Greatest Viking Of All Time Tournament: (7) Mick Tingelhoff vs (10) Korey Stringer

This is one of the final two match-ups in the first round of our Greatest Viking Of All Time Tournament, and it features two outstanding offensive linemen in Minnesota Vikings history, and two of the six Vikings that have had their numbers retired. . .one that seemingly played forever, and one that left entirely too soon.

Mick Tingelhoff

Alma Mater: University of Nebraska
Acquired by Vikings: Signed as undrafted free agent following the 1962 NFL Draft
Seasons in Minnesota: 17 (1962-1978)
Position: Center

Mick Tingelhoff went undrafted in 1962 and signed with Minnesota. He started the first game of the 1962 season for the Vikings at center. . .and started the 239 regular season games after that one, too. At the time that he retired, his streak of 240 consecutive NFL starts trailed only that of his teammate, Jim Marshall. He was a Pro Bowl selection every year from 1964 to 1969, and was an All-Pro selection in all of those years except for 1967. He is one of ten Vikings to have played in all four of the team's Super Bowl appearances, and was inducted into the Vikings' Ring of Honor in 2001. His #53 will never be worn by another Viking, as the team has retired it. He's another member of the Vikings that should probably be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

YouTube has no videos of Mick Tingelhoff that we can put here, but here's a very well done bio of him from Vikings.com.

Korey Stringer

Alma Mater: THE. . .dramatic pause. . .Ohio State University
Acquired by Vikings: Round 1, 1995 NFL Draft
Seasons in Minnesota: 6 (1995-2000)
Position: Offensive tackle

Stringer was one of the Vikings' bookends at tackle, along with Todd Steussie, for the latter part of the 1990s. Weighing in at nearly 350 pounds, Stringer was a mammoth presence at the right tackle spot for the Vikings, helping clear the way for one of the best offenses in National Football League history. After making the Pro Bowl in 2000, Stringer was set to make the switch to left tackle when Steussie departed in free agency. Sadly, he never got the opportunity, as he suffered a heat stroke during Training Camp in 2001 and passed away at the age of 27. Stringer's #77 has been retired by the team.

You can see a bit of the legacy of Korey Stringer in this video from NFL.com.

Here's a review of how the voting process works, folks.

-If you want to vote for Mick Tingelhoff, rec the comment that says, "Vote - Mick Tingelhoff"
-If you want to vote for Korey Stringer, rec the comment that says, "Vote - Korey Stringer"

Don't rec both comments. . .we're on the honor system here, folks. Although I don't know why you'd rec both anyway. . .you'd end up just canceling yourself out.

Please do not reply to either of the top two comments. . .if you want to debate or make your case or what have you, feel free to do so underneath those top two comments. Remember. . .only recs count, so make sure that's how you register your vote.

The voting will remain open until 8 AM Central time tomorrow, at which point the next two match-ups will be posted.

Have at it, everybody!