Adam Thielen is continuing to make a significant impact in the Twin Cities community.
Last year, Thielen "took a keen interest" in the Harding-Humboldt football co-op that formed last year in St. Paul. Now through his Thielen Foundation, the Vikings receiver is supporting the unique program.
Jace Frederick of the Pioneer Press wrote about Thielen’s most recent effort:
The foundation reached out to [Head Coach] Otto Kraus, now the athletic director at Harding, because it knew of the increased costs that come with forming a new co-op, from uniforms to equipment.
The foundation also informed Kraus it was looking for an athletic facility it could help improve in the city.
Kraus suggested Humboldt's fitness center.
"We are in desperate need of updating this facility," Humboldt Athletic Director Matthew Osborne said at this week's board of education meeting, "and they are prepared to come through with a grant to help us do that."
The Thielen Foundation will donate up to $75,000 to the reconstruction and renovation of the fitness center to stock it with "modern fitness training equipment, in addition to adding new flooring, paint, flat screen television, and a new sound system."
According to Frederick, the project is slated to be completed this spring.
Jonathan Jones latest to tab Vikings job as most desirable
With eight head-coaching vacancies around the league (including the Raiders, who finished the campaign with Interim Head Coach Rich Bisaccia), there's been plenty of buzz over the past couple of weeks around which jobs are most desirable.
CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones is the latest pundit to weigh in, and he topped his list with Minnesota. Jones wrote:
There are plenty of factors in determining "best spot" right now. Some of these teams don't even have GMs yet. With some teams, you have to project to free agency what their chances are of markedly improving the team.
I have the Vikings No. 1 because you don't have to worry about the QB position right now. Kirk Cousins is under contract and more than capable of getting you to the playoffs. That's more than can be said about the overwhelming majority of teams searching for head coaches. On top of that, you have a patient-enough ownership group in the Wilfs that won't meddle in your affairs.
Jones' full list was as follows: Minnesota, Chicago, Miami, Denver, Las Vegas, New York Giants, Jaguars and Texans.
About Chicago, Jones wrote:
The Bears are a legacy franchise that recently changed its reporting structure at the top. Ted Phillips is no longer the go-between, and the Bears have a franchise quarterback on a rookie contract in Justin Fields. (You'll note much of this list is motivated by the *current* quarterback situation with respective teams.)
To read Jones' full assessment of each team seeking a new head coach, click here.
