<Tr> <Td> 36 </Td> <Td> 225 </Td> <Td> Tony Darden </Td> <Td> Cornerback </Td> <Td> Texas Tech </Td> <Td> Compensatory pick </Td> </Tr> <P> Prior to the start of the 1998 season, the Vikings were sold to Red McCombs . The NFL had not been happy with the Vikings' ownership arrangement of ten owners with none owning 30% . The ownership decided to sell the club . At first it appeared that Tom Clancy would become the new owner . However, his attempt to buy the team fell through . So in July 1998, the team was sold to McCombs who was from San Antonio, Texas . </P> <P> 1998 was a year to remember for the Minnesota Vikings . With a spectacular offense led by quarterback Randall Cunningham, who had the best year of his NFL career, running back Robert Smith, veteran wide receiver Cris Carter, and explosive rookie Randy Moss, the Vikings 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 three points to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week nine . 12 of their 15 wins came by a margin of at least 10 points . </P> <P> According to Football Outsiders, "The Vikings led the league with 52 plays of 25 + yards . They had 22 offensive plays of 40 + yards; no other team had more than 16 plays of that length ." </P>

Who quarterbacked the minnesota vikings the year they won 15 games