Minnesota Vikings

Friday, 23 October 2009 - administrator

The Minnesota Vikings are an American professional Football Team located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are a member of the National Football League’s (NFL) National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The Vikings division rivals are the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears.

History

The Minnesota Vikings began playing in the National Football League (NFL) in 1961 under head coach Ara Parseghian. With the first pick overall in the 1961draft, the Vikings selected Tommy Mason, running back from Tulane. With their third round pick, they drafted quarterback Frank Tarkenton. With Tarkenton coming off of the bench and throwing four touchdown passes and rushing for one touchdown, the Vikings won their first National Football League (NFL) game against the Chicago Bears. The expansion Vikings team finished the season 3-11.
The Minnesota Vikings have won one National Football League (NFL) championship in 1969, and made it to Super Bowl VI to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs, 23-7.

Minnesota Vikings of the 70’s

The Vikings of the late 60’s and 70’s were known for having a strong defense. The nickname “The Purple People Eaters” was given to the defense, led by Carl Eller, Gary Larsen, Alan Page and Jim Marshall. Alan Page won the National Football League (NFL) Most Valuable Player Award in 1971. It was the first time the award had been given to a defensive player. During the period of the Purple People Eater defense, the Vikings reached the playoffs in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1978. In 1973, the Vikings reached Super Bowl VIII to play against the Miami Dolphins. The Vikings lost 24-7. They reached their second consecutive Super Bowl (IX) the next year in the 1974-1975 season, losing again, this time to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1977, the Vikings made it to Super Bowl XI to play against the Oakland Raiders, and lose again, 32-14.

Minnesota Vikings of the 80’s-90’s

After leading to Minnesota Vikings to 4 Super Bowls, and 11 division titles, head Coach Bud Grant retired in 1984. His career record was (158-96-5). However, he was rehired after only one year, due to a franchise worst 13 losses with the replacement coach for Grant. Grant re-retired in 1986.
In 1998, the Minnesota Vikings had one of the most explosive offenses in National Football League (NFL) history. Quarterback Randall Cunningham, running back Robert Smith, wide receiver Cris Carter and wide receiver Randy Moss led the Vikings to a 15-1 regular season record and the second highest total points scored in a season (556 points). Despite having the best record of the season, the Vikings did not reach the Super Bowl.

2009 Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings received tremendous media attention during the 2009 NFL preseason. The signing of pro bowl quarterback Brett Favre may have gone down as one of the most dramatic side shows in NFL history. In 2007, after 16 years with the Green Bay Packers, Brett Favre retired from the NFL. He then returned to the NFL to play for the New York Jets, and then retried again after the 2008 season. In the summer of 2009 prior to the NFL kickoff of the NFL season, Brett Favre publicly considered coming out of retirement a second time. Favre visited with his former team the Green Bay Packers to see if they were interested in resigning him as a quarterback. To Favre’s surprise and disappointment, the Packers organization was not interested in signing Brett Favre. The Green Bay Packer organization had already invested a first round draft pick in University of California quarterback Aaron Rodgers to replace Brett Favre back in 2004. All of this drama resulted in Brett Favre signing with Green Bay division rival, Minnesota Vikings.
For the last couple of years, Head coach Brad Childress and the Vikings organization have felt they were one link short of being a Super Bowl champion. They now feel that Brett Favre is the final link they need to win the Super Bowl.

The Minnesota Vikings hit the jackpot in 2006 when they drafted running back Adrian Peterson from the University of Oklahoma in 2006. After two seasons in the National Football League (NFL), Adrian Peterson has solidified himself as the #1 running back in the National Football League (NFL). He runs with a rare gift of power and speed, with the ability to score on every play. Adrian Peterson is the face of the Vikings franchise. The organization has designed an offense around Peterson’s running abilities. The Vikings invested heavily in the offensive line signing Steve Hutchinson and holdout Bryant McKinnie to large contracts. In the 2009 NFL draft, the Vikings selected giant lineman Phil Loadholt from Oklahoma in the second round.
Percy Harvin is expected to make immediate contributions as a rookie in 2009. The Vikings hope he can take some pressure off of Peterson and the run game by stretching the field with his downfield speed. With the addition of Favre at quarterback and Harvin at receiver, the Vikings will try to balance their strong running attack with a respectful passing attack. The Vikings defense is led by defensive end Jared Allen and defensive back Antoine Winfield. They are known for an exceptional run defense, with the “Williams Wall”, brothers Pat and Kevin Williams plugging up the middle at both defensive tackle positions. Many National Football League (NFL) experts rank the Minnesota Vikings as one of the top 5 teams in the league.

Minnesota Vikings 2009 Draft Picks

*Round 1 Percy Harvin, wide receiver -Florida
*Round 2 Phil Loadholt, Offensive tackle -Oklahoma
*Round 3 Asher Allen, defensive back -Georgia
*Round 5 Jasper Brinkley, linebacker -South Carolina
*round 7 Jamarca Sanford, free safety -Mississippi