Byline: Mark Craig; Kevin Seifert; Staff Writers
Gophers football coach Glen Mason was among the bosses who considered hiring Jack Brewer had Brewer not clawed his way into the NFL as a Vikings special teamer.
'He was the best leader on a team that I ever had,' said Mason, who is in his 18th season as a head coach, the past seven with the Gophers. 'His personality and leadership qualities would make him an excellent recruiter.'
Brewer graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports studies before his senior season with the Gophers in 2001. He added a master's degree and was prepared to go into coaching, public relations or sports law when he wasn't drafted last season.
'I did an internship with my agent [Ed Hitchcock] at his law firm for three years,' Brewer said. 'I was really getting into law. I was going to be an agent.'
Brewer, a receiver and safety as a Gopher, gave the NFL a shot when the Vikings invited him to work out.
He not only made the team in 2002, he had two interceptions and 26 special-teams tackles, the ninth-highest total in team history.
Brewer's teammates voted him special teams captain before this season. Popular former receiver Chris Walsh held the position for years before being released.
'It's an honor,' Brewer said. 'Being in the NFL is an honor. Some players have never had to even think about a career other than football. I've been there.'
Brewer owns a sports marketing firm, JBE Sports, and volunteers with St. Joseph's Home For Children, Shriners Hospital and United Way.
He also is making a name for himself again on special teams after missing the first three games because of a chest injury.
Sunday against the Giants, he blocked a punt at the Giants' 5-yard line with the Vikings leading 17-16 early in the fourth quarter. It was the Vikings' first blocked punt since Mike Merriweather had one against the Rams in 1989, a span of 236 games.
However, in one of the strangest plays of the season, the Giants' Wesley Mallard picked up the ball and ran for a first down. Field position and momentum shifted and the Giants won 29-17.
'Definitely, the strangest thing I've ever seen,' Brewer said. 'We blocked a lot of punts in college and I've never seen the ball just sit there. It always bounces backward. But we'll get another one.'
S.D. bid revives
The committee seeking to lure training camp to Sioux Falls, S.D., got a boost Tuesday when Gov. Mike Rounds proposed a financing package to cover most of the bid, including a large portion of the $7.5 million renovation project at Howard Wood Field.
There had been concern about whether the bid would proceed earlier Tuesday after the Sioux Falls School Board refused to contribute funding to the project. But Kelby Krabbenhoft, who is leading the Sioux Falls bid, contacted Vikings officials Tuesday to reiterate he would present the proposal Friday.
'The governor came through today,' Krabbenhoft said, 'and the package makes this an incredibly feasible bid financially.'
Etc.
- The Vikings released kickoff specialist Jose Cortez. They did not immediately fill his roster spot, but the move almost certainly was intended to clear the way for running back Michael Bennett to return to the active roster. Bennett, who hasn't played this season because of a stress fracture in his left foot, is expected to make his debut Sunday against Green Bay.
- Running back Onterrio Smith will get a long look as a potential kickoff returner this week, coach Mike Tice said.
