Throwback Thursday: All-Time Minnesota Vikings Team

Eleven Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famers were in Canton for the induction of Mick Tingelhoff. Seeing all that Vikings greatness in one place got me thinking about the best players in team history. Here's my current version of the Vikings All-Time team.

Quarterback
Fran Tarkenton

Running backs
Adrian Peterson
Chuck Foreman

Receivers
Cris Carter
Randy Moss

Tight end
Steve Jordan

Tackles
Ron Yary
Gary Zimmerman

Guards
Randall McDaniel
Steve Hutchinson

Center
Mick Tingelhoff

Defensive ends
Carl Eller
Chris Doleman

Defensive tackles
Alan Page
John Randle

Linebackers
Matt Blair
Jeff Siemon
Chad Greenway

Cornerbacks
Carl Lee
Antoine Winfield

Safeties
Paul Krause
Joey Browner

Kicker
Fred Cox

Punter
Chris Kluwe

The linebacker choices probably trigger the greatest debate. I think that Matt Blair is the only easy choice. Scott Studwell is the most difficult to leave off the team. I have Siemon on this version of the team because I think that he was the most talented middle linebacker in franchise history. For a handful of seasons he was one of the best in the league at his position. Plus, he was probably the only Vikings player that had a good game in Super Bowl XI.

It's fun to project current Vikings players that might find their place on a Vikings All-Time team when their careers are done. Adrian Peterson is already there. If Kyle Rudolph can ever stay healthy he has the talent to bump Steve Jordan from the tight end spot. It's a real tough task to move any of the other offensive players from the team. Outside of one running back spot and tight end, the Vikings All-Time offense is made up of Hall of Famers or eventual Hall of Famers (Peterson, Moss and Hutchinson). The defensive line is damn near untouchable. Jared Allen, arguably, doesn't even have a spot. Linebacker is fairly open seeing as no player, outside of maybe Blair, has made the spot their own. It's way too early but maybe Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks can be those players. Xavier Rhodes has a nice start on a career that could get him one of the corner spots. As does Harrison Smith at safety but Paul Krause and Joey Browner are going to be difficult to move. Blair Walsh has a good shot at kicker.