A pair of revolutionary Vikings defensive tackles — Alan Page and John Randle — have been named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team, the NFL Network announced in a program that aired Friday night.
The Pro Football Hall of Famers and Vikings Ring of Honor members were named along with five other defensive tackles: Buck Buchanan, Joe Greene, Bob Lilly, Merlin Olsen and Randy White.
The NFL 100 All-Time Team was created in celebration of the league's 100th season.
It includes seven defensive ends:
A dozen linebackers also were named to the team:
The successes of Page and Randle have drawn parallels, but their start points with the Vikings couldn't have been much different.
Page was drafted in the first round of the 1967 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. Randle, however, was an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1990.
Each changed the way the game was played in his respective generation. They were icons, epic on the field and legendary off it.
Page started 157 of 160 regular-season games in 11-plus seasons with Minnesota and was instrumental in helping the Vikings advance to Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX and XI. He became the first defensive player to garner NFL MVP honors in 1971 and totaled 108.5 of his 148.5 career sacks as a member of the Purple People Eaters.
"Unblockable, a little bit like Randle," Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick said.
"That's a great comparison. It really is," Cris Collinsworth added.
Randle started 150 of 176 games and totaled 114 sacks with the Vikings before finishing his career with the Seahawks.
"John Randle, his quickness, and that first step, I would have adored to play behind that first step," Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis said. "I don't know if you can name another person that plays like John Randle."
"Tasmanian Devil," Collinsworth added. "Neevverrrr stopped!"
