The Vikings should take a game plan to Kansas City next Sunday that includes providing rookie quarterback Christian Ponder an opportunity to play.

It probably makes the most sense to again start 34-year-old quarterback Donovan McNabb and ease Ponder in the game.  Let Ponder in the game by the second quarter, regardless of how McNabb is producing.

If McNabb is off to his best start in four games, at least let Ponder play for a series or two and gain regular season experience.  If McNabb is playing so-so − or even poorly − that’s more reason to put the rookie in the game.

Based on the first three games of the season, the offense needs more from the quarterback position than McNabb has produced.  He’s occasionally impressive and often mediocre, but what he’s clearly demonstrated is an inability to make the biggest of plays when needed the most.

Simply put, the 0-3 Vikings need a more productive playmaker at the quarterback position.  Can Ponder be the answer?  Well, he’s definitely considered the future and the heir to McNabb.  At least allow him an NFL introduction, even if it’s limited next Sunday in Kansas City against a Chiefs team that is also 0-3.

Yesterday the offense could produce only three second half points in a 26-23 overtime loss to Detroit.  The outcome might have been different if on a fourth and one early in the fourth quarter the Vikings could have gained one yard at the Detroit 17 yard line and added to their 20-17 lead.

Toby Gerhart was stopped for no gain and a crowd that urged the Vikings to decide against a field goal was left wondering if the right decision was made.  Conventional coaching wisdom probably was to take the points.

Vikings defensive end Jared Allen wasn’t about to second-guess in the locker room after the game. “You get that first down, now you’re going for the jugular,” he said.  “I like that kind of football.  I would put my paycheck saying that these guys can get one yard.”

For the third consecutive week the Vikings blew a half time lead, this time being up 20-0.  After the game players were frustrated just as they were after losing 17-7 and 17-0 leads the previous weeks.

“We’re trying to win games.  We have such a talented team,” Allen said. “We’re the best first half team in football.  Something doesn’t transfer over.  It ain’t a lack of effort.”

Allen had three sacks in the game and the Vikings other defensive end, Brian Robision, had two.  Robison, like Allen, said he didn’t have an explanation for the second half failures.

“We gotta figure it out,” Robison said.  “If we don’t, it’s going to be a long, long season.”

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Looks like Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak will be enjoying hot sauces after winning a bet with Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon.  The Lynx eliminated Phoenix in the Western Conference semifinals to move on to the WNBA Finals starting next Sunday at Target Center.  The Lynx will play either Atlanta or Indiana in a best of five series with all games telecast on ESPN2.

Sporting News Magazine’s list of the top 100 NFL players in the September 26 issue won’t make Vikings fans do cartwheels.  In its annual ratings of players the publication has nine Packers ─ more than any other NFL team ─ and includes four players with Vikings-ties among “ten of the most notable” players who were dropped from last year’s list.

Those four are ex-Vikings quarterback Brett Favre and three players on the 2011 roster, guard Steve Hutchinson, quarterback Donovan McNabb and defensive tackle Kevin Williams.  The Packers include quarterback Aaron Rodgers, ranked No. 1 on the 100 player list.

The Vikings have four players in the top 100 including running back Adrian Peterson, rated No. 9.  The others are wide receiver-kick returner Percy Harvin at No. 70, defensive end Jared Allen, No. 71, and cornerback Antoine Winfield, No. 86.

Teams with the most players after the Packers were the Ravens and Steelers with seven each, Eagles and Patriots at six, and Cowboys and Falcons with five.  The Vikings and five others teams had four each, while NFC North rivals the Bears and Lions had three and two players respectively in the top 100.

It was 60 years ago this month that Rams quarterback Norm Van Brocklin threw for 554 yards in one game, still an NFL record.  Van Brocklin later became the first coach of the Vikings.

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Vikings running back Toby Gerhart likes to fish when he has recreational time.  He told Sports Headliners he has caught some “nice bass and northerns” at Eden Prairie’s Bryant Lake.

Vikings safety Husain Abdullah visits son Jalaal’s pre-kindergarten class on Tuesdays to read to him.

Here are the Sports Headliners weekly rankings of Big Ten Football teams: Wisconsin, Nebraska, Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan State, Michigan, Penn State, Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue, Minnesota and Indiana.

Rivals.com doesn’t include the Gophers when listing the top 50 2012 football recruiting classes.  Michigan, at No. 3, is the only Big Ten school in the top 10, while Penn State, No. 14, is the other Big Ten program in the top 20.  Among Big Ten schools, the Gophers ranked last.

Jackson Brett, son of baseball hall of famer George Brett, is a freshman football player at the University of St. Thomas.  The 6-2, 255-pound Kansas native is listed as a long snapper on the Tommies online roster.

The Internet has numerous stories about former Hopkins basketball star Kris Humphries being recruited by Kansas but rejected because Jayhawks players told coach Roy Williams they didn’t like him.  The subject of Humphries recruitment has come up because of a new book about Kansas basketball, Beyond the Phog.

The 12-city tennis Champions Series that includes Minneapolis this Friday night at Target Center started last week with stops in Fort Lauderdale, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.  Pete Sampras won in two of the three cities last week and leads the field of players with 900 points, according to the series website.  Seven tennis legends are competing in the series with the top three finishers sharing a bonus pool of $1 million.  The Minneapolis players will be Jim Courier, Michael Chang, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe.  Tickets starting at $35 are still available. www.championsseriestennis.com

Local broadcaster Eric Nelson is part of a group that already has nine radio affiliates using the services of Game Day Gold to receive sports coverage.  www.gamedaygold.com

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