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If you could pick one offensive and one defensive player from the Vikings proud past that would best increase the chances of the 2020 team winning the Super Bowl, who would you take?
A couple of assumptions:
—The season is played as normal (No COVID-19).
—The players selected are in the prime of their careers.
—They played enough of their careers in Purple to be called "Vikings" (no Brett Favre or Warren Moon).
Remember, the picks will be replacing a current player so Paul Krause would bench Harrison Smith or Anthony Harris. My favorites are Randall McDaniel and Alan Page. Who do you have?
— Dave Bakke in Brandon, South Dakota
Thanks for the email, Dave, and the great question! I threw this question around to one of my colleagues, and we had a fun chat about it, much like I'm sure you and your buddies do when debating such an interesting topic.
View photos of Vikings legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randall McDaniel.
Guard Randall McDaniel (64) of the Minnesota Vikings sets for play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Oct. 13, 1996 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Minnesota Vikings running back Herschel Walker (34) runs upfield behind Hall of Fame guard Randall McDaniel (66) during an NFL game against the Green Bay Packers in Minneapolis, Dec. 21, 1991. The Packers defeated the Vikings 27-7. (AP Photo/Vernon Biever)
Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Randall McDaniel (64) rests during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Oct. 3, 1993, in San Francisco. The 49ers won the game, 38-19. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Guard Randall McDaniel (64) of the Minnesota Vikings sets for play against the New York Giants Oct. 30, 1989 in East Rutherford, NJ. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Guard Randall McDaniel (64) of the Minnesota Vikings sets for play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in October 1998 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Minnesota Vikings guard Randall McDaniel (64) at the NFL Pro Bowl, a 20 -13 NFC victory on Feb. 4, 1996, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
NFC guard Randall McDaniel of the Minnesota Vikings during Pro Bowl media day before the NFC's 17 - 3 victory over the AFC in the 1994 NFla Pro Bowl played on February 6, 1994 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
NFC guard Randall McDaniel of the Minnesota Vikings during Pro Bowl Media Day before the NFC's 17 - 3 victory over the AFC in the 1994 NFL Pro Bowl played on Feb. 6, 1994 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
2009 Hall of Fame members (L-R) former guard Randall McDaniel of the Minnesota Vikings (and Tampa Bay Buccaneers), former defensive end Bruce Smith of the Buffalo Bills, and former defensive back Rod Woodson of the Pittsburgh Steelers (and Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens) pose for a photo before the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 8, 2009 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The NFC defeated the AFC 30-21. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Minnesota Vikings players John Randle, Randall McDaniel, Chris Doleman, and Cris Carter pose on photo day before the NFL Pro Bowl, a 17 - 3 NFC victory on Feb. 6, 1994, at Aloha Stadium in Honolul. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Former Minnesota Vikings and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Randall McDaniel speaks during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Former Minnesota Vikings and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Randall McDaniel stands with his bronze bust during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Presenter O.K. Fulton, left, and former Minnesota Vikings and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Randall McDaniel unveil the bust of McDaniel during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Former Minnesota Vikings guard Randall McDaniel has his bust unveiled by his high school athletic director O.K. Fulton during the 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement in Canton, Ohio on Aug. 8. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Charles Haley and Randall McDaniel pose for a photograph during a game between the Minnesota Vikings and thePittsburgh Steelers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio on Aug. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Johnny Vy)
Minnesota Vikings guard Randall McDaniel (64) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Oct. 15, 1995, in Tampa, Fla. (Allen Kee via AP)
Guard Randall McDaniel (64) of the Minnesota Vikings sets for play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in October 1995 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Guard Randall McDaniel (64) of the Minnesota Vikings sets for play against Los Angeles Raiders Sept. 5, 1993 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Minnesota Vikings guard Randall McDaniel (64) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Nov. 1, 1998, in Tampa, Fla. (Allen Kee via AP)
Guard Randall McDaniel (64) of the Minnesota Vikings sets for play in an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Nov. 8, 1992 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Guard Randall McDaniel (64) of the Minnesota Vikings sets for play against the Chicago Bears in September 1997 in Chicago. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Minnesota Vikings guard Randall McDaniel (64) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Green Bay Packers Sept. 4, 1994, in Green Bay, Wis. (Allen Kee via AP)
Minnesota Vikings guard Randall McDaniel before the NFla Pro Bowl, a 17 - 3 NFC victory on February 6, 1994, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Minnesota Vikings guard Randall McDaniel (64) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Nov. 1, 1998, in Tampa, Fla. (Allen Kee via AP)
Minnesota Vikings guard Randall McDaniel (64) tries to keep Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Dan Saleaumua (97) away from Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre (4) during the NFL Pro Bowl, a 20 - 13 NFC victory on Feb. 4, 1996, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Minnesota Vikings guard Randall McDaniel (64) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 15, 1996, in Chicago. (Allen Kee via AP)
Minnesota Vikings Randall McDaniel (64) during a game from his 1997 season with the Minnesota Vikings. Randall McDaniel played for 14 seasons with 2 different teams, was a 12-time Pro Bowler and inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.(David Durochik via AP)
Minnesota Vikings guard Randall McDaniel (64) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 15, 1996, in Chicago. (Allen Kee via AP)
Minnesota Vikings guard Randall McDaniel (64) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 21, 1997, in Green Bay, Wis. (Allen Kee via AP)
Minnesota Vikings Randall McDaniel (64) during a game from his 1994 season with the Minnesota Vikings. Randall McDaniel played for 14 seasons with 2 different teams, was a 12-time Pro Bowler and inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.(David Durochik via AP)
Former Minnesota Vikings player and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Randall McDaniel looks on as he receives his Ring of Excellence award in a halftime ceremony during a week 13 NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys against the Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Minneapolis. The Cowboys won 17-15. (Scott Boehm via AP)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 5: Former Minnesota Vikings player and current Hall of Fame member Randall McDaniel walks on the sidelines during the game between the MInnesota Vikings against the Green Bay Packers at Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on October 5, 2009 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Packers 30-23. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
We'll start with the one player on offense, and I'm not ashamed to say that I'm going to steal your answer in Randall McDaniel. There's a two-part answer to this, and the main one is that the Vikings aren't settled on either guard spot at this point as we head into training camp and the season. There are a host of players who will compete for those spots in Pat Elflein, Dru Samia, Aviante Collins and Dakota Dozier. No disrespect to them, but they simply aren't on McDaniel's level, and they would probably admit that themselves.
Heck, it's tough to find fellow Hall of Famers who could compete with McDaniel's resumé in the NFL. He played 12 seasons in Purple and made the Pro Bowl in the 11 seasons after his rookie year. He then went to Tampa Bay for the final two seasons of his career, making the Pro Bowl his first year as a Buccaneer to extend his streak to 12 straight seasons.
By the time his incredible NFL career was over, McDaniel had started 202 consecutive games and earned a spot on Pro Football Hall of Fame's Team of the Decade for the 1990s. He blocked for five 1,000-yard rushers in his career and four 3,000-yard passers and was simply a model of consistency each and every game he suited up for.
View the Vikings rookie records for most points and most touchdowns scored in a season.
Blair Walsh, 2012
- 141 total points, season
- 36-pat, 35-fg
Randy Moss, 1998
- 106 total points, season
- 17-td, 2-2pt
Adrian Peterson, 2007
- 78 total points, season
- 13-td
Randy Moss, 1998
- 20 total points, game
- @ Dal., 11/16/98 (3-rec. td, 1-2pt)
Sammy White, 1976
- 18 total points, game
- @ Mia., 12/11/76 (3-rec. td)
D.J. Dozier, 1987
- 18 total points, game
- vs. Den., 10/26/87 (3-rush td)
Randy Moss, 1998
- 18 total points, game
- vs. Chi., 12/6/98 (3-rec. td)
Onterrio Smith, 2003
- 18 total points, game
- vs. K.C.,12/20/03 (3-rush td)
Adrian Peterson, 2007
- 18 total points, game
- @ Chi.,10/14/07 (3-rush td)
Adrian Peterson, 2007
- 18 total points, game
- vs S.D., 11/4/07 (3 rush td)
Blair Walsh, 2012
- 18 total points, game
- @ St.L., 12/16/12 (3-pat, 5-fg
Defensively, I weighed a few options here, including any member of the Purple People Eaters, or other Hall of Famers such as Chris Doleman and John Randle. But since the Vikings cornerback group is short on experience, and we're picking players in their prime, give me cornerback Antoine Winfield.
Winfield could play on the outside or at the nickel spot under Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer, and he would bring instant leadership and play-making ability to a cornerback room whose most experienced player is Holton Hill with 24 career games.
Winfield enjoyed a notable 14-season NFL career that included 2004-12 with the Vikings, a span highlighted by three Pro Bowl appearances from 2008-10. And while he stood at just 5-foot-9, he more than held his own on the field.
He had a nose for the ball with 27 career interceptions, including two that were returned for scores. He forced 14 fumbles in his career, and had 11 career fumble recoveries, taking two of them back for touchdowns. But he is most known for his feistiness, as he could hang with bigger wide receivers and also come down and be physical in the run game.
In short, he would fit in perfectly in the modern NFL, likely thrive under Zimmer and be a veteran leader at a position where the Vikings are currently short on game experience.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of January 4, 2021.
14 QB Sean Mannion
4 QB Sean Mannion
19 WR Adam Thielen
19 WR Adam Thielen
20 CB Jeff Gladney
20 CB Jeff Gladney
39 CB Dylan Mabin
39 CB Dylan Mabin
40 LB Todd Davis
42 LS Andrew DePaola
42 LS Andrew DePaola
44 S Josh Metellus
45 LB Troy Dye
48 LB Blake Lynch
48 LB Blake Lynch
61 C Brett Jones
68 G Kyle Hinton
73 G Dru Samia
85 WR Dan Chisena
87 TE Hale Hentges
87 TE Hale Hentges
96 DT Armon Watts
96 DT Armon Watts
I have heard that the number 97 is still not assigned to a player. What are the chances that the previous owner (Everson Griffen) returns to the team to wear that number and finish a fine career as a Viking?
— Brian in Pierre, South Dakota
Lots of love from South Dakota in this edition of the Mailbag.
But yes, Brian, you are correct that No. 97 is still available on the Vikings roster. Free-agent addition Michael Pierce wore No. 97 with Baltimore, but he switched to No. 98 with the Vikings. So, not only will he be tasked with replacing Linval Joseph's production on the field, but he'll be wearing Big Goon's old number, too.
As for Everson, that status remains the same as the previous other times I have been asked about him in the Mailbag. As of today, he is currently a free agent after choosing to void his contract with the Vikings in March. As I've mentioned before, he knows the scheme and the players and coaches in Minnesota, so the transition would be minimal. However, the two sides would have to agree on a fair contract, which sometimes takes some work.
And perhaps Everson is just ready for a new chapter in his career? He is beloved by fans and teammates. We'll be sure to let you know if anything develops with him in the near future.
