Vikings – Page 249 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Not All Sold on Kalil for Vikings

Posted on April 25, 2012April 25, 2012 by David Shama

The Vikings may use the third pick in tomorrow night’s NFL draft to choose USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil but that doesn’t mean general manager Rick Spielman didn’t look vigorously at options with other teams to trade down.

Spielman said yesterday at a news conference that his contacts with other teams have picked up this week and there’s enough volume of calls to “create potential” for a trade. He wouldn’t specify how many calls he’s received.

Former Colts executive Bill Polian, writing for ESPN.com, suggested a Dolphins and Vikings trade. The Dolphins would move up to No. 3 and draft Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The Vikings would receive Miami’s No. 8 pick in the first round, plus second and third round choices from the Dolphins.

While Kalil is the consensus No. 1 offensive lineman in the draft, opinion is the 6-7, 300-pound left tackle might still be available at No. 8. Iowa’s Riley Reiff is another left tackle option, according to Polian.

Profootballweekly.com praises Kalil’s work ethic, describing him as an “excellent pass protector” and “good functional” run blocker. The website doesn’t consider Kalil a “wow” prospect on tape, questioning his leverage and strength in his hands.

The Vikings are much in need of a more than competent left tackle they can plug in for the next 10 years. Last season’s starter, Charlie Johnson, isn’t suited for the position and could move over to left guard. With the talented pass rushing right defensive ends in the NFL, an above average left tackle to protect the quarterback rates high on any team’s needs list.

While drafting Kalil at No. 3 is probably a safe move, the team has a lot of needs and Sports Illustrated pro football authority Peter King thinks the Vikings should draft LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. While taking a cornerback at No. 3 is unusual, King writes in the April 23 issue of Sports Illustrated that the Vikings have to play six games a season against NFC North quarterbacks who will throw a combined 100 touchdown passes each season.

“Minnesota’s secondary is horrible—even worse than its offensive line,” King writes in his mock draft article. “The Vikings don’t need a corner. They need two.”

That’s the point of those who argue the Vikings should trade the No. 3 pick to acquire more draft choices than the 10 they have and will use from Thursday-Saturday. The team has needs in all areas on defense, and is looking for offensive linemen and wide receivers (don’t be surprised if the Vikings draft Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon at No. 3).

Yesterday Spielman acknowledged Kalil, Claiborne and Blackmon as the players the Vikings are looking at for the No. 3 pick. He said there are “no negatives” with the three.

Because of his promotion to general manager, this will be the first draft where Spielman has been the final drafting authority for the Vikings. Talking yesterday Spielman made it evident he’s a “perfectionist.”

“I expect to hit (be successful) on all 10 (picks),” Spielman said. “I am not going to be satisfied with anything less.”

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Worth Noting

Posted on April 25, 2012April 25, 2012 by David Shama

The Vikings Draft Party tomorrow night at Mall of America Field opens at 4 p.m. Admission is free to season ticket holders. For others the cost is $10.

The Vikings are viewed as the fourth place team in the NFC North, although Bears tight end Matt Spaeth wouldn’t say that. He said with injuries and other variables it’s difficult to predict where teams will finish. “They’ve (the Vikings) got a lot of good players so they could be good,” the former Gopher told Sports Headliners.

Former Vikings head coach Mike Tice is the new Bears offensive coordinator. “Coach Tice’s offense is going to be a tight end friendly offense so I am excited about this year,” Spaeth said.

Spaeth, who has been a part-time starter during five previous NFL seasons, likes the improvement the Bears have made during the offseason. “We’re going to definitely contend (in the NFC North),” he said. “The Packers are tough. It’s going to be a tough deal for us, but we’re going to be good.”

Pioneer Press columnist Charley Walters undergoes right shoulder replacement surgery tomorrow. “Too many fastballs,” the former Twins pitcher said. He won’t be writing again until May 7.

Nick Blackburn, the Twins losing pitcher last night, is 0-6 in his last nine starts dating back to July 25, 2011.

Twins starters now have a combined ERA of 6.73.

New Gophers athletic director Norwood Teague signed a five-year contract in 2011 with a base pay of $240,000 at Virginia Commonwealth University, according to a story posted Monday by the Richmond Times-Dispatch website. Teague, according to Minnesota media reports, will earn $400,000 in base salary, plus incentives, at the University of Minnesota.

Former Gophers running back Darrell Thompson, who runs the Minneapolis-based Bolder Options program, will hold his organization’s annual dinner at TCF Bank Stadium on May 17. WCCO Radio’s Dave Lee will be master of ceremonies with the keynote speech given by Terry Hitchcock, who at age 57 in 1996 ran the equivalent of 75 marathons in 75 days. More information on the dinner is available at the Bolder Options website.

St. Thomas football coach Glenn Caruso notes that he, Vikings center John Sullivan and former Twins infielder Tim Teufel (now the Mets third base coach) are all from Greenwich, Connecticut.

Long range TV calendar planning: The summer Olympics begin on NBC July 27, and CBS will televise the Notre Dame-Navy football game from Dublin, Ireland on September 1.

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Persuasion Fails in Stadium Vote

Posted on April 18, 2012April 18, 2012 by David Shama

A legislative panel was told the Vikings are not “making money” and the state of Minnesota could make a $140 million profit from its stadium financing, but these and other arguments didn’t persuade the House Government Operations and Elections Committee to approve a bill on Monday night funding a new multi-purpose stadium in downtown Minneapolis.

The panel rejected the bill for a nearly $1 billion stadium by a 9-6 vote at the State Capitol in a meeting that Sports Headliners followed via Twin Cities Public Television. The vote may have ended hope during this legislative session for approving a new covered roof facility that would have the Vikings as its primary tenant, although Senate leadership could yet be heard from.

Among those voting no were two committee members from Minneapolis, Rep. Marion Greene and Rep. Frank Hornstein. They and the seven others who rejected the bill voiced numerous concerns and questions including why “billionaire owners” couldn’t fund part or the entire stadium project.

Committee member and bill advocate Rep. Terry Morrow said stadiums that base funding on private dollars have been financed in larger markets able to attract revenues through the sale of personal seat licenses in the facilities. In this market, consumers can’t support such a revenue stream, he said.

The majority of NFL stadiums and baseball parks are funded through public and private partnerships. Team executive Lester Bagley said the Vikings’ proposed stadium contribution of $427 million would be the third largest ever for an NFL franchise.

The Vikings have long argued their revenues are among the lowest in the NFL and remaining in the Metrodome isn’t an option. “The team is not making money,” said Ted Mondale, chairman of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission.

The bill reviewed Monday night calls for $398 million from the state of Minnesota and also $150 million from the city of Minneapolis. Rep. Morrie Lanning, the chief author of the bill, said that after 30 years the state would make a $140 million profit because of income taxes received from the Vikings and visiting players. “This is a good deal for Minnesota,” he said.

Lanning said for seven years the Vikings have been before the legislature, and his bill was the best ever proposed. He also noted that the Government Operations and Elections Committee was where the bill stalled two years ago.

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