Jerry Burns, 82, was the oldest of the Vikings’ large support group for Randall McDaniel at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last weekend.  Burns, the former Vikings coach, told Sports Headliners former Vikings in attendance included Joey Browner, Tim Irwin, Kirk Lowdermilk and Ron Yary.

Minnesota native Tim Herron, who didn’t receive an invitation to play in this week’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club, will attend tournament parties for his corporate sponsors, according to his dad Carson.

Jim Nantz, the CBS sportscaster here covering the PGA, had dinner earlier in the week at Murray’s, enjoying the restaurant’s famous Silver Butter Knife Steak.

Agent Ron Shapiro was in town this week to talk with Joe Mauer and his advisors, according to a source who requested anonymity.  Mauer’s contract ends after next season and only the Twins are allowed to talk contract with him until the fall of 2010.

Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Garrett Jones hit .208 with two home runs and five RBI in 56 at-bats with the Twins last year.  This season those numbers are: .288, 12 and 20 in 146 at-bats.  The 28-year-old seemingly didn’t have a future with the Twins because he would have been behind Justin Morneau at first base, Michael Cuddyer in right field and Jason Kubel as left-handed designated hitter.

Randy Ruiz, who played briefly with the Twins in 2008 and this summer was second in home runs while playing in the Pacific Coast League, joined Toronto’s roster earlier this week and hit a home run in his first at-bat for the Blue Jays.  He also homered in his second game.

Trent Oeltjen, a 27-year-old outfielder from Australia who originally signed with the Twins, was called up from the minors last week by Arizona and hit a home run in his first game.  He’s hitting .414 with three home runs in six games for the Diamondbacks.

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Twins’ catcher Joe Mauer is financing brother Bill’s purchase of Southview Chevrolet in Inver Grove Heights, according to Jake Mauer, the boys’ grandfather.  The older Mauer told Sports Headliners the dealership will be open in early September to provide parts and service, and sell vehicles by October 1.

“He (Joe) takes care of his family,” Jake said.  “His brother needs something, he always gives. His dad and mom, he always gives.  That’s what’s really nice about him.  He takes care of family first.”

Bill has previous experience in the car business including past employment in sales at Southview when it was owned by Denny Hecker.  Joe is expected to make personal appearances at the dealership which as yet is unnamed but could be Mauer Chevrolet.  “I think this thing is a natural,” said Jake who knows the Mauer name is legendary in St. Paul.  “I really do.”

An owner in the auto business today typically needs patience.  When does the Mauer dealership plan to be profitable? “They say it will take at least a couple years to come around,” Jake said.

What’s Joe’s feeling about the business?  “He doesn’t mind it,” Jake said.  “What the hell.  He’s got more money than you can talk about.  He might as well use it.  He’s single.  He can do what he wants to do.”

Joe is in the next to last season of a four-year contract worth $33 million, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts on the Web.  It’s believed that he’s paying less than $5 million for the dealership.

Jake said another Joe Mauer deal was closing last week on a large amount of land near Rush City.  “What he bought it for really and truly was for his mom and dad’s home,” Jake said.

Joe took possession of a $110,000 Mercedes-Benz earlier this week, Jake said.

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Adrian Peterson told Jim Brown, the legendary former Cleveland Browns running back, that he’s not sure if his Vikings coaches fully understand his ability.   Peterson, who led the NFL in rushing last season and has gained 3,101 yards during his first two pro seasons, was interviewed by Brown in the August 3 issue of the Sporting News Magazine.

Brown, who even during his playing days in the 1960s was outspoken, entertained Peterson at his California home for an extensive and direct interview.  Among Brown’s questions and Peterson’s answers were: 

“Do your coaches understand and contribute to your ability the way you would like them to?  And do they give you the plays that you would like?” 

“I would say they understand my ability, but I don’t know to what extent.  Our running backs coach, Eric Bieniemy, understands the potential that I have but that I still have room to grow and get better.  We talk about some of the plays, not really in the running game but more spreading me out and finding other ways to put the ball in my hands.  I pressure him to get me out on reverses and stuff like that.   But I feel like they do a pretty good job.”

“You know why I’m asking you these questions, don’t you?  People think that coaches are always right, but it’s difficult to teach a runner with your special ability how to run.  Sometimes it’s kind of hard for a coach to make those adjustments. Is that why you have that smile?” 

“Yes, sir.  You hear all that stuff about getting out of bounds, or if two guys are roughing you up and your forward progress is stopped, you might as well go ahead and fall down.  That’s not really my mindset.”

Late last month, when training camp opened, Peterson talked about goals for this season. He said the “ultimate goal” is to have the Vikings repeat as NFC North champions. “My goal is doing whatever I can to contribute, whether that is on special teams or punt return; anything to make this team the best team when we step on the field.”

Peterson wants to improve his “route running” to be a bigger contributor to the team’s passing game.  How about rushing for 2,000 yards or more?  “It is something I think about and dream about,” he said.  “I don’t focus on it because you’ll never accomplish it that way. That’s my bar, it will always be 2,000 or more.  I hope to accomplish that some day.”

League MVP?  “Yes, that definitely fits in the category of my personal goals,” he said.

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