The Vikings de-horned? Thankfully, no.

G.R. Anderson Jr. just sent me jpegs (from an anonymous tipster) of some Minnesota Vikings uniform prototypes: "The day they traded Culpepper, all the Viking people at Winter Park were trying to get the press to ask about the new uniforms, right? The purple pants? I have to say, those people were right! I can't wait to see those on Bryant McKinnie." Understanding that these aren't the final uniform designs, and probably not even the work of designers commissioned by the Vikes, the first infraction would be the loss of the horns on the helmet. Reducing these icons to silkscreened flair on the sleeves would be nothing short of sacrilege. A Vikings helmet without horns is like Samson without his hair, who I think went 7-9 after his trim. Contrary to the images found after the jump, Vikings Review blogger Mr. Weatherstone posted on March 29 that Vikings owner Zygi Wilf had announced the horns on the helmet would remain.

 

In an e-mail exchange with Anderson about these concepts, I had to tweak him with a friend's theory that new uniforms equal Super Bowl victories, citing the Broncos, Patriots, and Buccaneers as examples. Anderson, a nurturing mentor figure around the office, described me as "pathetically delusional" in regard to the Purple and Gold achieving such a feat. I concurred supernatural forces would have to be at work for the Vikings to break the Runestone curse.

And then I cried quietly in my office.

UPDATE: From vikings.com: Please join us on Thursday, April 27, as the Minnesota Vikings celebrate the unveiling of the team's new uniforms in the Rotunda at the Mall of America. Hosted by the radio voice of the Vikings, Paul Allen, the event will run from 6:00-6:30 p.m. with current Vikings players, including Matt Birk, Jim Kleinsasser, Mewelde Moore, Jermaine Wiggins, Kevin Williams, Pat Williams and Troy Williamson scheduled to showcase the new designs. Head Coach Brad Childress will address the crowd while alumni, including the first-ever Vikings draft choice Tommy Mason, as well as Joey Browner, Paul Krause, Jim Marshall and Randall McDaniel, plus Vikings cheerleaders and other representatives, will also take part in the event.

UPDATE: The new uniforms revealed on Thursday, April 27 aren't much of an improvement over these fan designs. What do you think?