Vikings – Page 56 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Thielen: Kirk Cousins Ignores His Critics

Posted on August 2, 2022August 2, 2022 by David Shama

Vikings notes from training camp and beyond:

Quarterback Kirk Cousins, 33, is in training camp preparing for his fifth season with the Vikings and 11th in the NFL. Is there anything different about Cousins, who often has been harshly criticized by fans and blamed for the team’s failures that include two straight years of missing the playoffs?

The answer is no, per teammate and veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen. “That’s the great thing about Kirk. He is always the same Kirk,” Thielen told Sports Headliners. “He’s a guy that comes out here (and) he doesn’t care what people say about him. He doesn’t care what people think about him. He’s going to come out here (and) he’s going to bust his tail. He’s going to do whatever it takes to prepare.

“I don’t want to see anything different from Kirk. I want to see the same Kirk we’ve seen…the last four years that he’s been here, and a guy that…does everything to try to make his teammates better and help this team win.”

Thielen, 32, is in his 10th season with the Vikings. A zero handicapper, he intends to pursue a professional golf career when finished with football. Does he have a clear plan right now to make that transition?

“I have no idea,” Thielen said. “I just know that I am going to try and get as good as I can get, and see where it takes me.”

Where does his golf game have to improve? “Probably just consistency,” he answered. “I feel like I can kind of do everything at certain times but I am very, very inconsistent.”

Thielen’s best advice to hackers? “Just keep it (the ball) in play. Keep it in play because I feel like that’s one of the things I always struggle with a little bit is I bring trouble into play too much, and swing too hard when I don’t need to, or hit the wrong club. But this game is so much easier if you can just get it around the course, keep it in play.”

ESPN.com recently published top 10 NFL players by position groups as determined by Madden NFL 23 for its upcoming launch. The rankings show a talent discrepancy between the Vikings and Packers who are the betting favorite to again win the NFC North Division.

While Green Bay players are ranked, Minnesota has no top 10 representatives at quarterback, offensive line, interior defensive line, cornerback and edge rusher. The latter will draw the ire of Vikings fans with Green Bay’s Rashan Gary ranked No. 10, while Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith are near misses in the rankings.

A sore point for Packers fans? Davante Adams, who Green Bay lost in free agency to the Raiders earlier this year, is the No. 1 wide receiver in the Madden rankings. Justin Jefferson from the Vikings is No. 6.

The Packers had no top 10 safeties, while Minnesota’s Harrison Smith tied for 7th with three other players. Former Gopher De’Vondre Campbell, now with the Packers, ranked No. 9 among linebackers, while Eric Kendricks from the Vikings is in a 7th place tie with Micah Parsons of the Cowboys.

Because of injuries the gifted Hunter missed the entire 2020 season and 10 games last year. He wants to break Jared Allen’s single season franchise record of 22 sacks. “That’s the kind of drive you like to see,” Allen said. “That dude could be insanely special. …The key to his game, stay healthy.”

Allen will become the seventh defensive lineman to be part of the Vikings’ Ring of Honor when he is inducted at the October 30 home game against the Cardinals. There are 21 other players that are Ring of Honor recipients and the largest representation is d-linemen. When Allen played for the Vikings he was aware of the greats who had come before him like “Purple People Eaters” Carl Eller, Jim Marshall and Alan Page. “Certain organizations kind of have a knack for certain position groups,” Allen said.

After Allen joined the Vikings in 2008, Marshall soon reached out. Marshall told him players come and go, stats are what they are, but championship banners last forever. “I’ve got a special place in my heart for Jim Marshall,” Allen said.

The Vikings’ three preseason games will be broadcast on Fox 9 and KFAN with a simulcast crew of Paul Allen (play-by-play) and analysts Pete Bercich and Ben Leber. The fourth member of last year’s KFAN crew, Greg Coleman, has retired.

Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen from Fox Sports are likely to be the TV talent for the much anticipated Packers-Vikings game in Minneapolis on September 11. Minnesota’s second game of the regular season will be in Philadelphia for a Monday night national telecast on ABC with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.

Remembering Bill Russell

In the late 1950s and into the early 1960s Sunday afternoons were appointment TV viewing for NBA fans across the country. The barnstorming league was trying to establish itself on the same level as baseball, the NFL and college football. There were only eight teams in the NBA in the 1950s and up to 1960 no franchise on the West Coast until the Lakers moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles.

Sunday afternoon viewers got a steady diet of match ups between Bill Russell’s Celtics and Wilt Chamberlain’s Warriors. Watching these extraordinary athletes compete against one another was a rivalry and show not seen before or since. Russell, a lean 6-9, and Chamberlain, 7-1 with legendary strength, had contrasting physiques but put up rebounding, shot blocking and scoring performances for the ages. Theirs was a battle of not only bodies but wits.

News of Russell’s passing Sunday prompted national mourning for the man and the basketball player. Chamberlain, although two years younger than Russell, died in 1999. Both were players with skills ahead of their time. Russ and Wilt could drop into today’s NBA and be superstars.

Sid Hartman wrote in his autobiography Sid that the Minneapolis Lakers tried to secure Russell by getting the No. 1 NBA draft pick in 1956. The Lakers were faltering during the 1955-56 season and Hartman, who worked for the team, wanted to trade muscular forward Vern Mikkelsen to the Celtics who coveted rebounding help. Trading Mik would have nosedived the Lakers and probably resulted in the league’s worst record and being rewarded the first pick in the draft.

Hartman said the Celtics agreed to take Mikkelsen in exchange for three Kentucky players who were in military service but that Lakers owner Ben Berger nixed the deal. In Hartman’s book he wrote: “We argued for a few minutes, and I said, ‘Fine, Bennie. I’ll call Walter Brown (the owner of the Celtics) and cancel the deal, and we can regret it for the rest of our lives.’ “

That may not be an exaggeration. Russell’s Celtics won 11 NBA titles and perhaps saved the Celtics franchise from relocation. If Russell had joined the Minneapolis Lakers it’s possible the team never would have left for Los Angeles in search of better home attendance and fan support.

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Ex-GM Predicts 10-7, Playoffs for Vikings

Posted on July 31, 2022 by David Shama

Jeff Diamond, the former Vikings general manager who was the 1998 NFL Executive of the Year, is upbeat about the 2022 team and predicts a 10-7 record, possibly better.

“I think that gets you a Wild Card,” Diamond told Sports Headliners earlier this month. “And they could do better than that (10-7 record). I think once you get the momentum, then things can start rolling.”

The Vikings’ record last season was 8-9 and that wasn’t good enough to make the playoffs. Most of the key personnel is back under a new coaching staff that will use new schemes on offense and defense. The Vikings have 10 starters returning on offense, seven on defense.

There have been significant changes with the defensive roster including linebacker Za’Darius Smith and high draft choices Lewis Cine (safety) and Andrew Booth Jr. (cornerback). The defense was a liability last year (No. 25 in points allowed) but Diamond expects the unit to be improved.

The schedule is another reason Diamond is optimistic about his old team. “I think the schedule is favorable because they’ve got the extra home game this year. Compared to last year they had only eight home games, this year they have nine home games. Then they have the neutral site game with the Saints in London so there’s really only seven true road games so I think that’s an advantage schedule wise.”

To Minnesota’s benefit, too, is that the quality of opponents doesn’t appear to be daunting. The strength of schedule for 2022 ranks No. 20 in the 32-team NFL.

There is a wagering trend that the Vikings will earn around eight wins in the coming season. Forecasts for a bad year such as 6-11 will be difficult to find, and at the other extreme national talk show host Colin Cowherd is forecasting a 13-4 record and a NFC North Division title.

Worth Noting

Consistent with recent NFL concerns about protecting the health of its players, don’t expect to see a lot of Vikings starters in the team’s preseason games. “I think you’ll see them (starters) probably play a total of three-quarters in the three games, would be my guess,” Diamond said. “…I just think they’re very cautious and some of them like (running back) Dalvin Cook probably won’t play at all, or maybe one series.”

Vikings’ Ring of Honor members Carl Eller, 80, and Chuck Foreman, 71, signed autographs for fans yesterday at TCO Performance Center in Eagan.

Gophers fans can watch the football team practice starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 6 at Huntington Bank Stadium. Enter Gate E for the free event that includes a Fan Zone in the West Plaza with inflatables, yard games and photo stations.

Former Gophers head coach Tim Brewster is an assistant on head coach Deion Sanders’ staff at Jackson State. Brewster’s former defensive coordinator Ted Roof has that same title at Oklahoma, while his ex-offensive coordinator Jeff Fisch is starting his second season as Arizona’s head coach.

Spire Credit Union is airing TV commercials with Olympic gold medalist wrestler and Minnesota native Gable Steveson. Spire prez and CEO Dan Stoltz told Sports Headliners Steveson, Twins Hall of Famer Tony Oliva and Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins will appear on billboards this fall for his company. A sports enthusiast, Stoltz was named 2020 Most Admired CEO by Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal.

World Golf Hall of Famers Amy Alcott, Juli Inkster, Nancy Lopez, Hollis Stacy and Jan Stephenson are scheduled to compete in the Land O’Lakes Legends Classic presented by The Meadows at Mystic Lake on August 13-14 in Prior Lake. Inkster, the defending champion from last year’s inaugural event, is also a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame as are Alcott and Lopez. http://LegendsClassicMN.com

The Twins will play 20 home games at Target Field in August, the most in 45 years dating back to when the club was based at Met Stadium. In addition to Central Division rivals the Royals and Tigers, there are games against the Blue Jays, Rangers and Red Sox—with those clubs making their only 2022 Minneapolis appearances. In an interleague series, the NL Giants come to Target Field (opened in 2010) for the first time ever. The Twins’ home record is 27-22 and on the road 26-25.

Outfielder Matt Wallner, the powerful hitting Forest Lake, Minnesota native, draws speculation he could be part of a Twins’ trade deadline transaction to acquire pitching. But the 6-5, 220-pound Wallner has struggled at the plate in July hitting .118 since being promoted from Double-A Wichita to the Triple-A Saints.

Jim Kaat, now a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, spent the early part of his long career with the Twins but ended his MLB days with the Cardinals who won the 1982 World Series. In a July 23 New York Times story he told writer Tyler Kepner “no athlete in any professional sport has played 24 seasons before getting a championship ring.”

Terrin Vavra, the former Gophers shortstop (2016-2018), is hitless in three at bats with the Orioles since being promoted from Triple-A Norfolk last week.

Cameron Christie, the Rolling Meadows, Illinois shooting guard who has verbally committed to the Gophers for the class of 2023, is the second best player in his state per 247Sports but in its composite rankings lists him as a three-star recruit, not a four or five.

The first ever volleyball Big Ten Media Days will be Monday and Tuesday. The Big Ten Network will have coverage from 7 to 8:30 p.m. (CDT) Monday and 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

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P.J. Fleck Praises Team Commitment

Posted on July 26, 2022July 26, 2022 by David Shama

P.J. Fleck believes his 2022 Gophers football team is “probably the most committed” he has coached in six years at Minnesota. The Golden Gophers head coach spoke at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis this morning and talked about how his players show a commitment to going beyond what’s required.

Part of that culture is led by four players in their sixth year with the Gophers. Wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell, running back Mo Ibrahim, quarterback Tanner Morgan and center John Michael Schmitz make up an “encore four” who provide maturity to the program and share wisdom with other players.

Fleck singled out Ibrahim as a player who returned to the Gophers not only to help himself but others. Ibrahim, who missed most of last season after being injured in the opening game against Ohio State, could have opted out for pro football after being the Big Ten Running Back of the Year in 2020. “He did it for the team,” Fleck said about the decision to stay in school.

Ibrahim, who is coming off surgery for a torn Achilles, is at “full strength,” Feck said.
Ibrahim was a third team Associated Press All-American in 2020 after rushing for 1,076 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Schmitz was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List today. The award recognizes the best interior lineman in college football. He was named to the Rimington Award Watch List last week. That award is presented to the best center in college football.

Schmitz has been chosen as a preseason All-American by numerous outlets entering the season. He was named All-Big Ten Second Team last season by the coaches and All-Big Ten Third Team by the media.

Fleck referred to the Gophers as a developmental program not only in football but other areas including academics. He said the team’s most recent GPA is 3.3, and for 11 consecutive semesters the GPA has been at 3.0 or better.

The Gophers are picked to finish third in the West Division by Cleveland.com, now in its 12th year producing preseason Big Ten football polls. Cleveland.com’s predictions are highly anticipated because the 36 voters in the poll include the expertise of Big Ten media beat writers.

The Gophers received two first place votes in the poll that resulted in this predicted order of finish: Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Purdue, Nebraska, Illinois and Northwestern. Ohio State is projected to win the East Division and the Big Ten championship game.

Worth Noting

Kevin Warren, the former chief operating officer of the Minnesota Vikings and now Big Ten commissioner, spoke this morning in advance of the conference coaches. He favors Name, Image and Likeness opportunities for college athletes but said more uniformity is needed in regulation and wants federal legislation enacted. He expressed concern, too, about NIL being misused in recruiting.

Warren favors college football playoff expansion but is also aware of the need to maintain relationships with bowl game partners. He also said USC and UCLA, who join the Big Ten for the 2024-2025 school year, will have full shares of revenues from the conference’s media rights deals.

New Mexico State coach Jerry Kill will speak to the Twin Cities Dunkers group the morning of his September 1 game against the Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Ex-Gophers AD Joel Maturi will introduce Minnesota’s former head coach, while Dave Mona moderates the program. Maturi and Mona led the hiring of Kill when he joined the Gophers in December of 2010.

The Gophers have single game tickets on sale for their seven home games. Prices start at $30 for the New Mexico State game. While the Aggies are Minnesota’s opening game, not so for Kill’s team which begins its schedule August 27 and then has to play Minnesota five days later.

Twins radio broadcaster Cory Provus will be part of the Big Ten Network’s roster of play-by-play talent for games in 2022. Former Gopher Brock Vereen will travel to Big Ten campuses to do interviews and provide analysis.

The Vikings, who started their fifth training camp this week in Eagan, have 10 starters returning on offense and seven on defense. Their strength of schedule for 2022 ranks No. 20 in the 32-team NFL. Three Minnesota natives are on the roster: linebacker Ryan Connelly, running back C.J. Ham and wide receiver Adam Thielen.

Brian Cosgriff is rightfully excited about the coaching staff he has put in place since being named girls basketball head coach at Minnetonka last spring. Here’s a look at the staff working with Cosgriff who won seven state titles in 21 years as Hopkins head coach:

Associate head coach Andy Berkvam was head coach at Lakeville North for 23 years and won three state titles there. Assistant coach Brock Tesdahl has worked for Hopkins boys’ coach Ken Novak and is the grandson of legendary Chisholm boys’ coach Bob McDonald. Jim Scheffler, with 58 years of coaching experience, is the shooting coach and the author of books on shooting.

Brian’s brother Barry, with 25 years of coaching experience, is the director of operations. Macy Hatlestad, who played at the University of St. Thomas and whose mom Julie is a long time assistant at Alexandria High School, is the junior varsity coach. John Roache, with two years of prior experience on the previous staff, is the 10th grade coach. Allie Rogers, who has been a student coach at Luther College and whose mom Julie is head girls’ coach at New Ulm, is the 9th grade coach.

“We have a great mix of young and old, as well as male and female coaches,” Cosgriff said in a text message. “We feel very fortunate to take over a great program that Leah Dasovitch created.”

The Twins are averaging 21,492 fans per home game, according to figures from ESPN.com. If that was the final average for the year it would be the second lowest since the club moved into Target Field in 2010. The Twins attracted a Target Field low of about 16,000 in 2021.

The Wild traded a 2022 All-Star goalie when sending Cam Talbot to the Senators earlier this summer. “I think they took a big gamble,” a hockey source told Sports Headliners. As of now, it looks like the Wild will rely on 37-year-old Marc-Andre Fleury as the primary goalie.

The Wild probably won’t say much publicly but ownership and management has to be nervous about getting star forward Kirill Kaprizov back in the states from his native Russia with the unpredictable environment there. If Kaprizov isn’t in Minnesota within a few weeks, this will turn into a media soap opera.

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