Brad Johnson relieved Moon in the Detroit (9/1), Green Bay (9/22), Chicago (10/28) and Seattle (11/10) games. Johnson started the final six games of �96, as well as vs. Atlanta (9/8) and Kansas City (11/3). He led Minnesota to come-from-behind wins over the Lions (9/1) and Falcons (9/8). His 82-yard completion to Jake Reed at Oakland is the fifth longest in team history and was the longest in the NFC last season. In his first NFL start at Atlanta, Johnson earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after throwing for a career-high 275 yards, which he matched in Oakland. He also earned the honor after hitting a career-high four touchdown passes against Arizona. Against Detroit (9/1) he threw the game-winning 31-yard scoring toss to Cris Carter with 1:06 left in regulation. That was Johnson�s first NFL TD pass. He scored his first NFL TD vs. Seattle on a 1-yard run.

Jay Walker made his NFL debut late in the fourth quarter vs. Arizona (12/1), completing his only two pass attempts for 31 yards.

Robert Smith was on his way to a 1,000 yard rushing season until a knee injury ended his year on Oct. 28 against the Chicago Bears. He still led the team in rushing with 692 yards.

Amp Lee had 15 catches on third down for a first down, including five in the final three games, in �96. He finished sixth in the NFL in catches among running backs (54).

Charles Evans is the Vikings top fullback. Four-of-his-18 catches went for a first down on third down.

Scottie Graham has rushed for 951 of his 1,268 (75%) career yards in December. He has carried a team-record 349 times without a fumble. He also has the most current chances from scrimmage (383) without a fumble in the NFL. Against Denver (11/24) he caught a career-long 18-yard pass.

Jake Reed led the team with 1,320 receiving yards and a 18.3 average yards per catch.

A team-high 50.0% (11-of-22) of Qadry Ismail�s catches went for a first-down on third down last year. He is averaging 37.8 yards per touchdown catch for his career, with eight scores of 20-or-more yards.

Both of David Palmer�s catches in Detroit (12/8) went for a first down on third down. They were his first receptions, due to injury, since the Seattle game (11/10).

Chris Walsh caught a 17-yard pass on 3rd-and-5 at the Bucs� 39-yard line vs. Tampa Bay (12/15). Hoard scored the game-winning 22-yard touchdown on the next play. Walsh had his first NFL touchdown pass against Denver (11/24). He scored his first NFL points on a catch for a two-point conversion at Seattle (11/10). Walsh played with the regular offense the final six weeks of �96.

Andrew Jordan led this unit in catches (19) and receiving yards (128).

Greg DeLong worked with Goodwin in two-tight end formations. DeLong has started 9-of-the-18 NFL games he�s played.

David Frisch is the most experienced of this group. His game-winning touchdown catch in Atlanta (9/8) was his first NFL score and his first reception with Minnesota.

Randall McDaniel, who was named All-Pro for a team-record eighth time, is the only one of the starters who has played more than four years in the NFL. He has started a team-high 126 consecutive games, including playoffs. He also was named to start in a team-record eighth consecutive Pro Bowl. Vs. Arizona (12/1) he carried the ball from the fullback spot in goalline offense for the first time in his career. Todd Steussie has started 106 straight games, dating back to his junior year in high school.

Jeff Christy has started 49 consecutive games at center.

Korey Stringer has started 30-of-his-32 NFL games.

Scott Dill started at right tackle against Denver (11/24) in place of injured Stringer. It was Dill�s first start with Minnesota.

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