There’s an Ulterior Motive for His Praise

Mike Lynn, general manager of the Minnesota Vikings, had lavish praise for linebackers David Howard and Jesse Solomon and cornerback Isaac Holt of the Dallas Cowboys recently.

“I think Jesse Solomon is a Pro Bowl player,” Lynn said. “I think Jesse Solomon will be in the Pro Bowl in a matter of a year or two. I think Ike Holt is by far one of the most talented corners in the NFL. And I think David Howard is a starter on most NFL clubs and will play another five years.”

Why all this gushing? The three players were acquired by Dallas from Minnesota in the Herschel Walker trade. If Cowboy Coach Jimmy Johnson decides to keep them, the Vikings won’t have to surrender two first-round draft picks, a second-round pick and a third-round pick in the next couple of drafts.

“They got two Pro Bowlers and a steady starter,” Lynn said. “You look at the draft in the 20 to 28 (pick) range, and their chances are probably one in 10 of getting a player the quality of these three.

“But if Jimmy wants to go that route, he can go that route.”

Add Vikings: Lynn on Walker, who gained 148 yards in his first game with the Vikings but gained only 521 more the rest of the season: “Herschel Walker is 27 years old. He’ll be here for four or five more years. We’ll see how it turns out.”

Trivia time: On Jan. 8, 1985, who became the 15th player to win election to baseball’s Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility?

Sorry, wrong number: Jerry Glanville, who lost his job as coach of the Houston Oilers on Saturday, phoned Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell shortly after the 1988 season, when Marty Schottenheimer was fired. According to Frank Cooney of the San Francisco Examiner, Glanville called on the pretense of recommending a friend for the Browns’ job.

“But by conversation’s end it was clear to Modell that Glanville was pitching himself,” Cooney writes. “Modell thought it was a classless move and dutifully reported that call to Ladd Herzeg, the Oiler GM at the time.”

Add NFL: San Francisco tight end Brent Jones, who caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Joe Montana during the 49ers’ 41-13 NFC playoff victory over Minnesota Saturday, told Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News:

“The pass he threw me was so soft, I could read the words on the leather as it was coming to me. The signature said ‘Taglia-something,’ I think.”

But not forgotten: How much do the Cleveland Cavaliers miss Clipper star Ron Harper? The Cavaliers were 3-4 when he he was traded, and are 10-13 since. Harper’s two main replacements, Craig Ehlo and Reggie Williams, are averaging fewer than 12 points at the shooting guard spot.

Add NBA: Isiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons on the Clippers: “They remind me of our team three years ago. They’ve got young guys that play like Joe (Dumars), Dennis (Rodman) and John (Salley). If they stay together, they will be a force. I think they have some of the best talent in the league.”

Trivia answer: Lou Brock of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Quotebook: Miami Heat center Rony Seikaly after yet another close loss: “We’re tired of moral victories. How many more moral victories can we have? We need to win some games.”