SID's JOTTINGS

• The passing of Bruce Dayton at 97 reminded me of how important the Dayton family was in its contributions, financial and otherwise, to making this area a big-league community. Gov. Mark Dayton has continued the family legacy with the new Vikings stadium just one example.

• Interesting note from Sports Illustrated's Peter King: There have been 530 overtime games in the NFL, and Mike Zimmer's decision to play defense after winning the coin toss was only the 10th time that has happened.

• You might recall that John Ryan Murphy, the new Twins catcher acquired from the Yankees for Aaron Hicks, hit a go-ahead three-run homer off Glen Perkins on July 25 when the Twins closer was struggling.

• Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and Raiders receiver Amari Cooper were high school teammates at Miami Northwestern. Cooper was the No. 4 pick in this year's draft and Bridgewater was the No. 32 pick in 2014. Cooper, who might not play Sunday because of a quadriceps injury, has 45 catches for 653 yards through eight games. According to the Contra Costa Times, the two also were great students who helped their high school go from getting failing grades in the state evaluation to becoming the first Miami inner-city school to get a B grade, in 2011.

• Former Vikings defensive end Jared Allen caught a break when the Bears traded him to Carolina earlier this season. The Panthers are 8-0 and might be headed to the Super Bowl. Allen is helping to lead their defensive charge with 11 tackles and two sacks in the past three games.

• Gavin Bassett, a 6-1, 205-pound linebacker from Farmington, is headed to Army to play football. Bassett had 73 tackles and three forced fumbles for the Tigers this season.