The Premier Purple: TE

disaacs · Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 20104 Location: Brownbackistan

Inspired by the Benchwarmer Bob appearance on the Power Trip last Friday, let's indicate the best Vikings players in their history by position.

Today, the position is Tight End:

5. Joe Senser - Joe Senser was the first TE I recall watching as a kid. While his career was not long (due to knee injuries that derailed his career), he was extremely prolific, even getting over 1000 yds receiving in the 1981 season (which was unheard of for a TE outside Kellen Winslow at the time). If he had not suffered those injuries, I suspect he could have been near the top of this list.

4. Visanthe Shiancoe - After a rough start here, Visanthe turned into a very nice TE. He made some good catches, made some bad drops, and committed way too many penalties, but he still was probably the most productive TE in some time. It was a tough call here between him and Jermaine Wiggins, who are both the most productive Vikings TEs since the guy that tops this list.

3. Jim Kleinsasser - While 'Sass certainly wasn't productive catching the ball, I'd argue that he is the best blocking TE in the NFL over the last 30 years. To me, that's enough to put him #3 in this list.

2. Stu Voigt - A little before my time as far as watching Vikings football (I only really knew him as the analyst on the radio broadcasts), Voigt was the Vikings' TE during the Super Bowl years. Maybe I'm overvaluing him because of the teams he played on (since his stats aren't all that impressive), but I imagine he was a pretty good blocker for Foreman and Tarkenton, since that was what TEs were mostly used for at that time. He did, however, make the last TD catch in the Super Bowl that the Vikings had.

1. Steve Jordan - This is the TE I grew up watching, and no one has compared to him before or since. I hope Kyle Rudolph can turn into at least half of the TE that Steve Jordan was on and off the field. It's actually a shame that Steve never got serious consideration for the HOF, because he was one of the top 2-3 TEs during the 80s. He was a 6-time Pro Bowler and 3x All-Pro.
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Thx to Uncle Buck!

vikingsrule · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 2:34 pm Post subject:

Not many standout TEs. Kind of interesting both Shiancoe and Kleinsasser make your list, just goes to show the position is lacking. Steve Jordan is the obvious #1, after that, its really anyone's guess.

As for Kleinsasser, not a conventional pick in terms of what Kleinsasser provided the Vikes. However, his longevity and how dominate of a blocker he was, made him a special player on the all time Vikings list.

vikingsrule · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 2:35 pm Post subject:

Jermaine Wiggins. Laughing

I remember him being quite the high hurdler.

Vikefan79 · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 25462 Location: Atlanta

Steve Jordan was an awesome TE.
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vike daddy · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 66830

i remember some Chamberlain guy, maybe...
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vikingsrule · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:11 pm Post subject:

Purpes17 · Joined: 11 Aug 2009 Posts: 4124 Location: Vancouver, B.C.

vikingsrule · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:22 pm Post subject:

Frank Costello · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 9:55 pm Post subject:

Wiggins = G.O.A.T.
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Purpes17 · Joined: 11 Aug 2009 Posts: 4124 Location: Vancouver, B.C.

vikingsrule · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 5:16 pm Post subject:

since72 · Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Posts: 3182

What? No Brent Novoselsky? Wink

Dude made one of the best catches in Viking history. Unfortunately it was also one of the only catches he ever made.

Good list. I really liked Sensor and would probably have put him higher purely for sentimental reasons. Hey, we'll wait and see if Kleinsasser can make the transition to the broadcast booth as seamlessly as Stu and Joe.

Laughing

Bermuda Viking · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 4545 Location: Paget, Bermuda

vikingsrule · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 9:36 pm Post subject:

disaacs · Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 20104 Location: Brownbackistan

Kleinsasser's number won't be retired (since that's reserved for rare occasions), but I'd certainly be open to adding him to the Ring of Honor.
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Thx to Uncle Buck!