Peter King of Sports Illustrated ranked the NFL’s top 500 players before the season started. Colt quarterback Peyton Manning was first and Kevin Williams of the Vikings No. 14. Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver with the Cardinals, ranked No. 58. Former Gopher running backs Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III ranked 115 and 260. Former Vikings Randy Moss and Daunte Culpepper were 246 and 306, while Viking quarterback Tarvaris Jackson ranked 321.
Tied at five: Combining pre-season and one regular season game the Vikings defense and offense have each scored five touchdowns.
The Vikings have dominated their series with the Lions and have a couple of streaks going into Sunday’s 3:05 p.m. game in Detroit. The Vikings are 60-29-2 all-time against Detroit and have won 10 straight, the longest winning streak by an NFL team against an opponent. The Vikings are 5-0 in Ford Field, the Lions new home stadium since 2002.
Lions offensive coordinator and former Ram coach Mike Martz was an assistant coach for head coach Joe Salem with the Gophers in 1982.
Current and former Vikings will attend the annual Taste of the NFL Celebrity Dinner from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday, October 1 at Winter Park (Field House). The public can enjoy food from 20 area restaurants and sample quality wines. Tickets are $160 per person or a table for 10 is $1,500. Ticket information: 612-338-4537 or www.tasteofthenfl.org. Net proceeds benefit Hunger Solutions Minnesota through the Viking Childrens Fund.
The Minnesota Wild will host a State of Hockey Celebration in the Rotunda at the Mall of America from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. The event commemorates the start of the hockey season and various attractions will include interactive games. Marian Gaborik and Mark Parrish are scheduled for an appearance from to 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will model a new team jersey.
Single game Minnesota Wild tickets go on sale Saturday. Tickets are available in all price categories. Tickets can be purchased at the Xcel Energy Center box office starting at 9 a.m. or at Ticketmaster locations beginning at noon.
Gustavus Adolphus junior wide receiver Chad Arlt, Saint John’s senior running back Aaron Blackmore, Bethel sophomore cornerback Tim Cornish and St. Olaf sophomore defensive back Carson Jones have been named MIAC football players of the week. Achievements included Arlt catching a school record 15 passes that resulted in 221 yards (Gustavus record 228).