We interrupt the absolutely kick-ass Training Camp coverage that Eric and Arif have been providing today to bring you the following announcement:
The Minnesota Vikings announced on Monday that former linebacker Matt Blair will become the 20th member of the team's Ring of Honor. He will be recognized during halftime of Minnesota's lone (scheduled) prime-time contest of the 2012 season, when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, October 25 at the Metrodome.
Blair, a second-round pick of the Vikings out of Iowa State University in 1974, is still second all-time in the Vikings' record book in tackles with 1,452. He started 130 out of 160 career games for the Vikings during his 12 seasons in the NFL, all of which he spent with the Vikings. He is also the Vikings' all-time leader in blocked kicks with 20. . .yes, twenty. . .including three different games where he blocked more than one kick. His 23 sacks and 16 interceptions are also the most for a linebacker in team history.
Congratulations to Matt Blair on being selected for this honor by the team. The majority of Blair's Vikings career came before my time of being a fan (his final year with the team was 1986), so if anyone has any memories of him, please share them in the comments.