Floyd Reese, who was an assistant coach with the Vikings in the 1980s and later a long time executive with Houston and Tennessee, might be the next general manager in Cleveland. https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/11/floyd-reese-could-be-the-next-browns-gm/

Former Vikings defensive coordinator Foge Fazio died recently from cancer.

Gophers football coach Tim Brewster’s home in the western suburbs is for sale because his drive to campus and back is more than 30 miles each way, making for a long commute time.

Look for the Gophers to throw the ball frequently to MarQueis Gray in the December 31 Insight Bowl.  Gray will be available to play quarterback if needed but is expected to perform mostly at wide receiver in the game.

The Insight Bowl is the only Big Ten affiliated post-season game televised by the NFL Network.

With several free agent third basemen available, the Twins are well positioned to find a quality player because they have a need and a winning team.  Don’t minimize the value of the positive “chemistry” in the team locker room for helping to attract a third baseman.

TwinsFest will be January 29-31 at the Metrodome.  More than 50 current, former and future Twins players are expected to appear during the weekend.  A complete list of players will be released in the coming weeks on www.twinsbaseball.com.  Tickets are available through various sources including the team’s Website and pro shops.

FOX Sports North is televising “Minnesota Twins: A September to Remember” on various dates this month and in January.  The one hour special covers the team’s dramatic comeback to win the Central Division and includes extensive commentary from manager Ron Gardenhire.  Upcoming air dates include 9 p.m. next Saturday and 7 p.m. on December 29.

The Lynx will select second in the Dispersal Draft involving Sacramento Monarchs players today.  The Lynx are expected to choose either Nicole Powell or Rebekkah Brunson, both former WNBA All-Stars, according to an email from a franchise spokesman.  The draft begins at noon.

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Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell suggested yesterday that All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson can be more effective by not trying to go the distance on some plays.  Specifically, Bevell said it can be better to “punch” into the hole rather than cut back while trying to make a big run.

“I think he tries to break every run,” Bevell said.  “…I am not saying because he’s trying to break every run that he’s not doing his job.  But I do believe there are some he needs to cram in there (the hole) and get the positive gain, and not try to slip it outside.  Because sometimes when you slip it outside, you’re running east and west, and that’s when you get hit for a minus yardage play.”

Bevell answered questions at yesterday’s Vikings news conference including about the team’s running game that produced 62 net yards last Sunday in a 30-17 loss to Arizona.  Peterson ran for only 19 yards, the second lowest of his career and fewest yards since he had three against San Francisco during the 2007 season.

Bevell wasn’t critical of Peterson yesterday and said expectations for Peterson to gain 200 yards a game aren’t realistic.  Peterson, with 1,103 yards this season, has gained 100 yards or more only once in his last six games.

Peterson, with four games remaining in the regular season, has been under 100 yards nine times this season.  All of last season he had only six games where he gained fewer than 100 yards.

Defenses have prioritized to stop Peterson and that has created opportunities for the Vikings to pass effectively. The challenge in running the ball on Sunday at home against Cincinnati will be formidable.  The Bengals rank second in the NFL in rushing defense, giving up 81.8 yards per game.  They are 12^th against the pass yielding 211.5 yards per game.

Peterson and his Vikings teammates weren’t pleased with their work at Arizona.  Coach Brad Childress said earlier in the week his team didn’t play with “urgency,” and yesterday Peterson blamed “lack of attitude.”

“Personally, I feel in that game everyone wasn’t there,” he said.  “Lack of attitude.  It can trickle down to an entire team.  I feel like that was all it was.  That can make the run look bad.  It can make the pass game look bad.  Special teams.  It was all around.  We can correct those things.  Make sure we come in with the right mindset.  We’ll be all right.”

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New head coach Todd Richards has made a solid impression in his first few months on the job for the Wild but what isn’t well known is Richards might have become the Pittsburgh coach last season, according to an NHL source.  Pittsburgh fired coach Michel Therrien in February and wanted to pursue Richards who was an assistant at San Jose but the Sharks wouldn’t give the Penguins permission to interview him, according to the source who requested anonymity.

Instead the Penguins hired Dan Bylsma who had been coaching Pittsburgh’s American Hockey League affiliate team.  The rookie coach directed the Penguins to a Stanley Cup championship, beating Detroit in seven games.

Neither Bylsma or Richards had ever been an NHL head coach until this year.  Bylsma had replaced Richards as head coach of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the 2008-09 season.  He had been an assistant there to Richards for two seasons.  The two had working relationships with Chuck Fletcher who until becoming general manager of the Wild last spring had been assistant GM in Pittsburgh.

After the NHL season ended last spring, the Wild and all the teams with coaching vacancies were interested in Richards, according to another NHL source.  A lot of research on candidates by Wild owner Craig Leipold and Fletcher convinced them to hire Richards.

Richards, 42, hopes to have his team in the Stanley Cup playoffs next spring and the team’s recent play (won six of the last seven games) indicates that might happen.  Prior to the season the Wild weren’t considered among the league’s most likely playoff teams.

The Wild has shown determination under Richards.  Earlier this week the Wild led the NHL with five wins when behind after the second period.  The Wild has trailed opponents in nine of its 14 wins.

Richards has developed a solid relationship with his players who respect him, according to sources.  Even for an NHL coach, Richards is a hard worker and his personal values have impressed inside and outside the Wild organization.

Like any team, the Wild hope their best players, led by forward Mikko Koivu and goalie Niklas Backstrom, stay healthy. “They will make a good run for the playoffs,” a source said.

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