Carlson, John Minnesota Vikings By The Numbers: #89. John Carlson was unquestionably one of the Vikings to wear #89. A third-round pick (87th overall) in 2008, Carlson started 31 games over four seasons at left tackle before being moved to left guard for the start of this past season. He finished his career with the Vikings with 87 appearances and three consecutive years with at least one sack. Carlson's impact on the team can be seen by the fact that he spent time with five different offensive line combinations during his four seasons in Minneapolis.
When Carlson came into the league, he was viewed as a potential long-term solution at left tackle. However, after starting only two games in 2009 and missing all of 2010 with an ankle injury, Carlson was moved to left guard where he became even more effective. By moving him there, head coach Brad Childress was able to maximize Carlson's ability which led to his success throughout his tenure in Minnesota. On January 13, 2013, it was announced that Carlson would be released by the Vikings after eight seasons with the team.
He ended up signing with the Washington Redskins shortly thereafter.
There are 80 days before the Vikings kick off the season against the Packers on September 13th, and because Cris Carter's number is retired, no Viking will ever wear No. 80 again. That made me wonder whether the Vikings should retire any other jersey numbers. And what statistics, if any, may come next?
The answer to both questions is yes, there are other numbers that should be retired by the Vikings. Here are five of them:
Number 5 - Ron Bergman
Bergman was one of the best sportswriters in Minnesota history. He covered the Vikings for most of their existence in Minnesota and wrote two books about them. In 2010, he was awarded the National Football Foundation's Red Smith Award for excellence in journalism.
Number 4 - Gary Anderson
Anderson was a three-time All-Pro selection during his eight-year career with the Vikings. He finished his career with 141 saves percentage and was also the first goalie to reach 100 victories. The Vikings retired his number in 2003.
Number 3 - Dave Krieg
Krieg played ten seasons with the Vikings, from 1978 to 1987, and started 79 games during that time. He finished with a record of 36-33-1 and earned NFC Central champion honors in both years he appeared in.
In 2004, he was designated one of the 50 Greatest Vikings of All Time and inducted into the team's Ring of Honor. He's arguably the finest player in franchise history to wear the number 30. There are a few of honorable mentions worth mentioning here.
Vikings who wore the number 30: Brown, Bill (1962-1974) Holt, Issiac (1985-1999) Smith, Cedric (1990). Henderson, Keith (1992) Mr. Bobby Phillips (1995) Banks, Antonio (1998-2000)
The Vikings have just six retired numbers, while numerous more are debatably worth retiring. I'm presently working on previews for all 87 Vikings players, with the number of days before the season opening matching to the jersey number of the player I'm writing about on that day.
There are 80 days before the Vikings kick off the season against the Packers on September 13th, and because Cris Carter's number is retired, no Viking will ever wear No. 80 again. That made me wonder whether the Vikings should retire any other jersey numbers. And what statistics, if any, may come next?
The Vikings have just six retired numbers, while numerous more are debatably worth retiring. I'm presently working on previews for all 87 Vikings players, with the number of days before the season opening matching to the jersey number of the player I'm writing about on that day.
Let's take a look at the history and aesthetics of the Minnesota Vikings' 11 first-round picks. There have been two first-round picks in the history of the franchise - quarterback Randy Moss in 1995 and wide receiver Cris Carter in 1999. Both players were immediate stars for their teams, with Moss recording 60 receptions for 810 yards and 14 touchdowns and Carter catching 91 passes for 1,519 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Since then, the Vikings have selected several players in the first round of the NFL Draft, but none have panned out like Moss or Carter. Here is a list of all the Vikings' first-round picks since 1995: defensive end Brian Robison, safety Robert Edwards, cornerback Bryant Westbrook, offensive guard Evan Mathis, linebacker Jasper Brinkley, defensive tackle Kevin Williams, and running back Adrian Peterson.
Out of these 12 players, only three remain on the current roster: Peterson, Edwards, and Williams. The other nine players were either released by the team or traded away before ever playing a down for the Vikings.
In conclusion, don't expect much from the Vikings' rookie class this year. Or any year for that matter.
Copyright © 2020 - 2023 Sportsmanist Inc.
