Bridgewater headlines NFL’s Hall of Fame Game

The Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers hit the field Sunday night in the NFL Hall of Fame Game.

Calling Steelers-Vikings from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, is seven-time Emmy Award-winner Al Michaels (play-by-play), in his 30th season as THE VOICE of the NFL’s premier primetime package; 16-time Emmy Award-winner Cris Collinsworth, who has won the Emmy for Outstanding Event Analyst in each of his six seasons in the SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL booth; and Paul Burmeister, who reports from the sidelines. While the Hall of Fame Game is always nice to watch because it’s still football, not expecting too much on either side is also important.

Tingelhoff did not get drafted, but once he moved into the starting lineup in the second preseason game of ’62, he did not leave his position for 17 years. Tingelhoff set himself apart by never missing a practice, making it through 240 regular-season games and 19 added postseason contests by showing up each and every day. “People just can’t look past that we lost four Super Bowl games”.

It’s a myopic and uneducated view but a look at the history of those Vikings teams and players tells the story.

I don’t think trends are something to put a whole lot of faith in when talking about the first preseason game of the year because we don’t have a clue of who is playing and for how long as teams want to exit these games healthy. Meanwhile, highly regarded defensive end Jim Marshall, the ultimate ironman, at least until Brett Favre, is still waiting.

Did you know: Tingelhoff was one of 11 players to have played in all four Vikings Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s.

The entire Vikings team will be visiting the Hall of Fame shortly after they arrive in Canton on Saturday.

“Mick was a catalyst for our team and one of the most respected players on those teams”, Grant said.