Minnesota Viking’s fans have suffered through four disheartening Super Bowl losses to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1970, the Miami Dolphins in 1974, The Pittsburgh Steelers in 1975, and the Oakland Raiders in 1977. Fans also had to endure gut-wrenching playoff losses, as in 1975 when the Vikings lost 17-14 to the Dallas Cowboys, on a controversial touchdown pass from the Cowboys’ quarterback Roger Staubach to wide receiver Drew Pearson that became known as the Hail Mary Pass. Many felt that Pearson had pushed off defensive back Nate Wright, and that offensive pass interference should have been called.

Then there was the 1998 season when an explosive offense led by Randall Cunningham, Robert Smith, Chris Carter, and rookie sensation Randy Moss, set a then-NFL record by scoring a total of 556 points, never scoring fewer than 24 in a game. The Vikings finished the season 15-1, their only loss by 3 points to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week nine.

In the playoffs that year, the Vikings crushed the Arizona Cardinals 41-21, and were heavily favored to win their NFC title showdown with the Atlanta Falcons. However, kicker Gary Anderson, who had just completed the first perfect regular season in NFL history (not missing a single extra point or field goal attempt the entire year), missed a 38- yard attempt with less than 2 minutes remaining. That allowed the Falcons to tie the game. Atlanta went on to win it 30-27 in overtime on Morten Andersen’s field goal, also a 38-yarder. The Vikings became the first 15-1 team to fail to reach the Super Bowl.

Eleven years later in 2009, the Vikings returned to the league championship against the New Orleans Saints. Tied at 28-28 late in the game, and with the Vikings driving and in position to kick the winning field goal, Brett Farve threw an ill-advised pass across the middle with seven seconds left that was intercepted. New Orleans won in overtime, 31-28, and the Vikings futility continued.

Viking fans were angry with Brett Farve, despite an incredible season. Many thought he could have run a few yards and stepped out of bounds, setting up what could have been the winning field goal. But Farve didn’t run. He had suffered a number of vicious hits in the game, and had a severely injured ankle. The Saints received three unnecessary roughness penalties that day, but none of their players were tossed from the game. Farve was roundly, though I think unfairly, criticized for his decision to pass instead of run. After all, without his leadership and passing, the team never would have been in the championship game in the first place.

But now comes news that defensive players for the Saints were paid a bounty for deliberate hits designed to injure or disable opposing players during the 2009-2011 seasons. League officials have determined that as many as 27 players, as well as former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, were involved in the scheme. Players contributed $50,000 to an illegal pool, despite a league rule, which prohibits non-contract bonuses, not to mention the obvious safety concerns and motives behind paying players to deliberately injure opponents. Had Farve not been injured, who knows what would have happened that day?

The league had better come down hard on the Saint’s organization including suspensions, fines, and loss of draft choices. Though no punishment will ever make up for, or help Minnesota fans forget, the Viking losses.