100 Greatest Minnesota Vikings Players: 70-61

The Flea Flicker countdown of the 100 Greatest Minnesota Vikings Players continues with players ranked 70-61.  

100 Greatest Minnesota Vikings Players: 70-61

  70. Todd Steussie, OT

  69. Robert Griffith, S

  68. Gene Washington, WR

  67. Doug Martin, DE

  66. Ryan Longwell, K 

  65. Wally Hilgenberg, LB

  64. Linval Joseph, DT

  63. Korey Stringer, OT

  62. Pat Williams, DT

  61. Karl Kassulke, S

Doug Martin and #94 Mark Mullaney had the unfortunate task of being drafted to replace members of the Purple People Eaters. Martin came the closest to doing so. He led the league with 11.5 sacks during the strike-shortened season of 1982. Martin’s 61.5 sacks rank 9th on the Vikings all-time sacks list. Mullaney is 14th with 41.5.

Imagine where Ryan Longwell would be on this list if he’d had that opportunity to kick the Vikings to the Super Bowl in 2009. I probably fretted less over Longwell’s kicks than any kicker in my time with the team. That goes back to the days of Fred Cox. 

Following #74 Lonnie Warwick and #73 Roy Winston, Wally Hilgenberg is the third of the linebacker trio that played in the giant shadow of the Purple People Eaters. Hilgenberg was the best known and most productive of the three linebackers. 

Linval Joseph and Pat Williams were the space-eaters, block-eaters, running game-wreckers of a couple excellent defensive lines. It’s a damn shame that Jospeh never had a tackle partner like Williams had with Kevin Williams. 

Karl Kassulke had his career cut short by a motorcycle accident while on his way to training camp in 1973. He and Paul Krause formed one of the best safety pairings in Vikings history. Kassulke was the linebacker-like hitter. Krause was the roving centerfielder. 

RIP Korey Stringer.