14. Brett Favre, who avoids training camp each year, might be the smartest player in the NFL.
15. With or without Favre, and regardless of how the team plays on the field, the Vikings will receive legislative support for a new stadium next year.
16. Despite conjecture about building next to Target Field (demolish the county garbage facility) the new Vikings stadium, featuring a retractable roof, will be constructed on the Metrodome site.
17. The NFL, the golden child of American sports, has major issues to resolve with an expiring collective bargaining agreement and players who are opposed to expanding the regular season schedule from 16 to 18 games.
18. Hall of fame inductions will come yet for former Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter and Twins pitcher Bert Blyleven.
19. As long as Bud Grant, 83, is alive someone will be writing another story about his passion for fishing and hunting.
20. In 2012 Tim Pawlenty might be the GOP’s nominee for vice president. Pawlenty will be the last Minnesota Republican governor for awhile.
21. The Vikings will beat New Orleans in their opening regular season game on September 9. The big surprise, though, will come when the Gophers upset Southern California at TCF Bank Stadium on September 18.
22. After Nebraska joins the Big Ten Conference, look for the Cornhuskers to play either Wisconsin or Iowa in their final football game each season.
23. Penn State’s Joe Paterno, 83, will call it quits after this season.