66 games/49 starts; 28 games/18 starts as a Viking
Came to the Vikings in a 2006 draft day trade with Philadelphia in an exchange of draft picks after spending 4 seasons (2002-05) with the Eagles…Started 14 games in his 1st season with the Vikings in 2006…Fought his way to NFL success even with the chips stacked against him, joining the Eagles in 2002 as a rookie free agent and working his way into the starting lineup by his 3rd season... Has started all 3 playoff contests he's been a part of, including Super Bowl XXXIX against New England…Part of Philadelphia’s rise to the top of the NFC during his tenure, winning NFC East titles in 2002, 2003 and 2004, advancing to the NFC Championship in each of those seasons and winning the title in 2004...NFC Championship was 1st for Philadelphia since 1980...Has started games at LG and LT during his career, getting a start on short notice at the demanding LT spot on Monday Night Football at Miami (12/15/03) when Tra Thomas was sidelined by back spasms and held All-Pro DE Jason Taylor to 1.0 sack in an Eagles win...Started 1st career game vs. N.Y. Giants (11/16/03) at LG in place of John Welbourn...Made Eagles roster as a rookie free agent in 2002 and was inactive for every game.
• Paved the way for Adrian Peterson to rush for 100+ yards in his NFL debut, the 1st time in Vikings history.• Helped RB Chester Taylor rush for 1,214 yards in 2006, the 4th-highest total in Vikings history. • Helped both Chester Taylor and Artose Pinner break the 100-yard mark in rushing during the 2006 season. • Started and played in 14 games in 2006, matching his career-high. • Acquired in draft-day trade with Philadelphia in exchange of picks in 2006.• Played in Philadelphia for Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress. • Started Super Bowl XXXIX for the Philadelphia Eagles following the 2004 season. • Originally entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2002 and made the Eagles roster.
Majored in business...The only boy in a family with 6 sisters...Grew up in a family of mechanics and has carried on his passion for classic muscle cars...Artis’ 2nd cousin, Sylvester Hicks, played DE for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1978-81...Avidly watches boxing and is a fan of Jermain Taylor...Made an appearance in the Campbell’s Chunky Soup commercial featuring Eagles QB Donovan McNabb in 2004...Works closely with a Memphis charity, “Angel”, that supports single mothers, a subject close to his heart because his mother was left alone with his siblings after his father passed away when he was young...Finds strength from his family in many ways, including his nephew Dalin, who was diagnosed with leukemia in June 2004, but has made a full recovery at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis...Has a daughter, Rhian.