JOTTINGS
• ESPN released its rankings of the NFL teams set up to have the most success over the next three seasons and the Vikings ranked fourth behind the Eagles, Patriots and Saints. The Vikings ranked second in overall roster, third in draft success, fifth in coaching and front office but only 17th in quarterback play.
• David Morgan on what he learns from fellow Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph: "For a guy who's been in the league and been in every situation and played a million plays … he's just one of those guys who, every day, he comes in and works on stuff."
• NFL.com's Adam Schein tabbed Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen as the fifth-most indispensable defender in the league.
• Former Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio opened the Ricky Rubio Foundation this past week in Spain to raise awareness for lung cancer, which claimed the life of his mother, Tona Vives, in 2016. She was 56 and didn't smoke. "In one of the last conversations with her, I promised her that I would do everything possible to help other people," Rubio said at the dedication in Barcelona.
• Former Wolves boss David Kahn is now the owner and president of Paris Basketball, a team that will play in the French Pro B league next season. Kahn told the French newspaper L'Equipe he hopes to play in the EuroLeague by 2020. Paris had been without a pro basketball team since May 2016. A new stadium is being built for the 2024 Summer Olympics and the team will eventually play there.
• Twins President Dave St. Peter said at the start of the season he was hoping to draw 2.3 million fans, but that might not happen. "I haven't given up on it, yet," he said. "I'm hoping we can challenge Cleveland and have a pennant race at Target Field."
• Gophers senior Jared Weyler is one of five Big Ten centers on the Rimington Trophy fall watch list as college football's top center. Weyler was on the list last year, too.
