Joey Browner to get a spot in the Vikings' Ring of Honor

Joey Browner was one of the most feared safeties during the 1980s. Browner was the hardest hitter this side of Ronnie Lott.

Browner made six straight Pro Bowls from 1985-90 and was a three-time Associated Press All-Pro.

During the Minnesota Vikings Week 8 showdown with the Green Bay Packers, Browner will be inducted into the team's Ring of Honor.

Browner will be the team's 21st inductee which includes Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page, Jim Finks, Bud Grant, Paul Krause, Fred Zamberletti, Jim Marshall, Ron Yary, Korey Stringer, Mick Tinglehoff, Carl Eller, Cris Carter, Bill Brown, Jerry Burns, Randall McDaniel, Chuck Foreman, John Randle, Scott Studwell, Chris Doleman and Matt Blair.

"Ring of Honor is something that is very special because there's very few of us in there," said Browner, who noted it was extra special the announcement was made Friday with the Houston Texans in town with his nephew, Keith Browner, a defensive end for Houston.

During his playing career, Browner forced 18 fumbles, a franchise record for defensive backs. He also made 1,098 combined tackles, fifth most in franchise history. His 37 career interceptions rank fourth in the Vikings’ record books.

Robert Parish thinks it's awkward for Paul Pierce to be playing for the Nets

As a basketball fan it just won't seem right watch Paul Pierce in a Brooklyn Nets uniform. Just like it was strange watching Hakeem Olajuwon and Karl Malone in a Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers uniform. It just doesn't seem right after watch him play for the Boston Celtics for so many years.

Longtime Celtic great Robert Parish knows a little about being in a different uniform. Parish spent his final years as a member of the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls.

In an interview with Sean Deveney of the Sporting News, Parish said that Paul Pierce being on the Nets 'will be awkward' and he also compared Pierce's situation to his last few years in the NBA.

“Just accept the fact that it is going to be awkward initially. That’s all. Because he has worn the Celtics green for so long and it is going to be really awkward for him. But it was time for a change and what I do like about what the Celtics did for Pierce and Garnett, they didn’t send them somewhere to another situation that is not going to be successful. They sent them someplace where they are going to win. Garnett and Pierce have earned that right.” 

Parish spoke about his time in Charlotte and how he felt about it.

“Un-com-fortable,” Parish said (of wearing the Charlotte uniform). “In my mind, I would always be a Celtic. I was very thankful and humbled that the Hornets saw fit to allow me to play a couple more years, but the only time I thought of myself as a Charlotte Hornet was game time. Other than that, when the jersey came off, I still felt like I was a Celtic.”


When Pierce eventually goes into the basketball hall of fame he'll more than likely go in as a Celtic. But as long as the Russian billionaire is cutting the check in Brooklyn I'm pretty sure Pierce won't be feeling too awkward.

Only when he comes back to Boston.