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Ragnar no longer Vikings mascot after contract dispute

FILE - In this Nov. 11, 2012, file photo, Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar the Viking rides onto the field before an NFL football game between the Vikings and the Detroit Lions in Minneapolis. The Vikings said Monday, Sept. 21, 2015, their contract with Joe Juranitch, the man who played Ragnar, expired during the offseason. The team says it has had "multiple conversations" with Juranitch but has not been able to reach an agreement on his role with the Vikings. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File) FILE - In this Nov. 11, 2012, file photo, Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar the Viking rides onto the field before an NFL football game between the Vikings and the Detroit Lions in Minneapolis. The Vikings said Monday, Sept. 21, 2015, their contract with Joe Juranitch, the man who played Ragnar, expired during the offseason. The team says it has had "multiple conversations" with Juranitch but has not been able to reach an agreement on his role with the Vikings. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

By Associated Press September 21, 2015 1 min read

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Vikings have faced plenty of worthy adversaries in contract negotiations over the years. It should come as no surprise that Ragnar the Viking was one of the most ferocious.

The Vikings announced on Monday that they have not been able to reach a new contract agreement with Joe Juranitch, the man who played Ragnar for the last 21 years.

Ragnar’s Facebook page said it “doesn’t feel right sitting at home” but added: “This is not by my choice.”

A person with direct knowledge of the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Ragnar asked for $20,000 per game over the next 10 years. That would be $1.6 million for eight regular season home games per season. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team does not publicly discuss contract negotiations.