Sid Hartman: Kleinsasser quietly goes about his role

The Vikings surprised some NFL experts when they signed former Giants tight end Visanthe Shiancoe as a free agent during the offseason, even though he had caught only 12 passes in 2006 and was not ranked among the top players at his position.

Then Sunday they claimed tight end Garrett Mills, a 2006 fourth-rounder from Tulsa. The Patriots planned to put him on the practice squad if he had cleared waivers.

Meanwhile, there has been little written about Vikings tight end Jim Kleinsasser, who is in his ninth year with the Vikings. There had been rumors during the offseason that the Vikings were reluctant to keep his contract. Kleinsasser's base salary of $2.4 million for 2006 was the highest of any tight end in the NFL (he was 11th in total salary, which includes bonuses, among tight ends).

Kleinsasser is healthy. The former University of North Dakota star just does his work each day and doesn't like being in the limelight.

Only Steve Jordan has more career Vikings starts at tight end (149) than Kleinsasser (83). He ranks fifth among Vikings tight ends in career catches with 154, behind Jordan (498), Jermaine Wiggins (186), Stu Voigt (177) and Joe Senser (165).

"I think it's just coming in and picking up what scraps I can and getting in there and doing my run blocking, pass protection and whatever comes after that, you know, comes," Kleinsasser said. "I hope I get a few more opportunities [to catch passes] but it's whatever the game plan calls for and whatever happens out there on the field. I just do what I'm asked to do and whatever that is, I'm ready to do it."

Kleinsasser said the West Coast offense provides a lot of opportunities for the tight end to catch some passes, although he didn't catch any in four preseason games.

"We've got to, as tight ends, execute it and get in the right spots and take care of the ball," Kleinsasser said.

About the talk last year of not keeping Kleinsasser because of his high salary for a tight end, he said: "I'm still here. ... I love being in Minnesota, love the people here and love this team."

He looks for a big improvement over last season's 6-10 record during coach Brad Childress' first year.

"I think the big thing is just the chemistry with the guys, and the coaching staff and players knowing each other a heck of a lot better," he said. "It's going to be a lot better this year.

"That's the big thing. You come out your first year, it's like your first day of kindergarten. Now we're kind of used to everybody's personalities and what to expect in all situations. So it will be pretty good."

A lot of good football players come out of Division II schools, and Kleinsasser is one of that group. He's also a great team leader.

Bouncing back

Gophers football coach Tim Brewster admits there was a lot of hurt after being upset by Bowling Green 32-31 in overtime, but he says the players have responded well this week in practice.

Brewster has made some lineup changes, moving true freshman Ryan Collado into the starting lineup at right cornerback over fifth-year senior Desi Steib and moving Mike Chambers back to wide receiver after a tryout at cornerback.

Brewster looks for the team to play with much more confidence this week, particularly early in the game.

"We had a lot of young kids playing last week," Brewster said. "Between redshirt freshmen and true freshmen, I think we had around 15 kids playing in the game for the first time. So I think there was some confidence issues there. ... We've made some corrections, some adjustments this week in practice and I think you'll see us, you know you'll see those kids playing much more confident this week against Miami of Ohio."

Brewster announced he has awarded scholarships for 2007 to three walk-ons: junior linebacker Kevin Mannion, junior kickoff specialist Joel Monroe and sophomore tight end Nick Tow-Arnett.

Brewster said he rewarded the trio for past outstanding performance, including the Bowling Green game.

Pinckney joins Wolves

Ed Pinckney, an assistant basketball coach at Villanova, will replace Rex Kalamian as an assistant with the Timberwolves. Pinckney, a star on the Villanova team that upset Georgetown 66-64 for the 1985 NCAA title, coached Wolves guard Randy Foye. A No. 1 draft choice of Phoenix in 1985, he played 12 seasons in the NBA. Kalamian is leaving the Wolves to become an assistant with the Sacramento Kings.

Wolves owner Glen Taylor held a board of directors and owners meeting Wednesday and he reported to the group that the franchise lost more than $20 million last season, but he is hopeful of a more successful season.

The Wolves are trying to satisfy forward Juwan Howard, who has asked to be traded because he had agreed to be traded here from the Houston Rockets because of the opportunity to play with Kevin Garnett. Now that Garnett has been traded to the Boston Celtics, Howard wants to play elsewhere. He has named three teams he would prefer to play with, but so far none of the three have offered what the Wolves believe would be adequate trade value.

The Wolves have offered a one-year contract at the minimum of $420,000 and a club option for two more years to Chris Richard, the team's second-round draft choice from Florida. However, Richard's agent is looking for a two-year guarantee. The Wolves have 15 signed players and Richard would be the 16th to put them over the limit, so they have not rushed into negotiations. Richard has been working out with the team.

Jottings

The Vikings have dedicated Sunday's home opener with Atlanta as "Heroes Day" and will present a check to Minnesota Helps -- Bridge Disaster Fund for $100,000 prior to kickoff.

Childress said he made the trade for quarterback Kelly Holcomb just in time, because Philadelphia Eagles reserve QB A.J. Feeley broke his hand on the third play of a preseason game against the New York Jets and Holcomb would not have been available.

Devoe Joseph, a highly recruited shooting guard from Pickering (Ont.) High School near Toronto, visited the Gophers campus Thursday. ... Ralph Sampson III, a 6-11 center from Duluth (Ga.) Northview and one of the top basketball recruits in the country, will make an official campus visit this weekend. He previously made an unofficial visit. ... Also visiting will be Colton Iverson, a 6-9 center from Yankton, S.D. He has visited Creighton and Florida and been offered a scholarship by the defending NCAA champions.

Sid Hartman can be heard weekdays on WCCO AM-830 at 6:40, 7:40 and 8:40 a.m. and on his Podcast twice a week at www.startribune.com/sidcast. shartman@startribune.com