Minnesota Vikings Made Two of Most Shocking Signings Ever
By Erik Lambert
The Minnesota Vikings have a solid draft record in their history, but this franchise has often built its greatness on its ability to score major free agents.
Names like Mike Tingelhoff, Cris Carter and John Randle are just some of the names they’ve managed to score on dirt cheap free agent deals and turned them into Hall of Famers. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that the purple and yellow were well-represented on an NFL top 10 list featuring some of the most shocking free agent signings in history.
The basis of the criteria is simple. A shocking free agent signing involves a player who made his initial fame with one franchise before making an almost unnatural jump to another team. The type of star who just doesn’t look right wearing a different jersey. Minnesota added to their legacy this year when they dropped the bomb of signing Kirk Cousins away from Washington.
"“Experts knew Kirk Cousins was poised to strike it rich in free agency. They knew the Vikings might make a logical fit, too. What they didn’t know — what we’re all still floored about — is the guarantee. His entire three-year deal in Minnesota is fully-guaranteed. That hasn’t happened before in the NFL, but Cousins might’ve ushered in an entirely new era of quarterback compensation.”"
Indeed it’s going to be weird seeing Cousins in purple after watching him ascend to Pro Bowler status as a Redskins. Yet this move pales in comparison to another move Minnesota pulled off. One that was ranked the most shocking in NFL history.
Vikings grabbing Brett Favre was an all-time shocker
It became clear in 2009 that Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre was on a mission. He wanted to prove to the Green Bay Packers that they made a mistake and gave up on him too soon. That meant finding a landing spot that would give him a chance to play against his former team. Even if it meant signing with the sworn enemy. The Vikings were more than willing to accept his request.
"“If Brett Favre couldn’t join ’em, he wanted to beat ’em. After a season in the AFC, the Packers’ quarterbacking legend shockingly returned to his NFC North stomping grounds — this time as a Viking. Those rematches were both a Cheeseheads worst nightmare and appointment television. We may never see a legendary NFL quarterback turn heel quite like that again.”"
Favre broke the hearts of so many Packer fans when he signed that contract, but he wasn’t going to stop even for them. In the end, he had his say. Favre defeated Green Bay in both divisional matchups that season and carried the Vikings to the NFC championship game. Even if it was for only one season, Minnesota got almost everything could’ve hoped from that signing, including the pain and suffering of their biggest rival.