All-Time Vikings

...........

[GUTTMANN]

I think I'd have Hershel Walker as the Kick return man. No one was better for the Vikings. I also think that Fred McNeil was better at LB than most on the list. Just my 2 cents, afterall, I'm a Steelers fan.
Mike

Guttmann:

As a life long die hard Vikings fan....there has never been a player that has worn the purple jersey who brought on more pain to the faithful than Herschel Walker.

When they made the mega trade with Dallas, I and all of my friends thought the Vikings had just bought a ticket to the Super Bowl. At that time, they had everything else, they were one of the dominant NFC teams, and the only obvious puzzle piece they did not have was a RB.
Walker was having explosive games for the incompetent Cowboys and there was not a doubt in all of football that he was the best RB in the league surrounded by a cast of silver and white clowns.
At the time of the deal, I do not remember ONE SINGLE NFL beat writer criticizing the Vikings for giving up too much. (Of course, we all know what Dallas did with all those draft picks )
Anyhoo...
Walker's first game against the Packers, he busted off a long 50 something yard run, during which he lost his shoe, and I thought I was in heaven. Watching that game in a Sports Bar with my Kramer jersey on, I had rival fan after rival fan coming up to me and congratulating me on the deal. The next day I ordered a $150 jersey with Walker's on it.

Well, we all know what happened? Burns and Schnelker could not figure out a way to use him properly is what the books say...but what I believe happened was a case of BIG EGO's coming before the good of the team.

You see....the way I hear it...Mike Lynn made the trade with Dallas without any input from the coaching staff and they were NOT HAPPY that he did that. And in a classic case, of vindictive "We'll show you", Burns and company decided to "oh yeah....well, you can go ahead and make roster moves without our input....but guess what Mr. Lynn?....well we just won't use him....so there!"

Very very painful games ensued...watching situation after situation that called for an obvious run...and there standing on the sidelines...a healthy # 34.

I still believe that some of those teams should have been fighting for Super Bowls, yet because of monster ego's, Burns and his coaching staff, they ruined what could have been a glorious period in Viking history.



So, even after all these years...yes, was Herschel Walker one of the most talented backs to ever don the purple? Absolutely. Should he be on the all-time EF squad in some capacity? Probably.

But THIS Viking fan can't do it. His #34 just brings back bad painful memories of what might have been.



Three names in NFL history make any life long Viking fan wince...

1. Drew Pearson
2. Herschel Walker
3. Les Steckel

Bob Sansevere, Vikings beat writer for the St. Paul Pioneer Press was nice enough to chime in on my roster: (I emailed him)

Chris,
I wrote a book that just came out -- The Best Minnesota Sports Arguments -- and included what I consider the all-time Vikings O and D. I'll note where we differ.

Bob

All-time Vikings

Starting lineup:

WR - Cris Carter 80 6'3" 216
LT - *** GARY ZIMMERMAN
LG - Randall McDaniel 64 6'3" 279
OC - Mick Tingelhoff 53 6'2" 240
RG - *** ED WHITE
RT - Ron Yary 73 6'6" 255
TE - Steve Jordan 83 6'3" 240
WR - Randy Moss 84 6'4" 211
QB - Fran Tarkenton 10 6'0" 190
RB - Chuck Foreman 44 6'2" 207
RB - *** ROBERT SMITH, though the book was written before Peterson played a down.)

LE - Carl Eller 81 6'6" 247
T - *** KEITH MILLARD (Randle played a lot at DE)
T - Alan Page 88 6'4" 245
RE - *** CHRIS DOLEMAN
LLB - Roy Winston 60 5'11" 222
MLB - Scott Studwell 55 6'2" 228
RLB - Matt Blair 59 6'5" 229
LCB - Carl Lee 39 5'11" 188
RCB - *** ANTOINE WINFIELD
LSS - Joey Browner 47 6'2" 231
RFS - Paul Krause 22 6'3" 200

Off the bench:
-
Misc:

PK - *** GARY ANDERSON


-

Makes me feel pretty good. His list and mine are not far apart.

[GUTTMANN]

That's pretty cool he got back to you. Bob isn't the most respected around here either though. Sid Hartman is the man to go to. Bob's list is a good one. If you create the team, be sure to post pics.

Yeah, I emailed all the beat writers from all the local papers and KFAN guys early yesterday morning.

So, far only Sansevere has replied.

Jim Souhan's response to my email:

"Hard to argue with any of that. I might push Birk up one level _ 300-pound centers who can pull are awfully rare."
-Jim

[GUTTMANN]

Unfortunately,
That's all you'll hear from. I emailed Sid Hartman and the K-Fan guys for info on the Gophers all time. None returned my emails. FYI-The guys at K-Fan are AZZ's!!

[joel_p1]

Okay Chris Bigfranco.. heres a sample of what you been waiting on..
Hope I did them some justice.??

Marshall on a "Speed Demon!" Yeah baby! While he's running the wrong way, Thomas Jones will be scoring!!! And that O-Line looks BEEFY! Ya think Urlacher can get a piece of Fran "The Man"?

Can't wait to Get Some! Get Some! :rolleyes: