Vikings part ways with mascot Ragnar after more than 20 seasons

[Denver Native (Carol)]

MINNEAPOLIS —

The Minnesota Vikings have faced plenty of worthy adversaries in contract negotiations over the years. It should come as no surprise that Ragnar the Viking was one of the most ferocious.

The Vikings announced on Monday that they have not been able to reach a new contract agreement with Joe Juranitch, the man who played Ragnar for the last 21 years and was looking for quite a raise to pillage the team's home games and strike fear into the hearts of their opponents while growling at them atop his purple motorcycle.

Ragnar was asking for $20,000 per game over the next 10 years, a person with direct knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press. That would be $1.6 million for eight regular season home games per season, and $2 million if preseason games were included. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team does not publicly discuss contract negotiations.

rest, plus video - http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/minnesota-vikings-mascot-ragnar-part-ways-after-more-than-20-years-092115

[Shazam!]

I would do that for a fraction of the price. Ridiculous.

[Dzone]

I cant imagine the barrel man acting like that. Hopefully the vikings dont cower to his ridiculous demands. They can find someone better who will do it for free. Screw ragner

[TXBRONC]

I would do that for a fraction of the price. Ridiculous.

Where are your loyalties bud?

[Shazam!]

I would do that for a fraction of the price. Ridiculous.

Where are your loyalties bud?

With the Denver Broncos baby.

[Davii]

I've got a Harley. I can growl. Just saying.

[SR]

Give me $5000 per game. I'll fly to Minnesota on Saturday, put on a show on Sunday, fly home that night, and make it home for work Monday morning.

[Timmy!]

:lol:

[TXBRONC]

I've got a Harley. I can growl. Just saying.

That's only half the requirements.

You have to have an unkempt beard that hangs to your knees and you have limit your bathing to once year at most.

[Davii]

That's only half the requirements.

You have to have an unkempt beard that hangs to your knees and you have limit your bathing to once year at most.

I can do the beard part, it grows quick, and instead of skipping bathing I'll hug a Raider fan before each game.

[TXBRONC]

I can do the beard part, it grows quick, and instead of skipping bathing I'll hug a Raider fan before each game.

That might work. I'm not sure where you can buy a helmet with horns on it. I would guess most military surplus stores do not carry that kind of equipment.

[Davii]

That might work. I'm not sure where you can buy a helmet with horns on it. I would guess most military surplus stores do not carry that kind of equipment.

Walmart.

[Dzone]

Whats do the Nuggets pay Rocky? He should be the highest paid mascot in sports for all the things he does.

[Al Wilson 4 Mayor]

Hug a Raiders fan Davii? Don't be a hooker brother.

[Davii]

Hug a Raiders fan Davii? Don't be a hooker brother.

True. Ok, uhhhhhhhh, I could go to the nearest shelter and play with all the pets there before gametime.

[SR]

True. Ok, uhhhhhhhh, I could go to the nearest shelter and play with all the petals there before gametime.

You live in NO. Just sit down on a curb for a few seconds and you'll smell the part.

[Davii]

You live in NO. Just sit down on a curb for a few seconds and you'll smell the part.

This is false. Besides, i'd need to be in Minnesota in order to do the job

[weazel]

lol dude negotiated himself out of a job... no worries, I'm sure there is a giant market for dudes who will wear a costume and make noises at people. How's Barney's career doing?

[SR]

This is false. Besides, i'd need to be in Minnesota in order to do the job

Sit on a curb in NO, put on a thick sweater to keep in all the stink, then fly to Minny.

[DenBronx]

Barrel Man was the best mascot ever.

[TXBRONC]

lol dude negotiated himself out of a job... no worries, I'm sure there is a giant market for dudes who will wear a costume and make noises at people. How's Barney's career doing?

His career is extinct.

[Al Wilson 4 Mayor]

I wonder what this dude got paid last year? He's basically asking for $160k a year to only work home games.

[Pudge]

I wonder what this dude got paid last year? He's basically asking for $160k a year to only work home games.

I was trying to figure that out. It says $20,000 a game, that would be $1.6 million a year for 8 home games, or $2 million including preseason games. I don't know how that makes sense, maybe I should actually read the article?

[Pudge]

I was trying to figure that out. It says $20,000 a game, that would be $1.6 million a year for 8 home games, or $2 million including preseason games. I don't know how that makes sense, maybe I should actually read the article?

Or is that the whole ten seasons they meant, I'm an idiot.

[Al Wilson 4 Mayor]

I was trying to figure that out. It says $20,000 a game, that would be $1.6 million a year for 8 home games, or $2 million including preseason games. I don't know how that makes sense, maybe I should actually read the article?

20k × 8 = 160k

[Al Wilson 4 Mayor]

Or is that the whole ten seasons they meant, I'm an idiot.

Yes

[Denver Native (Carol)]

MINNEAPOLIS —

Ragnar, the mascot who was given a Viking funeral after asking for $20,000 per game, wants to bring his battle axe back to the negotiating table.

Joe Juranitch, the man who has played Ragnar at Minnesota Vikings games for the last 21 years, says his initial proposal of a 10-year contract and $20,000 per game was just a starting point. Juranitch spoke to the media Friday, five days after the Vikings announced that they were unable to reach agreement on a new contract for this season.

Juranitch says the Vikings asked him to present them with a proposal. He now admits that he asked for too big a raise from the $1,500 per game he made last year.

He says he hopes they can re-open talks and come to an agreement to get him back in his horned helmet.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/minnesota-vikings-mascot-ragnar-wants-contract-negotiation-092515

[Ravage!!!]

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/minnesota-vikings-mascot-ragnar-wants-contract-negotiation-092515

Oops....

[Ravage!!!]

I was trying to figure that out. It says $20,000 a game, that would be $1.6 million a year for 8 home games, or $2 million including preseason games. I don't know how that makes sense, maybe I should actually read the article?


20k × 8 = 160k

yeah, Pudge..... uhmmmm..... I think you might have added a zero too many.

[Joel]

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/minnesota-vikings-mascot-ragnar-wants-contract-negotiation-092515
He had to be fired to figure out a 1300% raise was too high a starting point?! That's like Manning asking for our WHOLE CAP, then adding, "but I'm willing to come down a LITTLE...." I mean, I'm as pro-labor as the next guy (though I'm not sure a front row seat at all your favorite teams games while you dance around in stupid outfit 4 hrs/week in front of fans working 40+ counts as "labor.") But that's just unreasonable, even if you and everyone else knows you're actually seeking a much smaller deal. That was "postwar strike" stupid, and evidently worked about as well.

[tomjonesrocks]

I guess I think $160k/yr seems reasonable if you've created a character that's become the primary mascot for an NFL franchise and you're performing in front of 60k people but I admittedly don't know what his performance is.

[NightTerror218]

yeah, Pudge..... uhmmmm..... I think you might have added a zero too many.

Times 10 years

[Pudge]

Times 10 years

Yeah I caught myself a mere seconds after I posted that. But I'm glad everyone is going out of there way to correct it without looking at the post directly below

[Timmy!]

Hey Pudge. I think your math might be off. You're welcome.