Minnesota Vikings 2000s All-Decade Team
Minnesota Vikings football in the 2000s was a lot like Minnesota Vikings football in the 1980s. Too often, it was disappointing. They made it to NFC Conference Championship games at the beginning and the end of the decade but the years in between were often difficult. The Vikings employed four head coaches through the first 11 years of the new century. That’s one fewer than they employed in the previous four decades. Despite the difficulties of the 2000s, the 2009 team that fell a play short of the Super Bowl was one of the most fun teams in franchise history. Here's the Vikings 2000s All-Decade Team.
Minnesota Vikings 2000s All-Decade Team
Quarterback
Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Culpepper is one of the greatest “what ifs?” in franchise history. What if Culpepper hadn’t shredded his knee during the 2005 season? He was coming off consecutive Pro Bowl seasons in 2003 and 2004. His play in 2004 probably gets him the MVP award in nearly any other season. After the knee injury, Culpepper never took another snap for the Vikings and was never the same player.
Running backs
Adrian Peterson
Chester Taylor
Adrian Peterson was a brilliant running back. One of the best I’ve ever seen. Chester Taylor had a terrific season in 2006 and then the Vikings drafted Peterson. Taylor was an excellent #2 to Peterson’s #1 from 2007-09.
Receiver
Randy Moss
Cris Carter
Randy Moss was one of the most stunning, most physically gifted receivers I’ve ever seen. It was an absolute blast watching him play for the Vikings. I only wish that he had never worn another team’s uniform. It's disappointing that Cris Carter’s final two seasons with the Vikings is enough to pair him with Moss on this team. After decades of strong receiving groups, the Vikings often trotted out disappointing groups after Carter retired and Moss was traded. It’s tempting to pair Moss with Sidney Rice or Nate Burleson but each really had only a single season of note with the Vikings during the decade.
Tight End
Visanthe Shiancoe
Visanthe Shiancoe was productive all five of his years in Minnesota. With 11 TDs, his 2009 season was easily his best.
Tackles
Bryant McKinnie
Korey Stringer
Bryant McKinnie was a consistently good left tackle. Unfortunately, he had the talent to be an all-timer. Few Vikings players have ever disappointed me more. He was even sent home from his lone Pro Bowl. Incredible. Right tackle is a tough one. Mike Rosenthal? Ryan Cook? Phil Loadholt showed great promise as a rookie in 2009. Korey Stringer gets the nod for his final season. A Pro Bowl season. RIP Big K.
Guards
Steve Hutchinson
David Dixon
The guards are easy. Steve Hutchinson is one of the best guards in league history. He has a bust in Canton. David Dixon was an underrated bulldozer of a guard.
Center
Matt Birk
Matt Birk was the Vikings center for nearly all of the decade. He was very good, earning six Pro Bowls and a 2nd-team All-Pro.
Defensive Ends
Jared Allen
Lance Johnstone
Jared Allen arrived in Minnesota in 2008. He immediately started terrorizing quarterbacks. He’ll be honored in Canton soon. Lance Johnstone’s five years in Minnesota seem to have been forgotten over the years. Perhaps it’s because he was a full-time starter for only one of those years. He was a pass rushing specialist and his double digit sacks in 2003 and 2004 shouldn’t be forgotten.
Defensive Tackles
Kevin Williams
Pat Williams
The Williams Wall. Kevin and Pat Williams were great. Kevin Williams should eventually find his way to Canton. Pat Williams is one of the best free agent additions in franchise history. Individually and especially together, they were so much fun.
Linebackers
Chad Greenway
E.J. Henderson
Ben Leber
Matt Blair, Jeff Siemon, and Wally Hilgenberg might say differently but I have Chad Greenway, E.J. Henderson, and Ben Leber as the best linebacker trio in Vikings franchise history. They’re an easy pick for the best of the 2000s. I’ve often wondered how different the 2009 playoffs might’ve been if the Vikings hadn’t lost Henderson to that brutal leg injury late in the regular season.
Cornerbacks
Antoine Winfield
Cedric Griffin
Antoine Winfield was a fun, fantastic football player. In my opinion, he’s the best cornerback to play for the Vikings. He finally earned a couple Pro Bowls at the end of the decade. His career should’ve been filled with league honors. Cedric Griffen was a solid corner and a nice compliment to Winfield.
Safeties
Corey Chavous
Brian Russell
Corey Chavous is an underrated football player. I really liked him in the 1998 draft and I was thrilled when he signed with the Vikings as a free agent in 2002. Chavous was excellent in 2003, earning his lone Pro Bowl. It often seemed like he made every damn tackle during that 2003 season. Brian Russell’s best season was also in 2003. That’s when his nine interceptions paced the league.
Kicker
Ryan Longwell
Through the Vikings kicking woes of recent years, I’ve often thought about Ryan Longwell. I fear every kick now. I didn’t fear kicks when Longwell was kicking them. Plus, he’s a Cal alum.
Punter
Chris Kluwe
Chris Kluwe ranks with Bobby Walden, Greg Coleman, and Mitch Berger as the best punters in Vikings history. Kluwe’s five years tops Berger’s two as best of the decade.
Minnesota Vikings 2000s All-Decade Team
Quarterback
Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Culpepper is one of the greatest “what ifs?” in franchise history. What if Culpepper hadn’t shredded his knee during the 2005 season? He was coming off consecutive Pro Bowl seasons in 2003 and 2004. His play in 2004 probably gets him the MVP award in nearly any other season. After the knee injury, Culpepper never took another snap for the Vikings and was never the same player.
Running backs
Adrian Peterson
Chester Taylor
Adrian Peterson was a brilliant running back. One of the best I’ve ever seen. Chester Taylor had a terrific season in 2006 and then the Vikings drafted Peterson. Taylor was an excellent #2 to Peterson’s #1 from 2007-09.
Receiver
Randy Moss
Cris Carter
Randy Moss was one of the most stunning, most physically gifted receivers I’ve ever seen. It was an absolute blast watching him play for the Vikings. I only wish that he had never worn another team’s uniform. It's disappointing that Cris Carter’s final two seasons with the Vikings is enough to pair him with Moss on this team. After decades of strong receiving groups, the Vikings often trotted out disappointing groups after Carter retired and Moss was traded. It’s tempting to pair Moss with Sidney Rice or Nate Burleson but each really had only a single season of note with the Vikings during the decade.
Tight End
Visanthe Shiancoe
Visanthe Shiancoe was productive all five of his years in Minnesota. With 11 TDs, his 2009 season was easily his best.
Tackles
Bryant McKinnie
Korey Stringer
Bryant McKinnie was a consistently good left tackle. Unfortunately, he had the talent to be an all-timer. Few Vikings players have ever disappointed me more. He was even sent home from his lone Pro Bowl. Incredible. Right tackle is a tough one. Mike Rosenthal? Ryan Cook? Phil Loadholt showed great promise as a rookie in 2009. Korey Stringer gets the nod for his final season. A Pro Bowl season. RIP Big K.
Guards
Steve Hutchinson
David Dixon
The guards are easy. Steve Hutchinson is one of the best guards in league history. He has a bust in Canton. David Dixon was an underrated bulldozer of a guard.
Center
Matt Birk
Matt Birk was the Vikings center for nearly all of the decade. He was very good, earning six Pro Bowls and a 2nd-team All-Pro.
Defensive Ends
Jared Allen
Lance Johnstone
Jared Allen arrived in Minnesota in 2008. He immediately started terrorizing quarterbacks. He’ll be honored in Canton soon. Lance Johnstone’s five years in Minnesota seem to have been forgotten over the years. Perhaps it’s because he was a full-time starter for only one of those years. He was a pass rushing specialist and his double digit sacks in 2003 and 2004 shouldn’t be forgotten.
Defensive Tackles
Kevin Williams
Pat Williams
The Williams Wall. Kevin and Pat Williams were great. Kevin Williams should eventually find his way to Canton. Pat Williams is one of the best free agent additions in franchise history. Individually and especially together, they were so much fun.
Linebackers
Chad Greenway
E.J. Henderson
Ben Leber
Matt Blair, Jeff Siemon, and Wally Hilgenberg might say differently but I have Chad Greenway, E.J. Henderson, and Ben Leber as the best linebacker trio in Vikings franchise history. They’re an easy pick for the best of the 2000s. I’ve often wondered how different the 2009 playoffs might’ve been if the Vikings hadn’t lost Henderson to that brutal leg injury late in the regular season.
Cornerbacks
Antoine Winfield
Cedric Griffin
Antoine Winfield was a fun, fantastic football player. In my opinion, he’s the best cornerback to play for the Vikings. He finally earned a couple Pro Bowls at the end of the decade. His career should’ve been filled with league honors. Cedric Griffen was a solid corner and a nice compliment to Winfield.
Safeties
Corey Chavous
Brian Russell
Corey Chavous is an underrated football player. I really liked him in the 1998 draft and I was thrilled when he signed with the Vikings as a free agent in 2002. Chavous was excellent in 2003, earning his lone Pro Bowl. It often seemed like he made every damn tackle during that 2003 season. Brian Russell’s best season was also in 2003. That’s when his nine interceptions paced the league.
Kicker
Ryan Longwell
Through the Vikings kicking woes of recent years, I’ve often thought about Ryan Longwell. I fear every kick now. I didn’t fear kicks when Longwell was kicking them. Plus, he’s a Cal alum.
Punter
Chris Kluwe
Chris Kluwe ranks with Bobby Walden, Greg Coleman, and Mitch Berger as the best punters in Vikings history. Kluwe’s five years tops Berger’s two as best of the decade.
