When you have an NFL Europe season like Shaun Hill did, you might be tempted to want to go back to your "home" team and take over. I mean, Shaun threw for over 300 yards with the Admirals on more than one occasion this last season and had a quarterback rating over 100 on several occasions as well. His performance was well documented in his journal he sent in to the Vikings NFL.com site. I suggest you read that to gain a truly good understanding of life in NFL Europe. Now he is back home and ready to suit up for the Minnesota Vikings…as a third string quarterback. It almost does not seem right for a guy to go from carrying his team to carrying a clipboard. That's my assessment, however. Shaun's is quite a bit different, as we will see in just a moment.

With Shaun well over his jet lag from being in Europe for 3 months, he was at the Vikings facility today to run and I was able to get a few moments with the NFL Europe star and Vikings backup quarterback. I won't bore you with all of the introductory stuff…it's on to the Norseman's BLITZ!

GR: Shaun, you had good old lucky number 13 as your jersey number in NFL Europe and 12 for the Vikings. Is your number still 12 for the Vikings?

SH: No, it changed to 13.

GR: Some guys are funny about their numbers. Is there any significance for 13?

SH: I'm not really into the whole numbers thing. Thirteen was my number in high school and we were the Vikings there too. I guess that would be a coincidence.

GR: I know you went to Maryland. Did you graduate?

SH: No. I only went two years.

GR: I assume you would go back to graduate.

SH: Yes, at some point.

GR: I also noticed that you were a kinesiology major. What would one of those do?

SH: I have no idea. I'm just glad to be doing what I am doing now.

GR: You had such success in NFL Europe. What does that mean to the Vikings organization and to you?

SH: The biggest thing is the playing time and getting the experience I need to be a good quarterback in the NFL.

GR: There were rumors flying around that your number one target for the Admirals, Matthew Hatchette, might become a Viking again. He did not. Do you wish he had?

SH: I knew Matthew was offered to come back to the Vikings and for whatever reason he chose not to. It would have been nice for him to be here. I guess he just assessed the situations and saw an opportunity that better suited him. I have not even talked to him since being back.

GR: If you were playing fantasy football NFL Europe style, who would be your first pick?

SH: Out of all the players in NFL Europe?

GR: Yep.

SH: Wow. I guess it would be Hatchette. He had such a great year with all of his catches and yardage and stuff. If I had to pick someone else, it might be that running back from Scotland. I don't even remember his name, but he was good.

GR: Did you get homesick in Europe?

SH: No. That did not affect me. When we were out of contention for the playoffs, my mind may have drifted back to the United States and being ready to come home. You can't let stuff like that distract you. If you start to think about it too much, it can mess with you in many ways.

GR: If the choice were yours, would you like to go back to NFL Europe?

SH: I would much rather stay here. Obviously if they tell me I need to go back, I would. If the choice were up to me then I would rather stay home and train and practice here.

GR: Another Vikings teammate got an NFL Europe honor. Punter Nick Murphy received a placement on the All NFL Europe Team. What does that mean?

SH: Well, it definitely gets your name out there. It makes you look good and it really gives you a lot of confidence coming back.

GR: Do you know him very well?

SH: Yes.

GR: Will he be the Vikings punter this next year?

SH: I don't know. I can tell you that it will be interesting to watch Nick try for the punter job. We have another good punter in Eddie Johnson and it will be great to watch these guys battle it out.

GR: You really had some awesome games where your quarterback rating went through the roof at well over 100 and you threw for over 300 yards on more than one occasion. I guess it is safe to say that the Admirals are a pass-oriented team?

SH: That would be some good perception on your part.

GR: What was your favorite play?

SH: Well, we did not have many plays. We were comfortable with all of them. Anytime a play was called we were ready and they were all good plays.

GR: When you get around football people and talk about the guys who play an entire NFL Europe season and then turn right around and come back to the United States to play another season, the assumption is that it is very taxing. How has it been getting back into a routine having just played an entire NFL Europe season?

SH: I found it very refreshing. It was mentally challenging. There was this sense of urgency being on the field every week. It was good to get back on the field. It helped to remind me about how much I love this game and why I play it.

GR: After the season you had, how hard is it going to be to come back and sit on the sidelines?

SH: It will be tough. The biggest thing is that I know my role and I accept my role. I enjoy what I do here. My job is to learn. I am still very young and new at this. Daunte is very smart and I learn a lot from him. Now we have Gus and I can learn from him as well. It is a truly good opportunity to make my game the best it can be.

GR: For all the quarterbacks out there…how far can you throw the football?

SH: Not very. It feels like I can't throw it as far as I did in high school. I have really measured it.

GR: What about the passing to Hatchette? Were the majority of throws slot passes or short outs or what?

SH: Mainly that. We had a few deep balls, but it's all about leading the receiver and getting it in place he can get it.

GR: So basically you just threw it up and had Matthew go fetch?

SH: (laughs) Basically.

GR: Of all the players in the league, whom do you admire the most?

SH: Oh man. That's a tough one. We have so many great players on this team. That's one good thing about being here. I would say anyone who has a good career in the NFL would be someone you could admire.

GR: What about off-field organizations? Which ones are you a part of?

SH: Right now there is only one that I work with and that is the booster club back in my hometown (Parsons. Kansas).

GR: What is one word you would use to describe Coach Tice?

SH: One word, huh? I'm not really sure.

GR: I could feed you some words, but that wouldn't be fair.

SH: Go ahead, feed.

GR: How about "consistent"?

SH: Yea, that might work.

GR: Or maybe "committed".

SH: Committed. Yea, committed. Committed to winning.

GR: Not like psycho committed.

SH: Nope. Committed to winning.

GR: How are we going to do this year? What do you see?

SH: I think we will do really well. I know we made some good off-season moves and we should be better than last year.

GR: Who is the toughest guy on the team?

SH: That's a tough one. I would say it would be a toss up between Hovan and Biekert.

GR: Biekert, huh?

SH: Yea. With all the playing he has done and everything. He is just a very tough player.

GR: So who is the funny man on the team? The jokester.

SH: Oh man. I guess that would be either Moss or Campbell.

GR: Any stories you want to relay?

SH: (laughs) Nah.

GR: Whom was your favorite team growing up?

SH: I was really more of a basketball fan. We got the Vikings games on our TV but I also liked the Chiefs.

GR: So who did you pretend to be in the backyard?

SH: There were so many. Probably Joe Montana.

GR: As a Niner or a Chief?

SH: A Chief.

GR: I guess you were glad to see him with your Chiefs?

SH: Oh yea.

GR: What are your goals for this year?

SH: To make the team again and to improve.

GR: What inspires or motivates you?

SH: Getting better.

GR: Since being in the NFL, what has been your biggest luxury you have given yourself or others?

SH: You mean like a gift to myself?

GR: Yea.

SH: I guess the biggest thing for me would be furniture. I also took my dad to the Peach Bowl and I sent my mom to Arizona to see family.

GR: That's very nice.

GR: Do you play any video games?

SH: A few.

GR: Care to name one?

SH: Tiger Woods.

GR: I guess that would be a good stress-free game to play.

SH: Yes. It is also one I am pretty good at playing. My real golf game is terrible so this game gives me a chance to be better than I really am.

GR: What other sports do you enjoy? You mentioned basketball. Any others?

SH: Basketball. Baseball. Golf.

GR: What do you think about Sosa not being in the All Star game?

SH: I guess his numbers are down. I have not been able to follow it very much being in Europe. I know the fans would really like to see him for entertainment purposes.

GR: Use one word that you feel best describes you.

SH: Man, your questions are tough. One word? Oh man. I guess it would have to be "motivated".

GR: What is the best advice you have ever received?

SH: Wow. There is so much. I read many good things and I think, "That so applies to this situation". There is not one really. There are many.

GR: Say something to all the Vikings fans out there.

SH: Tune in to see us play. Stay behind us and maybe we can give you something to really cheer about this year.

GR: Shaun. Thanks for your time today and good luck in training camp. It will be here before you know it. I hope we can see you on the field, at least during pre-season ball. I plan to try and come see you guys when you play Atlanta in Atlanta this year. Maybe we can get that game back that Vick ran all over us last year. I also plan on coming to see you guys on the Saturday game in the Metrodome when you play your childhood favorite Chiefs. Thanks again.


By Gene "Blitz" Ramsay , football.com Staff Writer