Consistency isn’t a word that is repeatedly associated with the Minnesota Vikings’ offense.  Performance problems at various positions starting with quarterback have resulted in the Vikings offense scoring 15 touchdowns in eight games. Rookie phenom Adrian Peterson has deservedly been much written about and has scored nine of those touchdowns. The team’s other reliable point producer, just as expected, is field goal kicker Ryan Longwell.

In a Vikings’ career that began with the 2006 season, Longwell is 25-25 on field goals of 45 yards or less.  He has made 11 of 14 field goals this season, including a career long 55 yarder that beat Chicago.  That kind of accuracy continues a trend that Longwell has been establishing for years.  He came into this season, his 11^th in the NFL, with the seventh best percentage in career field goals in the NFL (tied with John Carnery of Jacksonville at 81.8 percent).  Longwell started this season third in NFL scoring since 1997 and fourth in total field goals.

Vikings’ special teams coach Paul Ferraro was asked if he was surprised about Longwell’s 25-25 streak. “I am not surprised, no,” Ferraro said.  “If you were to see the kicks that I see day in and day out in practice, I know it’s different than in the live situation, but. … He’s a very accurate kicker. He pays attention to his detail. He works hard.  He worked very hard in the off-season. …”

The off-season work is part of what Ferraro and Longwell said has contributed to him kicking the ball deeper on kickoffs, resulting in more touchbacks.  “Really it’s a result of three things,” Ferraro said.  “Part of it was he changed some of his routine in the off-season, some of his strength training and some of his endurance training. We (also) limited his kicks in training camp.  He had kicked a little bit more the year before in training camp.  And we changed a little bit of his practice routine during the season. …”

Longwell believes his right kicking leg is stronger now than it has been and increased flexibility helps improve performance, too, but there’s also the mental element to kicking. “The good Lord has blessed me with a mind that doesn’t take things too seriously, whether it (the ball) goes through or not,” Longwell explained.  “I’ve said many times I think there’s a million guys that can kick at this level but there’s only a few of us that have the mind to do it. That’s what I think the biggest difference is, is having the right mind set.”

On Sunday Longwell returns with the Vikings to Green Bay where he played from 1997-2005.  Earlier this season he kicked three field goals, including two from over 40 yards, in a 23-16 loss to the Packers.  Longwell said he isn’t one for “moral victories” after being asked if a Vikings win over the Packers Sunday will be a big highlight if Minnesota wins only a few games this season.

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Through eight games of an NFL season, Jim Brown’s 1,194 yards rushing in 1963 ranks as the best production ever.  The Vikings’ Adrian Peterson ranks eighth on the list with 1,036 yards.  Peterson is the only rookie in NFL history to have two games of 200 yards or more rushing.  If he has two more, he will tie Earl Campbell’s NFL record of four 200 yard games in one season.

Last Sunday the Vikings’ rushing total of 378 yards (Peterson had 296) was the second best team total since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.  Cincinnati had 407 yards in a game against Denver in 2000. 

The Vikings have about 5,000 tickets remaining for their next home game, Sunday, November 18 against Oakland, according to an e-mail from Steve LaCroix, vice president of sales and marketing.  Ticket sales haven’t surged since Peterson’s NFL single game rushing record last Sunday against San Diego.

Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith has been a coach at Michael Jordan’s fantasy basketball camp that has included celebrity coaches like Smith, Rick Pitino and Jim Calhoun.

Glen Taylor told Sports Headliners that earlier this year Kevin Garnett expressed a willingness to remain with the franchise after the Timberwolves’ owner told him that he would be playing with younger players.  However, when Taylor informed Garnett he would need to accept a lesser salary as part of a contract extension, the superstar forward said no.   “He told me he wanted $60 million for the next three years and that’s what he got out there…,” Taylor said.  In two games with Boston Garnett is averaging 22.5 points and the Celtics are 2-0.

Center/forward Mark Madsen, now entering his fifth season with the Wolves, has the most longevity of any player on the roster.  Popular inside the organization and in the community, Madsen has modest career stats but brings intangibles to a team.  Asked about his role this season, Madsen said, “I feel that my role is to basically do whatever the coach (Randy Wittman) asks me to do. …Some nights it’s going to be energy.  Some nights it’s going to be leadership.  Some nights it’s going to be being positive and communicating with all the guys on the team.”   More specifically, Madsen said one game he may be trying to bolster a teammate’s confidence and on another playing extended minutes because of a favorable match-up with an opponent.

Goaltender Niklas Backstrom, right wing Marian Gaborik and center Brian Rolston of the Wild have been named to the NHL All-Star Ballot.  Players were selected by the NHL’s Hockey Operations Department. The balloting process will be entirely digital.  From November 13 through January 2, fans can “vote now, vote often” for the Eastern and Western Conference starters for the 2008 NHL All-Star Game online at NHL.com.  U.S. fans also can vote through Verizon Wireless cell phones.

As part of a series of Coke appearances involving Minnesota Wild players, Gaborik is scheduled to sign autographs at the Holiday Stationstore located at 8401 Lyndale Avenue South in Bloomington from 5 to 6 p.m. tonight (Wednesday). Tomorrow Derek Boogaard is scheduled to sign autographs at the Holiday Stationstore located at 4167 Ball Road N.E. in Blaine from 5 to 6 p.m.

A crowd of about 25,000 is expected at the Metrodome on Sunday when superstar David Beckham and his Los Angeles Galaxy teammates play against the Minnesota Thunder in an exhibition soccer match, according to an event spokeswoman. “We are going to be bringing the full team to Minnesota, including David Beckham who is fully fit and has been back training for the last few weeks,” said Galaxy coach Frank Yallop.  This is Beckham’s only scheduled US visit to a non-MLS city. The event is being referred to as Copa Minnesota and ticket prices range from $15-$125, with field seats available for $175.  A family four-pack for $100 is also available. To purchase tickets, go to www.ticketmaster.com, visit any Ticketmaster outlet, or call 651-989-5151.

Kickoff time for the Minnesota-Wisconsin football game on Saturday, November 17 at the Metrodome will not be announced until Sunday, November 11.  The Big Ten Conference has until then to determine TV plans for the game.

Two Bethel players are MIAC Football Athletes of the Week along with St. Olaf senior punter/kicker Paul Fortman who has been honored for a fifth time this season and 10^th in his career as the special teams selection.  Fortman was 11-for-11 on extra points, extending his streak to 54 without a miss, and averaged 39 yards on four punts in the Oles’ 85-28 win over Carleton on Saturday. Fortman leads the MIAC in punting (42.1 yards/punt) and scoring by kickers (8.7 points/game). Senior quarterback Ben Wetzell, the offensive player of the week, compiled 308 yards of total offense and accounted for three of Bethel’s six touchdowns in a 44-35 win over Augsburg. He gained 177 yards rushing on 22 carries, an average of eight yards per carry.  Bethel senior safety Brandon Carr, the defensive player of the week, had eight tackles, (six solo, and two assists), plus an important fourth quarter interception and three pass break-ups in the win over Augsburg.

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Adrian Peterson, already the hottest celebrity in this town, was accommodating autograph seekers at last Friday night’s Timberwolves game.  Neither those seeking the wondrous one’s signature, nor anyone else on the planet, had any idea that less than 48 hours later the  22-year-old rookie from the University of Oklahoma would set a single game NFL rushing record at the Metrodome against a San Diego  defense that was giving up less than 100 yards per game rushing.

Peterson ran over, through and by the Chargers for 296 yards, breaking Jamal Lewis’ record of 295 yards set in 2003 playing for Baltimore.  Peterson’s one for the Hall of Fame day included touchdown runs of 46 and 64 yards.  Hello, Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Eric Dickerson, Jim Brown and any other NFL immortal ball carriers not included here.

Peterson has demonstrated in just eight games, half a season, that unless injury or accident stops him, he’s on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, packing a resume that will put him in the company of the NFL’s greatest running backs ever.  He has stormed into the world’s best football league as if he were still playing in Norman, Oklahoma, or even his high school home town of Palestine, Texas.  He leads the NFL in rushing with 1,036 yards, about 300 yards more than runner-up Willie Parker of Pittsburgh.  Among fellow rookies, Marshawn Lynch of Buffalo is next with 696 yards.  At Oklahoma Peterson had six games during a three year career where he ran for over 200 yards.  With the Vikings he already has two 200 plus yard games, an NFL record for a rookie.

If Peterson doubles his 1,036 yards in the next eight games and finishes with 2,072      he will break two NFL season rushing records held by Dickerson.  In 1983 Dickerson rushed for 1,808 yards as a rookie.  The next season he set the NFL rushing record for one season with 2,105.  (Note: among Smith, Payton, Sanders and Brown, only Sanders gained more than 1,000 yards as a rookie rushing for 1,470 yards.)

Peterson’s speed and strength enable him to do the extraordinary, breaking tackles, creating openings and running past defenders, while leaving looks of amazement on all concerned.  Yes, there is some skilled blocking by the Vikings’ offensive linemen and receivers but Peterson’s gifted running makes the blocking often look better than it is. What a luxury for coach Brad Childress, who is 5-13 in his last 18 games, to have Peterson leading an offense that has often been challenged to produce more than a touchdown or two per game.

Final word to those autograph seekers from the Timbe

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