In the September 13 issue of Sporting News Magazine the publication lists the NFL’s top 100 players as selected by a 99 man panel including 25 Hall of Famers.  The Vikings, with seven selections, have more players than any franchise, followed by the Ravens and Steelers at six each.

Running back Adrian Peterson is the highest rated Viking at No. 5, followed by defensive end Jared Allen No. 10, quarterback Brett Favre No. 15, offensive guard Steve Hutchinson No. 23, defensive tackle Kevin Williams No. 29, and wide receivers Sidney Rice No. 71 and Percy Harvin No. 93.

Williams’ No. 29 ranking surprised his defensive line teammate Jimmy Kennedy.  “They’re robbing Kevin,” Kennedy said about the All-Pro who some analysts consider the best defensive tackle in pro football.  “If Jared is 10, Kevin gotta be eight.”

Kennedy admires Allen, too, a player who has a reputation for sacking the quarterback.  “He’s relentless, man,” Kennedy told Sports Headliners.  “He goes out there and people always talk about him versus the pass.  He’s stellar versus the run as well.  Night in, night out, he comes ready to play and he’s going to leave it on the field.”

Williams has played in five Pro Bowls, Allen three.  Williams is 30 years old, Allen 28.  The two of them, along with defensive tackle Pat Williams and defensive end Ray Edwards form perhaps the NFL’s best defensive line.

Sporting News ranked quarterback Peyton Manning of the Colts as the No. 1 player, followed by Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Titans running back Chris Johnson and Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

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The return this Saturday of Gophers senior safety Kyle Theret from suspension will help the secondary where true freshman James Manuel and junior college transfer Christyn Lewis have been the starting safeties.  Senior Kim Royston, who like Theret was expected to be a starter, probably won’t play against USC because he’s still recovering from a broken leg, according to coach Tim Brewster. The starting secondary could eventually have Lewis and Ryan Collado as cornerbacks, with Theret and Royston at the safeties.

The Vikings face a Miami team on Sunday with a reputation for being a physical group, even by NFL standards.  Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams, about 317 pounds, expects to be ready.  “I like to mix it up,” he said. “I just go out there and play dirty.  I am just an old fashioned, dirty player.”

Williams is a car collector and his eight automobiles include a Rolls Royce.  He’s “fixing” his cars and is a seller, not a buyer.  The goal is to reduce inventory to four.  Williams said total value of the eight cars is about $700,000, with the Rolls Royce accounting for about half.  “I am about to get rid of my Rolls Royce and sell it,” he said. “I am kind of tired of it.”

Vikings offensive tackle Steve Hutchinson, who joined the Vikings in 2006, likes this area so well he and his family are building a home on Lake Minnetonka.

Vikings offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie redshirted at the University of Miami before becoming a first round NFL draft choice.  Redshirting might have been a smart move for another Hurricane offensive tackle, former Cretin-Derham Hall prep All-American Seantrel Henderson but Henderson has already played some game minutes and is no longer redshirt eligible.

Hopkins basketball coach Ken Novak told Sports Headliners that his senior guard-forward Joe Coleman will likely decide on a college choice by month’s end.  He’s already visited the Gophers, with upcoming stops at Santa Clara and Iowa State.

Novak said one of his former players, Royce White, is adjusting well to school and surroundings at Iowa State.  Novak helped White choose a school earlier this year and said Kentucky coach John Calipari wanted him “pretty bad” but Iowa State was a “better fit.”

Novak became involved in White’s decision because of concern that the former Gopher, who never played here as a freshman last season, would opt for the NBA draft or pro ball in Europe.  “I thought it would be in his best interest to go to school,” Novak said.

Bob Zender, the 6-7 center for the great Edina High basketball teams in the mid-1960s, passed away in Kansas on Sunday.

Dave Stead, executive director of the Minnesota State High School League, will be the speaker at the next CORES luncheon on November 11.  CORES members can make reservations by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.  CORES had an attendance of 147 last week to hear Brewster talk about the Gophers.  CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, educators, reporters and sports fans.

Quarterback Michael Dunham and defensive end Perry Patterson, both from Concordia College in Moorhead, and Saint John’s kicker Jimmie Mattson are the MIAC offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week.  Dunham threw three touchdown passes while Patterson had eight tackles in Moorhead’s 35-0 win last Saturday against Valley City State.  Mattson was perfect on two field goals and two extra points in his team’s overtime loss to Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

While Vikings coach Brad Childress and Brewster have their critics in Minneapolis, it’s difficult to believe there’s much negative said in Duluth about Bulldogs football coach Bob Nielson who has UMD ranked No. 2 in the Division II national coaches poll.  UMD won the national championship in 2008 and made the quarterfinals last year.

The Minnesota Swarm selected a familiar local name when the franchise chose Eagan native Ryan Hurley of Cornell University in the third round of the National Lacrosse League Entry Draft last week.  A high-school All-American at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Hurley made a reputation nationally during his four-year career at Cornell, which included leading his team to the 2009 National Championship game against Syracuse.  https://www.mnswarm.com/news/news.asp?news_id=783

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Roy Smalley told Sports Headliners the Twins might have fewer abilities “on paper” than the Yankees and Rays but Minnesota is still a formidable potential playoff team with its talent and attitude.

Smalley, who follows the team as an analyst for Fox Sports North, said if the Twins had an additional high quality pitcher it could be a difference maker for Minnesota in a playoff series.  “In a short series it just comes down to who can step up,” he said.

Still, the Twins have turned heads this year.  Yes, there is talent with pitchers like Carl Pavano and Francisco Liriano, and position players such as Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer, Delmon Young, Jason Kubel and Danny Valencia.  Bench contributors have been impressive, too, players who have come from Triple A Rochester to sub for injured regulars, or players filling roles assigned to them last spring like clutch slugger Jim Thome (six home runs in the last 10 games).

But the Twins’ resiliency in overcoming injuries and determination to keep winning, including close games, prompts Smalley to speak with conviction about the franchise he helped to a World Series title in 1987.  “Very tough in the gut,” Smalley said of the 2010 Twins who have won six of their last 11 games by one run.

The patience and perseverance to win close games has shown up in the team’s competition against the White Sox this season.  The two teams have played nine one- run games.  The Twins lead the season series 10-5 going into tomorrow night’s final three games between Chicago and Minnesota.

The series has the host White Sox in a predicament.  With each team having only 19 games remaining, Chicago is six games back of the Twins in the Central Division standings.  The Twins are the likely winners of the division even if they win only a game or two this week in Chicago.

What’s also important is for the Twins to maximize their wins and possibly finish with the best record in the American League.  That would assure home field advantage in the league playoffs.

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