The Premier Purple: S

disaacs · Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 19963 Location: Brownbackistan

Let's indicate the best Vikings players in their history by position.

Today, the position is Safety:

Honorable Mention: Darren Sharper, Orlando Thomas

5. Corey Chavous - This was a close call for #5, because I watched Chavous, Sharper, and Thomas all play for the Vikings. IMO, it was easy to eliminate Sharper, because, while he was decent, he was never a good fit for the defensive scheme. Orlando Thomas was also decent, but he never lived up again to the high expectations that he set in his rookie season (when he had 9 INTs). He was average for the rest of his career. Chavous, however, got better the longer he was here, if not statistically, at least leadership-wise. None of them, however, were of the caliber in purple as the top 4.

4. Karl Kassulke - I don't know a whole lot about him, other than he was a valuable member of the defensive team, getting at least 2 INTs per year in 8 of his 10 year career. He was a 1-time Pro Bowler who also was a pretty good kick-blocker.

3. Robert Griffith - Since the guy just above him on the list, there has been no better safety on the Vikings before or since. Griffith was one of the hardest hitting safeties I've ever seen and was always around the ball. He, along with John Randle and Eddie McDaniel, formed the core of the Vikings' defenses in the 90s, which survived more on the play of those 3 than anyone around them.

2. Joey Browner - The best safety I've seen in the Vikings' uniform, Browner was overshadowed by Ronnie Lott in the 80s at the safety position. Browner was known for his strong hands on tackles (most of which would be considered illegal tackling in today's NFL), where he could drop a guy with one hand. Browner was a 6-time Pro Bowler and a 3-time 1st team All-Pro.

1. Paul Krause - Unfortunately, I never got to watch the center fielder play for the Vikings. But, there is certainly no doubt who is #1, considering Krause tallied more INTs than anyone else in the history of the NFL and that total has stood for an unlikely 33 years. That record is not likely to be broken anytime soon as the only active players in the ballpark are Ed Reed (24 behind) and Charles Woodson (27). Furthermore, there are no players under the age of 30 that are within 45 Ints, so that record should stand for awhile. Krause was a 8-time Pro Bowler and 3-time 1st team All-Pro. It was a travesty that it took practically the entire 15-yr period to get him inducted in the HOF.
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Thx to Uncle Buck!

Vikefan79 · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 25063 Location: Atlanta

I loved Joey Browner.
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vike daddy · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 66582

Paul Krause was an incredible athlete and had an astounding "knack for finding the ball," as we say today. i mean, astounding.

not only did he have all those INT's (something like 80, right?) but also would come up with the ball many times on fumble recoveries.

i am realizing more and more what a treat it was to be a Viking fan in the 1970's and to have witnessed their level of play.
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ArcticNorseman · Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 1429 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska

Good list disaacs!

I could teeter Browner and Krause, since Krause spent a few years with the Redskins before joining the Vikes. He had 20-something of his INTs with the Redskins, but no doubt, he was impressive playing center field for the Vikes.

Browner was a beast and Lott's teammate in college. Loved his horse-collar tackling . . . lol. I think he's second on the Vikes with 40-ish INTs to Krauses 50-ish, as a Viking.

Griffith is a solid choice for #3.

Vikefan79 · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 25063 Location: Atlanta

It's shame how little film the NFL has released on players like Browner. I'd love to see some highlight videos.
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vikingsrule · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 2:45 pm Post subject:

The top 3 are pretty easy. I am not too familiar with #4 and its odd to see Corey Chavous as a top 5 Safety, though there is not much competition. I would probably prefer Darren Sharper over Chavous. When Sharper did play in a scheme that fit his skill set, he had 9 ints and scored 2 tds. That is one of the best seasons by a safety in Vikings history, his 2005 season was phenomenal. While Sharper didnt exactly fit the defense in 2006 and 2007, he still posted 4 ints each season. Ints arent a true indicator of how great a player is but it is ultimately why most will likely view Sharper as a possible Hall of Famer. So for me, id take Sharper over Chavous.

JMac79 · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 2511 Location: St. Anthony, MN

As with many here, don't know much about Kassulke... but I agree with putting Chavous over Sharper at #5. Sharper may have had the splashier "good season" with the Vikings, but Corey was all around the steadier, more-consistent player for the Vikings. With Sharper when things were good, he was really good... but when things weren't perfect for him, he seemed to be really pretty bad, and at times a liability. That wasn't the case with Chavous.

Orlando Thomas had that great rookie season, and was still pretty darn good up until he blew out his knee... after that, he was pretty useless and seemed to pick up that damn "bullfighter" style of tackling. The knee injury seemed to sap the range and speed he had, and after that he went downhill... but I like to imagine that if the injury never happened, he might have been on this list right next to Griffith.
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vikingsrule · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 3:48 pm Post subject:

husker_vikes3 · Joined: 18 Aug 2010 Posts: 7763 Location: Omaha, NE