Sid Hartman: Vikings' free agents have made an impact

Sure, the players selected by the Vikings in this year's draft are a big reason the team has won four of the past five games, but several free agents -- including nickel back Charles Gordon, a 2006 signee who had four tackles and one assist in the 42-10 victory over the Lions last week -- also are contributing.

Gordon left Kansas after his junior year, where he played wide receiver, cornerback and on special teams, but went undrafted. He signed with the Vikings on the recommendation of his agent, Kenneth Zuckerman, who negotiated a $20,000 signing bonus with the Vikings, one of the largest given to any free agent.

"I've played sparingly this season. I played the dime [sixth defensive back in passing situations] until about four or five games ago, when I took over the nickel spot," said Gordon, who is tied for seventh in Jayhawks history with nine interceptions and also is seventh in receptions with 106.

Until getting the nickel back assignment, Gordon played some on special teams.

Gordon started one game at cornerback last season, the only undrafted rookie on defense to start for the Vikings in 2006.

The 2004 group of free agents also has been very productive this season. Among them are defensive tackle Spencer Johnson, long snapper Cullen Loeffler and starting guard Anthony Herrera.

Of the 2005 free agents, only special teams star Heath Farwell is still with the team.

The 2007 group has two active players in tackle Chase Johnson and defensive tackle Conrad Bolston. Offensive lineman Dan Mozes was impressive until he tore an ACL in his right knee in August. Tight end Braden Jones is on injured reserve. Two other free agents signed this year -- linebacker David Herron and guard Brian Daniels -- have good futures but are on the practice squad.

Schedule changes The Board of Governors approved a format change late last week so every team will face each other at least once each year.

Wild president Doug Risebrough wanted the league to go even further with the new schedule.

"We were more in favor of doing a home-and-home [schedule] each year."

Risebrough wanted to see more frequent appearances by teams such as Philadelphia, which played at Xcel Energy Center for the first time in three years Wednesday.

"But not knowing them probably creates an entertainment value," he said.

Great lady dies A lot of people lost a great friend and great contributor to the sport of basketball when Marie Kundla, 90, wife of former Minneapolis Lakers and Gophers basketball coach John Kundla, passed away last weekend.

I have seen a lot of wives of basketball coaches get involved in coaching programs, but Marie was something special. When John repeatedly said no to an offer to coach the Lakers, it was Marie who influenced the final decision. He won six league titles in 11 years with the Lakers and was 110-105 in nine seasons with the Gophers.

She was one of a kind, a close personal friend and one who contributed so much to the Lakers' success with her ability to unite the players' wives and help keep this great team together.

Jottings There are rumors in the business world that TCF Financial, the owner of TCF Banks, might be sold to the Bank of Montreal. But University of Minnesota sources claim the contract they signed for $21 million to name the stadium TCF Bank Stadium is guaranteed. However, you wonder if that name will be changed if TCF is sold.

Zygi and Mark Wilf will miss their first Vikings game since becoming owners Sunday. Their mother, Elizabeth, is receiving a special award from Yeshiva University in New York, while Zygi's daughter, Stephanie, is celebrating her Bat Mitzvah.

The Gophers football program got a commitment Thursday from Tramaine Brock, a safety from Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, according to GopherIllustrated.com.

The Gophers athletic program was ranked No. 28 in the November/December issue of STACK magazine. The magazine's "Elite 50" list is a ranking of the country's leading NCAA Division I sports and academic programs. North Carolina was ranked No. 1, followed by Texas and Stanford. Also listed from the Big Ten were Michigan (No. 7), Ohio State (9), Wisconsin (10), Illinois (18), Penn State (20), Northwestern (23), Indiana (46) and Michigan State (48).

The good news for the Wolves is that guard Randy Foye has been running without any problems from his kneecap stress reaction. The bad news is center Theo Ratliff's knee problems might trouble him all season.

Former Gophers receiver Logan Payne, a member of the Seahawks practice squad, got a nice raise of $22,000 recently when another NFL club tried to sign him. Payne was earning $79,900 before the raise. ... Former Gophers center Greg Eslinger is on the Cleveland Browns' 53-man roster, but hasn't played since the Browns claimed him off the Broncos practice squad in November. ... Ex-Eden Prairie and Notre Dame offensive lineman Mark LeVoir is with the Rams after starting the season on the Bears practice squad. ... Ex-Gophers running back Gary Russell is on the Steelers' active roster but has seen little action. ... Brandon Archer, the former Cretin-Derham Hall and Kansas State linebacker, was elevated Thursday from the Colts' practice squad to the 53-man roster.