The NFL is re-positioning its umpires in games this season from the defensive side of the ball to the offensive side. It’s a move designed to reduce injuries to them.
Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said yesterday he isn’t surprised about the amount of time quarterback Brett Favre is using to make a decision about playing. “You figure with Brett (Favre) things are going to start happening at some point, particularly this time of year,” Bevell said. “I know it’s a decision that he wrestles with. He is a great player and great competitor. He mulls things over, he is an emotional guy and he thinks things through long and hard. He takes his time with his decision. I am not surprised that things started to come out. We will just have to wait and see.”
Vikings wide receiver Bernard Berrian has a python named Roscoe.
Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, for years a supporter of war veterans, has a brother in the Marine Corps.
A majority of fans, 72 percent, voting in a Washington Post online poll believe the Nationals got the better of the trade that sent All-Star reliever Matt Capps to the Twins. Only 17 percent said the Nationals shouldn’t have traded Capps.
Part of that trade included high potential Twins catching prospect Wilson Ramos who the Nationals have assigned to AAA Syracuse. Today the Chiefs and Ramos play against his former AAA team Rochester.
The Twins finish their four-game series at Tampa Bay today without having to face former teammate Matt Garza who was chosen major league baseball’s co-player of the week with Toronto’s Jose Bautista after recently throwing a no-hitter. Garza threw the first no-hitter in franchise history.
The Twins acquired pitcher Carl Pavano on waivers from Cleveland on August 7 last year. This Saturday (August 7) Pavano is expected to be the Twins starter in Cleveland against the Indians.
After winning eight consecutive games, major league baseball moved the Twins’ ranking from No. 11 to No. 8 this week in the power rankings. Ahead of the Twins are the Yankees, Rays, Padres, Rangers, Cardinals, Braves and Giants. See www.mlb.com.