Former Vikings star Doug Sutherland member of Purple People Eaters dies at 73

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Fifty years after the final reign of the "Purple People Eaters" in Minnesota, the are mourning the lo s of one of the unit's all-time greats, the death of former defensive tackle Doug Sutherland, 73. A Midwest native who was born and attended college in Wisconsin, Kendall Lamm Jersey Sutherland spent 10 of his 12 NFL seasons with the Vikings, starting along a feared 1970s defensive line featuring Hall of Famers Alan Page and Carl Eller."Doug Sutherland was one of our proudest legends," Vikings owner Zygi Wilf and president Mark Wilf said in a team statement. "His humble nature did not allow for him to talk much Joe Thomas Jersey about his own playing career, but Doug was a key member of some of the best defenses in NFL history and three Super Bowl teams. Doug was also the consummate teammate after football. He was one of the most active members of Vikings Legends events and didn't mi s a chance to help out at a community event or lend a hand where needed. Our thoughts are with Doug's friends and family."Sutherland was originally a 14th-round draft pick of the Jim Brown Jersey in 1970. After one year in New Orleans, where he played in 10 games as a guard and linebacker, he was traded to the Vikings and converted to defensive tackle. Over the next 10 years, he started 90 games and appeared in 48 more, totaling 484 tackles and 26.5 sacks as part of five different top-10 defenses, replacing Pro Bowler Gary Larsen alongside Page, Eller and Jim Marshall. His hand in the "Purple People Eaters" D-line helped the Vikings to three of the franchise's four Super Bowl appearances."When Gary Larsen left," former Vikings coach Duke Johnson Jersey Bud Grant said, per the team, "Doug Sutherland came in and was the perfect fit. There was no drop off in play. When I think of the Denzel Ward Jersey Purple People Eaters, I always think of Doug Sutherland as part of that group. He was a very good football player and an equal part of the Purple People Eaters. Playing with those three guys elevated his play, his position and his value."Sutherland finished his NFL career playing one season for the , in 1981.