Vikings filled most of their glaring needs

Vikings vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman is sure the three free agents the teams has signed -- wide receiver Bernard Berrian, safety Madieu Williams and fullback Thomas Tapeh -- are just what the team needed to take the next step.

"Bernard brings out the speed element to our passing offense, a vertical threat down the field, and a guy that can make plays down the field," Spielman said. "He's not overly big as a receiver -- he's tall, but he's a little slender [6-1, 185 pounds] -- but he is excellent into and out of his breaks, has very good courage on catching slants and things like that, and he has some run-after-catch ability. So, as we've pieced this thing together, this was the key piece that we wanted to put in place."

One of the reasons the Vikings signed Williams is the great recommendation he got from Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who coached him when Frazier was with the Bengals four years ago.

"He was one of the guys that we had targeted," Spielman said. "He was a corner/safety, and our safeties have to be able, when we play in that Cover-2, to cover the field and also be able to come up and support [against the run]. We felt he fit all of the criteria that we were looking for, and we were very aggressive in going after him as well."

Some players were surprised the Vikings didn't bring back fullback Tony Richardson. But Brad Childress was with Tapeh on the Eagles for two years, and the Vikings coach said he felt the former Gopher was the perfect fullback for his West Coast offense.

Spielman said there is still a chance the Vikings will re-sign some of their free agents, including running back Mewelde Moore.

"I know we'd love to have Mewelde back," Spielman said, "and again, there's another kid that's not only a very good football player but a great person as well. But I know sometimes when your players leave, they're looking for a better opportunity to potentially start if they're stuck in a backup role here.

Spielman said defensive end is a position the team is still seeking to improve, and on Sunday he and assistant George Paton were looking at film, checking for help at defensive end and other positions.

"I know there's some defensive ends in the draft, there's some defensive ends that have been cut, so again I think you want to be aggressive, but you also want to be patient and do your due diligence before you make a move," Spielman said.

Spielman said the club will bring in running back Maurice Hicks, a special-teams player and third-down back with some kick-return ability. He played with the 49ers last year.

Jottings Speaking about Tapeh, Childress said: "I think it's significant to note that [Eagles running back] Brian Westbrook had a career-best 1,333 yards rushing behind this guy this year as well as 1,200 yards last year." ... Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson arrives in town today and will be working with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers on studying a lot of film and doing other things the coaches hope will make him a better quarterback next season. ... Cornerback Antoine Winfield, defensive tackle Pat Williams and defensive end Erasmus James are regular visitors to the Vikings' training room. Winfield and Williams had minor surgery; James is trying to rehabilitate the knee that has given him so much trouble.

Mark Coleman, a former NCAA wrestling champion from Ohio State and the first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion, announced Sunday that he will be the next guy to fight former Gophers NCAA champion Brock Lesnar, most likely at Target Center in August.

As part of helping pay expenses for WCHA teams to fly to Anchorage, Alaska, the Seawolves provide each opponent with 12 round-trip airline tickets.

In his first start this spring for the Mets, former Twins ace Johan Santana pitched two innings against the Cardinals on Friday, giving up three runs on four hits, including a three-run homer to Juan Gonzalez. On the other hand, new Yankees manager Joe Girardi claims ex-Twins pitcher LaTroy Hawkins -- who signed a one-year, $3.75 million contract with the club -- has been the most impressive pitcher in camp.

Among players taking part in the NFL pro workouts on Tuesday at the Gophers football building will be safety Dominique Barber and linebacker Mike Sherels. ... Former Redwood Falls, Minn., and Augustana wide receiver Tommy Ellingworth ran a outstanding 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL regional scouting combine. He recently was offered a position with the Quad City Steamwheelers of the Arena Football League.

The Gophers have one men's basketball scholarship available. NCAA rules prevent coach Tubby Smith from divulging names of players he is recruiting, but he was out scouting a possible player Friday. ... Gophers recruit Ralph Sampson III scored 18 points Friday for his Duluth (Ga.) Northview team, but it still lost 75-60 to Norcross in the Class 5A quarterfinals of the Georgia state tournament.

Gophers football coach Tim Brewster said four assistant coaches besides Everett Withers -- who took the defensive coordinator job at North Carolina -- were offered jobs at other schools but chose to stay at Minnesota. ... Ex-Gopher Tony Levine landed a job coaching tight ends and special teams with new University of Houston football coach Kevin Sumlin.