Connect with us

Sports

Vikings submit interview requests for 6 outside GM candidates: Sources

Published

on

Former general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders Dave Ziegler looks on before a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.

Former Raiders GM Dave Ziegler is one of the six external candidates with whom the Vikings have requested an interview for their GM job, league sources tell The Athletic. Ethan Miller / Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings entered the next phase of their general manager search Wednesday. According to league sources, the team submitted interview requests for six external candidates, all of whom are assistant general managers for their respective teams: Terrance Gray of the Buffalo Bills, John McKay of the Los Angeles Rams, Nolan Teasley of the Seattle Seahawks, Chad Alexander of the Los Angeles Chargers, RJ Gillen of the San Francisco 49ers and Dave Ziegler of the Tennessee Titans.

Longtime Vikings executive and interim general manager Rob Brzezinski is also expected to factor into the mix.

Each candidate has a background in personnel. Gray and Alexander are longtime college scouts, while McKay, Teasley, Gillen and Ziegler have risen through the ranks in the pro scouting space.

Among the candidates, only Ziegler has been a general manager. The Las Vegas Raiders hired him in 2022, and he held the job for two seasons.

Many of the other candidates are younger, and, in the words of one league source, “the theme is that they are highly regarded across the league — kind of viewed as hidden talent within their respective teams.”

The Vikings are expected to meet with many of these candidates first via Zoom. Ownership will likely participate in these sessions alongside chief operating officer Andrew Miller, who spearheaded the hiring of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the previous general manager.

There is a good deal of internal support for Brzezinski, who has perhaps the deepest understanding of the dynamics in the Vikings building. There is also the possibility of the Vikings pairing Brzezinski with a first-time personnel hire.

Connections: Sports Edition Logo

Connections: Sports Edition Logo

Connections: Sports Edition

Spot the pattern. Connect the terms

Find the hidden link between sports terms

>

Continue Reading

Sports

Arizona State men's hockey players ask school to place coach Greg Powers on leave

Published

on

In letter to the university president, players disputed the school’s initial report on the workout that left their teammate on life support.

>

Continue Reading

Sports

Football gossip: Costa, Haaland, Sterling, Willock, Howe, Tchouameni

Published

on

Porto defender Alberto Costa is on the radar of Arsenal and Manchester United, Manchester City will not let Erling Haaland leave on the cheap if they are relegated, Liverpool retain an interest in Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.

Manchester United and Arsenal are both keeping a close eye on Porto’s 22-year-old Portuguese right-back Alberto Costa but face competition from Paris St-Germain. (Caughtoffside), external

Manchester City will put a hefty price tag on Norway striker Erling Haaland, 26, if they end up being relegated from the Premier League over financial rule breaches. (Football Insider), external

Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona are among the teams interested in Haaland and closely monitoring Manchester City‘s situation amid the possibility of sanctions. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

Former Chelsea and Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling has been offered to two clubs in France’s Ligue 1, but neither were interested in the 31-year-old Englishman, who is currently a free agent. (Foot Mercato – in French), external

Besiktas president Serdal Adali has vowed to sign Joe Willock, 27, from Newcastle, in January, claiming the English midfielder has already chosen a new home in Turkey. (Talksport), external

Former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe will not return to Premier League management with a lower or mid-ranked club such as Crystal Palace or Fulham and would want to take over at an underachieving big club. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Liverpool remain interested in Real Madrid’s France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni – even though the 26-year-old signed a new long-term contract with the La Liga club in the summer. (Teamtalk), external

>

Continue Reading

Sports

Fehi Fineanganofo: Newcastle Red Bulls agree deal delay

Published

on

Free-scoring All Blacks wing Fehi Fineanganofo has convinced Newcastle Red Bulls to delay his arrival on Tyneside so he can chase his dream of playing at the Rugby World Cup.

It was originally announced back in January that the 24-year-old had agreed a two-year deal with Newcastle, beginning at the start of the current campaign.

However, Fineanganofo’s exceptional form with the Wellington-based Hurricanes in Super Rugby then propelled him into Test reckoning.

He made his New Zealand debut against France in July.

Under All Blacks selection rules, a move overseas this year would have put Fineanganofo’s emerging international career on ice and ruled him out of contention for the Rugby World Cup, which begins in October 2027.

Newcastle have therefore allowed Fineanganofo to stay with the Hurricanes, for whom he broke the record for the most tries in a single Super Rugby campaign this year, for an extra season.

His Newcastle deal is still for two campaigns, but now covers the 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons instead.

“I’m really grateful to Newcastle Red Bulls for the support and understanding they’ve shown me,” said Fineanganofo.

“The opportunity to stay in New Zealand and push for selection for the Rugby World Cup means a huge amount, and I’m fully committed to joining the club after the tournament and giving everything I can to the team.”

Newcastle’s sporting general manager Neil McIlroy said: “We are fully supportive of Fehi’s desire to represent his country at Rugby World Cup 2027, which marries with our own philosophy of aiming high and enabling our athletes to achieve their ambitions.

“Fehi’s arrival in 2027, with additional international experience that will only add to his already devastating qualities as a top-class winger, is another statement of intent around where this club is going.”

The compromise ends long-running uncertainty about Fineanganofo’s future.

In June, New Zealand Rugby denied they were attempting to put together a deal to get Fineanganofo out of his Newcastle contract.

Just a few weeks ago, Red Bulls’ head coach Dan McFarland said he expected Fineanganofo to arrive in November and play in the current campaign.

His side began the Prem season with former Ulster man Werner Kok, signed in June as doubts over Fineanganofo’s move increased, and 35-year-old Christian Wade as their first-choice wings.

McIlroy kept open the possibility of adding to the club’s options in that position.

“We are more than happy with the quality and depth that our existing squad possesses, but may yet choose to add to the outside back position if a player of the required standard becomes available,” he said.

Newcastle lost 59-26 away to defending champions Northampton on Friday in their league opener, and will take on Leicester at home on Saturday.

>

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2017 Zox News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by WordPress.