marketing the new downtown Minneapolis stadium the Vikings will play in starting in 2016. Pre-registration for the lunch and program must be made by February 22. More information is available at the St. Thomas Alumni Association Website or by calling 651-962-6430.

The Vikings finished the 2012 season with only 15 players on the 53-man roster who were with the club in 2009: Jared Allen, Jasper Brinkley, Fred Evans, Chad Greenway, Letroy Guion, Erin Henderson, Chris Kluwe, Phil Loadholt, Cullen Loeffler, Adrian Peterson, Brian Robison, Jamarca Sanford, John Sullivan, Kevin Williams and Antoine Winfield.

Sportsmedianews.com reported on Wednesday that Sports Illustrated pro football writer Peter King chose Adrian Peterson as NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. Peterson and Broncos’ quarterback Peyton Manning are King’s Co-Comeback Players of the Year. King chose John Schneider, a St. Thomas graduate and now the Seahawks general manager, as Executive of the Year.

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