Changing Sides!

Coach Childress: We're kicking off the free agency today. A lot of people have worked very hard. We're got a lot of talented people involved in this thing. The first guy I'd like to introduce you to is Ryan Longwell. Obviously he has great knowledge of the Minnesota Vikings. He's had a few game winners here in the Metrodome. His being the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Green Bay Packers kind of speaks for itself. To have experience in this division, the NFC North, for us is huge. To know what the wind is like in Lambeau Field and Soldier Field is a big thing in terms of being a kicker. Let me introduce you to Ryan Longwell.

Longwell: Thanks. Sarah and I are extremely honored to come here and be Minnesota Vikings. It's been a lot of fun in Green Bay for the past nine years, but we are as excited as we've ever been to start this new facet of our lives and this new chapter of our lives. We're excited with the direction that Coach Childress and the Vikings are headed and we're just as pleased as can be to be a part of it. We thank everybody involved. It's been a very exciting day for both of us and we're excited to get started.

Q: What made you comfortable with this decision?
A: Obviously I was very comfortable with kicking in this division as I have. But, people make the difference in organizations. The thing about Green Bay was that there was good people there. When I started to get acquainted with the people here today in this organization they're incredible. From the head coach to the special teams coach to the owner to everybody involved, they're just great people that this organization has in there. We were honored that they wanted us to come and be a part of it and be a part of the transition. We expect good things pretty quick here.

Q: You've had a good percentage even with kicking at Lambeau, did playing in a dome factor into your decision?
A: It absolutely factored in. I've braved the winds and the field and the cold in Lambeau for a long time. There's always been an appeal to me to see what I could do in a neutral environment. I've had good games here in the past and I expect to continue on that. Certainly it was a factor to be able to play in a controlled environment. It's not an intimidation to go to Lambeau or Soldier Field and kick there. I'm very comfortable kicking there. I do think we're at an advantage in playing in this division, which is huge. You've gotta win the division to get in the playoffs.

Q: Will you adjust to being on the other side of the Packers-Vikings rivalry?
A: Darren Sharper and I were rookies together in Green Bay and he did a lot of great things with us with the Packers in the past and when he came back he got booed out of the stadium. I don't expect to be welcomed back, but I'm very proud of what I accomplished in Green Bay. I know the Vikings-Packers rivalry is about as heated as it gets. I'm happy to be wearing purple and to be on this side of the battle for the next bunch of years.

Q: Is it going to be fun for you going to an NFC North city and already be known to the home fans?
A: I think it is. I've always had very high standards for myself and what I expect out of myself on the field. Because the Vikings fans know me and know what I've done over the years there won't be a break-in period to get to know what we expect. We expect to make our kicks and have a very, very high percentage. It's good that they know me and they should be comfortable with me. Certainly getting one of the "bad guys" so to speak is never a bad thing.

Q: Did the Packers make a push to keep you?
A: We have talked over the past months since the season, but those conversations really ended about a week ago. It was time to move on. We kind of felt that from their end. We knew where they were at. Sarah and I kind of felt that with all the transition going on over there it would be a good time, so we began thinking it would be elsewhere.

Q: Was it easier or more difficult to come to a team that's in a transition like the Vikings are?
A: No, I think that one of the big highlights is the fact that everybody is kind of getting a fresh start. I can work with the players and the coaches alike to build this thing up from ground zero, so I'm very excited about that.

Q: Is the transition and a new start as important as the dollars?
A: In this game the dollars are always a factor. Last year, with everything that happened, you know, it was time for a fresh start. With the transition there, there's a new staff and everything. The second we got here this morning it just kinda felt like the right place to be. The more people we met and the more people we came in contact with, the more and more comfortable it felt. It just felt like this was the place to be. To be a piece of that puzzle was something that we wanted to be. Then we just had to make it work.

Q: The Bucs were interested too, why the Vikings?
A: There were some teams that made some pretty big announcements that they were going to get a kicker in free agency. But once we got up here this morning it was pretty obvious that we wanted to be Minnesota Vikings. We're very, very happy to be here, very happy to be part of this and excited to get started.