Vikings' Robison takes his best shot

Vikings defensive end Brian Robison had a pretty good reason to jump-start his promising shot-putting career this offseason.

"I'm too talented to give it up," he said. "I just can't let it go to waste anymore."

And with that, Robison stepped back into the circle with renewed energy and a very specific goal after a two-year layoff.

"I want to make the 2012 Olympics [in London]," said Robison, whose career-best mark of 68 feet, 4 ¼ inches earned fourth place at the 2006 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships. "The Olympics have always been a goal for me. Football came first, and that's the way it will always go. But I want to give this a shot."

Robison's first competitive step in that direction came Friday at the Tomcat Twilight meet at the University of St. Thomas.

So far, so good for the 25-year-old who still holds the University of Texas shot-put record (68-3 ¾).

With Vikings defensive line coach Karl Dunbar and teammates Tarvaris Jackson, Jimmy Kennedy and Benny Sapp looking on, Robison launched a throw of 60-11 1/2 that was good enough to win by more than 5 feet.

"I kind of wanted to throw 63, but I'm very happy with how I did," Robison said. "There's definitely a lot of upside to come out and throw 61 in my first competition in a long time."

The shot-put area at St. Thomas is only 65 feet, with a 2-foot wooden barrier at the end of the landing area. Before Robison threw, a meet official had to clear fans from behind the barrier. Good thing he did, because three of Robison's throws skipped over the barrier.

Robison's top three throws were good enough for first. He fouled on the other three.

U is training ground

Robison began throwing about once a week in February near his home just north of Houston. He wanted a place to throw when he got to Minnesota, so he contacted Mario Sategna, his college coach and a former University of Minnesota track coach. Sategna put him in touch with Gophers first-year assistant Lynden Reder, who was an All-America hammer thrower for the Gophers under Sategna.

Since returning to Minnesota for the Vikings' offseason conditioning program about two weeks ago, Robison has been going to the U twice a week to meet with Reder for practice sessions that last about 2 1/2 hours.

"He's only had four practices under his belt, but you can see he's world-class," Reder said. "He just needs to get back what we call specific shot-put strength. That just comes with reps."

Robison will compete again next weekend at the prestigious Drake Relays alongside three former world champions in Adam Nelson, Reese Hoffa and Christian Cantwell, the silver medalist in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The following week, Robison will compete at a meet at Hamline University.

After that, the next step could be the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships June 25-28 at the University of Oregon. Robison would need to have a competitive throw that ranks in the top 18 in the country.

"He'll need to throw between 63 and 65 feet," Reder said. "He threw 62-8 in practice on Monday. That's amazing after only four practices."

Multiple strengths

Robison grew up in Texas with a love of all sports. At Splendora High, he stood out in five of them: football, basketball, baseball, track and power lifting. At UT, Robison had a team-high seven sacks as the Longhorns won the national title in 2005. Two years later, the Vikings drafted him in the fourth round. In two seasons, he has seven career sacks as one of the team's more valuable backup defensive linemen.

"I've had a good offseason," the 6-3, 265-pounder said. "I'm about five pounds heavier than last season, but I'm a lot leaner. And throwing the shot helps me with football, because all of the things you need to do well in the shot translates to what you need to do well playing defensive line. You're in that small ring and you have to be able to spin, throw it and stay in the ring. It takes a lot of explosion with your hips and agility."

Robison's skill with a shot put has earned him respect and the occasional good-natured ribbing of teammates.

"I just hope he doesn't drop it on his foot," said defensive end Jared Allen. "It's a hard thing to excel at, so my hat's off to him. Although he'd really impress me if he took up the pole vault or triple jumping."

Robison won the shot put at the Big 12 Conference twice and once finished second at the NCAA Championships. From an Olympic perspective, Robison's career-best throw would have placed fifth at the 2004 Games and sixth last summer.

"I'm not as big as some of these guys," Robison said. "But I'm a lot quicker than most. And I got big thighs and a big butt, which helps."

It won't be easy making the 2012 Olympics while making his NFL job the No. 1 priority. But it has been done before. Former San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Michael Carter did it in 1984, winning an Olympic silver medal in the shot put and a Super Bowl title just months later.

"Anybody less talented, I'd say it's impossible," Reder said. "But this isn't just a pipe dream for Brian. If anybody can do it, it's him. He really is that talented."