Rookies might steal show when Vikings meet Lions

Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson was walking off the practice field last month when he was stopped by a reporter and asked if the handful of over-the-shoulder, ESPN-worthy catches he had just made came naturally to him.

"Yeah, pretty much," Johnson said. "I think I'm just kind of a natural athlete."

The second overall pick in this year's NFL draft, Johnson stands 6-5 and weighs 239 pounds. Yet somehow he went to the scouting combine in February and ran a 4.33 in the 40-yard dash, broad-jumped 11 feet and hit 43 inches on his vertical leap.

"He's like Randy Moss," said Vikings 5-9 cornerback Antoine Winfield, who might spend at least some of his Sunday afternoon covering Johnson. "He has the physical things to dominate a game. It'll definitely be a challenge for us."

Johnson also was asked that day a month ago what his goals were for all this natural talent. He didn't hesitate with his answer.

"Rookie of the Year," he said. "That's a big honor for a rookie, you know. That's huge. And the Pro Bowl. I want to make the Pro Bowl, too."

And that brings us to Sunday's Vikings-Lions game. Normally one of those USA Today one-star contests, this one instead features two 1-0 teams with the two leading candidates for the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year.

Johnson opened his career last week with four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown in a 36-21 victory at Oakland. Meanwhile, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, the seventh overall pick, had 103 yards rushing and a 60-yard touchdown reception in a 24-3 victory over visiting Atlanta.

The Associated Press has awarded Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year since 1967. Six of them are now Pro Football Hall of Famers: running backs Franco Harris (1972), Tony Dorsett (1977), Earl Campbell (1978), Marcus Allen (1982), Eric Dickerson (1983) and Barry Sanders (1989). At least two more — NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith (1990) and Marshall Faulk (1994) — appear to be automatic Hall of Fame selections once they become eligible.

The Vikings and Lions each have had three AP Offensive Rookies of the Year. The Vikings had Chuck Foreman (1973), Sammy White (1976) and Randy Moss (1998). The Lions had Mel Farr (1967), Earl McCullouch (1968) and Sanders.

"I know [Rookie of the Year] is a high goal," Johnson said. "But I like to set them high and see if I can go get them."

Mark Craig • mcraig@startribune.com