Vikings – Page 7 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

‘Incredible Fans’ Can Take a Bow for Vikings’ Record

Posted on December 27, 2024December 27, 2024 by David Shama

Enjoy a holiday notes column focused on the Vikings.

The Vikings’ Cinderella season has happened for a lot of reasons on the field and via the front office but don’t discount the fans in the success story. U.S. Bank, now in its ninth season of hosting Viking games, is counted among the NFL’s loudest venues.

“I mean the fans at U.S. Bank are incredible,” Minnesota quarterback Nick Mullens told Sports Headliners earlier this year. “Anytime we can play at U.S. Bank, we’re all for that, for sure.”

Regarding NFL teams playing away from home, including in Minneapolis, Mullens said: “On the road your communication has to be on point. It has to be increased as far as the silent count goes and things like that. So, everybody has to just lock in a little bit more for the most part.”

The noise in the building can be deafening. It was at a rock concert like level against the Texans earlier this season. The fans earned praise after the game for making the venue so loud it forced the Texans into mistakes as they lost 34-7 to the Vikings in September.

The advantage of a home game can often be overly hyped in football, but the U.S. Bank effect is legit and could certainly be in play Sunday when the Vikings host the Packers in a renewal of their border rivalry. Minnesota is 7-1 at home this season, with the only loss coming against the Lions, 31-29.

The Vikings will hope to start fast Sunday like they did earlier in the season when they jumped to a 28-0 first half lead at Lambeau Field. Putting the Packers in the hole early will not only send the crowd into a frenzy, but also could force the Green Bay offense to become more one dimensional as quarterback Jordan Love goes pass-happy in trying to score points.

Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman says that kind of situation “creates a lot of opportunity for a defense.” It can become easier to “dial in” the pass rush and mix coverages.

The 13-2 Vikings, BTW, are 12-0 when Cashman isn’t injured and sidelined.

The Vikings and 11-4 Packers are similar in sack totals, at 44 and 43, but different in styles. Minnesota blitzes much more frequently than Green Bay, which relies on its front-four to deliver pressure.

Love, presumably, will be healthier than when the two teams played in Green Bay on September 29. His mobility was noticeably compromised in that game because of a knee sprain.

Love, 26, has moved into the category of better quarterbacks in the NFL. He sat for three seasons behind Aaron Rodgers before becoming the starter last season.

Drafting Love late first round in 2020 was controversial but has proven to be among the savvy moves of general manager Brian Gutekunst. The son of former Golden Gophers head coach John Gutekunst, Brian has rebuilt the Packers into not only one of the league’s elite teams, but he also has the youngest roster in the NFL.

The Vikings can emerge at season’s end with a 15-2 record, NFC North title and first round playoff bye by defeating the Packers Sunday and Lions in Detroit on January 5. Although the Vikings have won eight straight and are playing at home, the game is seen as a tossup because the Packers are impressive, too, after winning their last two games by a combined score of 64-13.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, whose team was only supposed to win 6.5 games, is considered the national leader for NFL Coach of the Year. He is the third NFL coach ever to win at least 13 games in two of his first three seasons, joining the Packers’ Matt LaFleur and 49ers’ George Seifert.

GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is in the conversation for Executive of the Year but probably won’t win. Still, there is no discounting his value including saying no to a staggering contract for Kirk Cousins and then using the money to acquire difference making free agents on defense and the in-season acquisition of offensive left tackle Cam Robinson.

Sam Darnold image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

Sam Darnold is a dark horse for NFL MVP, even though entering the last two games of the season skeptics are still waiting for him to revert to the poor quarterback play that characterized much of his early NFL career with other teams.

In 11 games Darnold has at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100-or-higher this season. He could become the fourth player in league history with 12 such games in a season. Others are Rodgers (14 games in 2020 and 13 in 2011), Patrick Mahomes (13 in 2018) and Matt Ryan (12 in 2016).

Fox will televise Sunday’s game nationally with its lead team of Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi.

Dave Mona was recognized earlier this month by the Vikings for 50 years serving as the team’s press box announcer.

Vikings’ legend Scott Studwell will speak to the Capital Club breakfast group Thursday, January 9 at Mendakota Country Club. More information about the Capital Club is available from Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com.

Carley Knox, Lynx president of basketball operations, is the latest guest on “Behind the Game.” She offers input about her career, WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark and the rise of women’s sports. Co-hosts are Patrick Klinger and Dave Boden. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw5y8LAhdLA.

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Kevin O’Connell’s Post-Game Speeches Drawing Attention

Posted on December 17, 2024December 17, 2024 by David Shama

ABC TV’s Good Morning America featured Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell today, recognizing the 39-year-old’s success in leading the Vikings to a 12-2 record that ranks with the best in the NFL. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/video/vikings-head-coach-talks-nfls-youngest-coaches-116858495

Part of the focus was O’Connell’s postgame speeches, with GMA describing them as “rousing and viral.” The public has seen those speeches on YouTube and they offer a glimpse into the leadership of the third-year Viking leader.

O’Connell told GMA: “Everybody thinks that he must rehearse those things, or think about what he is going to say long before. That could not be more further from the truth.

“The emotion of the moment might drive me to use a word or two I probably shouldn’t. May be I am getting better at it. …

“When we recently beat the Atlanta Falcons, as I kind of finished up, I kind of felt like maybe they (the players) expected a little more. Did I not deliver in that moment? It was the first time ever I couldn’t wait to watch it back to critique myself.”

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

O’Connell certainly delivered last night in the locker room after the team’s 30-12 win over the Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Speaking in front of the players and others including franchise owners Mark and Zygi Wilf. O’Connell both praised his team for its 12-2 resume and warned them that three games remain and they “have to grind” to close the season with the ultimate success. He ended his talk by telling the players he loves them.

During the speech he also gave out game balls to linebacker Blake Cashman, outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, running back Aaron Jones, kicker Will Reichard, and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDsGKD7HXkA

Worth Noting

Vikings’ long snapper Andrew DePaola, wide receiver Justin Jefferson, cornerback Byron Murphy and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel are leading NFC vote getters by fans at their positions for the AFC- NFC Pro Bowl Games in February in Orlando.

It might be the most emotional scene all season at Target Center when the Timberwolves host the Knicks Thursday night. The game will be the first regular season game between the two teams since the blockbuster early fall trade that sent center Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks, with power forward Julius Randle and combo guard Dante DiVincenzo coming to the Wolves.

Towns, who played nine seasons with the Wolves, told Newsday.com yesterday he didn’t know what to expect from the fans but said regarding his time with Minnesota “…I gave the absolute best of me even when I wasn’t 100 percent.” Towns will likely hear a few boos but more so applause as he returns to Minneapolis averaging 24.8 points and a career high 13.9 rebounds for the 16-10 Knicks.

Towns will be determined to play at a high level, as will Randle and DiVincenzo for the 14-11 Wolves. If any of the three are subpar in their performances, they will potentially have the satisfaction of being on the winning team.. The two teams will play one other time this season, January 17 in New York.

The emotions likely go beyond the three players and fans. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, once the Wolves head coach and president of basketball operations, could take extra satisfaction from a New York win. So, too, might former Wolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas now a senior vice president with the Knicks. Both men were fired by the Timberwolves earlier in their careers.

The NBA certainly thinks it’s a big game because Wolves-Knicks will be nationally televised by TNT.

Longtime Twins president Dave St. Peter talking about season tickets for 2025: “We’ll be north of 90 percent on season ticket renewal. Whether or not we’re going to get to 95 percent, which is where we were last year, I think is up in the air. But it’s still early on that and we have a lot of offseason left.”

Twins’ infielder Royce Lewis, 25, was a wunderkind in 2023, his first full season in the big leagues. He delivered some of the club’s most timely hits back then, and finished with a .309 batting average, 15 home runs and 52 RBI in 217 at bats.

Lewis, frequently troubled with injuries during his limited career, managed 292 at bats in 2024. Although he homered 16 times and drove in 47 runs, his batting average plummeted to .233. Over the last 30 games he hit .171.

St. Peter reminded fans Lewis is still a young player and that “baseball is hard, and it will humble you.” He added that it will be interesting to see how Lewis works during the offseason and prepares himself for 2025.

“I am optimistic he’s going to have a big bounce back,” St. Peter said. “We see the talent. We certainly see the enthusiasm, and when he puts in the work, I think he’s going to have a lot of success.”

Fan voting for the Twins Hall of Fame ends today, December 17. Candidates for 2025 are former players, but the 2026 ballot will be non-players meaning that historical figures like legendary club broadcaster Halsey Hall can be voted for. https://www.mlb.com/twins/fans/twins-hall-of-fame-ballot

Jeff@MNTwinsZealot recently posted on X the concession prices for 1983 Twins games at the Metrodome. Almost every item was under $2, with prices ranging from .60 cents for coffee to the highest price on the board: $2.75 for a large beer.

Creative Charters, the Stillwater-based company that has promoted Golden Gophers trips since 1993, will take fans to Charlotte for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl between Minnesota and Virginia Tech on January 3. The three-night trip leaves Minneapolis on January 2 and returns travelers home on January 5. Part of the trip’s offerings include a visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Creative Charters is a Sports Headliners advertiser (see ad toward top of the page).

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Kevin O’Connell’s Leverage for New Contract Rock Solid

Posted on December 9, 2024December 9, 2024 by David Shama

With the 11-2 Vikings experiencing a potentially historic season, it is apparent head coach Kevin O’Connell has substantially increased his leverage for future contract negotiations. His initial deal, agreed to in 2022 when he was named the franchise’s 10^th head coach, ends after the 2025 season and is estimated to pay him about $5 million annually.

Ownership is expected to soon offer O’Connell a new contract, and perhaps has even done so. While the likelihood is considerable the two parties will strike a deal prior to next season, O’Connell’s impressive three seasons in Minnesota are so admired he could choose the ultimate power play of letting his contract expire and allow bidding from other teams.

The admiration among fans, media and NFL people is widespread and can even take an unexpected direction. Recently Kayln Kahler, from ESPN, wrote the dysfunctional Bears franchise, having fired their head coach earlier this fall, should consider a trade for O’Connell. Such a trade, including multiple future first round draft choices, will fall on deaf ears at TCO Performance Center in Eagan.

Ownership and staff have learned O’Connell is the “secret sauce” the Vikings and other NFL teams covet. He is loved in the organization, including the locker room, for the way he carries himself and treats others. He has created an environment and culture that should be the envy of other franchises.

In his first season (2022) the Vikings went a surprising 13-4 during the regular season. They were an amazing 11-4 in one-score wins, an NFL record.

In 2023 the Vikings’ season was derailed by quarterback Kirk Cousins’ Achilles injury and they finished with a 7-10 record. Despite having to navigate through a franchise record four starting quarterbacks, the Vikings ranked fifth in the league in passing yards per game (256.4).

Predicted to win about six games this season—partly because of uncertainty at quarterback with Cousins leaving as a free agent to play for the Falcons—O’Connell and his staff have stunned the football world with the performance of Sam Darnold. The former journeyman quarterback has been “born again” in Minnesota and will earn a lot more next season than the one-year deal of $10 million the Vikings are paying him, and that has everything to do with their “quarterback whisperer” coach.

O’Connell has been on target in so many ways that have paid off for the team including his selection of assistant coaches. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has “bouquets” thrown his way every week for his creativity and overall work. Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown is in his first season working for O’Connell and has been impressive, too. It’s likely both men will have offers sooner or later to become head coaches.

O’Connell’s overall record (all with the Vikings) is 31-17, including one playoff loss. His winning percentage of .645 is the best in franchise history, surpassing that of legendary Bud Grant (.607) over 18 seasons. O’Connell is 24-9 in one-possession games as a head coach, the third best winning percentage (.727) in NFL history in one-score contests (minimum 25 games).

Not only does O’Connell have a superlative resume, but he also has a potentially long coaching career ahead. He doesn’t turn 40 years old until next year.

Speculation earlier this fall was the Wilf ownership group might offer him $10 million per year, but that appears too far under market value. More than doubling his salary to $12 million to $15 million seems appropriate. Contract length also has him in the “driver’s seat” with seven years or longer a possibility. Clearly ownership wants him to be the man in charge for the foreseeable future.

According to Sportico.com, the 10 highest paid NFL coaches annually are: Andy Reid, $20 million; Sean Payton, $18 million; Jim Harbaugh, $16 million; Mike Tomlin, $16 million; Sean McVay, $15 million; Kyle Shanahan, $14 million; John Harbaugh, $12 million; Dan Campbell, $11 million; Sean McDermott, $11 million; Mike Macdonald, $9 million.

Worth Noting

Darnold made history in yesterday’s 42-21 win over the Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. He is the ninth quarterback in NFL history and first since Aaron Rodgers in 2019 to have at least 325 passing yards, five touchdown passes, a completion percentage of 75-or-higher and a passer rating of 155-or-higher with no picks in a game.

After the game O’Connell offered his admiration of Cousins including the veteran quarterback’s character. “I love him as a person. I think he’s a great human being, great father, great husband. He stands for so many great things that I always really valued.”

According to Statista.com last June, at $294.17 million Cousins ranks No. 6 in all-time cumulative career earnings among NFL players. Rodgers, $380.66 million, was No. 1 ahead of Matthew Stafford, Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan and Cousins.

Former Viking and Minnesota native Adam Thielen, age 34, had nine receptions for 102 yards in the Panthers’ 22-16 loss to the Eagles yesterday. With a total of 8,063 career receiving yards, he is the fourth undrafted player in the common-draft era (dating back to 1967) with at least 8,000 career receiving yards. He joins Antonio Gates (11,841 receiving yards), Rod Smith (11,389) and Wes Welker (9,924).

The veteran wide receiver has 25 career games with at least 100 receiving yards. He joins Smith (30 games) and Welker (28) as the only undrafted players since 1967 with 25 career games with 100 or more receiving yards.

If there is a change in Golden Gophers basketball head coaches after this season, St. Thomas’ John Tauer should be a level one candidate. Tauer, whose Tommies won the 2016 NCAA Division III national title, has his D1 team at No. 113 in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Net Rankings. Minnesota is No. 163.

Meanwhile the women Gophers are No. 37 in the women’s rankings under second-year coach Dawn Plitzuweit. Minnesota is off to a 10-1 start and roster building strategy includes awareness of Minnesota and Wisconsin natives playing elsewhere who may want to transfer closer to home.

Jamal Abu-Shamala, the former Golden Gophers basketball player from Shakopee, has the volunteer honor of being Head Coach of the Twin Cities Dunkers in 2025. In that role he will arrange speakers for the organization that started 1948.

The Gophers have a 2025 football season tickets sales campaign going on with prices starting at $310. Public season ticket sales the last two years have been in the 23,000 to 25,000 range.

The Gophers had one year in the 1980s when they reported 56,000 season tickets while playing in the Metrodome.

The talented Gopher men’s hockey is coming off shutout home wins against Michigan Friday and Saturday night. Minnesota goalies Nathan Airey and Liam Souliere, with defensive help, shut out the Wolverines on consecutive nights for the first time in more than 80 years.

“Our D-corps is our strength right now and really I mean they’re elite,” Minnesota coach Bob Motzko said after his No. 4 ranked team swept the No. 6 Wolverines.

The Gophers, 15-2-1 overall and 8-0 in the Big Ten this season, are 32-10-1 in conference home games since the start of 2021.

The Wild’s fast start to the season includes being tied for the league lead with the Jets and Capitals in total points at 40. The way it looks now, unless the team has an incredible run of injuries sidelining key players, Minnesota can be mediocre the rest of the way and still make the playoffs for the first time since 2023.

Football coach Glen Caruso’s St. Thomas signing class for 2025 includes Beau Thielen from Eagan, a 4.5-star long snapper recruit. He drew interest in the recruitment process from FBS and FCS schools.

Al Worthington, who pitched for the 1955 Junior World Series champion Minneapolis Millers in 1955 and later was a standout for the Twins, will be 96 in February.

He is on the 2025 ballot for the Twins Hall of Fame. Fans can vote for 2025 candidates and/or use a write-in option. https://www.mlb.com/twins/fans/twins-hall-of-fame-ballot

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