Dec 6, 2009; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ben Leber against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Vikings 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Most of you have already heard the news that this past weekend former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ben Leber announced officially that he is retiring from the NFL after playing ten seasons with the San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, and briefly the St. Louis Rams.  While it certainly didn’t make any national headlines, the announcement may interest Vikings fans who no doubt have at least a few fond memories of the five years that Leber spent wearing the purple.  Let’s be honest, we’re in the middle of OTA’s and save for a highlight-reel worthy catch by Jerome Simpson last week and the constant promise that this fresh-faced Vikings team is looking better and better, there’s not a whole lot of Vikes related news to get excited about.  So let’s take a quick look back at the career of one of our former players.

The Vermillion, South Dakota native was drafted in the third round of the 2002 draft by the San Diego Chargers, and spent four years there before coming to Minnesota.  He played out his final season in St. Louis, but was waived by the Rams in December, after a poor season for all involved.  Though he never made it to a pro bowl Leber was solid and reliable for the Vikes, racking up 271 tackles, 12 sacks, and 5 interceptions during his tenure in Minnesota.  I know that those aren’t anywhere near Chad Greenway numbers, but remember, I said solid, not exceptional. As well as Erin Henderson played last season, I think that there was a bit of a drop off from the level of play that Leber was at when he was here, at least for much of the season.  Fans will surely remember – no matter how hard they try to forget – that Leber was on the wrong side of a terrible pass interference call in the 2009 NFC Championship Game that gave the New Orleans Saints a new set of downs as well as a handful of yards, one of the last in a series of misfortunate events which put an end to the Vikings Super Bowl dreams for that year.  But not to worry too much, all anyone remembers about the end of that game is Brett Favre’s awful across the body throw that resulted in an interception.

But as for Leber, he’s happy, he’s healthy, and he’s calling it quits on his own terms, but fear not fellow Ben fans, as we may not have seen the last of him yet.  Leber has often expressed an interest in getting involved in “the media side” of football, even participating in the NFL’s broadcasting bootcamp in 2010, a program that allows players to try their hand at reporting and commentating.  As well spoken and intelligent as Ben Leber appears to be, it would be no surprise if someday soon we turn on our televisions to watch the game on Sunday and see his shiny bald head breaking down the game for us.  Best of luck Ben, Vikings fans wish you well on your future endeavors.

So with no news to report on current or potentially future Vikings, we turn to former Vikings looking for work elsewhere. Here’s something on a guy who left town during the mini-purge of 2011. Ben Leber. He got a work out from the Eagles. He played for the Rams last year until they cut him. At this point the 33-year-old Leber is looked upon as a back-up option. He was a solid player for the Vikings when they had a decent defense. Now they have a weak defense with a really overpaid guy at strong-side linebacker. But at least they’re GETTING YOUNGER.

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Last year the trade of Benny Sapp, made to reinforce the receiver corps after Sidney Rice‘s hip surgery, and the subsequent losses of Cedric Griffin and Chris Cook to injury depleted the corner depth to the point where the team had no recourse but to desperation moves, including using Asher Allen more than they ever wanted and signing has-been Frank Walker. This year the Vikings are being forced to resort to similar drastic measures to bolster the linebacker corps, which received a major blow Tuesday with the news that Jasper Brinkley is facing possible hip surgery and a season-ending trip to IR.

Brinkley’s hip has kept him out of action for most of the preseason, prompting the Vikes to try all sorts of different options, including bringing back veteran David Harron and, for this week at least, giving defensive end Everson Griffen a look at weak-side linebacker. The situation has not been helped by Heath Farwell‘s hamstring problem or rookie Ross Homan‘s concussion issues. The one bright spot in this whole mess has been the emergence of UDFA Larry Dean, who at this point is almost a lock to make the team and may end up pushing Erin Henderson at WLB before it’s over.

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