Minnesota Vikings in Contract Talks with RAGNAR Stalled

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — It's always tough when a sports franchise has to part ways with an important part of its team because of money. That's what fans of the Minnesota Vikings are finding with a longtime favorite. Except this team mainstay has never thrown a pass, made a tackle or split the uprights with a kick. It's Ragnar the Viking — or at least the man who has played him for the past 21 years. The team says it has been unable to reach a contract with Joe Juranitch, the man in the Ragnar getup. On his Facebook page, Ragnar says it "doesn't feel right sitting at home." A person with knowledge of the negotiations says Ragnar wants $20,000 per game over the next 10 years. That would be $1.6 million for eight regular home games per season.