DAILY CLIPS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2019 - Amazon S3

DAILY CLIPS

   SATURDAY,
FEBRUARY 2, 2019

LOCAL NEWS: Saturday, February 2, 2019

                                              Pioneer Press

Former Vikings QB Wade Wilson dies on 60th birthday
By AP
https://www.twincities.com/2019/02/01/former-nfl-qb-and-assistant-coach-wade-wilson-dies-at-age-60/

                                               Star Tribune

Former Vikings quarterback Wade Wilson dies at 60
By Jim Souhan
http://www.startribune.com/former-vikings-quarterback-wade-wilson-dies-at-60/505213922/

Ex-Viking Steve Hutchinson's Hall of Fame chances not great
By Mark Craig
http://www.startribune.com/ex-viking-steve-hutchinson-s-hall-of-fame-chances-not-great/505231182/

Minnesota's Jamie Erdahl will be part of Super Bowl coverage
By Mark Craig
http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-s-jamie-erdahl-will-be-part-of-super-bowl-coverage/505198672/

Ex-Viking Cordarrelle Patterson will play any position, anytime for Patriots
By Mark Craig
http://www.startribune.com/ex-viking-cordarrelle-patterson-will-play-any-position-anytime-for-
patriots/505174232/

                                              Viking Update

Analyzing 10 of the top free-agent tackles
By Tim Yotter
https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/LongFormArticle/Analyzing-10-of-the-top-free-agent-tackles-
128518390/

Former Vikings QB Wade Wilson dies at 60
By Tim Yotter
https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Former-Minnesota-Vikings-QB-Wade-Wilson-dies-at-
60-128580361/

                                                Skor North

Former Vikings quarterback Wade Wilson dies at 60
By Judd Zulgad
https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019/02/former-vikings-quarterback-wade-wilson-dies-at-60/

Who were the most statistically comparable QBs to Kirk Cousins in 2018?
By Matthew Coller
https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019/02/who-were-the-most-statistically-comparable-qbs-to-kirk-
cousins-in-2018/

MULTIMEDIA LINKS: Saturday, February 2, 2019

Kirk Cousins Joins Dan Patrick
NBC Sports Network
http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=c5ae07ef-434e-4b18-855e-a6ef830af0fd

Adam Thielen Joins WLKY News
WLKY Louisville, KY
http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=b6a1d6ca-e160-4f88-9f3c-4b4fd441f6ba

Kyle Rudolph Joins Super Bowl Live
NFL Network
http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=fcca7cbd-18e9-4511-99ea-abc822eee74b

Kyle Rudolph Joins North Dakota Today
KVLY Fargo, ND
http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=4e23073b-16e0-4909-9d69-3d21ce4505f9

DDFP: Diggs Discusses Breakfast Meats, Why He Wears No. 14, Dynamic With Him and Thielen,
Belief in Cousins
Vikings Entertainment Network
https://www.vikings.com/video/ddfp-diggs-discusses-breakfast-meats-why-he-wears-no-14-dynamic-with-
him-and-thi

Rhodes Details Difficulty Facing Patriots and Rams Offenses, Cousins As A Team Leader
Vikings Entertainment Network
https://www.vikings.com/video/rhodes-details-difficulty-facing-patriots-and-rams-offenses-cousins-as-a-
team-le

GMFB: Diggs Talks Chemistry With Cousins, Christmas Gift For His Mom, Touchdown
Celebrations
Vikings Entertainment Network
https://www.vikings.com/video/gmfb-diggs-talks-chemistry-with-cousins-christmas-gift-for-his-mom-
touchdown-cel

On The Line: Steve Hutchinson on Pro Football Hall of Fame Hopes, Favorite Vikings Memories,
More
Vikings Entertainment Network
https://www.vikings.com/video/on-the-line-steve-hutchinson-on-pro-football-hall-of-fame-hopes-favorite-
vikings

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Saturday, February 2, 2019

Vikings Family, Teammates Remember Wade Wilson
By Lindsey Young
https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-family-teammates-remember-wade-wilson

Chris Doleman Honored by Vikings, Falcons at Super Bowl Luncheon in Atlanta
By Eric Smith
https://www.vikings.com/news/chris-doleman-honored-by-vikings-falcons-at-super-bowl-luncheon-in-
atlanta

Lunchbreak: Cronin Chronicles Rudolph’s Community Work
By Lindsey Young
https://www.vikings.com/news/lunchbreak-kyle-rudolph-community-work

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 2/2/19
Former Vikings QB Wade Wilson dies on 60th birthday

By AP

DALLAS — Wade Wilson, the quarterback who led the Minnesota Vikings to an NFC championship game and
coached the position with the Dallas Cowboys for more than a decade, died Friday on his 60th birthday.

Wilson died at his home in the Dallas suburb of Coppell. Police said a 911 call was made from Wilson’s home,
where the caller said Wilson was unresponsive and CPR was in progress.

Wilson played for five NFL teams from 1981-98. He was selected from Texas A&M-Commerce (then East
Texas State) by the Vikings in the eighth round of the 1981 draft and started his career as backup to Tommy
Kramer. From 1981-91, Wilson made 48 starts in 76 games for the Vikings, going 27-21-0 for 12,135 with 66
touchdowns and 75 interceptions.

“RIP Wade,” Kramer tweeted Friday afternoon. “Great player, friend and teammate. We will miss you.”

Henry Thomas, Wilson’s teammate with the Vikings from 1987-91, tweeted, “My heart is heavy with sorrow at
the loss of a great teammate and hell of a nice guy. R.I.P Wade Wilson. Condolences and Prayers to his family.”

In 1987, Wilson led the Vikings to the NFC championship game, despite the fact Minnesota finished the season
8-7 in a strike-shortened season. He started upset playoff victories over the New Orleans Saints (28-10) and
San Francisco 49ers (36-24) before a 17-10 loss to eventual Super Bowl champion Washington.

Wilson made the Pro Bowl the next season, throwing for 2,746 yards and 15 touchdowns with nine interceptions
in 10 starts. He also led the NFL with a 61.4 completion percentage. The Vikings advanced to the playoffs and
beat the Rams in the wild-card game before losing to San Francisco, 34-9, in the divisional round.

He also played for the Atlanta Falcons (1992), New Orleans Saints (1993-94), Cowboys (1995-97) and Oakland
Raiders (1998). He was Troy Aikman’s backup when the Cowboys won their last Super Bowl title during the
1995 season.

“I am completely saddened by the loss of my former teammate, Wade Wilson,” Emmitt Smith, NFL career
rushing leader and Wilson’s teammate in Dallas, tweeted Friday. “My thoughts, prayers and heart go to him and
his family during this time.”

Wilson was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1985 and in 2016 had a toe amputated because of complications
from the disease.

Wilson began his coaching career as the Cowboys’ quarterback coach from 2000-02, and returned to that role
from 2007-17. He coached with the Chicago Bears from 2004-06.

Dallas coach Jason Garrett and Wilson were teammates with the Cowboys in the 1990s and on the same
coaching staff for 11 seasons starting in 2007. Garrett was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach
during the 2010 season.

“I am forever grateful for his friendship,” Garrett said. “He had such a positive impact on me as a player, as a
coach and as a person during our time together.”

Wilson’s best season statistically was 1988, when he led the NFL with a completion percentage of 61.4 percent
with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

“He got along with everybody,” said Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, who was on the Dallas staff with Wilson. “He
had a really good nature about him. He was a very smart coach and obviously was a good player.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of former #Vikings QB Wade Wilson,” the Vikings
tweeted from their account.

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 2/2/19
Former Vikings quarterback Wade Wilson dies at 60

By Jim Souhan

Wade Wilson, an eighth-round draft pick out of East Texas State who quarterbacked the Vikings to an NFC
Championship Game, died Friday in Coppell, Texas, on his 60th birthday.

Wilson started 48 games and played in 28 others for the Vikings from 1981 to ’91. He played for four other NFL
teams and worked as a quarterbacks coach for the Dallas Cowboys, who announced his death, and the
Chicago Bears.

No cause of death was given. According to the Associated Press, police said a 911 call was made from Wilson’s
home, where the caller said Wilson was unresponsive and CPR was in progress. Emergency personnel
determined upon arrival that Wilson was dead.

An understated personality with a dry wit, Wilson’s finest moments came in three road games in the 1987
playoffs. He replaced injured Tommy Kramer in the first quarter of a wild-card game at New Orleans; the Vikings
trailed 7-3 but won 44-10. The next week, Wilson led the Vikings to a 36-24 upset of the 49ers in San Francisco.

The Vikings would lose 17-10 in the NFC Championship Game at Washington when Wilson’s fourth-and-goal
pass to Darrin Nelson with 56 seconds remaining fell incomplete.

“I was happy to get a chance to play and play in some pressure games and see if I was up to the task,” Wilson
said after the game. “I know what some of my deficiencies are now and what some of my strong points are.”

Wilson was made the starter for the 1988 season and made the Pro Bowl.

“He was a good guy and really humble,” Vikings longtime equipment manager Dennis Ryan said, according to a
team release. “He wasn’t given much of a chance to even really make the team and then I remember kind of his
big breakout game against the Saints. ... He quieted the loudest crowd I’ve ever heard on a game day and by
halftime you could hear a pin drop in that place.”

In the spring of 1991, the Vikings employed three quarterbacks — Wilson, Rich Gannon and Brad Johnson. The
team released Wilson that summer.

“I did not have a pair of cleats my first year,” Johnson said. “I didn’t have a shoe deal and they weren’t giving
away stuff back then. I literally filled his shoes.

“I just barely knew him then. I was young, but I remember he was very helpful, an encouraging kind of guy. And
then the weird thing is, 15 years later, he was my quarterbacks coach in Dallas, for two years.

“I really liked him. We had fun, and I thought he was a great coach and a great person. It’s just sad news.”

Wilson had Type 1 diabetes for the past 32 years and had a toe amputated because of complications of the
disease in 2016.

Wilson also played for Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas and Oakland before retiring in 1999. He was Troy Aikman’s
backup on the Cowboys’ Super Bowl title team in 1995. In 125 career NFL games, including 69 starts, he threw
for 17,283 yards with 99 touchdown passes and 109 interceptions. In 76 games with the Vikings, he threw for
12,135 yards with 66 TDs and 75 interceptions.

Troy Aikman
✔
@TroyAikman
 Sad news today as we lost a teammate far too soon. Wade Wilson was my backup from 1995-‘97 and my QB
coach my last season in 2000. Prayers for his children and family. #RIP

13.4K
4:03 PM - Feb 1, 2019
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1,821 people are talking about this
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer was an assistant coach in Dallas when Wilson was a player and a coach.

“Wade was a terrific person,” Zimmer said via team release. “He had a really, really good way about him, a way
with people. I think the biggest thing was that he had seen so many things and been able to talk about so many
situations. He was a guy that always beat the odds.”

Wilson started 17 games during his first six seasons in Minnesota as Kramer’s backup. He shared starting
duties with Gannon in 1990 and 1991 before the Vikings released him on July 8, 1992.

Tommy Kramer
@Kramer9Tommy
RIP Wade, great player, friend and teammate. We will miss you.

2,259
4:16 PM - Feb 1, 2019
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Wilson was quarterbacks coach for Dallas from 2000 to 2002 and again from 2007 to 2017; he was fired last
January. In between those stints, he was QB coach for Chicago from 2004 to ’08. He helped develop Tony
Romo and Dak Prescott during his time with the Cowboys.

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 2/2/19
Ex-Viking Steve Hutchinson's Hall of Fame chances not great

By Mark Craig

ATLANTA – One of the strongest guards in NFL history, Steve Hutchinson probably wishes he could just do
what he used to do and shove aside the logjam of linemen he’s battling in his second straight year as a Pro
Football Hall of Fame finalist.

But the former Viking’s fate once again rests in the hands of a committee of 48 selectors, including yours truly,
that will meet here on Saturday to decide the Class of 2019. He’s competing against 14 other modern-era
finalists for the maximum number of five spots for enshrinement.

Tight end Tony Gonzalez and safety Ed Reed are believed to be easy votes in their first year of eligibility. If that
becomes the case, Hutch will be one of 13 finalists battling for just three spots.

Muddying the field even further are three other offensive linemen who are likely to split votes, as they did a year
ago when the committee chose as its modern-era class receivers Randy Moss and Terrell Owens, linebackers
Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher and safety Brian Dawkins.

Here is a closer look at linemen Hutchinson, guard Alan Faneca, center Kevin Mawae and tackle Tony Boselli:

First-team Associated Press All-Pro: Faneca 6, Hutchinson 5, Mawae and Boselli 3.

Pro Bowls: Faneca 9, Mawae 8, Hutchinson 7, Boselli 5.

Years/games played: Mawae 16/241, Faneca 13/206, Hutchinson 12/269, Boselli 7/91.

From a numbers standpoint, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which more than one offensive lineman joins
Gonzalez and Reed. Not when the other nine finalists include cornerbacks Champ Bailey and Ty Law; safeties
Steve Atwater and John Lynch; coaches Tom Flores and Don Coryell; defensive lineman Richard Seymour;
receiver Isaac Bruce; and running back Edgerrin James.

Bailey, who’s in his first year of eligibility, was a three-time All-Pro with 52 interceptions and four touchdowns.
Law had 53 interceptions and seven touchdowns.

Seymour also was a three-time All-Pro. Bruce had 15,208 yards and 91 touchdowns receiving. Flores won two
Super Bowls. James topped 1,500 yards rushing four times en route to 12,246 in his career.

And one could go on.

Each year, selectors are targeted by organized campaigns launched by supporters of the candidates. None has
been more persistent than the one backing Flores, who turns 82 on March 21 and would be the oldest modern-
era finalist ever to be selected.

Teams that a finalist played or coached for often submit material that is distributed by the Hall of Fame to its
selectors ahead of the meeting. Hutchinson played his first five seasons in Seattle and his next six with the
Vikings, so he had two teams contribute in that regard.

The Vikings contributed an impressive quote of support from that old gunslinger that Hutchinson had to fly to
Hattiesburg to talk out of retirement back in 2010.

“Toughest and smartest lineman hands down,” Brett Favre was quoted as saying. “Technique was flawless and
just downright good.”

Other quotes included former Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren saying, “Just as Walter Jones was the best
tackle I ever saw, Steve Hutchinson was the best guard.”

Former NFL defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth remembered Hutch’s sheer strength.

“Alan Faneca was strong,” he said, “but Hutch was almost crazy strong, unbelievable.”

Another former NFL defensive tackle, La’Roi Glover, compared the strength of Hutchinson’s hands to those of
Vikings Hall of Fame guard Randall McDaniel.

“The only guy who had stronger grippers was Randall McDaniel,” Glover said. “If Randall McDaniel got his
hands on you, just stop and go back to the huddle. Hutch had that ability as well.”

Hutch was on the field for 72 individual 100-yard rushing games. He blocked for Shaun Alexander when he won
MVP in 2005 and Adrian Peterson when he ran for an NFL-record 296 yards while winning Offensive Rookie of
the Year in 2007.

He’s one of four guards on the NFL’s Team of the 2000s. Two of them — Will Shields and Larry Allen — are in
the Hall of Fame.

The other two — Hutch and Faneca — are still stuck in traffic on their way to Canton.

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 2/2/19
Minnesota's Jamie Erdahl will be part of Super Bowl coverage

By Mark Craig

ATLANTA – Bloomington native Jamie Erdahl, a rising star at CBS Sports, will be part of Sunday’s pregame
Super Bowl coverage and then stick around just in case there’s another one of those “Beyoncé” moments.

“You never know,” Erdahl said. “It’s happened.”

In 2013, Beyoncé’s halftime show took down the power grid in New Orleans. The Super Bowl was suspended
for about a half-hour before power was restored. But the CBS show had to go on with reporter Tracy Wolfson
filling airtime via backup generator until the action resumed.

“I think the quote to Tracy that year was, ‘You’re only going to have to go on if the power goes out,’” Erdahl said.
“And it happened. And she went on.”

Wolfson will work the game as sideline reporter. Erdahl also will help with postgame coverage.

Erdahl, 30, is in her fifth football season at CBS. Now the lead sideline reporter on SEC football, she was asked
to work her first Super Bowl.

A 2007 graduate of Breck School, she played basketball and softball at St. Olaf for two years before transferring
to American University in Washington, D.C. to pursue a broadcasting career.

After graduation in 2011, she spent about six months in the Twin Cities. She covered high school football CTN
Cable Channel 12 in Coon Rapids before moving on to covering Lynx games for Fox Sports North.

The next two years were spent in Boston with New England Sports Network before CBS discovered her.

“It’s a dream job, and I have to pinch myself sometimes,” Erdahl said. “I know that’s the cliché thing to say, but
it’s valid. I was the girl who was kind of sneaking downstairs on Sunday afternoons to watch the Vikings with my
dad instead of doing homework. So this just feels right.”

Next up, though, is motherhood — she and husband Sam Buckman are expecting their first child, a girl, on July
1.

“The timing is good,” she said. “I’ll be back in time for college football season.”

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 2/2/19
Ex-Viking Cordarrelle Patterson will play any position, anytime for
Patriots

By Mark Craig

ATLANTA – The Patriots were preparing for the Bills in Week 8 when coach Bill Belichick and offensive
coordinator Josh McDaniels approached a certain former Vikings first-round draft pick who stands 6-2, weighs
228 pounds and plays receiver and kick returner.

“They said, ‘Can you play running back?’ ” said Cordarrelle Patterson who, depending on the outcome of the
coin toss, could be the first person to touch the football with his hands in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday.

And?

“I was like, ‘I can play anything y’all need me to play,’ ” Patterson said. “It’s been amazing. It’s just the offensive
coordinator and the head coach trusting me and believing in something I can do.”

Patterson lined up in the backfield 10 times in that game. He carried the ball every time for 38 yards in a 25-6
victory.

The next week, he lined up in the backfield 12 more times. He carried the ball 11 times for 61 yards and a
touchdown in a 31-17 victory over Green Bay.

 'I can play anything y'all need'
'I can play anything y'all need'
Cordarrelle Patterson has scored touchdowns rushing, passing and returning kickoffs this season. Here's a dive
into his career and 2018 numbers.
Three weeks later, as the Vikings were preparing to play at New England, coach Mike Zimmer admitted the
Patriots used Patterson “way better than we did.”

“I heard that,” Patterson said. “I couldn’t really say anything. They had their opportunity to do that. I mean, life
goes on. You’d have to ask them why they didn’t do it.”

In 17 games as a first-year Patriot, Patterson has lined up in the backfield 47 times. In 64 games over four years
as a Viking, Patterson lined up in the backfield 37 times.

Granted, the Vikings did have a guy named Adrian Peterson. But in 2014, when Peterson was suspended for 15
games, Patterson lined up in the backfield 10 times. And in 2015, when Peterson played in only three games,
Patterson lined up in the backfield only three times.

Norv Turner was Vikings offensive coordinator in both of those seasons and through seven games in 2016
before quitting and being replaced by Pat Shurmur. And Norval was not one to bend to Patterson’s contrasting
skill set.

Patterson’s great open-field running ability made him a two-time All-Pro kick returner and a three-time league
leader in kick return average in his four years with the Vikings. However, he was and still is a rudimentary
receiver who was overrated in the draft.

Six seasons later, this is Patterson’s second trip to the playoffs. In 17 games with the Vikings in 2015, he had
four touches on offense for 25 yards, including no touches in the wild-card loss to Seattle. This year, however,
he has had a career-high 63 touches on offense (42 rushes, 21 receptions).

Ironically, it was Bill Musgrave, the Vikings offensive coordinator so many loved to hate, who got the most out of
Patterson. In 2013, Patterson’s first year and Musgrave’s last in Minnesota, Patterson had 57 touches on
offense for career highs in total yards (627) and touchdowns (seven). He ran the ball 12 times for 158 yards
(13.2) and three touchdowns.

“Every time my number was called, I tried to make the best of it,” Patterson said. “I’m a football player. You
always want the ball. But I’m always a happy, smiley guy, so I’m going to keep my head high, whether it’s one
play or 30 plays.”

With only three offensive touches for 21 yards in two postseason games this year, Patterson isn’t expected to
have an impact in that regard. Then again, New England is the epitome of unpredictability.

As a kick returner, Patterson averaged 28.8 yards with one touchdown on 23 regular-season returns. In the
playoffs, he is averaging 25.8 yards on four returns.

“I can’t wait to step on that field,” he said. “This is something you dream about as a kid, but you never really think
it will happen.”

He shook his head and called himself “lucky.”

“How many people do you think watch the Super Bowl?” he asked.

Over 100 million, bub.

“Oh, man,” he said. “I’m going to try not to think about it. It’s going to be hard, but I’ll just go out and do what I’ve
been doing my whole life to get me here.”

PUBLICATION: VIKING Update DATE: 2/2/19
Analyzing 10 of the top free-agent tackles

By Tim Yotter

While the Minnesota Vikings are expected to add to their offensive line in free agency, the draft or both, they
don’t necessarily need to spend much money at offensive tackle.

With Brian O'Neill progressing to the level of a legitimate starting right tackle in his rookie season, it appears he
will be returning to that role in 2019. Riley Reiff is the established veteran of the offensive line and is scheduled
to cost $11.7 million against the salary cap but also would carry $6.6 million dead-money hit if released, making
that unlikely this year.

In addition, Rashod Hill, who has seen time at both left and right tackle, is a restricted free agent.

The more likely course of action is to invest in the interior of the offensive line, where center Pat Elflein wasn’t as
sharp as his rookie season after coming back from offseason surgery and guard Tom Comptom and Mike
Remmers struggled. However, if the Vikings do dip their toe into the free-agent market at tackle, there are some
intriguing options, from solid starters all the way down to part-time starters that might be looking for work a week
into free agency.

Here are the some of top tackle available and what they did in 2018:

JA'WUAN JAMES
Position: Right Tackle

Age: 27

James not only fits what teams generally look for in age among free agents, but he also showed up some
impressive skills in 2018. He was ranked 33rd among tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, but he was one
of the most successful pass blockers in the NFL last year. According to ESPN’s pass-blocking stats, James won
on 88 percent of his tries, fifth among all tackles. PFF didn’t have him rated quite that high, crediting him with
giving up 26 pressures, 20th among tackles with at least 50 percent of the snaps, but that included seven sacks,
which is too many.

PFF says: So many teams are simply looking for consistency at tackle and James brings that. His lowest pass-
blocking grade over the past four seasons is only 67.3, which is far from liability territory. Injuries are a concern
as just one of those four years was a full season, but he has plug-and-play ability at right tackle.

DARYL WILLIAMS
Position: Right Tackle

Age: 27

Williams barely played in 2018 before his injury, but in 2017 he played a full season at right tackle for the
Carolina Panthers and earned a 78.0 grade from PFF. He gave up four sacks, four quarterback hits and 39 total
pressures, but he appears to be starting caliber when healthy.

PFF says: Williams looked like one of the best right tackles in the NFL in his only full pro season back in 2017.
He earned a 78.0 pass-blocking grade that year but only played 56 snaps this season before being placed on
IR. He’ll have to prove his knee is healthy, but he’s produced the single best season of anyone in this free agent
tackle class.

TRENT BROWN
Position: Left Tackle

Age: 26

Brown only allowed three sacks, a solid number for a left tackle, but he was credited with 35 total pressures,
according to PFF.

PFF says: Brown had a fantastic season switching from right tackle in San Francisco to left tackle in New
England, but he’s not without worry. Offensive linemen don’t have the greatest track record leaving line coach
Dante Scarnecchia and Tom Brady’s quick release. Brown still struggled against some quicker rushers as well,
most notably Jerry Hughes and Yannick Ngakoue.

GREG ROBINSON
Position: Tackle

Age: 26

Robinson, the second overall pick in 2014, was a fringe starter last year, but he played in almost half of
Cleveland’s snaps and was a bit more effective as a pass protector. Playing mostly left tackle, he allowed only
one sack, no additional hits on the quarterback and 20 pressures. However, he was penalized too often (10
times).

JORDAN MILLS
Position: Right Tackle

Age: 28

Like Brown, Mills allowed 35 pressures, with five of those being sacks and five more resulting in quarterback
hits. While he might not be an upgrade over what the Vikings have at tackle right now, he would add valuable
depth. He only earned a 56 grade from PFF in 2018.

GEORGE FANT
Position: Tackle

Age: 27

He only played in about one-third of the snaps for the Seahawks last year, but he graded out decently in those
opportunities, according to PFF, ranking 26th among offensive tackles. In more than 300 snaps, he allowed only
three pressures. He can be used as a tight end or sixth offensive linemen, as Seattle showed this past season.

MATT FEILER
Position: Right Tackle

Age: 27

A bit of an unknown name, Feiler had a decent season with Pittsburgh playing more than half of the snaps. He
ranked 32nd among tackles, according to PFF, with a 71 grade and allowed 26 pressures, including three
sacks.

DONOVAN SMITH
Position: Left tackle

Age: 25

He’s young and was a 2015 second-round pick of Tampa Bay. He has received grades in the 60s all four years
of his career, so you essentially know what you’re getting – a decent but not elite left tackle that doesn’t much
time – unless a change in coaching would help. However, he gave up a career-high eight sacks in 2018, along
with 49 total pressures.

TY NSEKHE
Position: Left Tackle

Age: 33

His age would indicate he isn’t going to receive a lucrative, long-term contract. Nsekhe performed at basically a
borderline starter level last year, according to PFF’s 67.8 grade. He played in just under half the snaps, but
allowed only one sack and three quarterback hits. At best, he would be a swing tackle backup.

ERECK FLOWERS
Position: Left Tackle

2
COMMENTS
Age: 25

Once a well-regarded prospect when he entered the league, Flowers hasn’t lived up to that billing. With
Jacksonville last year, he earned a 65.1 grade PFF, which was 50th among tackles, but he played in only about
half the snaps and allowed 38 pressures, too many for someone that might be looking for starter’s money.

PUBLICATION: VIKING Update DATE: 2/2/19
Former Vikings QB Wade Wilson dies at 60

By Tim Yotter

Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Wade Wilson, who played 11 seasons for the franchise, died Friday at
his home in Coppell, Texas at the age of 60.

Wilson played for five different teams over his 19-year career, but none more than the Vikings. He was drafted in
the eighth round – back when there were that many – in 1981 by the Vikings.

He played sparingly in his rookie season as a backup to Tommy Kramer. In that season, he threw only 13
passes, completing six, but he remained alongside Kramer for much of their careers with the Vikings in the
1980s.

“RIP Wade, great player, friend and teammate. We will miss you,” Kramer tweeted on Friday shortly after the
news of his death broke.

Coppell police released a statement that they responded to a call from Wilson’s residence that he was
unresponsive at about 9 a.m. and CPR was being performed. When they arrived, he was deceased. The cause
of death will be determined by the medical examiner, but no foul play is suspected.

Longtime Vikings equipment manager Dennis Ryan, who remains with the Vikings, worked in conjunction with
Wilson in the 1980s.

“He would always have me carry a bag of M&Ms on the sideline, and I always had them handy for him,” Ryan
said. “He never needed them, ever – until the one game that I got hungry during the first half and I ate the
M&Ms. He came off the field and asked me for the them and I said, ‘Oh, crap’ and took off running. He laughed
about it. He wasn’t the type of guy who was going to be upset, but I ran back into the locker room and got
another bag for him.”

By the time Wilson had finished his playing career in 1999, he had completed 1,391 of 2,428 passes for 17,283
yards, 99 touchdowns and 102 interceptions. But his most memorable season was 1987, when he helped lead
the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game with playoff wins over the New Orleans Saints (44-10) and San
Francisco 49ers (36-24) – both of them road games – before falling 17-10 to the Washington Redskins.

“I remember kind of his big breakout game, where it was like, ‘Wow!’ It was 1987 against the Saints down in
New Orleans and he came in and relieved Tommy in that game,” Ryan said. “We were down 10-0 when Wade
entered the game and we ended up winning that playoff game 44-10. He quieted the loudest crowd I’ve ever
heard on a game day, and by halftime you could hear a pin drop in that place. The next week, he followed that
up with a big game against the 49ers.”

Wilson played under Bud Grant, Les Steckel and Jerry Burns. When Dennis Green took over in 1992, Wilson
went to the Atlanta Falcons. Ironically, he then went to New Orleans for the 1993 and ’94 seasons before
spending four years playing for the Dallas Cowboys. He ended his playing career without throwing a pass for the
Oakland Raiders in 1999.

Although he was generally known as Kramer’s backup, Wilson had seven seasons with the Vikings in which he
threw at least 100 passes. In a three-season stretch from 1987-99, he attempted more than 200 passes for
more than 2,000 yards in each of those seasons.

He was 36-33 as a starter.

After his playing career, he was a quarterbacks coach for 17 seasons, including 14 with the Dallas Cowboys,
where he was also the backup to Troy Aikman for three seasons.

“Sad news today as we lost a teammate far too soon,” Aikman tweeted on Friday. “Wade Wilson was my
backup from 1995-97 and my QB coach my last season in 2000. Prayers for his children and family. #RIP”

Wilson’s three seasons (1995-97) as a player with the Cowboys and two of his seasons (2000-02) as a
quarterbacks coach in Dallas were when Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was coaching with the Cowboys.

“Wade was a terrific person. He got along with everybody, he had a really good nature about him, and he was a
very smart coach and obviously was a good player. This is sad news,” Zimmer said.

“When he was a coach, that’s when I knew him the best. He was extremely smart. He had a really, really good
way about him, a way with people. I think the biggest thing was that he had seen so many things and been able
to talk about so many situations. He was a guy that always beat the odds.”

Former Vikings tackle Tim Irwin was Wilson’s roommate during 11 training camps in Mankato and his cribbage
partner during the many games played around Winter Park. Irwin said Wilson was built to be Grant’s
quarterback because of his toughness, but also lauded his intelligence and ability to throw the deep ball.

“That ’87 team was the best team I was ever on and he was a big part of it,” Irwin said. “I’ve got a pair of boots
that he bought all the linemen the year they went to the Pro Bowl, and every time I put them on, I’ll think about
him. I mean, it’s a tremendous blow.”

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 2/2/19
Rams' Aaron Donald takes disruption to another level

By Jim Souhan

ATLANTA - As someone who moved from Texas to Minnesota to cover the Vikings, the first Vikings practice I
witnessed was on the grass fields at Winter Park in the spring of 1990. Randle, then about 250 pounds, ran
circles around the team’s excellent, veteran offensive line, which became aggravated by Randle’s quickness
and relentlessness. It was like watching elephants swatting at a mosquito.
Randle would bulk up to a reported 287 pounds while retaining his best athletic attributes. He would become
one of the best interior pass rushers in NFL history, and a Hall of Fame inductee. In his most prolific season, he
produced an NFL-leading 15½ sacks.

On Saturday, Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald is expected to become the third player in NFL history to win
consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards. On Sunday, Donald might be the Rams’ most important
player in the Super Bowl, tasked with pressuring New England quarterback Tom Brady and controlling the
Patriots’ surging running game.

With his blend of power, speed and technique. Donald is paying homage to a trio of Vikings defensive tackles.
Alan Page won the NFL’s first Defensive Player of the Year award and played at a listed 245 pounds, back
when NFL players were more rangy than massive. Keith Millard set the record for sacks in one season by an
interior lineman, with 18, in 1989. Tall and lean, with powerful arms, Millard played at a listed 260 pounds.
Randle excelled more because of explosiveness, technique and attitude than sheer size.

Over the past two years, Donald might be eclipsing any player produced by the Purple People Eaters or the
Rams’ similarly legendary Fearsome Foursome.

Donald could become only the third player to win consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards, along with
J.J. Watt and Lawrence Taylor. This season, he recorded a league-best 20½ sacks, breaking Millard’s single-
season record for a defensive tackle.

Donald is listed at 6-1 and 280 pounds. Teammates say he’s more like 6-0, 265. As his Instagram account
demonstrates, those pounds are strapped on him like armor. “The dude has an eight-pack,” said fellow
defensive lineman Michael Brockers. “Makes me jealous.”

Like Randle, Donald turns a perceived weakness into a strength by playing low and fast, exploding out of his
crouch into linemen or between double-teams, then turning on his speed. “He runs like a linebacker,” Los
Angeles defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said. “He’s quick, he’s fast, he has endurance, and he has the
willpower to play all-out on every play.”

Rams cornerback Aqib Talib called Donald “totally disruptive. If he goes all-out in practice, the offense can’t
even get much work done.”

“During the game, I don’t always see what he’s doing,” said fellow defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. “I just hear
offensive linemen cussing.”

Donald grew up in Pittsburgh and attended Pitt. The Rams chose him with the 13th pick in the 2014 draft. In
three consecutive drafts, the Rams chose Donald, star running back Todd Gurley and quarterback Jared Goff.
In 2017, the Rams hired Sean McVay as their coach, and McVay hired Phillips, the legendary defensive
coordinator.

That’s how you build a champion.

“This is what you dream about, being on this stage,” Donald said. “I told McVay [Thursday] — thank you. He
wanted to thank the players but I said, ‘Once you came, things changed around.’ He’s the leader we needed.”

Donald is building a résumé that might be one of the best in NFL history. He’s also facing a guy who coached
Taylor.

“Aaron Donald is a great football player,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “But I wouldn’t put anybody ahead of
Lawrence Taylor. Taylor’s the best I’ve ever seen, certainly the best I’ve ever coached.”

Sunday, Donald gets to prove he’s the best Belichick has coached against.

PUBLICATION: Skor North DATE: 2/2/19
Former Vikings quarterback Wade Wilson dies at 60

By Judd Zulgad
Former Vikings quarterback Wade Wilson died Friday at his home in Coppell, Texas, on his 60th birthday.

The Dallas Cowboys announced Wilson’s death but did not give a cause. Wilson served as the Cowboys’
quarterbacks coach from 2000 to 2002 and again in the same role from 2007 to 2017.

Wilson was an eighth-round pick of the Vikings in 1981 out of East Texas State and spent 19 seasons in
the NFL, playing for five teams from 1981 through 1999. Wilson took over as the Vikings’ starting
quarterback in 1987 after Tommy Kramer was injured and helped lead Minnesota to the NFC title game.
The Vikings lost 17-10 on Jan. 17, 1988 as Darrin Nelson was unable to catch Wilson’s pass on fourth
down from the Washington 6-yard line late in the game.

Tommy Kramer
@Kramer9Tommy
RIP Wade, great player, friend and teammate. We will miss you.

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Wilson, who also went on to play for Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas and Oakland, spent 11 seasons with the
Vikings. In 14 games and 10 starts in 1988, Wilson threw for 2,746 yards and 15 touchdowns as he was
selected to the Pro Bowl. He played in only six games, with four starts, in 1990 and appeared in five
games, all starts, in 1991. Wilson was released in the summer of 1992 by the Vikings.

He reached a Super Bowl in 1995, serving as Troy Aikman’s backup on the Dallas team that won the
championship. Wilson finished his career with 17,283 passing yards, 99 touchdown passes and 102
interceptions.

Troy Aikman
✔
@TroyAikman
Sad news today as we lost a teammate far too soon. Wade Wilson was my backup from 1995-‘97 and my
QB coach my last season in 2000. Prayers for his children and family. #RIP

13.4K
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In addition to his time as an assistant coach with the Cowboys, Wilson also was the quarterbacks coach
for Chicago from 2004 to 2006.

PUBLICATION: Skor North DATE: 2/2/19
Who were the most statistically comparable QBs to Kirk Cousins in
2018?

By Matthew Coller
As we try to better understand what happened to the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 and where they can
improve in 2019, we can use the data provided by Pro Football Focus’s QB Annual to determine why the
team’s passing game ranked 22nd in Estimated Points Added. Let’s have a look at quarterbacks who were
statistically similar to Cousins and what we can learn from their successes and failures…

Cincinnati Bengals, Andy Dalton

PFF overall rank: 12th

Both in 2018 and over their careers, Dalton is the QB most like Cousins. He flourished with a great
supporting cast in 2015, but has struggled at times when he did not have the playmakers or line around
him.

Kirk Cousins PFF overall rank: 13th

Similarities:

Third down grade

Both quarterbacks performed well below their overall grades on third down with Dalton ranking 24th and
Cousins 23rd. With sacks included, Cousins gained just 5.0 yards per third down (league average 5.5
YPA) and had a negative EPA on third downs for the second straight year. Likewise Dalton performed at
his lowest third down level in EPA, and both QBs were sacked on more than 10 percent of third down drop
backs.

This is where supporting casts and offensive line may show up the biggest. Dalton and Cousins had better
offensive lines in 2015 and 2016 than they did last season. When opposing defenses know the
quarterback has to drop back, they can go all out with the pass rush.

Dalton did take more risks and had more “big-time throws” per third down than Cousins.

Versus blitz

Both veteran QBs are known as being strong at the line of scrimmage. Dalton has posted passer ratings
over 100 in three of the last four years against the blitz and 105.4 in 2018. Cousins had a 104.3 rating
against the blitz and hasn’t been below a 90 rating since becoming a full-time starter in 2015. It’s
noticeable that neither Dalton or Cousins is blitzed above the league average rate. It appears opponents
understand that they can both adapt quickly, meaning both may need to adjust to the lack of blitzes going
forward.

Accuracy

In overall accuracy percentage the Vikings’ QB ranked ninth and Dalton 12th. One major similarity is that
each succeeded on throws between 10-19 yards. Cousins was 6.8 percent above average on intermediate
throws and Dalton 3.4 percent above average. Many times intermediate throws come along with play-

action. Both QBs averaged 8.6 yards per attempt with play-action, Cousins gained 6.7 YPA without it and
Dalton just 6.5 YPA.

The Bengals’ QB used play-action more often at 25.4 percent compared to 19.9 percent for Cousins.
We’re certain to see more play-action next year.

Another note from PFF’s accuracy numbers: Neither player executed swing passes or underneath throws
with a high rate of accuracy. The Vikings will have to find ways to manufacture yards while working around
the fact that the schemed throws aren’t always Cousins’ strength.

Both Dalton and Cousins threw exactly 53 percent of passes to open receivers, above the league average
of 46 percent. There were certainly tight-window opportunities with Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen that
Cousins passed up last year and should let loose in the future.

First reads

Here we can spot another area where Stefanski’s role will be important for Cousins in 2019. He went to
first reads 71 percent of the time — league average 66 percent — and was well below league average in
Estimated Points Added per throw. Cousins can often find the right answers at the line of scrimmage if he
is given those answers by the scheme and play calling. Same goes for Dalton who was 69 percent first
read and below average EPA.

Another interesting note which could pertain to scheme or offensive line or both is that Cousins’ average
depth of throw traveled 9.9 yards on first reads, which was well below league average at 11.

Clean pocket

For the fourth straight year, Cousins had a rating over 100 with a clean pocket, but only 3.8 percent of his
clean-pocket passes qualified as “big-time throws” by PFF. Dalton’s rating was only 96.8 but he scored a
much better PFF grade than Cousins. The Bengals’ QB was ranked sixth of 35 while Cousins was 22nd,
likely because 6.0 percent of Dalton’s passes were “big-time” throws. In all situations, Dalton was seventh
in “big-time” throws and Cousins ranked 20th.

What’s interesting/similar about Dalton and Cousins in clean pockets is that they have been much better in
the past than they were in 2018. In 2015, Dalton averaged 8.2 yards per attempt, had a 110.2 rating and
7.4 percent “big-time” throw rate. In 2016, Cousins had a slightly lower rating (107.2) but averaged 8.7
yards per attempt (versus 7.2 YPA in 2018) and nearly doubled his “big-time” throw percentage. It doesn’t
seem to be a coincidence that both players’ offensive lines were better in those given years and they had
a deeper bevy of weapons.

Pressure/pressure rate

Cousins graded 13th under pressure and produced an 83.1 rating while Dalton was 20th and posted a
70.1 rating (slightly above 67.1 average). The similarity isn’t in the 2018 stats, it’s in the ups and downs
that both players have had statistically under pressure. In 2015, Dalton managed a 92.9 rating under
pressure and averaged 9.0 yards per pass attempt. He’s never come close to that mark again. Cousins’
highest rating was 2018. Previously his 73.0 rating under pressure in 2015 was Cousins’ best.

The two QBs differ in terms of their pressure rates. Cousins has only had one of four years under 35
percent, which might point to him bringing on some of his own pressure by not getting rid of the ball or
moving effectively in the pocket. Dalton’s highest career pressure rate (32 percent) is the same as
Cousins’ lowest.

Oakland Raiders, Derek Carr

PFF overall rank: 18th

If you think Cousins’ supporting cast was weak at times, have a look at what Carr was dealing with. His
rookie left tackle got smoked all year, his coach traded away his No. 1 receiver and he didn’t get much
support from the 25th rated ground game. A closer look at Carr reveals that his individual performance
and tendencies have a lot in common with the Vikings’ starting quarterback…

Similarities:

Clean pocket

The Raiders’ quarterback was almost identical to Cousins in both grade and rating. Carr ranked 18th by
PFF grade and produced a 105.7 passer rating (103.1 is league average). Like Cousins, Carr managed a
very low number of “big-time” throws — just 2.5 percent, in fact. Both QBs had exceptionally high
completion percentages with no pressure but neither reached the league average of 7.8 yards per attempt.

They are both also remarkably consistent in their clean pocket performance. Carr has posted ratings
between 96.4 and 105.7 over the last four years and Cousins has been between 106.5 and 115.7 each
year as a starter.

The ceiling for clean passing is one area where they deviate. Carr has never been above average in yards
per attempt with no pressure and Cousins was as high as 0.9 yards above league average in 2016.

The conservative nature of the 2018 version of Cousins and Carr throughout his career have both been to
the detriment of their offensive efficiency numbers. The Vikings were 32nd in all situations in yards per
completion, Oakland ranked 27th.

Negative graded throws

Cousins may have struggled with fumbles, but when it came to avoiding ill-advised passes, he was among
the best. PFF marked Cousins with the third fewest negatively graded throws and Carr with the sixth
fewest. The difference was that Carr still ended up with the 10th most “turnover-worthy” throws and
Cousins had the fourth lowest rate of “turnover-worthy” attempts.

The two quarterbacks were nearly identical in their lack of “big-time” throws in all situations. Cousins was
20th and Carr 18th of 35 QBs. Neither quarterback pushed the ball down the field with Carr ranking No. 1
for the shortest average air yards per throw in the NFL and Cousins finished seventh (per NextGEN stats).

The picture becomes even clearer with NextGEN’s “Aggressiveness” stat. Cousins is the third least
aggressive QB in the NFL (based on throws into tight coverage) and Carr is fifth.

Third downs

Cousins graded as the 23rd (of 35) best quarterback on third downs while Carr ranked 26th. Their
production on third-and-long situations was similar. With more than six yards to go, here’s how they
compared:

Carr: 56-for-86, 7.1 yards per attempt, 89.8 rating

Cousins: 50-for-89, 6.4 yards per attempt, 78.2 rating

Neither QB came up with many “big-time” throws on third down. Just 3.9 percent of Carr’s third down
passes qualified and 4.6 percent for Cousins.

Where you can see the offensive lines impacting Carr and Cousins is in times sacked — both were sacked
on more than 10 percent of their third down drop backs — and throws past the sticks. The Vikings’

quarterback only threw past the sticks on 46 percent of attempts, down 12 percent from his career best in
2016. Carr threw past the sticks 52 percent of the time, down six percent from his career high.

In terms of weapons, both QBs had their most success targeting their tight end. Jared Cook (a free agent,
by the way), produced first downs on 55 percent of throws in his directions while Kyle Rudolph went 12-
for-18.

Blitz

Over his years as a starter, Cousins has become one of the strongest QBs in the NFL against the blitz. He
was only sacked on 3.8 percent of blitzes and produced an outstanding 104.3 rating. Last year his rating
was 109.3 vs. blitzes.

Carr took more sacks, but was highly effective when he got the ball away, scoring a 103.4 rating and an
outstanding 8.3 yards per attempt.

When we put together the pieces, Carr and Cousins are similar in their ability to read defenses at the line
of scrimmage and have answers for the problems opponents are trying to create. When they are asked to
do more, things become problematic. When going to his second read, Carr posted a minus-0.34 Expected
Points Added. Cousins was minus-0.14. The league average is minus-0.03.

Atlanta Falcons, Matt Ryan

PFF overall rank: 11th

In traditional stats, Ryan had a better year than Cousins by a wide margin, throwing for nearly 5,000 yards
and averaging 8.1 yards per attempt. The Falcons had the fifth best passing game in Expected Points
Added in the NFL, but Ryan’s numbers were helped because he was often playing from behind with a very
poor defense. He only graded two spots ahead of Cousins and their performances were reflective of each
other in a few key areas…

Similarities:

Deep passing

When Cousins uncorked deep passes, he often succeeded in finding either Adam Thielen or Stefon Diggs.
The same can be said for Ryan when targeting Julio Jones or Calvin Ridley. Ryan scored 6.9 percent
higher than average in accuracy on passes 10-19 yards from the line of scrimmage and recorded a 118.6
rating. Similarly Cousins rated 6.8 percent above the norm and had a 117.5 rating.

When Ryan was going for broke, he was fantastic, rating 13.2 percent above average in accuracy and
notching a 113.9 rating. Cousins was 6.6 percent above the line and had a 106.8 rating.

The two QBs were even remarkably close when throwing “go” routes. Ryan posted a 116.8 rating on
straight patterns deep down the field, Cousins 113.3.

The difference? Ryan threw the ball more than 10 yards on 36 percent (tied with league average) of total
throws while Cousins only went down field on 30 percent.

Scramble drill

Cousins was one of the NFL’s worst QBs in 2018 when scrambling. He recorded zero “big-time” throws
and posted a minus-0.54 Expected Points Added. Ryan wasn’t far behind. The Falcons’ QB threw 37.5
percent uncatchable passes when scrambling, had zero “big-time” throws and managed a minus-0.26
EPA.

One thing to keep in mind about Ryan: His best year came under Kyle Shanahan. One thing that
Shanahan’s offenses do brilliantly is change the launch points of the quarterback. Knowing that Ryan
wasn’t great at creating when scrambling, Shanahan used bootlegs and play-action passes to move him
around in the pocket by design. We could see a lot of that under Gary Kubiak in 2019 for Kirk Cousins.

Clean pocket

Despite putting together a 108.5 rating with a clean pocket, Cousins graded 22nd by PFF’s system.
Likewise Ryan had a 116.6 rating, but the 17th best grade. The best explanation for this might be that
each executed makable throws that resulted in extremely high completion percentages, but rarely hit on
high-difficulty passes that would move the needle. Ryan only had a 2.8 percent “big-time” throw
percentage with a clean pocket, well below the league’s 4.2 percent. Cousins finished at 3.8 percent.

CONCLUSIONS
– What stands out in each comparison is that Cousins was not aggressive and did not go off script very
often and those things likely resulted in poor scores on third down, where aggressiveness and off-script
throws are often required. There appears to be some variation between the other QBs and Cousins from
year to year on things like third downs and big-time throws, so it’s plausible there could be improvement
going forward if he is better supported.

– Cousins is a terrific executor if he is given the right answers a la versus the blitz or on first reads. For this
reason, Kubiak might be the best acquisition the Vikings could make in the offseason. We see that Ryan
was more successful in a Shanahan offense and Dalton was better in his past system.

– If there is one area where Cousins could regress, it’s under pressure. We see variation among all the
comparable quarterbacks in those situations.

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 2/2/19
Vikings Family, Teammates Remember Wade Wilson

By Lindsey Young
After spending nine seasons in the NFL as a defensive lineman, Esera Tuaolo now is using his platform to battle
against hate in society instead of opponents on the gridiron.

Tuaolo, who spent 1992-96 with the Vikings and also was a 2017 contestant on The Voice, recently participated
in the second annual Hate is Wrong Inclusion Panel in Atlanta at the National Center for Civil and Human
Rights. He partnered with his foundation, Hate is Wrong, for the event that was sponsored by the Vikings.

Vikings Vice President of Legal and Social Impact Karin Nelsen, who was invited by Tuaolo to also participate in
the event, called it an honor to work alongside him.

“That man is all heart,” Nelsen said. “He cares so deeply about human rights and equality and fairness, and he
just really, really wants to help people – especially help people who are struggling – and he wants to make lives
better for people.

“I applaud him for getting this organized,” Nelsen added of Tuaolo, who was part of the Vikings LGBTQ summit
last summer. “This was all of his planning, and we’re just grateful that he reached out and that we could be a
sponsor with Esera’s nonprofit, Hate is Wrong.”

Tuaolo’s discussion examined efforts made by athletes, sports businesses and nonprofits to better develop an
inclusive environment within sports. He was joined on the panel by President of Adidas North America Zion
Armstrong, Women’s National Football Conference Co-founder Odessa Jenkins and Olympic gold medalist
diver Greg Louganis.

The second panel, on which Nelsen participated, had a specific NFL focus.

The group looked at how the league, individual teams and media can foster a more welcoming environment for
LGBTQ individuals.

“We all know there are challenges and there are issues for the LGBTQ community as it relates to sports – but
what are the solutions?” Nelsen explained. “What are some of the actions that the league or NFL teams can
take to make football more inclusive at all levels?”

When asked about her motivation behind being a panelist, Nelsen expressed a passion around “true inclusion”
and emphasized her belief that it’s “not only the right thing” to do but also the smart thing.

“Organizations that have true diversity and inclusion, I believe, are the highest performing. I believe that [is the
case] no matter what type of organization it is,” Nelsen said. “Inclusion matters, and it matters for lots of really
good reasons. So I think for me, I was able to talk about that and why I feel so strongly that it’s both the right
thing to do and why it’s smart.” ‘

Added Nelsen: “It felt true and authentic to me, and that’s why, on a personal side, it made sense.”

Nelsen was joined on the panel by Atlanta Falcons Assistant General Manager Scott Pioli, 49ers offensive
assistant coach Katie Sowers and NBC Sports’ Peter King. Both panels were moderated by Cyd Ziegler.

Personal experiences with friends have impacted Nelsen and created an even stronger drive to help make
changes in the area of inclusion, but she also was grateful for the chance to represent the Vikings and for the
organization’s sponsorship of the panel.

“I believe that we are better and stronger when we value all types of inclusion, and I think – I loved talking about
this on the panel – we took an important step last summer when we had an entire summit on this topic, and I
think that has opened up other avenues for us where we can help people more,” Nelsen said.

“What’s the next step for us to really make a difference in front of youth, their coaches and athletic directors to
help people be able to deal with these issues more effectively?” Nelsen continued. “I feel like this is really
consistent with our inclusion brand, and I just expect that it will continue.”

The Vikings are extending condolences to the family of Wade Wilson, who passed away Friday at the age of 60.

The former quarterback spent 10 seasons with the Vikings (1981-91), during which he started 48 of 76 games
played.

Wilson was selected by the Vikings in the eighth round (210th overall) of the 1981 NFL Draft, after which he
became the backup to Tommy Kramer. In 1987 under Head Coach Jerry Burns, however, Wilson started seven
of 12 regular-season games and two of Minnesota’s three postseason games.

Longtime Vikings equipment manager Dennis Ryan recalled Wilson going from a longshot to make the team to
fighting for a starting position.

“I remember his big breakout game, where it was like, ‘Wow,’ ” Ryan said. “It was 1987 against the Saints down
in New Orleans, and he came in and relieved Tommy in that game. We were down 10-nothing when Wade
entered the game, and we ended up winning that playoff game 44-10.

“He quieted the loudest crowd I’ve ever heard on a game day,” Ryan added. “By halftime, you could hear a pin
drop in that place.”

After upsetting the 13-2 49ers in the Divisional Round, Wilson started against Washington in the NFC
Championship Game, during which the Vikings fell 17-10 to the Redskins.

Kramer called himself fortunate to have Wilson behind him. He remembered first watching the young player
throw passes at training camp that “fluttered instead of spiraled.”

When a teammate suggested that Kramer give Wilson pointers, the older quarterback initially hesitated out of
respect for a fellow Texan.

“I didn’t want to belittle him,” Kramer said. “You have a connection when you play with people who lived in the
same state with you. But I just helped him change his grip up a little bit, and he started throwing spirals all the
time. I was happy about that. It made me feel good, too.”

Tommy Kramer
@Kramer9Tommy
RIP Wade, great player, friend and teammate. We will miss you.

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