Anthony Carter may never make Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor for this reason

The Minnesota Vikings' corrected an oversight on Tuesday when they announced Bobby Bryant would become the 28th member of the team's Ring of Honor during a ceremony that will be held during the Sept. 22 game against Houston at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Bryant was extremely deserving of the honor -- he played for the Vikings from 1967 to '80 -- and still holds the team record for interceptions in the playoffs (six) and is second in regular-season picks (51).

If anything, it was overdue.

There are many Vikings fans who never saw Bryant play, and some who likely have never heard of him, but just type Bryant's name into a YouTube search and you'll see a potpourri of his highlights, including his 90-yard return of a blocked field goal in the NFC title game against the Rams in 1976.

The team's decision to reach back into its history to select a player for the Ring of Honor raised some questions about why Anthony Carter hasn't joined that elite group. The reason would have nothing to do with football.

The wide receiver joined the Vikings in 1985 after spending his first two professional seasons with the Michigan Panthers of the old USFL. Carter was actually signed by the Miami Dolphins, who had drafted him in 1983, but was traded to the Vikings before ever playing a game for Miami.

Carter was the Vikings' leading receiver in five of his first six seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl from 1987-89. His most memorable moments came in the Vikings' run to the 1987 title game against Washington. Carter set a since-broken NFL record with 143 yards on six punt returns in a 44-10 wild card victory over New Orleans. This included an 84-yard return for a touchdown in the opening quarter.

Carter, who caught six passes for 79 yards and a touchdown against the Saints, then had 10 receptions for 227 yards in a 36-24 upset of the San Francisco 49ers.

The yardage total vs. the 49ers set a playoff record that was broken by Buffalo's Eric Moulds (240 yards) in 1999. Carter also had a carry for 30 yards and two punt returns for 21 yards in the win. The 642 all-purpose yards Carter posted in the playoffs that season is still a record.

Carter remains third all-time among Vikings receivers with 7,636 yards. He is fourth in touchdowns with 52 and fifth in receptions with 478. Cris Carter (12,383) and Randy Moss (9,316) are the only two ahead of Anthony Carter as far as receiving yards.

The case for putting Anthony Carter into the Vikings' Ring of Honor appears even stronger when you consider that fellow wide receiver Ahmad Rashad was inducted in 2017.

Rashad played in 98 games (94 starts) in seven seasons with the Vikings and caught 400 passes for 5,489 yards (13.7 yard average) and 34 touchdowns. In nine seasons, Carter played in 133 games (125 starts) and he put up impressive numbers, including averaging 16 yards per catch.

But Carter's actions years after leaving the Vikings can't be ignored.

He pleaded guilty in October 2003 to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Associated Press. The case stemmed from allegations by his wife, Kimberly, and he was charged with domestic battery, assault with a firearm and false imprisonment. Prosecutors in Florida allowed him to plead guilty to a lesser charge and avoid a felony conviction. He also had been arrested in 1998 and 2000 on domestic battery charges.

His probation came to an end two years early in 2006, when the probation department in Florida did not oppose the early termination that his plea deal had stipulated.

That past might explain why the Vikings have stayed away from associating themselves with him.

Judd Zulgad is co-host of the Purple Daily Podcast and Mackey & Judd podcast at www.skornorth.com .

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