From: jag@unislc.uucp (John Ganske)
Subject: Vikings News 8/14/92
Organization: Unisys Corporation SLC
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 13:07:49 GMT
Keywords: vikings training camp draft injuries

Some Vikings news from the Minneapolis StarTribune for Friday
August 14:

  Training camp report

     Yesterday's highlights/ There were more fights than in the   
     rest of the camp combined.  Nose tackle Mike Teeter and 
     center Kirk Lowdermilk went at it, and defensive tackle
     Brad Culpepper, a former high school kicker, practiced
     his straight-on style of placekicking on guard Eric Wenzel,
     with great effect....Also, receiver Anthony Carter made a
     spectacular touchdown catch (so...what else is new).

     Depth charting/ Rich Gannon, who has been in camp for four
     days, began looking better in the new offense....The
     impressive play of Culpepper might enable the Vikings to
     move John Randle from tackle to end if they need help on
     the outside.  Randle's sternum injury probably will cause
     him to miss Saturday's game, but defensive end Robert Harris
     and receiver Terry Obee will be back.  "We should be a little
     better, and hopefully we'll play better," said Vikings
     coach Dennis Green.

     Fine Print/ The Vikings are continuing to discuss a contract
     extension with cornerback Carl Lee.

  Other news:

     Strong safety Tripp Welborne shows he's healed and ready to  
     play.  Welborne was an All-America (and probable high round
     draft pick) at Michigan when his right knee was destroyed
     returning a punt in a game against the Minnesota Gophers
     in 1990.  The Vikings drafted him in the ninth round that
     year.  Welborne did not sign a contract with the team that
     year because he knew that he would be back at full speed
     and would warrant the contract of a higher draft choice.
     After spending 4 to 6 hours a day last year working on his   
     knee rehabilitation, he finally signed a contract a few
     days before last spring's draft, just before the Vikings
     would have lost his rights.  He had shown he could pivot
     and twist and turn, and he got a slightly better contract
     than had been originaly offered.  Saturday's pre-season
     game with Buffalo was Welborne's first game action with
     the Vikings.  About what Welborne showed the coaches in
     the game head coach Dennis Green had this to say:

        "The question with Tripp was whether he was going
         to be ready to play in 1992 or the next year or
         the next year.  We were hopeful that it would be 
         this year.  He's a hitter and he can play at full
         speed.  He's ready to play.  In 1992. He's back"

     (from an article by Jon Roe, StarTribune Staff Writer)

     My thoughts:

       The Vikings have a few college stars, like Tripp Welborne,
       that became falling stars on draft day (or actually 
       before draft day when the knee went).  I can think of
       Brad Culpepper and Terry Allen in addition to Welborne.
       Cullpepper is a former college All-American defensive
       tackle out of Florida (Univerity of) who was drafted in the 
       10th round by the Vikes this year.  Terry Allen was a star
       running back at Clemson when he as felled by a knee injury
       3 or 4 years ago.  I don't really know what kind of        
       a performer Allen was at Clemson, but I do remember his
       name being prominent on the College scence.  Maybe a 
       Clemson fan could fill us in on Mr. Allen.  As for         
       Culpepper, I don't know details on him either.
       I do believe that he was a star on a good defense at
       Florida.  Florida fans (or others in the know) -
       what's the scoop on Brad.  What did he do in college?
       Why didn't he do higher in the NFL draft.
       Defensive end Robert Harris (I don't remember from
       what school) is a higher draft pick gamble for the
       Vikes this year.  He was picked in the second round
       even though he had a possible career ending neck
       injury problem in his college days.  During training
       camp, Harris was kicked in the head and experienced
       numbness in his neck one day about two weeks ago.
       He has been going through tests by neck specialists
       (or whatever), and has been cleared to return to 
       practice and play against Kansas City this Saturday.

  ....and finally

      Remember Reggie Rutland?  What ever happened to that guy?
      I guess I missed something during my last four years as
      an exile in Utah (actually a great place to live....well,
      almost great).  Everyday the StarTribune has been talking
      about the coaches growing concern with Cornerback 
      Najee Mustafaa's hurting back.  Who the heck is Najee
      Mustafaa?  For those of us who missed the news, the Trib
      finally mentioned a couple of days ago (probably for 
      the umpteenth time over the last year) that Mustaffaa
      used to be called Reggie Rutland.  Anyway, Najee is out with
      a back problem that has yet to be diagnosed. 

     
              
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