In an election year, Captain Munnerlyn is hitting the campaign trail.
When the Vikings secondary arrived in Mankato late last month, they were outfitted in team-issued swag that supported the cornerback's campaign. On those T-shirts was an oversized nickel with his bust — the forehead and all — instead of Thomas Jefferson. The nickel read "In Captain We Trust."
Munnerlyn's platform is simple yet smart. He believes cornerbacks who cover the slot, known in football vernacular as nickelbacks, should be added to the Pro Bowl ballot, differentiating it from the outside corner position.
"Last year, I played almost 70 percent of the snaps. Fullback, they make the Pro Bowl and they're not even on the field half of the time, you feel me?" Munnerlyn said. "It's a position. It's a position! It's like a starting corner. The league has evolved into a passing league where they have three receivers out there. I definitely feel like we should be in the Pro Bowl."
NFL offenses used three or more wide receivers on 61 percent of their plays last season, the highest mark in NFL history, a record that probably will be broken again in 2016. The annual increase in the usage of three-wide sets has made the nickelback position a critical one for NFL defenses.
Yet, in the past five years, the only two corners who predominantly played in the slot to be selected to the Pro Bowl were Denver's Chris Harris last season and Carlos Rogers, playing for San Francisco, in 2011.
"I wasn't even on the ballot [last season]. So I don't think this is fair," Munnerlyn said. "Slot receivers get to go. Why not nickel corners?"
Making his case
The NFL only lists two cornerbacks from each team on the fan ballot for Pro Bowl voting. Xavier Rhodes and Terence Newman represented the Vikings. Every player is listed on the ballots for players and coaches, though.