Need I say more? As Easley is often looked past due to his short career in the NFL, his play on the field was at a top level and one that had in the elite group . Who are the best cornerbacks in Minnesota Vikings history? The report card explains that the weight room is new and players are happy with it. 98% of the players felt like the Vikings had enough strength coaches. Over the course of his tenure, Thomas intercepted 22 passes, which is good for seventh place on the team's all-time list. Krause ranked No. The turnover unfortunately didn't result in any points for Minnesota but did stop the Cowboys drive. Who are the best Minnesota Vikings football players of all time? 1. 8. Known primarily as a tackler, Browner surprisingly snared 37 interceptions, which is good for fourth on the Vikings' all-time list. 22 firstmainly because of his longevity and his interception record. Skyler Woodward thin hit kick freeze hide, with Shane van Boening [7:12]: https://youtu.be/6fMHRkcsCfU?t=9697. 22 in the videowas the greatest ball hawk in NFL history. He proved his merit over time, beginning a 176 consecutive-game streak with 133 straight starts in 1992.It wasnt until around 1996, though, that he truly came into his own. Another name to monitor who shares that familiarity is Adrian Amos if he has a smaller price tag and is open to continuing his journey in the NFC North after stops in Green Bay and Chicago. Certain players, such as Mike Morris and Scott Studwell, would have fit perfectly in that era. 3-time first-team All-Pro, 12-time Pro Bowler. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Most of all, these three linebackers work well together because of their game intelligence. The criteria used includes games started, interceptions and fumble recoveries, touchdowns scored, and their approximate value (AV) assigned by Pro Football Reference. 2022 Team: Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush has made a nice role for himself as a backup safety in the NFL since 2016 and has some ties to the Vikings in place if he decides to leave Kansas City.. What many fans don't realize is that he played for 10 years prior to the accident. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) Eric Rowe, (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) Deon Bush. The Vikings weight room was built in 2018 and received glowing reviews. He intercepted nine passes in his rookie season, which is still a team record for a rookie. In some circumstances, they need to hit like linebackers to stop the running game. Honorable mentions: Jim Marshall, Jared Allen and Kevin Williams. The Minnesota Vikings were praised for their cafeteria, with 100% of players saying there is enough room. Regarding staff, 95% of players felt the Vikings had enough athletic trainers (ATCs), and 92% said they had enough physical therapists (PTs). The Hall of Famer was with the Vikings from 1968-1979 after three seasons with the Redskins. Click on as we power rank the top safeties in Minnesota Vikings history. Polamalu was a four-time First Team All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowler, was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and helped the Steelers win two Super Bowls during his 12 seasons. No receiver went over the middle against Minnesota without paying the price. Forget just making this list, Page ought to be considered for the greatest Minnesota Vikings player of all time. Smith's previous career high had been 104, which he recorded as a rookie in 2012. The Raiders and Texans were the only two in the top five to finish with a losing record, while the Vikings, Dolphins, and Cowboys all made the . The eight categories included: treatment of families, nutrition, weight room, strength staff, training room, locker room, and travel. Cromwell started off as a key contributor at nickelback and on special teams. Smith has been one of the NFL's best safeties for a good long time, and he managed to maintain that status despite coverage and pressure breakdowns all along Minnesota's defense. In addition to leading the team in tackles with eight, Woods intercepted QB Cooper Rush early in the second quarter. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. He became a special teams star in his first two seasons, and took over the safety spot full-time in 1996. If he played at that level at a 17-game pace, Peppers would have . Despite his questionable judgment off the field, Petersons skill as a running back is undeniable. Viking Cruises. Ed Reed's impact should not be downplayed, however. Browner forced 18 fumbles over his career and recovered 16 of them. They've drafted two of the best players ever in Randy Moss and 2012 NFL MVP Adrian Peterson. . They held teams to just 10.3 points per game, and in their championship game they held the Giants to just ten points. The Time Travelers (1964) A 1964 movie made on the cheap with genuinely terrible effects, The Time Travelers is about a group of scientists who travel to the future, fight some mutants and . Carter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013 and is one of the best wide receivers in football history. Ken Houston 6. 9. For his imposing presence in the backfield and his sheer number of tackles, Griffith edges past Kassulke into the No. He was second on the team's all-time sack list with 92.5 and played in 191 consecutive games every game for 12 consecutive seasons. Bynum flashed in an extremely small sample size. Blairs most valuable trait was his ability to cover tight ends and running backs in passing situations. Ray Lewis was the star of the great Ravens defense. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. His overall total in Minnesota was 635 tackles. In 1997 he led the NFL with 15.5 sacks, and a year later signed a $32.5 million dollar contract with the Vikings, the largest contract for a defensive lineman up to that point. Even though he was limited to part-time duty during his first two seasons, he still managed three interceptions and an amazing seven fumble recoveries. Here is every player who has ever held the position of Minnesota Vikings starting cornerback. Honorable mentions: Roy Winston, Wally Hilgenberg and Chad Greenway. For his outstanding performance throughout most of the '80s and his high rankings in the Vikings record books, Joey Browner outdistances Robert Griffith for second place on the list of great Minnesota safeties. Brian Dawkins 5. Please check your email for a confirmation. The World Champion Bears in 1963 hold one of the best defenses of all-time, and of course this is probably behind a few other Bears teams. Also among the position group were 2020 additions Josh Metellus (sixth round) and Myles Dorn (undrafted). Gil Brandt of NFL Network continued his breakdown of the top players all-time at every position on Wednesday when he rolled out a list of the best safeties to ever lace up their chinstrap.. Despite excelling, Tarkenton was traded to the New York Giants in 1967. 0. The second on the list, or first we suppose, was Paul Krause. Smith totaled a career-high 114 tackles (83 solo), which ranked second on the team behind linebacker Eric Kendricks. To shed light on his all-around game, Browner led the Vikings in nine defensive categories during his career. Big fan of Minnesota football? In addition, he compiled 7.5 sacks in Minnesota, including four in 1999. But, this time Im ranking best safety duos in Vikings history. Vikings have 2 of the top safeties of all time Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC West Broncos. The data was averaged for the number of years each duo players together. Sendejos contract option was $5.4 million in 2019 and it ended up being a price too high for the Vikings as Harris looked more than capable in his nine starts last year. 9. Inducted into the hall of fame in 1988. 15 Worst Free Agents Signings of All-Time. Top 10 Best Arizona Cardinals Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Atlanta Falcons Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Baltimore Ravens Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Chicago Bears Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Dallas Cowboys Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Denver Broncos Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Detroit Lions Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Green Bay Packers Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Indianapolis Colts Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Kansas City Chiefs Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Miami Dolphins Players of All Time, Top 10 Best NFL Football Players of All Time, Top 10 Best New England Patriots Players of All Time, Top 10 Best New York Giants Players of All Time, Top 10 Best New York Jets Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Pittsburgh Steelers Players of All Time, Top 10 Best San Francisco 49ers Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Tampa Bay Buccaneers Players of All Time, Top 10 Carolina Panthers Players of All Time, Top 10 Cincinnati Bengals Players of All Time, Top 10 Cleveland Browns Players of All Time, Top 10 Houston Texans Players of All Time, Top 10 Jacksonville Jaguars Players of All Time, Top 10 Las Vegas Raiders Players of All Time, Top 10 Los Angeles Chargers Players of All Time, Top 10 Los Angeles Rams Players of All Time, Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Players of All Time, Top 10 New Orleans Saints Players of All Time, Top 10 Philadelphia Eagles Players of All Time, Top 10 Seattle Seahawks Players of All Time, Top 10 Tennessee Titans Players of All Time, Top 10 Washington Commanders Players of All Time, Top 6 Best NFL Wide Receivers of All Time. 114 tackles (83 solo), 3.0 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, 7 passes defensed, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble; started all 15 games he played; on field for 1,049 of Minnesota's 1,280 defensive snaps (86.8 percent), 108 tackles (72 solo), 1.0 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 3 interceptions, 10 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles; started all 17 games he played; on field for all 1,280 defensive snaps (100 percent), 28 tackles (20 solo), 1.0 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, 3 passes defensed; started 3 of 14 games he played; on field for 211 defensive snaps (17.5 percent), 13 tackles (8 solo), 1 pass defensed; played in 16 games (0 starts); on field for 54 defensive snaps (4.5 percent), 3 special teams tackles (1 solo), played in 9 games (0 starts); did not play any defensive snaps. Bush could be a solid replacement on the market. He went on to snag 53 more as a member of the Vikings, setting an all-time NFL record of 81. Browner was later named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Team of the '80s. According to the press release, the NFLPAs goals were to highlight positive clubs, identify areas that could use improvement, and highlight best practices and standards.. The Vikings ended up falling just short in the Week 9 contest, but Bynum's big play helped give them a chance. He made the Pro Bowl following the 1970 season. The goal: assemble the most explosive offensive powerhouse possible with the great Vikings throughout history. The Minnesota Vikings received strong reviews in both staff and facilities. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. The Vikings enter March way over the salary cap. Not including a player from the modern era felt painful. The Vikings drafted Camryn Bynum out of Cal and converted the cornerback to safety, which worked out well for the youngster. He finished his career with 37 interceptions, fourth in team history. He was a first-round draft pick in 1964 for both the Vikings and their rivals, the Buffalo Bills, but made the decision to stay in Minnesota and began a fourteen-year career with them that ended in 1978.During that time, he became a crucial element of the Vikings famed defensive line.. One name that is well worth mentioning among the Top 10 Strong Safety All-Time list is the former Seattle Seahawks and Pro Football Hall of Famer strong safety Kenny Easley. Matt Blair leads all Minnesota Vikings linebackers with 16 career interceptions from the outside linebacker spot. O'Connell gave a positive update on Cine's recovery process, noting the young safety's clear excitement about the upcoming season. We asked for your Top 10 Vikings players of all time and more than 5,000 people responded. Two former Vikings were listed in his top group. When he retired, he held every major passing record, had played in nine Pro Bowls, won MVP (1975) and Offensive Player of the Year (1975), and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986. Studwell didnt receive many accolades for his play, but the tape suggests that was a mistake. Projected to line up alongside him is Anthony Harris who took over as the starter in 2018 after Andrew Sendejo suffered a groin injury that eventually ended his season as well as his career with Minnesota. Minnesota returned All-Pro safety Harrison Smith for his 10th NFL season, and signed Xavier Woods after he played his first four pro seasons with Dallas. He was eventually cut from the Eagles after failing several drug tests. 7 bold predictions for the Minnesota Vikings 2019 season. Albin Ouschan 3-rail bank hide, against China team [1:30]: https://youtu.be/xi2KtnHkp8k?t=613. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onMinnesota Vikings and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Cris Carter was born November 25, 1965, in Troy, Ohio, and played college ball at Ohio State University. Yes, he has some big-time competition in both Paul Krause and Joey Browner, but the consistency and. John Riggins 4. (Photo By JUDY GRIESEDIECK/Star Tribune via Getty Images) Orlando Thomas and Robert Griffith, (Photo By Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via Getty Images) Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo. Hes a hall of famer and widely considered one of the best in the league. While he earned a reputation for his tumultuous personal life and numerous legal battles, his formidable speed, athleticism, and talent are undeniable. Art Monk 5. The Vikings offer a steam room and sauna, which 100% of players said were big enough. Chris Hanburger 9. Krause not only tops the Vikings franchise record for career interceptions with 53, but he also owns the NFL record with 81 career picks. Griffith, who was the Vikings' starting strong safety for six years, was one of the most feared defenders in the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings were the valedictorians of the survey, finishing first among all 32 NFL franchises. Strong Safety. Team (s): Seattle Seahawks. Since the Vikings will be under new leadership, it will be interesting to see if the powers that be opt to re-sign Woods or move another direction. 14. NFL Best Safeties in the NFL 2022: Derwin James, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Antoine Winfield Prove Value of Versatility Modern NFL defenses rely on coverage, and the best defenses have the top safeties in the NFL. His total of 53 picks as a Viking is a team record. He has 37 career interceptions, 1,118 tackles and is a six-time All-Pro. The rest is Vikings history. It includes every starting cornerback from throughout Minnesota Vikings history, including current cornerbacks and past ones. He played ten seasons with the Vikings, made over 1,400 yards in a season three different times, won MVP in 2012, and played in seven Pro Bowls. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. View the best safety photos from the 2021 season shot by Vikings photographers. Have a player you'd like to nominate? He never missed a game over the span of his lengthy career and started in a consecutive 240 regular-season games.He took on some of the NFLs best linebackers and was a highly skilled blocker, helping teammates like Fran Tarkenton and Chuck Foreman make their way into the record books. Blair played his entire career with the Vikings and helped earn trips to two Super Bowls. Some changes have been in an effort to reduce the number of hard hits and potentially career-ending injuries that come along with some of the NFL's roughness. Browner, a 1983 first-round pick, played nine seasons with the Vikings and one with Tampa Bay. A lot of fans would say that Harrison Smith hasn't been around long enough to merit a spot on this list, but the former Notre Dame star made enough of an impact during his rookie year to earn his place. If you think someone should be on this list of the best Vikings of all time, then feel free to add him to the list. Darren Appleton hide behind small ball with distance, with Mark Gray [3:27]: https://youtu.be/w8DF4lqN6IQ?t=23955. Paul KrauseNo. Charles Mann 16. We are concluding this series with safeties. The Vikings have had a number of superstars wear the purple and gold. In the 1996 Pro Bowl, he made history as the first guard to catch a touchdown pass. Randle led the Vikings in sacks in nine of his 11 seasons, and strung together eight seasons in a row with over 10 sacks. 1. It doesn't lean on the Hall of Fame for selections, either. Pages most ridiculous accomplishment was earning MVP in 1971 as a defensive player. The best in the business need to be athletically gifted: fast,. A season ago, Harris (91.6) and Smith (91.4) produced PFF's top two coverage grades among players at the position. Ken Houston 15. Moss played with the Vikings from 1998-2004 and again for a year in 2010. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onAll Minnesota Sports and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Over the next several seasons, even as the Vikings struggled to find their footing, Tarkenton continued to prove his merit. The Best Minnesota Vikings Cornerbacks Of All Time. The Vikings had several Hall of Famers suit up for them during their Super Bowl years like Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page and Ron Yary. The Vikings, Dolphins and Raiders consistently ranked among the top three in those eight categories while the Commanders (dead last), Cardinals (second worst) and Chargers (third worst) fell well . Carl Eller was born January 25, 1942, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and attended college at the University of Minnesota. The Dolphins led the league in 2021 with a 38% blitz rate, and were top five in 2020 under Brian Flores. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. The team's first-round draft choice in 1983, he came from USC to the NFL and quickly established himself as one of the best players in the league on special teams. Studwell showed an elite football mind, dissecting offenses by diagnosing plays early. Anthony Barr converted to linebacker late in his college career from running back, and has quickly become a top-tier 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL. Dexter Manley 8. Bynum made his second straight start against the Chargers in Week 10, and he made the most of it. Eller is credited with the most sacks in Viking history, and, despite his 66 247 lb frame, possessed surprising speed and agility. Reed ranks 10th all-time in interceptions, and had nine Pro Bowl selections. Scott Studwell was a ninth round draft choice in 1977, and dominated throughout his career, playing all of it in Minnesota. Hopefully, the former Golden Bear will make another jump headed into Year 2. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. He moved into the full-time strong safety spot midway through 1984. Copyright 2017-2023 Rookie Road Inc. All rights reserved. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Safeties are the hybrids of NFL defenses. His strength was the run defense, where he was the third-best league-wide at his position. I couldnt justify keeping Barr off the list just due to the rich history of other players. Buy Vikings Tickets. According to The Top Tens, a website that allows fans to vote, Smith currently tops the as the best safety of the 2018-2019 season. 4) Larry Wilson He revolutionized the "safety blitz" that we see in every game today and finished his career with a whopping 52 interceptions. He detailed the play for media members, noting that the defense was in middle-open coverage, so he expected Baltimore to try attacking the middle of the field. Peppers recorded 97 sacks in black and blue and forced more than 30 fumbles, both of which are by far team records. Blair had a hot streak in his career from 1977 to 1982, making six consecutive pro bowls. Not going with the Purple People Eaters as a whole felt wrong. Please check your email for a confirmation. Kam Chancellor NFL rules have changed throughout the years. The team has had a lot of success, making the Super Bowl in 1969 along with 25 playoff berths since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. The report card mentioned that all players felt like owner Zygi Wilf is willing to spend money to upgrade their facilities. Who are the best cornerbacks in Minnesota Vikings history? King of Denmark, Norway, and England. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. 1 / 100 Minnesota Vikings 2 / 100. Those are the quintessential Vikings to many fans. Pro-football-reference.com has provided advanced defensive stats since 2018 that are a decent metric of summarizing cornerbacks' play. For his physical and mental contributions to the Vikings during his rookie year, Harrison Smith receives Honorable Mention on the list of the greatest Vikings safeties of all time. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. While stats are taken into account, there are other, more subjective criteria as well. The Vikings ranked as the top team overall, followed by the Dolphins and the Raiders. He started 12 games that year and went on to play in 131 games for Minnesota, which is sixth most for any defensive back in team history. Browner made quick reads and accelerated downfield quickly. He also recovered 10 fumbles and returned two of them for touchdowns. 3 spot on this list of greatest Vikings safeties. Adrian Peterson was born on March 21, 1985, in Palestine, Texas. Heres where it gets arguable. Harrison Smith & Anthony Harris, Minnesota Vikings. He helped the Bucs to a Super Bowl title his rookie year and followed that up with a . Minnesota returned All-Pro safety Harrison Smith for his 10th NFL season, and. The safety earned a Profootballfocus grade of 66.7, 39th in the NFL among all safeties. The players felt like owner Zygi Wilf is willing to spend money to upgrade their facilities entire career with interceptions. 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