
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Good times.
We spoke one-on-one with Bryant McKinnie exactly once. It was for a Page 2 Q&A that was primarily about music. He was funny and engaging -- even self-aware, as evidenced by this exchange: Q Sounds like you're really into music. Do you ever think about it when you aren't supposed to, like when you're supposed to be blocking?
A Nah, not on the field (laughs). I listen before games, though, to get me hyped and motivated. It plays a big role in my life and probably a lot of other people's.
Q I read you had some big thing in Miami over the summer.
A Yeah, it was something called Miami Standup. It was special to the label. We wanted everyone in the industry to learn about the label. One year we had a bowling event. We had a boat party.
Q Whoa, a boat party. Better watch out!
A (Laughs) My bad! No, not that kind of boat party!
That said, the life of a franchise left tackle is filled with peril. It's like being an umpire -- nobody really notices you unless you mess up. McKinnie messed up enough to draw the ire of plenty of Vikings fans. Adding to the frustration was the notion that McKinnie was lazy -- an idea he didn't exactly combat by showing up to camp this year with an entire vehicle and not just a spare tire tucked under his jersey.
Our question, then, is this: Where does McKinnie rank on the all-time list of players Vikings fans love to hate? Higher or lower than T-Jack? Higher or lower than Daunte? Higher or lower than Todd Steussie? Herschel Walker? Jeff Brady? Anyone else we are leaving out?
The Vikings are likely to be active in NFL free agency in March with more than $60 million in cap space to spend and 24 players set to become unrestricted or restricted free agents.