DAILY CLIPS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019 LOCAL NEWS: Wednesday, April 3, 2019 Star Tribune Check out the (mostly) hideous caps players have to wear at the NFL draft By Michael Rand http://www.startribune.com/check-out-the-mostly-hideous-caps-players-have-to-wear-at-the-nfl-draft/508001712/ MULTIMEDIA LINKS: Wednesday, April 3, 2019 Schrager: Vikings Pose NFC North's Biggest Threat To Bears In 2019 Vikings Entertainment Network https://www.vikings.com/video/schrager-vikings-pose-nfc-north-s-biggest-threat-to-bears-in-2019 GMFB: Can Cousins Bounce Back, Live Up To Expectations In 2019? Vikings Entertainment Network https://www.vikings.com/video/gmfb-can-cousins-bounce-back-live-up-to-expectations-in-2019 NFLN Roster Reset: Minnesota Vikings Vikings Entertainment Network https://www.vikings.com/video/nfln-roster-reset-minnesota-vikings Cris Carter Tours the Vikings Museum First Things First http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=c7fa4e8b-bd92-4f01-a36d-ac35d183a808 VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Wednesday, April 3, 2019 Mock Madness 6.0: Draft Predictions for Vikings as Calendar Flips to April By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/mock-madness-6-0-draft-predictions-for-vikings-as-calendar-flips-to-april Lunchbreak: Josh Kline Could be Biggest ‘Sleeper Addition’ in the NFC North By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/lunchbreak-josh-kline-could-be-biggest-sleeper-addition-in-the-nfc-north Vikings, Wilf Family Host Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. By Lindsay Young https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-wilf-family-host-israel-ambassador-to-us Prospect Profile: Florida State DE Brian Burns By Lindsay Young https://www.vikings.com/news/prospect-profile-florida-state-de-brian-burns PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 4/3/19 Check out the (mostly) hideous caps players have to wear at the NFL draft By Michael Rand Welcome to the Tuesday edition of The Cooler, where the only sensible fashion statement is a v-neck sweater over a button down shirt. Let’s get to it: *Counting compensatory picks, there will be 254 selections made in the NFL Draft, which is just a few weeks away and runs from April 25-27. A total of 254 players will have their dreams of hearing their name called fulfilled on a big stage and under the bright lights. The biggest stars among them will have friends and family in attendance in anticipation of being selected in Thursday’s first round. They will get to the stage, many of them wearing expensive suits. They will shake hands, and then they will be given ball caps from their new teams to put on their heads. And this is the point many of them might wish they had chosen a different sport or even a different line of work. The caps for almost every team, made by New Era, were unveiled Tuesday. And with a few exceptions, they are not exactly appealing and are not playing to rave reviews. The designs, per @MySportsUpdate, have elements of city or state flags on them. View image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on Twitter NFL Update @MySportsUpdate Here are the official 2019 New Era NFL Draft caps that players will wear on stage. This year, all designs incorporate either state or city flag elements. (The #Jets will release theirs on Thursday with their new uniform reveal) 1,267 8:30 AM - Apr 2, 2019 1,140 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy They also, according to some, might be more appropriately worn after buying one along with a Slim Jim and an energy drink. Mason Lemmons @lemmons_mr Replying to @MySportsUpdate 90% of these look like you could buy them at a gas station 2 9:52 AM - Apr 2, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy See Mason Lemmons's other Tweets Now, this happens pretty much whenever new sports merchandise is announced. There are a lot of people who hate the designs, and the loudest negative voices tend to occupy a lot of the social media spaces. But in this case, there seems to be a pretty broad consensus that the vast majority of these caps are very bad. View image on Twitter View image on Twitter SportsPickle @sportspickle Replying to @sportspickle Have to give the edge to Dallas and Washington in the NFC East after the Eagles and Giants fail to draft a single player. 49 9:37 AM - Apr 2, 2019 See SportsPickle's other Tweets Twitter Ads info and privacy Personally, I like the Chargers cap. And the Vikings one isn’t too bad. Luckily for the purple, nobody would every accuse them of having the worst cap as long as the Saints cap still exists. *In November 2016, Isaiah Washington officially signed his letter of intent to join the Gophers men’s basketball program. He was a four-star recruit and a top-50 ranked player nationally out of New York. Of the point guard, head coach Richard Pitino said this: “He is a dynamic player, loves the game, and is a lot of fun to watch on the court,” adding that he expected Washington to “make an impact on our program right away.” Washington’s two seasons here did not work out as planned, and on Monday he announced his intention to transfer. In a statement, he offered a very good explanation: “However, this season took a toll on me mentally. I started to lose the love of basketball and my grandparents health issues added more to it. I’ve took the time to sit with a therapist to help me out. After talks with family, it’s best that I find a new home.” Hey, it happens. Not all fits are great. Not all hyped recruits or prospects pan out. *Speaking of which: I was a tag-along member of the Hunter Greene fan club in June 2017 when the Twins had the No. 1 pick and had a shot at taking the flame-throwing high school phenom. They instead drafted Royce Lewis and, well … it’s working out pretty well so far. Lewis has had two very productive seasons in the minors. Greene has shown flashes but has yet to harness his potential. And on Monday it was announced by the Reds — who took him No. 2 overall — that he had a major injury setback and will need Tommy John surgery. That’s hardly a career-ender, and Greene very well could prove to be an MLB star. But for now, the Twins’ pick of Lewis looks a lot better than many of us thought it would. PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 4/3/19 Mock Madness 6.0: Draft Predictions for Vikings as Calendar Flips to April By Eric Smith EAGAN, Minn. — We’ve reached April, so this is your official welcome to draft month. The 2019 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 25-27 in Nashville, where teams will look to bolster their roster over the three-day period. Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman and his staff have been hard at work in recent weeks and are right in the thick of draft preparations. Minnesota currently holds the 18th overall pick in the first round, but which direction will the Vikings go early on? A total of 20 draft experts have weighed in for our sixth edition of Mock Madness, just three-plus weeks away from the draft. The majority of experts (16 of them) are projecting the Vikings to help out their offensive line with their first-round pick. But they aren’t sold on one particular player, as six different offensive linemen were predicted to land with Minnesota. A trio of experts like the Vikings to add a tight end, while a lone analyst projected Minnesota to select a defensive tackle. There were also two projected trades for the Vikings — one expert predicted the Vikings will move up in the first round, and the other projected Minnesota to move back a few spots. Our first Mock Madness can be found here. Our second Mock Madness can be found here. Our third Mock Madness can be found here. Our fourth Mock Madness can be found here. Our fifth Mock Madness can be found here. Here’s a look at our sixth Mock Madness of 2019: RELATED LINKS Mock Madness 1.0: Experts Picking Offensive Lineman for Vikings in First Round Mock Madness 5.0: Vikings 1st-Round Options After Start of Free Agency Mock Madness 4.0: 1st-Round Predictions for Vikings After the Combine Mock Madness 3.0: Pre-Combine Projections for Vikings in 1st Round Mock Madness 2.0: Majority of Experts Expect Vikings to Help O-Line in 1st Round ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. March 25, 2019 The predicted pick: Jonah Williams, T/G, Alabama The Vikings would be thrilled with Williams, a tackle in college – he made 43 consecutive starts for the Crimson Tide – who could play guard at the next level. If Minnesota moves Riley Reiff inside to guard, Williams (6-foot-4, 302 pounds) could stick at left tackle. As always, don't be shocked if [Vikings Head Coach] Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman target a pass-rusher here. Click here for Kiper’s full mock draft. The MMQB’s Kalyn Kahler March 27, 2019 The predicted pick: Jonah Williams, T/G, Alabama The Vikings need to protect Kirk Cousins and open up rushing lanes for Dalvin Cook. Click here for Kahler’s full mock draft. Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus April 2, 2019 The predicted pick: Andre Dillard, T, Washington State Minnesota goes offensive line, and they go best available here.