There were certainly ups and downs from the veteran defensive back, and it's worth keeping an eye on. 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.. Harris also finished second at the position in terms of . https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/lists/vikings-rank-1st-in-inaugural-nflpa-team-report-card/, finishing first among all 32 NFL franchises, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Flores sees safeties as an integral piece on the chess board and uses them in a variety of ways. Here's a look at the best Vikings safety duos of all-time. As a result, he was selected for the second-team All-NFC for his performance. He went on to win the starting job at free safety in 1979, and would finish his career as arguably the greatest. A Super Bowl winner, Reed is a name that can be overlooked when discussing the best safeties of all-time. The data was averaged for the number of years each duo players together. 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. The report, released Wednesday during the league's annual scouting combine, rated teams in eight categories - everything from meals and . While he managed 19 interceptions over his career, his ferocious tackling made him a vital component of one of the greatest defenses in NFL history. Certain players, such as Mike Morris and Scott Studwell, would have fit perfectly in that era. Regarding food quality, the Vikings come in 9th place. The Vikings offered a good amount of first-class seats, and 95% of players felt they had enough room to spread out. He had 51 interceptions in 13 years and had four defensive touchdowns. In a comparison between Krause and Smith, even though they come from different eras, the edge would easily go to the player who wore No. If anyone can get past that nasty defensive line, they wont get much farther. Please check your email for a confirmation. Peppers recorded 97 sacks in black and blue and forced more than 30 fumbles, both of which are by far team records. The report card mentioned that all players felt like owner . But despite that and three more Super Bowl appearances, the Vikings have yet to win a Super Bowl championship. He played in all four of the Vikings Super Bowl appearances and helped the team win two NFL Central Division titles, three NFC titles, and nine NFC Central championships. This week, we'll focus on safeties. 15. Kassulke was a big hitter and one of the backbones of the famed Purple People Eaters. According to On3 Sports' Matt Zenitz, the Vikings are hiring Colorado's defensive tackles coach Patrick Hill to be their new assistant defensive line coach. Smith already was with the team in Baltimore when he received the positive test, and he later thanked the Wilf family for providing him with a private flight back to Minnesota. Jones was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and seven-time All-Pro. In 1990 the Minnesota Vikings signed Carter off waivers for $100 and offered him the opportunity to get sober and redeem his NFL career. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2019. Who are the best cornerbacks in Minnesota Vikings history? The eight categories included: treatment of families, nutrition, weight room, strength staff, training room, locker room, and travel. The report card mentioned that all players felt like owner Zygi Wilf is willing to spend money to upgrade their facilities. In the words of Vikings' head coaching legend Bud Grant, "Paul personified the term free safety.". Maybe one day Smith will join Browner and Krause as one of the all-time great safeties. "So as soon as I saw the quarterback look me off and then go back to the front side, that's when I knew I was free game to make a break, and that's when me and Xavier, we both had it viced and if I didn't make the play, he would have made the play on that," Bynum explained. Cromwell started off as a key contributor at nickelback and on special teams. Steve Atwater was the greatest run-support safety of all time. The Vikings new Defensive Coordinator, Brian Flores, loves to blitz the passer. Not going with the Purple People Eaters as a whole felt wrong. 0. For his imposing presence in the backfield and his sheer number of tackles, Griffith edges past Kassulke into the No. Chris Hanburger 9. In his athletic prime, Antoine Winfield was an excellent corner in coverage and had a keen ability to press wide receivers at the line. Karl Kassulke may be best known for the tragic motorcycle accident he suffered on his way to training camp in 1973. Last week, we covered the tight ends. He even helped push the Vikings to all four of their Super Bowl appearances and four championship victories, playing in the Vikings most successful era and demonstrating an impeccable work ethic and sportsmanship. Doleman is the perfect cap stone of this four-piece pass rushing nightmare. But, this time Im ranking best safety duos in Vikings history. His overall total in Minnesota was 635 tackles. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Blair had a hot streak in his career from 1977 to 1982, making six consecutive pro bowls. Players had no complaints regarding the Vikings new locker room. Key stats: 909 tackles, 52 INTs. The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. He helped the Bucs to a Super Bowl title his rookie year and followed that up with a . Listed below are the top ten best Minnesota Vikings players of all time. Few players wanted to continue playing after taking a Browner hit. Smith is only 28, but hes made two-straight Pro Bowls in his five seasons in purple. Still, theres a reason he has stayed in the league this long. He managed to play all 1208 defensive snaps for Zimmers defense in 2021 and led the whole team in snaps. 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. Woods provided the experience the Vikings hoped for in the secondary, but he also was targeted most by opponents who likely veered away from a six-time Pro Bowler in Smith, who played more at the line of scrimmage than Woods. Following two stints and ten seasons with the Panthers, Julius Peppers is without question the franchise's best defensive player ever. Here is every player who has ever held the position of Minnesota Vikings starting cornerback. Eller is credited with the most sacks in Viking history, and, despite his 66 247 lb frame, possessed surprising speed and agility. No receiver went over the middle against Minnesota without paying the price. 22 in the videowas the greatest ball hawk in NFL history. He earned his reputation as The Scrambler because, in an era when it was practically taboo, Tarkenton was unafraid to run for the ball. Big fan of Minnesota football? Smith suited up for his seventh season in Purple and started all 16 games. Orlando Thomas was a second-round pick for the Vikings in the 1995 NFL draft. He retired at the peak of his career in 1978 and held every significant NFL passing record, and still ranks in the top ten for many. He holds the record for most rushing yards in a single game, was Best Offensive Player of the Year in 2012, and MVP in 2013, and ranks among some of the greatest running backs of all time. Knud, Knut, Canute, Cnut) is without a doubt one of the most influential Vikings in history, establishing a Norse rule in the North Sea for the first and only time in history. 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. He was eventually cut from the Eagles after failing several drug tests. He made the Pro Bowl following the 1970 season. 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. O'Connell gave a positive update on Cine's recovery process, noting the young safety's clear excitement about the upcoming season. His fierce hits caused receivers to think twice about going across the middle of the secondary. He started as a defensive end in every Super Bowl they played in and helped the Vikings win ten NFC titles during his eleven seasons.After retiring, he secured a degree in human services and became a licensed drug and alcohol counselor, advocating for people of color within the Minnesota Department of Human Services. He retired in 2001 after playing a final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and got licensed to work in the Minnesota Elementary school system helping mentor disadvantaged children in his community, a cause he was passionate about throughout his football career.Fans and peers regard him as one of the best offensive linemen in the league, and he has been applauded throughout his career for his athleticism, leadership, and character. His size and aggression on the field,paired with his intelligence and agility, made him the ideal offensive lineman.He was known to play through injuries and only missed two games throughout his career. Antoine Winfield Jr. wasted no time making a name for himself as one of the best young safeties in the league. Bobby Bryant played corner back in all four Super Bowls for the Minnesota Vikings. Scott Studwell was a ninth round draft choice in 1977, and dominated throughout his career, playing all of it in Minnesota. Tarkenton was the first Viking ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and is recognized for his skill, consistency, and innovation as one of the greatest QBs of all time. He is still regarded as one of the best QBs in the league. Currently, the team is roughly $24 million over . Though not known as a formidable tackler, Krause's presence in the deep middle of the secondary allowed the Purple People Eaters to unleash a scary pass-rush on opposing quarterbacks. Here is every player who has ever held the position of Minnesota Vikingsstarting cornerback. The Vikings drafted Camryn Bynum out of Cal and converted the cornerback to safety, which worked out well for the youngster. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Please rank the players based only on their time with the Vikings, The Best Quarterbacks to Never Win a Super Bowl, The Best Notre Dame Football Players of All Time. 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 . Dexter Manley 8. Buy Vikings Tickets. While he earned a reputation for his tumultuous personal life and numerous legal battles, his formidable speed, athleticism, and talent are undeniable. Even though he wasn't known primarily as a run-stopper, he tallied 442 tackles over his career. He rose to the occasion with grace, demonstrating determination and discipline over his 12 seasons. Speak your mind in the comments section below. The Vikings could lose their top punt gunner in Kris Boyd, which would be a tough loss for a team that created plenty of mishaps on special teams the past few years. He was voted AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, selected for six Pro Bowls, and chosen for the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team. 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. Have a player you'd like to nominate? That rookie year was the highlight of his seven-year career with Minnesota. NFL teams were graded on eight categories with a grading range of F to A+. The Minnesota Vikings' defense could be different at all levels in 2023, depending on how radical they decide to be when it comes to personnel changes. For his longevity and his record-breaking thievery, Paul Krause barely slips past Joey Browner as the best safety in Minnesota Vikings history. Bryant was also an excellent special teams player, making him even more of a threat after an interception. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. 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. The best NFL safeties of all time are the ones that could lock down the league's best wide receivers in coverage while also delivering big hits to stop the run game. Gil Brandt from NFL.com ranks Krause as the 11th-best safety in NFL history. Known for his strength and endurance, Yary is widely considered the Vikings greatest defensive tackle of all time. The report cards polled 1,300 players, who provided information about their current teams. The Vikings weathered another season of COVID-19 protocols and called on Bynum to step in as a starter in Weeks 9 and 10 after Smith tested positive on the morning of Minnesota's game in Baltimore. We asked for your Top 10 Vikings players of all time and more than 5,000 people responded. Safeties are the hybrids of NFL defenses. While individual stats don't hold as much weight if the Vikings didn't accomplish a team win, it's tough to deny the performance Woods had against the Cowboys in Week 8. Tarkentons eventual return to the Vikings in 1972 brought even more success.He played another seven years and led the Vikings to six NFC Central Division titles and three of their four Super Bowls. Joe Jacoby 13. The Vikings ranked as the top team overall, followed by the Dolphins and the Raiders. But nevertheless, it's always less than idea to lose your top safety for back-to-back games. Regarding staff, 95% of players felt the Vikings had enough athletic trainers (ATCs), and 92% said they had enough physical therapists (PTs). Albin Ouschan 3-rail bank hide, against China team [1:30]: https://youtu.be/xi2KtnHkp8k?t=613. Harrison Smith & Anthony Harris, Minnesota Vikings. In some circumstances, they need to hit like linebackers to stop the running game. Vote or rerank this list of the greatest Minnesota Vikings ever, then head over and check out some of the best Vikings kickers ever. 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.. Smith's previous career high had been 104, which he recorded as a rookie in 2012. McMichael set a franchise record with three safeties . Jackson had one of the best seasons we have ever seen at the safety position back in 2018, earning an overall PFF grade of 93.2 and a coverage grade of 94.7, but since Vic Fangio left town to coach the Broncos, Jackson's elite play has evaporated and he has posted seasons of 67.0 and 59.5 in terms of PFF grade. It's all about being a Viking. Bynum certainly showed promise in his first season, especially considering the Vikings converted him from cornerback. These lists are filled with players who epitomize what it means to be a Viking. 2. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. 955 - 1035. Two former Vikings were listed in his top group. Bynum secured his first career sack against Chargers QB Justin Herbert, and he also recorded a pass defensed and a tackle for loss. Over the next several seasons, even as the Vikings struggled to find their footing, Tarkenton continued to prove his merit. Brian Dawkins 5. He went on to snag 53 more as a member of the Vikings, setting an all-time NFL record of 81. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Lake, who the Steelers drafted out of UCLA with the 34th choice in 1989, was a five-time Pro Bowler, four-time second-team All-Pro and he is a member of the 1990s All . He played this position immaculately but was also so versatile a player that he was utilized in unconventional ways. He intercepted nine passes in his rookie season, which is still a team record for a rookie. Rookie Road may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Bynum made his second straight start against the Chargers in Week 10, and he made the most of it. 98% of players also said there is enough hot and cold tub space. Part two of the Greatest Minnesota Vikings of all time focuses on the defense. By Arif Hasan December 24, 2022 Jump Around This Article Click to show Skyler Woodward thin hit kick freeze hide, with Shane van Boening [7:12]: https://youtu.be/6fMHRkcsCfU?t=9697. The second on the list, or first we suppose, was Paul Krause. The best in the business need to be athletically gifted: fast,. EAGAN, Minn. The Vikings combined a mixture of veteran experience and youth at the safety position in 2021. 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