NJCU allows students into building with asbestos

 When I worked at New Jersey City University in Jersey City, in spring 2022 the vice president of enrollment management moved the career center (at the time, one person, me, although that's another story) into Grossnickle Hall. As you can see from the attached pictures there were broken tiles on the floor outside my office, and an entire section that that was broken but covered by a mat. I filed a complaint with the state of NJ; inspectors visited and tested the tiles for asbestos. The tests came back positive, and only then did the acting president bring in someone to repair the tiles. So for years NJCU had students coming in and out of classes in this building, and never bothered to repair the tiles. Former president Sue Henderson was too busy taking trips to China to pay attention to what existed on her own campus, and her vice presidents didn't care about the students, so this easily fixable situation went on.

Democrats & Republicans are phonies

 It's time for Democrats to stop saying they are pro-labor and pro-union. They are not. it's also time for Republicans to stop saying they are against people's tax money being wasted. They don't care.

If politicians would spend more time overseeing what college administrators were doing on their campuses instead of letting them run amuck and do silly things that have no chance of success, then staff at colleges wouldn't have to worry about losing their jobs and how they're going to pay their bills because of a bunch of crap they knew nothing about and had nothing to do with.

For Democrats saving people's jobs should be their priority. It isn't. They would have come up with a solution instead of having layoffs, if they really were pro-labor and pro-union. But Democrats like Angela McKnight are unable to. Or they just don't want to. So stop saying you're pro-labor and pro-union.

Republicans are the ones who got rid of the NJ Department of Higher Education because they believe in less oversight. Less oversight has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money being wasted at the soon to be defunct NJCU. Then you have Republican legislators like Bill Singer asking why no one was held accountable for the financial mess created by the irresponsible former president and the "leaders" in her cabinet. Well Bill, if there's no oversight, then no one is going to held accountable. Any dope can figure that out. But that is what you wanted, so stop whining.

So do layoffs and shrink the staff. When there's less staff students get less service, and less for their money, but politicians like Angela McKnight and Bill Singer don't care about that either.

Here is how to lower the cost of attending college

 If universities want to lower the cost of attending college, instead of getting rid of staff who help students or professors who teach classes they ought to do away with administrator jobs.

At NJCU the president created a job of "provost." Probably did so to make herself feel important. Having a lot of assistants must be a status symbol of some sort.

The first provost said "This is an important day" when the university opened their "confucius center" to much pomp and circumstance. Yet no one really knew what the center was for, or why any students in Jersey City would care about what it did. It unceremoniously closed down several years later after the federal government accused the centers as being propaganda for the Chinese communist party. The provost left the job four years later. I'm still not sure what he actually did, or what he accomplished.

The second provost didn't seem to do much of anything either. The job is supposed to be like a senior vice president, overseeing academics, services, and other operations. Yet, how important can the job be when she left the campus after three years to take a job in private industry? Of course, this was after the campus declared a financial emergency, so I guess she had a moral epiphany after the fact. Or maybe just didn't want to get caught up in the state's investigation.

The third provost got rid of the only staff position in career services, yet a few months later signed off on a document stating that helping students find internships, explore careers, and land "good jobs" after they graduated was a top priority. But who exactly was supposed to help these students, if you don't have any staff? If anyone knows the answer to this question, let me know.

Universities functioned fine years ago when there were maybe half the number of administrators employed as today. A lot of them have titles with words like "associate," "vice," and other prefixes, but it’s not clear what they actually do in the jobs. The reality is a lot of what these people do is useless.

Are Career Services at a University necessary?

When I worked at New Jersey City University in Jersey City the provost, deans, vice presidents, vice president of human resources, and others decided to eliminate the only professional staff position in career services, calling it a layoff. The definition of a layoff is a lack of work, or that the position is obsolete or no longer needed. (Even though hundreds of students every semester met with a career counselor for help with various career issues). Do you agree that providing career services to students at a college or university is not necessary? * I agree, it's ok to let students pay tuition/fees and figure out career issues on their own. * I disagree, career counselors should be available to assist college students.

People who use big words...

People use words to make themselves sound more important than they really are. When I worked at NJCU a "school of business" already existed, with majors such as accounting, management, and finance. Then when the university president decided to spend millions of NJ taxpayer dollars to lease a building in downtown Jersey City, and move offices and classes for the school of business to that location, the guy who was the Dean of the school of business changed his title to "Founding Dean" of the school of business. Just because you moved your operations to a new location doesn't mean that you "founded" a new "school of business." It just means that you're in a different building. Yet everywhere it was noted that the person's title was not just "Dean" but "Founding Dean." Instead making a big deal about job titles maybe make a big deal about how your President was wasting money leading to a financial crisis, and how your university is being dissolved with the campus becoming another state university.

University administrators allow students into a building containing exposed asbestos

When I worked at New Jersey City University in Jersey City, in spring 2022 the vice president of enrollment management moved the career center (at the time, one person, me, although that's another story) into Grossnickle Hall. As you can see from the attached pictures there were broken tiles on the floor outside my office, and an entire section that that was broken but covered by a mat. I filed a complaint with the state of NJ; inspectors visited and tested the tiles for asbestos. The tests came back positive, and only then did the acting president bring in someone to repair the tiles. So for years NJCU had students coming in and out of classes in this building, and never bothered to repair the tiles. Former president Sue Henderson was too busy taking trips to China to pay attention to what existed on her own campus, and her vice presidents didn't care about the students, so this easily fixable situation went on.

A "job" as an administrator at a university

I've often wondered what some people actually do, in their jobs. Take, for example, someone with a title a title of "vice president of marketing and strategy" at a university. When this public university declares a financial crisis and announces they are $300 million in debt, what exactly was the "strategy?" Run the school into the ground? It's like these colleges are being run by crew members of the Exxon Valdez. College administrators wax poetic about their "strategies" and "visions." If they spend all their time being "thought leaders" how does a college end up being dissolved and taken over by another university? Whenever they talk about their "strategies," "missions," and other jargon, they are just covering up the fact that they don't do jack-squat in their jobs. They never taught a class or worked in student services. Then when there's a financial crisis, they say, "these things happen in business" - even when a university isn't a business - and they pretend that the people in charge had nothing to with the crisis. They should be ashamed of themselves.

University administrators wanted to spend taxpayer money on "space consultants"

When I worked at NJCU and they were in the midst of a hundred million dollar financial crisis, the vice president of administration and finance said he was going to hire "space consultants" to advise the university on the best use of the "space" in their buildings. How bizarre. The former president put the university into hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, and her vice presidents and board of trustees let it happen without saying anything, and then they're going to spend money to have someone else tell them how to best use the "space" on their own campus? Phew. This after they were begging the state of New Jersey to give them more of taxpayers' money to bail them out of the financial crisis. All the people who run this colleges with their PhD's, and they can't figure out themselves how to best utilize the buildings on their own campus?

College Administrators have B.S. jobs

Funny how when colleges and universities hire professors and staff the folks in charge of the hiring want candidates with degrees, credentials, experience, intangibles...the list goes one. Yet, these college administrator jobs don't require any real expertise in a certain area, and are often filled by the friend of another administrator, or for some sort of political or social reason. Like a Dean of the College of Professional Studies. at a university. That's a job you could have landed without any relevant experience or skills. Then when there's a financial emergency you could be involved in personnel decisions like layoffs of professors and staff, without any real knowledge of the situation. Basically you can be involved in ruining an organization and treating people like disposable objects without being qualified to make those decisions. You don't even have to be man enough to tell employees to their faces about the layoffs and why they're being done; just have HR send an email after hours.. Then a year later you can quit the job and move on. You get paid a lot of money to do nothing, other than mess up the lives of people who actually make a career out of helping students. But hey, that's the life of a college administrator.

Today's college students don't know what they're missing...

Today's college students don't know what they're missing. When I was in college there were organizations that anyone could join. Organizations like class one concerts, the college life union board, the Montclarion student newspaper, the yearbook, the literary magazine, the radio station. You didn't have to be a theater major to join Players, the acting organization. These were the types of groups that brought people together. There wouldn't be much for me to join if I was in college today. It seems like there's only special interest groups, and clubs that focus on religion, race, ethnic backgrounds, and other unique topics. I just wouldn't have been interested in being part of a Christian Fellowship, Muslim Student Association, or Jewish Student Union. There's nothing wrong with having those groups; I just don't know why they are the focus. Those are the types of organizations that separate people, not bring them together. Oh well. Whatever floats your boat I guess.

** FREE TIPS FOR ORGANIZATIONS CONDUCTING LAYOFFS ***

** FREE TIPS FOR ORGANIZATIONS CONDUCTING LAYOFFS *** If you have a fancy title like "Acting President," "Vice President of Marketing & Strategy," "Vice President of Administration & Finance" or "Chief of Staff & University Counsel," before sending a layoff notice by email, be a man and tell employees to their faces what you are doing and why. Don't be a coward. This is also for women who have titles like "Acting Provost," and "Associate Vice President for Human Resources." To hide behind an email is cowardly. You call yourselves "leaders" - try behaving like one. Also, you might want to tell the directors of your offices if you're laying off their staff, instead of letting the affected employees tell them after the fact. If you have a title like Associate Vice President of Human Resources you should know better. If you're a Provost and overseeing that area, to not tell directors what you're doing, I guess that's just laziness.

** JOB OPENING ** - UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT IN NEW JERSEY

JOB OPENING ** University President ** REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS: None PREFERRED ACADEMIC BACKGROUND: - PhD in Higher Education Administration or other related useless field of study. - JD, with no experience in college teaching or college student services. PREFERED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS: - Ability to mismanage budgets. - Proficient in wasting the public's tax money. - Ability to conceive grandiose ideas that have no chance of success. - Proficient in not following agreements in legal contracts. - Skilled in creating new high paying jobs in the campus administration that are not needed and are of no benefit to students, such as Vice President of Global Initiatives, Vice President of Advancement, & Vice President of Enrollment Management. - Strong interest in developing relationships for no valid reason with communist countries such as China and Cuba. - Available to travel to China and spend taxpayer money for no valid reason. - Skilled in writing, utilizing big words in press releases to cover up the fact that you are not doing jack-squat. - Willingness to put students' health at risk by not repairing exposed asbestos tiles in a building, and later covering up knowledge of asbestos. - Proficient in giving Ted-Talk type speeches that in reality communicate nothing. - Belief that jobs that directly assist students such as career services are unnecessary. - Demonstration of strong leadership by showing complete lack of empathy and compassion for professional staff employees. - Ability to treat employees like they are nothing more than dog poop that you are scraping off the bottom of your shoe. - Strong cowardice skills, such as hiding behind emails to notify employees of job layoffs. - Previous job title of Vice President of Marketing & Strategy, Chief of Staff, or a similar unnecessary B.S. position preferred. ** AI generated resumes and cover letters expected. No need to have your own thoughts.

The best cornerbacks in Minnesota Viking history

The best cornerbacks in Minnesota Viking history

With rules regarding the passing game changing through the years in the NFL, favoring offensive players to a great degree, the position of cornerback may have become the most difficult position to play in pro football. Cornerbacks have to cover wide receivers, who are often the best athletes on the field. They also have to be sure tacklers. The Vikings have had some good corners who were important parts of dominant defenses; here are the top ten in franchise history.

10) Cedric Griffin: In six years from 2006-2011 Griffin played in 80 games, starting 70, and intercepted eight passes. He knocked down 50 balls, forced 14 fumbles, and recovered 3.

9) Willie Teal: Teal played in 80 games and started 61 in seven years with Minnesota from 1980-1986. He intercepted 15 passes, returning one for a touchdown, and recovered 5 fumbles.

8) Earsell Mackbee: In five seasons with the Vikings from 1965-1969 Mackbee played in 66 games, starting 56, including the team's dominant 1969 season. He picked off 15 passes, taking one back for a touchdown, and recovered 4 fumbles.

7) Audray McMillian: In five years with the team from 1989-1993 McMillian played in 79 games, starting 43, and was selected to one Pro Bowl. He intercepted 19 passes and returned three for scores.

6) Xavier Rhodes: In five seasons from 2013-2017 Rhodes has been named to two Pro Bowls, while playing in 75 games, starting 68. Teams rarely throw in his direction; he has intercepted 9 passes, returning one for a score, has defensed 59 balls, and has forced two fumbles.

5) Nate Wright: A steady cornerback during the mid-1970's when the team led the league each year in many defensive categories, Wright played in 129 games in his ten years with the team from 1971-1980 and ranks fifth in Viking history with 31 interceptions.

4) Ed Sharockman: A consistent defensive back on Minnesota's great defenses of the late '60's and early '70's, Sharockman played in 142 games, starting 121, during his 12 years with Minnesota from 1961-1972. He ranks third with 40 interceptions, returning four for touchdowns, and also recovered 9 fumbles.

3) Antoine Winfield: Selected to three Pro Bowls during his nine years with the Vikings from 2004-2012, he played in 119 games, starting 115. Of Winfield's 21 interceptions two have been returned for touchdowns. He defensed 73 passes, which is fourth in team history, recorded 6.5 QB sacks, forced 11 fumbles and recovered 9, returning two of those for touchdowns as well.

2) Carl Lee: Selected three times to the Pro Bowl, Lee played in 169 games, starting 144, during 11 seasons with the team from 1983-1993. A key player at cornerback on Minnesota's great defenses in the late 1980's, he is the Vikings all-time leader in passes defensed with 128, recovered 6 fumbles, and is sixth with 29 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

1) Bobby Bryant: A playmaker at cornerback, Bryant was selected to two Pro Bowls in 13 seasons, playing in 161 games and starting 121 from 1968-1980. He is second in team history with 51 interceptions and second in passes defensed with 77. He also recovered 14 fumbles and scored four touchdowns, in addition to coming up with a number of big plays in playoff games during the 1970's.

The best Wide Receivers in Minnesota Vikings history

The best Wide Receivers in Minnesota Vikings history

 

10) Percy Harvin: While better known as a kick returner, Harvin played 54 games at wide receiver in four seasons from 2009-2012, catching 280 balls for a 11.8 average and 20 touchdowns.

9) Hassan Jones: In seven seasons from 1986-1992 Jones played in 100 games, catching 222 passes for a 16.8 yards per catch average and 24 touchdowns.

8) Jake Reed: Reed played in 134 games and started 83 during his 10 years with the team, 1991-1999, and 2001. His 413 catches rank fourth in team history, and his 33 touchdown receptions are good for sixth.

7) Gene Washington: Playing in 81 games in his six seasons with the Vikings from 1967-1972, Washington was named to the Pro Bowl twice and was the team's top receiver in the 1969 championship season, scoring 9 touchdowns and averaging 21.1 yards per catch.

6) John Gilliam: Named to the Pro Bowl after each of his four seasons with the team from 1972-1975, while playing in 56 games, Gilliam's 20 yard average-per-reception is by far highest among Viking players with at least 100 catches. He scored 27 touchdowns.

5) Ahmad Rashad: Selected to four Pro Bowls in his seven years with the team from 1976-1982, Rashad had 400 receptions and scored 34 touchdowns in 98 games. He was part of one of the most memorable plays in NFL history, catching a touchdown pass on the game's last play against the Browns in 1980.

4) Sammy White: A two time Pro Bowler, White played in 128 games, starting 118, from 1976-1985, averaging 16.3 yards per catch. His 50 touchdown receptions are fourth in team history.

3) Randy Moss: A five time Pro Bowl selection during his seven seasons and 113 games, 101 starts,  with Minnesota from 1998-2003 and 2010, Moss is second in team history in a number of receiving categories, including 587 receptions, 9,316 yards, and 92 touchdowns.

2) Anthony Carter: A dynamic game-changing receiver, Carter averaged 16 yards per catch and is third in team history with 478 receptions, 7,636 yards and 52 touchdowns. Selected to the Pro Bowl three times, he played in 133 games and started 125 in his nine years with the team from 1985-1993.

1) Cris Carter: Selected to 8 consecutive Pro Bowls in his 12 years with the team from 1990-2001, Carter played in 188 games, starting 177. He holds most Viking receiving records, including 1,004 receptions, 12,383 yards, and 110 touchdowns. He ranks fourth all-time in NFL history in receptions and touchdown catches, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2013.

The best late round draft picks in Minnesota Vikings history

The Vikings have selected some great players in later rounds of the NFL Draft during their 51 years in the league. You don't have to be a first round draft pick to have a great career in the NFL, and these Viking players, some of whom played their entire careers with Minnesota, prove that talent can be found anywhere.

10) Terry Allen, RB, round 9, 1991: Allen rushed for over one thousand yards twice in his three years with the Vikings, and totaled 8,614 yards on the ground in a ten year career with five teams.

9) Brad Johnson, QB, round 9, 1992: Johnson played seven seasons with the Vikes; he made the Pro Bowl with the Redskins and the Buccaneers, also winning the Super Bowl with Tampa in 2002. Dumb Dennis Green and ya-hoo owner Red McCombs made the mistake of trading Johnson for draft picks after the 1998 season and instead held on to washed-up choke artist QB Randall Cunningham (who played in a mere six games the following season before being unceremoniously dumped onto the scrap heap).

8) Jeff Wright, S, round 15, 1971: Wright was a solid safety on the Vikings great defenses and Super Bowl teams from 1973-1977.

7) Milt Sunde, G, round 20, 1964: Sunde played in 147 games, starting 106, in his 11 year Viking career, contributing to the top Viking offenses in several championship years.

6) Stu Voight, TE, round 10, 1970: Voight was a steady tight end during his 11 years and 131 games with the team, contributing during the team's Super Bowl seasons in the mid-'70's.

5) Dave Osborn, RB, round 13, 1965: A tough runner and reliable receiver out of the backfield, Osborn's 4,320 rushing yards rank sixth in team history. He was named to one Pro Bowl during his 11 years with the team.

4) Matt Birk, C, round 6, 1998: Birk played in 146 games and started 123 from 1998-2008, earning six Pro Bowl nods while snapping the ball at center.

3) Steve Jordan, TE, round 7, 1982: A six time Pro Bowl selection, Jordan was a consistent and durable tight end, appearing in 176 games and starting 149 in 13 seasons. He had 498 receptions and scored 28 touchdowns.

2) Carl Lee, CB, round 7, 1983: Selected three times to the Pro Bowl, Lee played in 169 games, starting 144, during 11 seasons with the team. A key player at cornerback on the team's great defenses in the late 1980's, he is the all-time leader in passes defensed with 128, recovered 6 fumbles, and is sixth with 29 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

1) Scott Studwell, MLB, round 9, 1977: Fifth in team history with 201 games played, Studwell started 161 at middle linebacker and was selected to the Pro Bowl twice. He forced 12 fumbles, recovered 16, intercepted 11 passes, had 9 QB sacks, and ranks ninth with 46 tackles-for-loss. Studwell is the best late round draft pick in Vikings history.

The worst first round draft picks in Minnesota Viking history

The Minnesota Vikings have wasted a number of first round draft picks in their 53 year history on players who never lived up expectations or contributed next to nothing to the team. Here are the ten most wasted picks that, in some cases, set the franchise back years. It's hard to believe that scouts and coaches spend so much time and energy on the draft, yet can make such bad decisions when selecting players.

10) Mark Mullaney, DE, 1975: Although he played in 151 games and started 97 in his 12 years with the team, Mullaney didn't seem to learn much from playing behind great ends Carl Eller and Jim Marshall. He never came close to being even an average pass rusher, let alone one that was worth a first round selection. A symbol of the Vikes' mediocrity from 1979 through the mid-1980's.

9) James White, DT, 1976: Didn't exactly turn out to be the next Alan Page. Started 61 games for Bud Grant during his eight years with the team. Not sure why Grant cut Page, thus making White the regular RDT; Bud must have been an optimist. White didn't even make Les Steckel's 1984 mess of team, being waived at the end of training camp.

8) Randy Holloway, DE, 1978: Another end, like Mullaney, who never amounted to much as a pass rusher or even as an average defensive lineman. Started only 31 games in his 7 years with the team and was unceremoniously dumped by Les Steckel (which isn't saying much) in the middle of the 3-13 fiasco that was the 1984 season.

7) Derrick Alexander, DE, 1995: Dennis Green was never much of a talent evaluator, and Alexander was one of his mistakes. Played only four seasons and made zero impact. Hardly worth being the 14th selection in the draft overall.

6) Gerald Robinson, DE, 1986: One of those hybrid DE/OLB types that rarely seem to pan out, Robinson, like Alexander, was the 14th overall pick in the first round. He didn't even make it through two years with the team, dumped by the Vikings after the fourth game in his second season in 1987. Not one the Vikes' scouting staff can be proud of.

5) D.J. Dozier, RB, 1987: The team hasn't had a lot of luck picking 14th in the first round. Dozier barely played in his four years with the team. His career high in rushing yardage was 257 yards in his first season, which apparently didn't impress Jerry Burns and the front office...the Vikes thought so highly of Dozier that they went out and traded away a ton of draft picks in 1989 - for RB Herschel Walker.

4) Erasmus James, DE, 2004: James started 12 games in his three seasons with the team, contributing nothing. An example of how so-called draft experts can build up a player based solely on potential - James didn't produce much in college and was often injured. Way too much of a risk to be taken in the first round. Whoever wanted to pick James should have been fired.

3) Troy Williamson, WR, 2005: Another player picked because of potential, Williamson sums up the mediocrity of the mid-2000's Vikings teams. Didn't do much in college, but was a player scouts thought could be "coached up," which almost never works. Was on the team for only three seasons, but dropped so many easy passes when he did play it's a wonder how he was drafted at all, let alone in the first round.

2) Leo Hayden, RB, 1971: Hayden's career with the team lasted one season. He appeared in seven games, with zero rushing attempts. Yikes. Was on the Cardinals' roster the next two years but barely played. Hard to believe there's a worse first round pick than this one.

1) Dimitrius Underwood, DE, 2000: Didn't even make it out of training camp. Left the team after one day and then was cut before the season started due to psychological issues. Since the Vikings had two first round picks that year, Dennis Green tried to sweep his mistake under the rug, saying it was just a "bonus pick." Uh-huh. Typical doubletalk by Green, who was a lousy evaluator of talent. Underwood had red flags coming out of college, but Green chose to ignore them. Let's hope the Vikings don't have any more misses as big as this one.

The best draft years in Minnesota Vikings history

The Minnesota Vikings have had more bad drafts than good ones. Looking at some of the players they've selected, it's hard to believe they actually were a contending team during some seasons.

A review of the Vikings' college drafts in past years did show some good ones, that resulted in players who made significant contributions to the team's success.

Here are the best ten drafts:

 

10) 2015 - So far it looks like a good haul from this draft, as defensive end Danielle Hunter, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, linebacker Eric Kendricks, and cornerback Trae Waynes have played well and contributed.

9) 1976 - This one netted wide receiver Sammy White, who was a key player on offense during the late '70's and early '80's. Also nabbed was guard Wes Hamilton, who was a starter and serviceable player during the same time period.

8) 1977 - Quarterback Tommy Kramer and linebacker Scott Studwell played well for years. Center Dennis Swilley and safety Tommy Hannon also contributed during the late '70's and early '80's.

7) 1964 - Defensive end Carl Eller was selected; he became one of the best Vikings of all time and a Hall of Fame member. Guard Milt Sunde was also picked, and he was a starter during the late '60's and early '70's.

6) 1961 - Quarterback Fran Tarkenton began a Hall of Fame career; running back Tommy Mason was a good player during the team's early years. Cornerback Ed Sharockman was a steady defender in the 1960's and early '70's.

5) 1968 - Offensive tackle Ron Yary became one of the best players in franchise history and a member of the Hall of Fame. Running back Oscar Reed, cornerback Charlie West, and quarterback Bob Lee also made contributions from the late '60's through the mid '70's.

4) 1998 - Wide receiver Randy Moss and center Matt Birk were selected; both became important players and Pro Bowlers.

3) 1983 - Safety Joey Browner and cornerback Carl Lee were drafted, and both were key players and Pro Bowlers on dominant defenses in the late '80's.

2) 1974 - Linebacker Matt Blair became one of the best players in Vikings history, and a perennial Pro Bowler. Offensive tackle Steve Riley started and played well for ten years. Linebacker Fred McNeil was a starter and good defensive player in the late '70's and early '80's.

1) 1967 - The Vikings were smart in selecting defensive tackle Alan Page, who became a Hall of Famer and one of the best players in NFL history. Cornerback Bobby Bryant also had a great career; he was a key piece on dominant defenses of the late '60's and early '70's. Wide receiver Gene Washington became a Pro Bowler. Running back Clint Jones, wide receiver Bob Grim, and tight end John Beasley also made contributions.

The best first round draft picks in Minnesota Vikings history

No matter what so-called "draft experts" say, selecting football players out of college is always a roll of the dice. Still, the Minnesota Vikings have landed a number of outstanding players who became the cornerstones of the franchise for years. Here are the top twenty first round picks in Vikings history, based on length of career, statistics, awards, and contribution to the team's success.

21) Doug Martin, DE, 1980: Martin started and ended his career with the team on controversial notes, but was a pretty good player on the field during the early and mid-1980's. He played in 126 games, starting 94, and his 60.5 sacks rank seventh in team history.

20) Steve Riley, OT, 1974: Riley started 121 games at left tackle during his 11 year career, protecting the blind side of quarterbacks Fran Tarkenton and Tommy Kramer.

19) Ted Brown, RB, 1979: Brown played in 106 games during his eight year career with Minnesota, ranking fifth on the team's rushing list with 4,546 yards and seventh in scoring with 53 touchdowns.

18) Gene Washington, WR, 1967: Playing in 81 games in his six seasons with the Vikings, Washington was named to the Pro Bowl in 1969 and 1970 and was the team's top receiver during those dominant years.

17) Robert Smith, RB, 1993: A two time Pro Bowl selection, Smith played in 98 games during his eight seasons with the team. Currently second in Vikes history in rushing yards with 6,818.

16) Chad Greenway, LB, 2006: A two time Pro Bowl selection, Greenway played in 156 games, starting 144, in a ten year career with Minnesota from 2007-2016. He recorded 18 quarterback sacks, forced 8 fumbles and recovered 11, and intercepted 11 passes, returning two for touchdowns.

15) Fred McNeil, OLB, 1974: Playing in 167 games and starting 122 at outside linebacker during his 12 years with the team, McNeil recovered 16 fumbles, intercepted 7 passes, and recorded 13 quarterback sacks.

14) Tommy Kramer, QB, 1977: While injured often during his 13 years with the Vikes, Kramer did start 110 games at quarterback and ranks second in most passing categories, including yards and touchdowns.

13) Harrison Smith, S, 2012: Named to five Pro Bowls and one All Pro team in eight seasons from 2012-2019, Smith has played in 114 games, starting 113. He has intercepted 23 passes, returning four for touchdowns, knocked down 56 balls, forced seven fumbles and recovered eight, and has recorded 13 QB sacks, which is first all-time among Viking defensive backs.

12) Keith Millard, DT, 1984: Selected All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl twice, Millard was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1989 when he recorded 18 sacks. Millard was a key piece of the team's outstanding defenses in the late '80's, appearing in 75 games during his six years with the Vikes.

11) Kevin Williams, DT, 2003: A six time Pro Bowl selection, Williams started all 171 games he  appeared in over 11 seasons. He ranks eighth with 60 QB sacks, knocked down 66 passes, forced 8 fumbles, and recovered 13, returning two for touchdowns. Williams also intercepted 5 passes, bring back two for scores.

10) Jeff Siemon, MLB, 1972: A key player as the middle linebacker on the team's top defenses in the mid-1970's, Siemon played in 156 games, starting 123, and was selected to four Pro Bowls. He forced 14 fumbles, recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions.

9) Joey Browner, S, 1983: Selected to the Pro Bowl as a safety six times in his nine seasons, Browner played in 145 games, starting 117. He is fourth in interceptions with 37, third in passes defensed with 76, fifth in forced fumbles with 18, and fifth in fumble recoveries in 17. He also recorded 9.5 QB sacks, first among Viking defensive backs, and scored 4 touchdowns.

8) Randy Moss, WR, 1998: A five time Pro Bowl selection during his seven seasons with Minnesota, Moss is second in team history in a number of receiving categories, including 587 receptions, 9,316 yards, and 92 touchdowns.

7) Adrian Peterson, RB, 2007: After ten seasons and 123 games, Peterson holds the Viking record in rushing yards with 11,747 and is first in rushing touchdowns with 97. A seven time Pro Bowl selection.

6) Chuck Foreman, RB, 1973: An exceptional runner and receiver who could turn around a game, Foreman was selected to the Pro Bowl five times in his seven seasons in Minnesota. He rushed for 5,887 yards and 52 touchdowns, and caught 336 passes for another 23 scores.

5) Chris Doleman, DE, 1985: A six time Pro Bowl selection, Doleman played in 154 games, starting 142, in 10 seasons with the Vikings. He leads the team with 33 forced fumbles, is sixth in fumble recoveries with 16, seventh in tackles-for-loss with 60, and fifth in sacks with 96.5. He also intercepted five passes, scored two touchdowns, and recorded two safeties.

4) Ron Yary, OT, 1968: Selected to the Pro Bowl seven times in his 14 years with the Vikings, Yary played in 199 games and started 180 at right offensive tackle. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

3) Randall McDaniel, G, 1988: Selected to the Pro Bowl a record 12 times in his 12 years with the Vikings, he played in 190 games, starting 188 at left guard. McDaniel was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

2) Carl Eller, DE, 1964: The team's all-time leader in QB sacks with 130, Eller was selected to six Pro Bowls. He ranks second in tackles-for-loss with 87, second in fumble recoveries with 23, and seventh in forced fumbles with 15. He also blocked 15 kicks. Eller played in 209 games, fourth in team history, and started 201. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004, an honor that was long overdue.

1) Alan Page, DT, 1967: A defensive tackle who changed the game in the late 1960's and early 1970's, Page was named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1971. Selected to the Pro Bowl nine times in his 12 years with the Vikings, he played in 160 games and started 157. He is fourth in team history with 108.5 sacks, fourth with 18 fumble recoveries, third with 77 tackles-for-loss, and second with 28 forced fumbles. Page was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

Vikings coach Zimmer looking through rose-colored glasses

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has always been one to say it like it is, and I've appreciated him for that in the past year and a half.  However, last week he told reporters that he had no concerns at all about the offensive line.

That may be the first time I've heard him glossing over a real issue. With center John Sullivan out for at least two months and tackle Phil Loadholt out for the season, this means that journeyman Joe Berger will play at center and rookie fourth round draft pick T.J. Clemmings playing right tackle in place of the injured Phil Loadholt, not being concerned doesn't sound genuine. These situations, along with guard Brandon Fusco playing on the left side of the line for the first time in his career after three years on the right side, and Mike Harris, a tackle for his entire career, playing right guard for the first time, really would give any coach cause for concern.  Sullivan and Loadholt were average players to begin with, so their replacements are undoubtedly a step down.

The offensive line may be the most important group on a football team. You have to protect your quarterback when he's passing and open holes for your running backs.  Switching players around and having rookies fill in is risky.

Hopefully the Vikings' opponents this season won't have stellar defensive lines, otherwise this team might be looking at another losing season.

Rutgers athletic director Hermann is a joke

I’ve always wondered how some people who work at colleges get their jobs. It just cannot be because they are the most qualified for the position. I find it hard to believe that some of these folks interviewed the best, as well.

Case in point would be the Rutgers University athletic director, Julie Hermann. Here is someone who holds an important, high level job at a university, and she speaks to a journalism class and says that it would be “great” if the Star Ledger, New Jersey’s largest newspaper, were to “die.”

Isn’t that kind of a stupid thing to say to a class full of journalism students?

And this person is an athletic director at a major university? How could she not know better?

It’s typical for college administrators to blame the media for the problems they create and problems that, despite their advanced degrees, they can’t seem to figure out how to solve.

Instead of blaming reporters who merely cover the news or columnists who express an opinion, college administrators would be better off spending their time working on improving their campus.

Rutgers’ athletic program could use a leader who is looking out for its interests, not her own.  Rather than complaining about newspaper coverage, maybe college administrators can look at the causes of the negative news. And then do their jobs by fixing the problems.