The Vikings and Chad Greenway announced Monday that the 34-year-old linebacker is retiring. He'll have his farewell news conference Tuesday, the day NFL teams can begin negotiating with outside free agents — including running back Adrian Peterson.
Greenway's retirement and Peterson's free agency were both expected. They also highlight that we are nearing the end of a Vikings era.
The Vikings drafted 32 players from 2006-2010, the five seasons Brad Childress coached here. Greenway was the first pick of the Childress era, chosen in the first round (No. 17 overall) in 2006. Peterson was the No. 1 pick the next season, 2007.
If Peterson signs elsewhere this offseason, there will be just two players left on the Vikings who were drafted during Childress' time here: Brian Robison in 2007 (fourth round) and Everson Griffen in 2010 (also in the fourth round).
Read Michael Rand's blog at startribune.com/randball. michael.rand@startribune.com.
