Vikings fans wonder where Ragnar was

Joe Juranitch, the Ely native who had worked as Ragnar-the Vikings’ “human mascot” for more than 20 years-was nowhere to be seen.

Ragnar, mascot of the Minnesota Vikings, has been dropped after failing to reach a contract agreement with the National Football League team that employed him for 21 seasons.

Ragnar, whose real name is Joe Juranitch, was seeking a new contract that would pay him $20,000 per game, according to Michael Rand of the Star Tribune. I don’t make those decisions. It’s like the philosopher Latrell Sprewell once said before a season when he was set to make $14.6 million: “I got a family to feed”. I miss all my fans and your support.

The Vikings declined to comment on whether Juranitch appeared as “Ragnar” as team functions besides home games or represented the franchise in any capacity away from the field.

Over 9,000 people have subsequently signed a petition demanding that Ragnar be reinstated.

The Minnesota Vikings are without a mascot as they’ve parted ways with the actor who played the role for over two decades.

Ragnar has entertained Vikings fans for the last time. It would increase to $2 million if preseason games were included.

A message was left for the marauder on his Facebook page. His absence at Sunday’s home opener for the Vikings was conspicuous (to Vikings fans) and no one seems to have an answer why. Viktor the Viking will still be around and the cost of that will nearly certainly be much less than what Ragnar was proposing.

The Vikings said in their statement that they plan on honoring their former mascot in an on-field ceremony sometime this season and welcome him back for ceremonial events.