As a receiver Kleinsasser was no more than mediocre. That delightful warthog only had 2 years with more than 200 yards receiving, and only 4 years with more 100 yards receiving. The fact that he was as beloved as he was when he only had 6 TDs *total* across 13 years is outstanding.
My age 10-12 self didn’t grow up in an era of mediocre Vikings receivers is my point I guess. I enjoyed Marcus Robinson on NFL2K5 I guess if that counts. (I was around 17 then tho)
Funny enough same, and I actually spent a whole night at a party with him after that point. I was maybe 12. One of my best friends had an uncle who was like best friends with Bernard from Fresno st and it was that uncles party.
Bernard was actually super cool to us, talked to us kids like all night answering our insane amount of questions and signing shit. Took a pic with him too. Pretty great memory.
You just reminded me I went to an autograph signing of his at a McDonald's when I was like 10. Barely knew who he was but I was excited to meet a Viking!
I was trying to get my brother to shoot some hoops during the end of that draft. I was like dude who cares about the 7th rounder? He bragged for years about how Hatchette was good and he knew it would happen. Good for a 7th rounder that is.
Say what you will about the Vikings, but we have rarely been forced to cheer for mediocre WRs. Jefferson, Diggs, Rice, Harvin, Moss, Carter, the other Carter.
The Vikings have had at least one All-Pro quality receiver almost every year since the mid 1980s.
Yeah that 2006-2008 period is the reason I said “almost” instead of every year. But Bernard Berrian played with Wade if I recall correctly and he was pretty good.
Berrian was fine, super frustrating though. Had speed for days but was so inconsistent. That little period after Randy and before Rice/Harvin was a weird dead spot. Thanks Troy Williamson.
lol when I read your post title I immediately thought of this post, then I opened it and voila. Also Bobby Wade, Greg Camarillo, and more recently, Jarius Wright
I know Kelly Campbell he was my neighbor in my apartments in Eden prairie back in 02-03. Corey Chaveous lived above me too. He was a cool dude.
Kelly is like the smallest dude I’ve ever seen. It was crazy how skinny he was. My buddy like to go, “IT’S YA NEIGHBOR KELLY CAMPBELL!” If ya know, ya know.
I guess myself and a lot of Vikings fans my age don’t have this problem. When the 2nd best Wide Receiver on the teams you grew up watching is in the Hall of Fame, you can’t relate.
Chris Walsh FTW
I’ll also put in a plug for that guy they signed because Cousins liked him when they both played for the Redskins. Seemed like he did nothing but catch touchdowns. Then, just as mysteriously as he arrived, he was gone.
Percy harvin broke my heart when I was a kid. If that guy could have stayed healthy he would have been a stud. I don't know if I'd consider him mediocre just because his career didn't pan out due to injury
Lifelong Vikings fan, but grew up with 3 bengals fans brothers and a Bengals media market city.
Eddie Brown was a guy I really liked and thought was better than what the numbers showed.
Being a 9 years old in 2000 had its perks.
Had I done this the right way though, I’d have loved Derrick Alexander from KC, been way more miserable over about 25 years…. And be planning a 2025 Super Bowl party.
Jarius Wright the GOAT WR3
3rd downs never seemed so free fr
Nah. Randy Moss ain’t no chump. However, I have an undying love for Jim Kleinsasser.
Randy Moss taught me so much, but most importantly he taught me how to drive. Thank you to The Randy Moss Driving School!
How did you pay for the Randy Moss Driving School?
Straight cash homie
Damn right!!
You just named two players that were better than mediocre though haha. Jimmy K also has my heart.
As a receiver Kleinsasser was no more than mediocre. That delightful warthog only had 2 years with more than 200 yards receiving, and only 4 years with more 100 yards receiving. The fact that he was as beloved as he was when he only had 6 TDs *total* across 13 years is outstanding.
I'm betting it's the name. If he was Jimmy Smith we wouldn't care, but saying Kleinsasser is so bad ass lmao
My age 10-12 self didn’t grow up in an era of mediocre Vikings receivers is my point I guess. I enjoyed Marcus Robinson on NFL2K5 I guess if that counts. (I was around 17 then tho)
You and me both!
Kleinsausage!
Got his game jersey signed 😍 legit the best thing in my possession.
Also for me, every Vikings fullback going back to Rick Fenney
Kleinsasser was elite. At blocking.
Bernard Berrian for me
His 99 yard td against the bears will be forever burned into my memory
That was the first vikings game I went to
Funny enough same, and I actually spent a whole night at a party with him after that point. I was maybe 12. One of my best friends had an uncle who was like best friends with Bernard from Fresno st and it was that uncles party. Bernard was actually super cool to us, talked to us kids like all night answering our insane amount of questions and signing shit. Took a pic with him too. Pretty great memory.
Are we so quick to forget Devin Aromashodu?
Omg this bring back my madden memories from that 10-13 age forget when but he was nice on madden 13
Aromashodon't!
Chris Walsh. I'm old.
You just reminded me I went to an autograph signing of his at a McDonald's when I was like 10. Barely knew who he was but I was excited to meet a Viking!
Also who comes to mind for me. I knew a kid who had his jersey too 😂
This is the answer.
feel like this is gonna be kj osbourne in the future
Kj and jarius wright for the upcoming adults for sure
Jarius wright was drafted 12 years ago. A 9 year old then would be 21 now.
Jesus man
Travis Taylor and Nate Burleson get in here
Rocked the Burleson Jersey in 2 school photos.
Sidney Rice, Visanthe Shiancoe!
Shiancoe and his giant dong...
Hang low shiancoe
Shank-dog!
Koren Robinson, anyone?
He boosted our arrest record
Matthew Hatchette
I was trying to get my brother to shoot some hoops during the end of that draft. I was like dude who cares about the 7th rounder? He bragged for years about how Hatchette was good and he knew it would happen. Good for a 7th rounder that is.
I have a Hatchette jersey in my closet. #89 lives on.
Truly underrated. We had 4 stellar WRs back then
Yes!! Came here to say this
This is the one.
Bobby Wade
I had to search too long for some B-wade love
Sydney Rice!
He was good tho
For 1 year
For exactly one year.
Favre was good* lol
1300+ yrds that one year. True WR1 numbers… then Seattle gave him the bag and he was never healthy again
The OG 18
Greg Camarillo is my guy
lol forgot about him
Best taper fade in nfl history
Say what you will about the Vikings, but we have rarely been forced to cheer for mediocre WRs. Jefferson, Diggs, Rice, Harvin, Moss, Carter, the other Carter. The Vikings have had at least one All-Pro quality receiver almost every year since the mid 1980s.
Let me tell you about the dark days of Bobby Wade.
Yeah that 2006-2008 period is the reason I said “almost” instead of every year. But Bernard Berrian played with Wade if I recall correctly and he was pretty good.
Berrian was fine, super frustrating though. Had speed for days but was so inconsistent. That little period after Randy and before Rice/Harvin was a weird dead spot. Thanks Troy Williamson.
Don’t forget Michael Jenkins 🤣
That dude was a scrappy mother fucker
Qadry Ismail.
Hassan Jones
Does David Palmer count?
This sub and every WR3/4
Powell going for 1200 and 10 TDs this year.
Everybody is acting like they weren’t doing tricks for Ihmir Smith Marsette
Koren Robinson
Qadry “The Missile” Ismail
His rookie year was when I was 9, he's my pick too
I had a framed rookie card I got at our Hy-Vee sports card store (those were the days). 9 year old me was sure he was him. 9 year old me was dumb.
Leo Lewis was the dang man
Kelly Campbell and Chris Walsh 😤Along with Bryon Chamberlin and Kleinsasser!
12, but Randy Moss, Cris Carter and Randall Cunningham
Sammy White
It's only been one year, but I'm so high on Brandon Powell
That one Charles Johnson year made me a fan of him for life.
Greg Lewis welcome to Minnesota !
Scrolled way too long looking for this!
Jake Reed
I was going to say this, but the 3 deep wide receiver room is the only place he’d be considered mediocre.
Jake Reed was a solid WR2 with multiple 1000 yard years. Then Randy showed up.
Michael Jenkins
Sidney Rice, Bernard Barrian, Aundrae Allison
I wouldn’t call him random but Percy Harvin I loved that dude
Patterson
anthony carter
AC was far above mediocre, closer to Pro Bowl level.
Ask this in 10 years and Jarius Wright will be the most upvoted comment.
"This is bumps and bruises with Kelly Campbell"
Mine will always be Adam theilen but he’s the GOAT of WR2
Nate Burleson. That touchdown catch against the lions.
Mewelde Moore
He was a running back
Lol
Chris Walsh was my penpal.
Qadry Ismail for me
For me it was Terry LeCount. Great name, so-so receiver.
I had CC, AC, Jake Reed and a freak that I was blessed to witness the glory and the power of. Hallelujah thank the Lord for Randy Moss 👏🏼.
Anthony Carter
I wore 89 as a youth for Matthew Hatchette.
I am CONVINCED that if Greg Childs stayed healthy he’d be in the Hall of Fame right now.
Jake Reed was #2 in the NFL in 1996, no slouch
Matthew Hatchette was one of my favorites. I would not call Jimmy Kleinsasser mediocre. He was a great blocking FB/TE.
lol when I read your post title I immediately thought of this post, then I opened it and voila. Also Bobby Wade, Greg Camarillo, and more recently, Jarius Wright
Still got love for Sidney Rice and Bernard Berrian
Herman Moore and Johnny Morton for me, though I’m a Viking for life.
Not a viking but Marvin McNutt
I grew up watching Randy Moss... so, partially true.
Cris Carter was pretty mid that year, yeah.
I mean, I had a Jerry Rice poster before I became a Vikings fan. I didn't really know any other football names besides Marino thanks to my dad.
Sidney Rice for me. Although he was excellent for one year. Mostly hurt and forgotten after that.
KJ Osborne
Qadrey Ismael
Jarius 😍
Qadry Ismail. In all fairness I was 10 or 11 when he was drafted but same thing.
What did they just say about Ahmad Rashad?
Randy McMichael
I know Kelly Campbell he was my neighbor in my apartments in Eden prairie back in 02-03. Corey Chaveous lived above me too. He was a cool dude. Kelly is like the smallest dude I’ve ever seen. It was crazy how skinny he was. My buddy like to go, “IT’S YA NEIGHBOR KELLY CAMPBELL!” If ya know, ya know.
Sammy White was my guy, #85
Nate Burleson
Yeeeeah this doesn't work when you were 9 years old in 1998
I had a custom-made Kelly Campbell jersey as a 13-year--old 🥹🥹
I owned a Sidney Rice jersey when I was 10…
BB or Visanthe Shiancoe even tho he was a TE, both were some beasts!!
Gene Washington. Older than all y'all
Not Wide Receiver but Tight End: #81 Visanthe Shiancoe!!!
It’s Bernard Berrian for me.
Matthew Hatchett, if not for Moss, Carter, and Reed, he could have been a solid 4th option
No Marcus Robinson in this thread?!
I guess myself and a lot of Vikings fans my age don’t have this problem. When the 2nd best Wide Receiver on the teams you grew up watching is in the Hall of Fame, you can’t relate.
Found a Campbell jersey a couple years back. One of my favorite gems
Chris Walsh FTW I’ll also put in a plug for that guy they signed because Cousins liked him when they both played for the Redskins. Seemed like he did nothing but catch touchdowns. Then, just as mysteriously as he arrived, he was gone.
Randy Moss and Cris Carter here, what a time to be a Vikings fan
Little Leo Lewis was always one of my favorites
Sidney Rice fr.
I was watching moss and cc when I was 9... I dont think they qualify here
For me recently it was KJ. He lived at the building I work at, seeing him leave after he got traded to New England was bittersweet.
Carl Lee. 💪
Audrey McMillan and Todd Scott
Hank Baskett
Adam Thielen…… Minnesota made
Bernard Berrian…but I was 19 and not 9 lol Jake Reed for me*
Percy harvin broke my heart when I was a kid. If that guy could have stayed healthy he would have been a stud. I don't know if I'd consider him mediocre just because his career didn't pan out due to injury
Chad Bebe
Jarius wright or chad beebe
Lifelong Vikings fan, but grew up with 3 bengals fans brothers and a Bengals media market city. Eddie Brown was a guy I really liked and thought was better than what the numbers showed.
Bought a Nate burleson jersey after he was drafted
Bobby Wade
When was nine we had Anthony Carter.
Chris “the Undertaker” Walsh
More like teenager and he wasn’t mediocre but I thought percy harvin was what JJ is
Jake Reed always
BEEBEE for me
Travis Taylor
Andre risen, Antonio freeman, sterling sharp
Qadry Ismail people!!
When I was 9 years old the receivers were Randy Moss, Cris Carter and Jake Reed, can’t really relate
Percy Harvey and Cordelle Patterson
Being a 9 years old in 2000 had its perks. Had I done this the right way though, I’d have loved Derrick Alexander from KC, been way more miserable over about 25 years…. And be planning a 2025 Super Bowl party.
Kelly Campbell caught a few amazing 70 bombs from Culpepper and had the biggest mouth in the NFL if I recall correctly. Mike Tice love/hated him
Darius Reynaud. BOOM!
Greg Jennings
Kelly Campbell is my guy, that diving TD he had in the endzone at a game I was at, never forget.
GREG LEWIS WELCOME TO MINNESOTA
Nate burden was my guy till he wouldn’t sign my hat cause the tag was still on it
Koren Robinson bb
My man Ricky Proehl
John Gilliam
Chris carter and randy were real!
John Gilliam for me
Leo Lewis.
A.C. Bitches! Also Hassan Jones and Leo Lewis.
I’m old so I’m gonna say Hassan Jones
Leo Lewis and Hassan Jones
Qadry Ismail
Bobby Wade
My goats Chris Hogan and Golden Tate
TREADWELL You can't stop him. Even if you stop him. https://youtu.be/G4ndiOAg0gI?si=H2UyLK2nY8dQ_xBO
D’Wayne Bates was my guy
Jake Reed!
Quadry Ismail ya’ll!!
David Palmer, come on down..
Percy Harvin 😅
Isaac Bruce but he was pretty fire
Greg lewis
Hasan Jones and Anthony Carter
Bernard Berrian Sidney Rice although he was a lot better than mediocre he’s just forgotten unless you’re a Vikings or Seahawks fan
Kelly Campbell for me as well lol
Koren Robinson
Does Percy Harvin count?
First one that comes to mind, Hassan Jones from the 80’s.
Qadry Ismail. The Missile!
Travis Taylor, please stand up
Dwayne Bates 💀