Bullpen

Kill having so-so recruiting year

The football season has been an ugly one for first-year Gophers coach Jerry Kill.

As for Kill's recruiting year to this point, it has shown mixed results. And it's here that Kill needs to make a real killing if he hopes to get things turned around.

The positives have been getting commitments from a pair of nationally-recruited offensive linemen, mammoth tackle Jonah Pirsig of Blue Earth and athletic guard Isaac Hayes of St. Thomas Academy.

But the biggest get so far — at least when we look back on it in a year or two — may be the commitment Kill got from Mankato West star quarterback Philip Nelson. Nelson, who can run and pass, is smart, and has a strong arm and a quick release, could eventually be a four-year starter. He would seem to fit Kill's offense perfectly as a guy who can pass and run.

It would be interesting to see Nelson operating this offense right now. My gut tells me that with his accurate arm and ability to read defenses, as well as get out of the pocket, that Minnesota would be scoring more points than it is under first-year quarterback Marqueis Gray. I can't wait to see Nelson under center in no less than two years (probably a redshirt year next season).

While Kill has gotten commitments from three of the top Minnesota prep football players, he had the top in-state recruit get away from him. Wide receiver Andre McDonald (Hopkins) has committed to Vanderbilt. Kill is still waiting on the second-highest ranked Minnesota player, Eden Prairie offensive lineman Nick Davidson, and also another major talent, tight end Will Johnson of Osseo. Minnesota is on both of their lists, but so are a bunch of other colleges with football teams that are actually good.

Kill needs to get at least one of those two to make this recruiting class above average. He also needs to make a splash nationally, bringing in a highly-ranked player or two from outside of Minnesota. So far, there's nobody on his list of commitments from outside of our borders that is a head-turner.

There is still time ramp things up. But so far Kill's class of 21 verbal commitments is somewhat disappointing, except for having landed Nelson, Persig and Harris.
— Pat Ruff

Newspaper columnist fanned flames of Vikings-Packers feud

The Vikings and Packers — and their fans — have one of the strongest rivalries in all of sports.

Did you know that a newspaper columnist is responsible for a lot of the heat in the rivalry?  It's true, according to Minnesota blogger Dave Shama.

Some advice for NBA players

To all NBA players who stand unified against the godless owners, read these words of warning from a former NHL player about the reality of losing an entire season:

"It's not worth it. Get a deal done," former Dallas Stars forward Bill Guerin said during a phone call last week.

There was not a single NHL player during the Great Lockout of 2004-05 who was a bigger proponent of the union's fight than this man. No one believed in the cause more than Guerin, and to hear him admit this is a bit stunning.

"I learned a big lesson: It's not a partnership. It's their league, and you are going to play when they want," he said.

Today, Guerin has hindsight and his experience serves as a giant caution to any player who thinks losing a game, much less an entire season, to this lockout is a good idea. His message is simple: Get what you can; start playing; you are not going to win what you think.

"It is not worth it to any of them to burn games or to burn an entire year. Burning a year was ridiculous," Guerin said. "It wasn't worth me giving up $9 million a year, or 82 games plus the playoffs, then having a crappy year and being bought out..... Guys in the NBA making $15 million or however much better think long and hard about this."

The NBA is stuck in a nasty labor fight with the players' union, and the league already canceled the first couple of weeks of the regular season.

NBA Commissioner David Stern has cautioned that if a deal isn't done soon there will be no games through Christmas, at least.

— Marc Engel, McClatchy Newspapers

 

 

Glimmer of hope on the farm for the Twins

The Twins had problems in their infield positions and lacked power in 2011.

Well, he might not be ready in 2012, but at least there is a strong prospect in the system who might help address those two deficiencies, reports Minnesota blogger Dave Shama.

Trade McNabb to Raiders

It probably won't happen, but the Vikings should immediately contact the Oakland Raiders to see if they are interested in trading for quarterback Donovan McNabb.

The Raiders lost quarterback Jason Campbell on Sunday, possibly for the season, with a broken collarbone. Oakland is still in the playoff hunt in the AFC with a solid 4-2 record. But the Raiders are very shaky without Campbell and were scrambling on Monday in search of a veteran quarterback.

That's where McNabb comes in. The Vikings are 1-5, out of the playoff chase, and have rookie quarterback Christian Ponder waiting in the wings. The Vikings should call the Raiders and offer up McNabb. We're not talking robbery here, how about a fourth-round draft choice in the 2012 draft?

The Raiders get a veteran quarterback to try and save their season. The Vikings get a draft choice for a player they won't be keeping in 2012 and the Ponder Era can now officially begin.

Ponder won't have a solid veteran in the clubhouse to lean on, but that's OK. If the Vikings are so inclined they can pull a veteran QB off the street.

The McNabb trade fits with the Raiders in terms of cash, too. The Raiders are about $6 million under the salary cap and McNabb's contract for the whole season was about $5.5 mil.

But the Vikings better make the call quick. The NFL trade deadline is 3 p.m. CDT on Tuesday. And it's a call the Vikings should definitely make.

— Guy N. Limbeck

What's happening in the Lone Star state?

They say there are two seasons in Texas — football and spring football.

Maybe that has expanded. Maybe football has — believe it or not — taken a back seat.

Last June the Dallas Mavericks celebrated an NBA championship, their first in franchise history.

And the Texas Rangers are on the verge of making it back-to-back appearances in the World Series. If they make it, they would be favored over either National League representative, St. Louis or Milwaukee.

Football? The Dallas Cowboys are so-so with a 2-2 record (heading into a game against New England) while the University of Texas just got blown out by Oklahoma and Texas A&M is nothing to right home about.

Have basketball and baseball taken over in the Lone Star state? Say it isn't so, but this year maybe they have.

                                                                                                        — Paul Christian

 

 

Get the ball to Peterson and Harvin

The Vikings are going nowhere, a depressing lot that currently stands at 0-4.

Still, with an offense that continues to struggle, the Vikings could go a long way toward solving their problems by making sure the ball gets in the hands of two players over and over again — Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin.

Plain and simple, running back Peterson and slot receiver (and occasional running back) Harvin are two of the best and most explosive offensive players in football. That these fast, tough and ultra-competitive guys are on the same team should add up to pure magic.

But right now, because there isn’t a concerted effort to get them the ball both via the run and the pass down after down, this team continues to struggle.

The Vikings must take a better look and realize what they have in Peterson and Harvin. And it’s Harvin, especially, who deserves more attention than he’s getting. It seems every time he touches the ball he’s good for 10 yards, whether it’s a run from scrimmage or a 4-yard pass that he turns into a 10-yard gain with his speed, power and elusiveness.

Increase each of their touches of the football by one-third, and watch this offense suddenly look dangerous again.

— Pat Ruff

Job offer for Francona

Former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona could have a new job in New Hampshire — if he's willing to work for $6,000 per year.

The Laconia Muskrats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League faxed a job offer to Francona's agent immediately after he was released from his contract with the major league club last week, but haven't heard back.

Muskrats owner and general manager Noah Crane says he's included some unique benefits in the offer, including a parking spot; 25 percent off at a burrito restaurant; a free gym membership; and 25 tokens to an area arcade.

The New England Collegiate Baseball League has 12 teams. The Muskrats finished the regular season 18-24 before advancing to the championships, where they lost to the Keene Swamp Bats.

— Associated Press

Minnesota's football season has one ray of hope

From a reader, Joe Laughton:

With the less than stellar performances of our Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Golden Gophers football, it appears this 2011 season can be laid to rest sooner rather than later.

But wait fans....... all is not lost.  Don't forget about our Minnesota Valkyrie entry in the Lingerie Football League (LFL) ! 

The Valkyrie have already beaten the Green Bay Chill, 28-25 at Green Bay, August
26, in its season opener.  At least we have some bragging rights on this side of the river, thanks to the Valkyrie !  

The Valkyrie's home opener is October 14 at Target Center, as it hosts the Los Angeles Temptation.    The game will also be shown live on MTV 2 (Charter channel 76).

Check out LFL action Fridays at 9:00 PM on MTV 2.

Perhaps this will whet our appetite for some good Minnesota football........enjoy !

How about Hasselbeck?

 

Some say the Vikings should have given the ball to rookie Christian Ponder at the beginning of the season and let him take over as quarterback, good or bad.

Others, including Vikings management, wanted veteran leadership and decided to go with Donovan McNabb.

They opted for McNabb instead of, say,  Seattle free agent Matt Hasselbeck, who was looking for a job last July.

Wouldn't Hasslelbeck look pretty good wearing Purple right around now?

On Sunday, he threw three touchdown passes in the first half leading the surprising Tennessee Titans to a 31-13 over the Cleveland Browns.

In case you haven't looked, the Titans are 3-1 and tied with Houston for the lead  of the AFC South.

The Vikings? You know their record and it isn't good.

Hasselbeck, 36, spent the last 10 seasons with Seattle. The Titans signed him to a three-year free agent deal in late July, a decision that caused some head scratching around the league.

Now who is having the last laugh?

— Paul Christian