Vikings to test new players at OTAs

The Vikings will stage their first organized team activities (OTAs) of the 2010 season starting on Tuesday, and coach Brad Childress is eager to see what the rookies do combined with the veterans who choose to take part.

The Vikings did have a three-day rookie camp where draft choices and free agents took part, and some of those free agents will be brought back.

Childress is looking forward to more looks at cornerback Chris Cook, No. 1 draft choice from Virginia.

"I guess the thing that I would always caution is really getting too high or too low on a guy, because you play that football in pads and sometimes guys will show up and really wow you in the shorts stuff -- and it's a good indicator," said Childress about Cook. "But it's the old deal that you want to see how they hit and take a hit, and how they play when the pads come on. So, yeah, I initially like the group [in the rookie camp] that showed up, including a couple of extra guys we signed.

"I mean, I think we talked about [Cook] is a bigger guy that moves well for a corner. And you know a lot of those guys are sub-6-foot guys, so there is no downside if you can have all the skills, have the speed, have the cover ability, there is no downside to being a bigger body out there."

Unfortunately, Toby Gerhart, the Stanford running back and the second player drafted by the Vikings, won't be able to take part in the OTAs because he can't report until he graduates.

Asked about Gerhart and what he liked about him in the rookie camp, Childress said: "We liked his athleticism. I mean, the guy is usually a special guy that is able to get his degree at Stanford on time and then play two sports there and do pretty good at his books. That's a rare combination."

And no doubt defensive line coach Karl Dunbar is anxious to have another look at Southern California defensive lineman Everson Griffen, who was the 100th player taken in the draft and performed well in the rookie camp.

"Well, obviously he slid down to us and you know we were very happy with his athleticism," Childress said. "I actually called Pete Carroll [who coached Griffen at Southern Cal and now is the Seattle Seahawks coach] the morning of the draft, which we had the second pick in that round, and they kind of didn't want to talk to me because he knew he was going to take him -- he was down there at the fifth, sixth, seventh pick. So, I feel good about the kid and he gave a very good account of himself here as well."

Childress had seen some of ex-Gopher Nate Triplett, who was the Vikings' 67th pick in the draft, so he wasn't surprised at the linebacker's speed for a big man.

The Vikings coach said he liked Joe Webb, the wide receiver from Alabama-Birmingham who was the 199th selection in the draft.

"I'm not sure he can't throw the ball as well as play wide receiver, and we'll take a look at him a little bit throwing it in the next camp," said Childress. "No, he can't do both, but we worked him a little bit as a quarterback on Sunday [of the rookie camp] and liked enough of what we saw that we may give him a chance to line up and play in there at these OTAs."

Childress liked the idea that there will be a lot of competition for the 53 spots on the team again this year.

"You try to create that -- good teams have competition, whether it's real or whether it's perceived," Childress said. "And if you don't have it on good football teams, you have guys that push so hard that they're not looking behind themselves but they're pushing themselves to be the best. But, yeah, I see competition as a good thing."

Vikings saved money The Vikings did save some money when they traded their 30th choice in the draft to Detroit for the 34th selection if you compare what the 30th and 34th choices got last year. Last year, the 30th draft choice was Kenny Britt, a wide receiver from Rutgers who signed a five-year contract with the Titans with $6,070,000 guaranteed and a total contract of $9,150,000. The 34th choice a year ago was Patrick Chung of Oregon, who was drafted by New England and signed a four-year contract with $3 million guaranteed and a total of $5 million.

Jottings Mark Rotenberg, University of Minnesota attorney, said that the negotiations of an extended contract for basketball coach Tubby Smith have been held up because the school lawyers are spending time on the current lawsuit where Jimmy Williams is in court with the school claiming he was hired as a Gophers assistant by Smith and that Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi refused to allow it to happen. Williams quit his job at Oklahoma State and sold his home there, assuming he was going to join the Gophers staff. The trial started Friday and will continue Monday. Among those testifying for Smith on Friday were former U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, ex-Gophers coach Jim Dutcher and Kevin McHale, who played for the Gophers when Williams was an assistant coach.

Tim Tebow, the former Florida quarterback drafted by Denver, is the most popular when it comes to selling NFL jerseys. Vikings quarterback Brett Favre is fifth behind Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb, Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson ranks 24th. And Larry Fitzgerald, the Arizona wide receiver from Minnesota, rates 22nd.

The number 78 worn by former Gopher Bobby Bell will be retired on Oct. 2, the day of the home game with Northwestern.

McHale, the former Timberwolves coach and executive, will be seen on TNT this week during games and also on the draft show put on by the cable network.

The Gophers wrestling team was represented by senior Jayson Ness and junior Mike Thorn on the 2010 National Wrestling Coaches All Academic team. Ness graduated with a 3.281 GPA in technology education, and Thorn had a 3.085 GPA in business marketing and education.

Smith said he got a call from California basketball coach Mike Montgomery asking about the ability of Justin Cobbs, the Gophers basketball freshman from Los Angeles who is leaving the University of Minnesota to play closer to home.

Former Twins infielder Ron Coomer, who is working for Fox on the Twins broadcasts, is opening a bar and restaurant in the warehouse district.

The U is installing new turf in the football building and will do the same next year on the outdoor football practice field.

How important are the Timberwolves to this area? If you want to compare, the Sports Business Daily reports that the Pacers are worth $55 million a year in spending if they left the area.

Cornell University will be on the Gophers basketball schedule this year.

Sid Hartman can be heard weekdays on WCCO AM-830 at 6:40, 7:40 and 8:40 a.m. • shartman@startribune.com