Something for Joey

The Minnesota Vikings have been honoring their own in a Ring of Honor since 1998. The number honored will increase to 21 with the induction of former safety Joey Browner. He will be immortalized at halftime of the Sunday Night Football game vs. Green Bay on October 27.

Drafted with the 19th pick in the 1983 NFL Draft out of USC, Browner played nine seasons with the Vikings from 1983-91. From 1987-90, he played safety as well, or better, than any in the game. In the 1988 Divisional Playoffs against the Los Angeles Rams, Browner dominated. He took over the game and drove the Vikings to a 28-17 win. This led Rams coach John Robinson to call his former USC player the best defender in the league. For a while, he was that great. Injuries concentrated Browner's career to a handful of brilliant seasons. The unfortunately shortened career didn't prevent him from gathering a bunch of individual honors. He went to six straight Pro Bowls from 1985-90. He was a 3-time AP All-Pro honoree. He was named to the NFL's Team of the Decade for the 1980's. He's a member of the 50 Greatest Vikings team. If injuries hadn't sapped his play in his final years, he'd already be honored in Canton. Even so, his eventual induction is possible. He's right there with Ronnie Lott, Charlie Waters, Kenny Easley, Ed Reed, and Troy Polamalu as the best safeties that I've seen play. Joey Browner is a very deserving member of Vikings Ring of Honor.

Here are the now 21 members of the Vikings Ring of Honor:

Fran Tarkenton
Alan Page
Jim Finks
Bud Grant
Paul Krause
Fred Zamberletti
Jim Marshall
Ron Yary
Korey Stringer
Mick Tingelhoff
Carl Eller
Cris Carter
Bill Brown
Jerry Burns
Randall McDaniel
Chuck Foreman
John Randle
Scott Studwell
Chris Doleman
Matt Blair
Joey Browner

I can see Ahmad Rashad, Grady Alderman, Bobby Bryant, Jeff Siemon, Steve Jordan, Anthony Carter, and Carl Lee joining them in the coming years.

Congratulations Joey Browner!