Greatest Viking Of All Time Tournament: (3) Carl Eller vs (6) Joey Browner

Our Greatest Viking Of All Time Tournament continues the march to the Sweet 16 with this second round match-up. In this battle, a couple of great defenders square off, as one of the famed Purple People Eaters takes on one of the hardest hitting secondary players in team history.

Carl Eller

Alma Mater: University of Minnesota
Acquired by Vikings: Round 1, 1964 NFL Draft
Seasons in Minnesota: 15 (1964-1978)
Position: Defensive end
How He Got Here: Defeated Jake Reed 146-9 in Round 1

Carl Eller is credited with being the all-time sack leader for the Minnesota Vikings with a tally of 130.5 over his fifteen years in purple, although the sack was an unofficial stat during Eller's career. He had a career-high of 15 in 1969, a number he matched again in 1977. Eller was a five-time All-Pro, and a six-time Pro Bowler. He is one of ten Vikings to have played in all four of their Super Bowl appearances, and was the 1971 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. A member of the Vikings' Ring of Honor, Eller was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Most of Eller's videos on YouTube have to do with stuff that's happened since he's retired, so I'll direct you here for a very cool video about the Purple People Eaters instead.

Joey Browner

Alma Mater: University of Southern California
Acquired by Vikings: Round 1, 1983 NFL Draft
Seasons in Minnesota: 9 (1983-1991)
Position: Safety
How He Got Here: Defeated Randall Cunningham 222-34 in Round 1

While his reputation was (deservedly) mainly that of a hard-hitting safety, Joey Browner had a great all-around game, as he's currently fourth all-time in interceptions for the Minnesota Vikings, tallying 37 picks in his nine seasons in purple. Browner was a six-time Pro Bowler, a three-time first-team All-Pro (and one-time second-team All-Pro), and a member of the National Football League's All-Decade Team for the 1980s, one of three Vikings players to earn that distinction.

Sorry. . .not a great video. Not a lot of Joey Browner clips on YouTube.

If you need a primer on how the voting for our contest works, we have one for you at this link here. Remember, rec the comments to register your vote. Putting "Vote - Name" in the subject line of a post does not count.

If you want to vote for Carl Eller, rec the comment that says "Vote - Carl Eller"
If you want to vote for Joey Browner, rec the comment that says "Vote - Joey Browner"

Voting is open for 24 hours, just like always, folks. Have at it!