The April 28-30 NFL draft seems to be setting up nicely for the Vikings. If the team gets a break, it could end up with a defensive lineman with the No. 12 overall pick.
Quarterback is the Vikings' most glaring need, but it remains unlikely that Minnesota will choose a QB at No. 12. The reason is that the Vikings' veteran roster needs a QB who is ready now — for instance, Donovan McNabb , who probably could be acquired from the Washington Redskins.
The only QBs worthy of the Vikings' No. 12 pick are Cam Newton of Auburn and Blaine Gabbert of Missouri. Both are expected to be long gone before the Vikings make their first pick.
With Ray Edwards ' expected departure via free agency, coupled with Pat Williams turning 39 years old in October, defensive line becomes the Vikings' most logical target in the first round.
There are three defensive linemen who have been projected as top-10 prospects for the draft, and the Vikings would love to have any of them slip to No. 12. They are tackle Nick Fairley of Auburn, end Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson and end Robert Quinn of North Carolina.
One of the three could slip to No. 12.
It wasn't long ago that Fairley and Bowers were among players projected as possible No. 1 overall picks. But they have dropped down the ladder, Fairley because of concerns about his character and Bowers because of knee issues. Quinn remains a solid top-10 prospect.
all are gone by No. 12, there still should be premier defensive line options for the Vikings. The best might be Cameron Jordan , son of former Vikings tight end Steve Jordan .
Cameron Jordan, who played at the University of California, would be an ideal bookend opposite the Vikings' Jared Allen . Jordan is 6-foot-4, 285 pounds, excels against the run and is a quick pass rusher. As was the case with Steve Jordan, Cameron is smart and of high character. He also might be the surest defensive line pick for the Vikings.
J.J. Watts of Wisconsin should also be available, but he's not the pass rusher Jordan is.
Moss strikes again . In the second round, the Vikings would love to choose a QB for future development. But at the top of the second round, there likely will be a run on the quality QBs remaining after Newton and Gabbert are gone. And many teams picking early in the second round need a QB.
The Vikings don't have the flexibility to trade up for one of them because they don't have a third-round pick. That pick belongs to New England because of the infamous Randy Moss trade last season.
Without that third-round selection, the Vikings can't afford to give up more picks to trade up in the second round. They probably will have to just sit and hope a worthwhile QB falls to them at No. 43 overall.
By the way, with Antoine Winfield turning 34 in June, there is a chance that cornerback Prince Amukamara (6 feet, 205 pounds) of Nebraska could slip to No. 12. The Vikings certainly could use Amukamara, but it would be hard for Minnesota to pass on all the tremendous defensive line talent expected to be available.
Pssst: Scott Sandelin , coach of NCAA hockey champion Minnesota-Duluth,and Shattuck-St. Mary's hockey director Tom Ward will be named this week to assist head coach Dean Blais with the U.S. National junior team.
The Twins , who were 4-7 after 11 games this season, were 2-9 after 11 games in 1991, the last time they won a World Series.
After five games with the Chicago White Sox, ex-Twins reliever Jesse Crain is 0-1 with six strikeouts and a 2.84 earned-run average.
Meanwhile, ex-Twins reliever Matt Guerrier hasn't given up a run in seven games and 7 2/3 innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers while striking out four.
There will be a colossal gathering of the Gophers football family late this month at a private reception to celebrate the life of late coach Murray Warmath . Among nearly 150 of Warmath's admirers who will attend are Bob Stein , Jim Carter , Dick Larson , Mike Svensden , John Williams , Steve Midboe , Ezell Jones , Matt Rauh , Tom Sakal , Ray Hitchcock , Barry Mayer , Steve Lundeen , Mike Sherels , Darrell Bunge , Ray Parsons , Ray Stephens , Kraig Lofquist , Bobby Morgan , Kevin Hamm , John Campbell , Jim Marshall , Dick Mattson , Bruce VanDeWalker , Greg Larson , John Hankinson , Bob McNamara , Wayne King , Tom King , Jim Brunzell , Bobby Bell , Judge Dickson , Anthony Burke , Mike Perfetti , Dan Powers , Bob Brothen , Noel Jenke , Phil McElroy , Keith Fahnhorst , Gale Gillingham , Tim Browne , Tony Phillipi , Peter Franzen , Pat Fallon , Lee (Mrs. Butch) Nash , Ray Hawes , Greg Gagne , Ken Kephart , Leon Trawick , Mike Reid and Stan Skjei .
During Kris Humphries ' first six seasons in the NBA, he averaged 4.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. This season for the New Jersey Nets, the 6-9, 235-pound former Mr. Basketball Minnesota from Hopkins averaged 10 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.
What's the difference?
"When I came into the league (in 2004 with the Utah Jazz), I was in a couple of tough situations, and I was young," Humphries, 26, said from New Jersey. "But I've just continued to work on my game, and getting with coach Avery Johnson I learned a lot. He also gave me the opportunity to play consistent minutes, and your confidence gets higher as you play more."
"The formula has always been there; it's been just getting in the right spot and getting the opportunity," he said.
Humphries, who played for $3.2 million this season, is an unrestricted free agent.
"I would love to stay in Jersey — they gave me my opportunity and I kind of found my way into the league here," he said. "At the same time, it's a business."
What about playing for the hometown Timberwolves?
"Minnesota's always close to me, but I don't think now's the time," Humphries said. "We got something going in New Jersey, a move to Brooklyn (N.Y.) in a new building the year after next season that's supposed to be the premier arena in the league, and I want to be part of that. I hear courtside seats already are sold out."
Humphries has residences in Mound and Miami. As for social life, he said he and reality TV's Kim Kardashian "have a great relationship. I'm happy with Kim, and I'll leave it at that."
Humphries said he and Kardashian are not engaged.
Meanwhile, Humphries and his father, William , a former Gophers football player, own four "Five Guys Burgers and Fries" franchises in Minnesota.
Humphries left the Gophers for the NBA at age 19 after his freshman season.
"It's the whole dilemma of staying in school and possibly getting hurt, and having an opportunity to get to the NBA, which is great, so why not jump on it right away?" he said. "But at the same time, maybe if I would have been older going to Utah, I could have had a little more success there. That was a real tough situation for me. I think everything happens for a reason, and all that got me where I'm at today."
Humphries said he intends to get his college degree eventually.
"A degree definitely is something that would be great to have," he said. "My dad and I have a business partner who said he would pay for me to go back to school, at Harvard. I would never go to Harvard, but maybe I'll see if I can get him to do that at Minnesota.
"It's an interesting incentive, but I don't think Harvard is quite my style. I'm just a low-key guy from Minnesota."
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